1953 session laws – Ch.2 Sec.1

G. S. 147-4 is stricken out and the following is substituted in lieu thereof: Sec. 147-4. The Executive Department shall consist of a Governor, a Lieutenant Governor, a Secretary of State, an Auditor, a Treasurer, a Superintendent of Public Instruction, an Attorney General, a Commissioner of Agriculture, a Commissioner of Insurance, and a Commissioner of Labor, who shall be elected for a term of four years, by the qualified electors of the State, at the same time and places, and in the same manner, as members of the General Assembly are elected. Their term of office shall commence on the first day of January next after their election and continue until their successors are elected and qualified. The persons having the highest number of votes, respectively, shall be declared duly elected, but if two or more be equal and highest in votes for the same office, then one of them shall be chosen by joint ballot of both Houses of the General Assembly. Contested elections shall be determined by a joint ballot of both Houses of the General Assembly in such manner as shall be prescribed by law. On the first Thursday after the convening of the General Assembly, the person duly elected Governor shall, in the presence of a joint session of the two Houses of the General Assembly, take the oath of office prescribed by law and be immediately inducted into the office of Governor. Should the Governor elected not be present at such joint session, then he may, as soon thereafter as he may deem proper, take the oath of office before some Justice of the Supreme Court and be inducted into office. As soon as the result of such election as to other officers of the Executive Department named in Article III, Section 1, of the Constitution shall be ascertained and published, the officers elected to such offices shall, as soon as may be, take the oath of office prescribed by law for such officers and be inducted into the offices to which they have been elected.