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Constitutions of Texas 1824-1876

Article V: Executive Department

ARTICLE V.beginning page of Article V

Executive Department.

SECTION 1. The supreme executive power of this State shall be vested in the Chief Magistrate, who shall be styled the Governor of the State of Texas.

SEC. 2. The Governor shall be elected by the qualified electors of the State, at the time and places of elections for members of the Legislature.

SEC. 3. The returns of every election for Governor, until otherwise provided by law, shall be made out, sealed up, and transmitted to the Seat of Government, and directed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall, during the first week of the session of the Legislature thereafter, open and publish them in the presence of both Houses of the Legislature; the person having the highest number of votes, and being constitutionally eligible, shall be declared by the Speaker, under the direction of the Legislature, to be Governor; but if two ore more persons shall have the highest and an equal number of votes, one of them shall be immediately chosen Governor by joint vote of both Houses of the Legislature. Contested elections for Governor shall be determined by both Houses of the Legislature.

SEC. 4. The Governor shall hold his office for the term of two years from the regular time of installation, and until his successor shall be duly qualified; by shall not be eligible for more than four years in any term of six years; he shall be at least thirty years of age, shall be a citizen of the State of Texas, and shall have resided n the same three years immediately preceding his election."]

SEC. 5. He shall, at stated times, receive a compensation for his services, which shall not be increased or diminished, during the term for which he shall have been elected. The first Governor shall receive an annual salary of two thousand dollars and no more.

[By a law of 1855, the salary of the Governor is fixed at $3,000 per annum.]

SEC. 6. The Governor shall be Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of this State, and of the Militia, except when they shall be called into the service of the Confederate States of America."]

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.

SEC. 8. He may by proclamation on extraordinary occasions convene the Legislature at the Seat of Government, or at a different place, if that should be in the actual possession of a public enemy. In case of disagreement between the two Houses, with respect to adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper, not beyond the day of the next regular meeting of the Legislature.

SEC. 9. He shall from time to time give to the Legislature information, in writing, of the state of the Government, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he may deem expedient.

SEC. 10. He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

SEC. 11. In all criminal cases, except in those of treason and impeachment, he shall have power, after conviction, to grant reprieves and pardons; and, under such rules as the Legislature may prescribe, he shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures. In cases of treason, he shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to grant reprieves and pardons, and he may, in the recess of the Senate, respite the sentence, until the end of the next session of the Legislature.

SEC. 12. There shall also be a Lieutenant-Governor, who shall be chosen at every election for Governor, by the same persons and in the same manner, and who shall continue in office for the same time, and possess the same qualifications. In voting for Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, the electors shall distinguish for whom they vote as Governor, and for whom as Lieutenant-Governor. The Lieutenant-Governor shall, by virtue of his office, be President of the Senate, and have, when in committee of the whole, a right to debate and vote on all questions, and when the Senate is equally divided, to give the casting vote. In case of the death, resignation, removal from office, inability or refusal of the Governor to serve, or of his impeachment or absence from the State, the Lieutenant-Governor shall exercise the powers and authority appertaining to the office of Governor, and shall be styled Governor of the State of Texas, until another be chosen at the periodical election, and be duly qualified; or until the Governor impeached, absent or disabled, shall be acquitted, return, or his disability be removed. The Governor and Lieutenant-Governor shall hereafter be installed into office on the first Thursday after the first Monday of November, A. D. 1861, and on the same day every two years thereafter."]

SEC. 13. Whenever the government shall be administered by the Lieutenant-Governor, or he shall be unable to attend as President of the Senate, the Senate shall elect one of their own members as President for the time being. And if, during the vacancy of the office of the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor shall die, resign, refuse to serve, or be removed from office, or be unable to serve, or if he shall be impeached, or absent from the State, the President of the Senate for the time being, shall in like manner administer the government until he shall be superceded by a Governor or Lieutenant-Governor. The Lieutenant-Governor shall, whilst he acts as President of the Senate, receive for his services the same compensation which shall be allowed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and no more, and during the time he administers the government as Governor, shall receive the same compensation which the Governor would have received had he been employed in the duties of his office, and no more. The President for the time being of the Senate shall, during the time he administers the government, receive in like manner the same compensation which the Governor would have received, had he been employed in the duties of his office. If the Lieutenant-Governor shall be required to administer the government, and shall, whilst in such administration die, resign, or be absent from the State, during the recess of the Legislature, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State, to convene the Senate for the purpose of choosing a President for the time being.

SEC. 14. There shall be a seal of the State, which shall be kept by the Governor and used by him officially. The said seal shall be a star of five points, encircled by an olive and live oak branches, and the words "The State of Texas."

SEC. 15. All commissions shall be in the name and by the authority of the State of Texas, be sealed with the State Seal, signed by the Governor and attested by the Secretary of State.

SEC. 16. There shall be a Secretary of State, who shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall continue in office during the term of service of the Governor elect. He shall keep a fair register of all official acts and proceedings of the Governor, and shall, when required, lay the same and all papers, minutes and vouchers, relative thereto, before the Legislature, or either House thereof, and shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by law.

SEC. 17. Every bill which shall have passed both Houses of the Legislature shall be presented to the Governor; if he approve, he shall sign it; but if not, he shall return it with his objections to the House in which it shall have originated who shall enter the objections at large upon the journals and proceed to reconsider it; if, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present, of that House, it shall become a law; but in such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of members voting for or against the bill, shall be entered on the journals of each House respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the Governor within five days, Sundays excepted, after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law in like manner, as if he had signed it. Every bill presented to the Governor one day previous to the adjournment of the Legislature, and not returned to the House in which it originated before its adjournment, shall become a law, and have the same force and effect as if signed by the Governor.

SEC. 18. Every order, resolution or vote, to which the concurrence of both Houses of Legislature may be necessary, except on questions of adjournment, shall be presented to the Governor, and before it shall take effect, be approved by him; or being disapproved, shall be re-passed by both Houses, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill.

SEC. 19. The Governor, by and with the advice and consent of two-thirds of the Senate, shall appoint a convenient number of Notaries Public, not exceeding six for each county, who in addition to such duties as are prescribed by law, shall discharge such other duties as the Legislature may from time to time prescribe.

SEC. 20. Nominations to fill vacancies that may have occurred during the recess, shall be made to the Senate during the first ten days of its session. And should any nomination so made be rejected, the same individual shall not again be nominated during session to fill the same office. And should the Governor fail to make nominations to fill any vacancy during the session of the Senate, such vacancy shall not be filled by the Governor until the next meeting of the Senate.

SEC. 21. The Governor shall reside during the session of the Legislature, at the place where the sessions may be held, and at all other times whenever, in their opinion, the public good may require.

SEC. 22. No person holding the office of Governor, shall hold any other office or commission, civil or military.

SEC. 23. A State Treasurer and Comptroller of public accounts shall be biennially elected, by the joint ballot of both Houses of the Legislature, and in case of vacancy in either of said offices, during the recess of the Legislature, such vacancy shall be filled by the Governor, which appointment shall continue until the close of the next session of the Legislature thereafter.

[By the amendment made to the Constitution in 1850, the State Treasurer and Comptroller are elected by the people.]

(Transcription, errors in original preserved)

Article V, Sections 1-6

Article V, Sections 1-6

Article V, Sections 6-12

Article V, Sections 6-12

Article V, Sections 12-16

Article V, Sections 12-16

Article V, Sections 17-21

Article V, Sections 17-21

Article V, Sections 22-23; Article VI, Sections 1-4

Article V, Sections 22-23; Article VI, Sections 1-4