Sec. 37. In the event of annexation of any foreign territory to this State, the General Assembly shall enact laws extending to the inhabitants of the acquired territory all the rights and privileges which may be required by the terms of the acquisition, anything in this Constitution to the contrary notwithstanding.
Article V
executive department
Section 1. The Executive Department shall consist of a Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Attorney-General, who shall be chosen by the electors of the State, at the time and places at which they shall vote for Representatives.
Sec. 2. The Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Attorney-General shall hold their offices for the term of two years, and the Auditor for the term of four years.
Sec. 3. The returns of every election for the officers named in the preceding section, shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of Government, by the returning officers, directed to the presiding officer of the Senate, who, during the first week of the session, shall open and publish the same in the presence of a majority of the members of the General Assembly; the person having the highest number of votes shall be declared duly elected, but if two or more shall be highest and equal in votes for the same office, one of them shall be chosen by the joint vote of both houses. Contested elections for executive officers shall be determined by both houses of the General Assembly, in such manner as shall be prescribed by law.
Sec. 4. The supreme executive power of this State shall be vested in the Governor.
Sec. 5. He shall take care that the laws are faithfully executed.
Sec. 6. He may require information in writing, from the officers in the executive department, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices.
Sec. 7. He shall communicate at every session, by message to the General Assembly, the condition of the State, and recommend such measures as he shall deem expedient.
Sec. 8. He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the General Assembly by proclamation, and shall state to both houses, when assembled, the purposes for which they have been convened.
Sec. 9. In case of disagreement between the two houses, in respect to the time of adjournment, he shall have power to adjourn the General Assembly to such time as he may think proper, but not beyond the regular meetings thereof.
Sec. 10. He shall be commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces of the State, except when they shall be called into the service of the United States.
Sec. 11. He shall have power, after conviction, to grant reprieves, commutations and pardons for all offences, (except treason and cases of impeachment,) upon such conditions as he may think proper, subject, however, to such regulations as to the manner of applying for pardons as may be prescribed by law; but such pardons shall not relieve from civil or political disability. Upon conviction of
