Page:Arkansas Constitution 1874 (published 1913).pdf/17

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Biennial Report of Secretary of State.
27

Sec. 2. The supreme executive power of this State shall be vested in a chief magistrate, who shall be styled "the Governor of the State of Arkansas."

Sec. 3. The Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer of State, Auditor of State and Attorney General shall be elected by the qualified electors of the State at large at the time and places of voting for members of the General Assembly; the returns of each election therefor shall be sealed up separately and transmitted to the seat of government by the returning officers, and directed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall, during the first week of the session, open and publish the votes cast and given for each of the respective officers hereinbefore mentioned, in the presence of both houses of the General Assembly. The person having the highest number of votes for each of the respective offices shall be declared duly elected thereto; but if two or more shall be equal, and highest in votes for the same office, one of them shall be chosen by the joint vote of both houses of the General Assembly, and a majority of all the members elected shall be necessary to a choice.

Sec. 4. Contested elections for Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer of State, Auditor of State and Attorney General shall be determined by the members of both houses of the General Assembly in joint session, who shall have exclusive jurisdiction in trying and determining the same, except as hereinafter provided in the ease of special elections; and all such contests shall be tried and determined at the first session of the General Assembly after the election in which the same shall have arisen.

Sec. 5. No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor except a citizen of the United States who shall have attained the age of thirty years, and shall have been seven years a resident of this State.

Sec. 6. The Governor shall be commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces of this State, except when they shall be called into the actual service of the United States.

Sec. 7. He may require information in writing from the officers of the executive department on any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and shall see that the laws are faithfully executed.

Sec. 8. He shall give to the General Assembly from time to time, and at the close of his official term to the next General Assembly, information by message concerning the condition and government of the State, and recommend for their consideration such measures as he may deem expedient.

Sec. 9. A seal of the State shall be kept by the Governor, used by him officially, and called the "Great Seal of the State of Arkansas."

Sec. 10. All grants and commissions shall be issued in the name and by the authority of the State of Arkansas, sealed with the great seal of the State, signed by the Governor and attested by the Secretary of State.