Sect. 1st. The Supreme Executive power of this State shall be vested in a Governor, who shall be styled, the Governor of the State of Indiana.
Sect. 2. The Governor shall be chosen by the qualified electors, on the first monday in August, at the places where they shall respectively vote for Representatives. The returns of every election for Governor shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of Government, directed to the speaker of the house of Representatives, who shall open and publish them in the presence of both houses of the General assembly. The person having the highest number of votes shall be governor, but if two or more shall be equal, and highest in votes, one of them shall be chosen Governor by the joint vote of the members of both houses. Contested elections shall be determined by a committee, to be selected from both houses of the General assembly and formed and regulated in such manner as shall be directed by law.
Sect. 3. The Governor shall hold his office during three years, from and after the third day of the first session of the General assembly, next ensuing his election, and until a successor shall be chosen and qualified, and shall not be capable of holding it longer than six years in any term of nine years.
Sect. 4. He shall be at least thirty years of age, and shall have been a citizen of the united States ten years, and have resided in the State five years next preceeding his Election; unless he shall have been absent on the business of the State, or of the United States; provided that this shall not disqualify any person from the office of Governor, who shall be a citizen of the United States, and Shall have resided in the Indiana Territory two years next preceeding the adoption of this Constitution.
Sect. 5. No member of Congress, or person holding any office under the united States, or this State, shall exercise the office of Governor, or Lieutenant Governor.
Sect. 6. The Governor shall, at Stated times, receive for his services a compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the term for which he shall have been elected.
Sect. 7. He shall be commander in chief of the army and Navy of this State and of the Militia thereof, except when they shall be called into service of the United States, but he shall not command personally in the field unless he shall be advised so to do by a resolution of the General assembly.
Sect. 8. He shall nominate, and, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint and commission all officers, the appointment of which is not otherwise directed by this Constitution, and all offices which may be created by the General Assembly, shall be filled in such manner as may be directed by law.
Sect. 9. Vacancies that may happen in offices, the appointment of which is vested in the Governor, and senate, or in the General Assembly, shall be filled by the Governor, during the recess of the General Assembly, by granting Commissions that shall expire at the end of the next Session.
Sect. 10. He shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures, grant reprieves and pardons, except in cases of impeachments.
Sect. 11. He may require information in writing, from the officers in the executive department, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices.
Sect. 12. He shall, from time to time, give to the General Assembly information of the affairs of the State, and recommend to their consideration, such measures as he shall deem expedient.
Sect. 13. He may, in extraordinary occasions, convene the General Assembly at the seat of Government, or at a different place, if that shall have become, since their last adjournment, dangerous from an enemy, or from contagious disorders, and in case of a disagreement between the two houses with respect to the time of adjournment, adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper, not beyond the time of their next annual Session.
Sect. 14. He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
Sect. 15. A Leiutenant Governor shall be chosen at every election for a Governor, in the same manner, continue in office for the same time, and possess the same qualifications. In voting for Governor, and Lieutenant Governor, the electors shall distinguish whom they vote for as Governor, and whom, as Lieutenant Governor.
Sect. 16. He shall, by virtue of his office, be President of the Senate, have a right, when in Committee of the whole, to debate and vote on all subjects, and when the senate are equally divided, to give the casting vote.
Sect. 17. In case of impeachment of the Governor, his removal from office, death, refusal to qualify, resignation, or absence from the State, the Lieutenant Governor shall exercise all the powers and authority appertaining to the office of Governor, until another be duly qualified, or the Governor absent, or impeached, shall return, or be acquitted.
Sect. 18. 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 that occasion. And if during the vacancy of the office of Governor, the Lieutenant Governor shall be impeached, removed from office, refuse to qualify, resign, die, or be absent from the State, the President of the senate pro tem, shall in like manner administer the Government, until he shall be superseded by a Governor or Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor, while he acts as president of the senate, shall receive, for his services the same Compensation which shall, for the same period, 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, and been entitled to, had he been employed in the duties of his office, and no more.
Sect. 19. The President pro tempore of the senate, during the time he administers the Government, shall receive in like manner, the same compensation, which the Governor would have received, had he been employed in the duties of his office, and no more.
Sect. 20. If the Lieutenant Governor shall be called upon to administer the Government, and shall, while in such administration, resign, die, or be absent from the State, during the recess of the General Assembly, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State, for the time being, to convene the Senate for the purpose of choosing a president pro tempore.
Sect. 21. A secretary of state shall be chosen by the joint ballot of both houses of the General Assembly, and be commissioned by the Governor for four years, or until a new secretary be chosen and qualified. He shall keep a fair register, and attest all the official acts and proceedings of the Governor, and shall, when required, lay the same and all papers, minutes and vouchers, relative thereto, before either house of the General assembly, and shall perform such other duties as may be enjoined him by law.
Sect. 22. Every bill, which shall have passed both houses of the General assembly, 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 have originated, who shall enter the objections at large upon their Journals and proceed to reconsider it; if after such reconsideration, a majority of all the members elected to that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by a majority of all the members elected to that house, it shall be a law; but, in such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for, and 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, it shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it; unless the General adjournment prevents its return, in which case it shall be a law, unless sent back within three days after their next meeting.
Sect. 23. Every resolution, to which the concurrence of both houses may be necessary, shall be presented to the Governor, and before it shall take effect, be approved by him, or being disapproved, shall be repassed by a majority of all the members elected to both houses, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in case of a bill.
Sect. 24. There shall be elected, by joint ballot of both houses of the General Assembly, a Treasurer, and Auditor, whose powers and duties shall be prescribed by law, and who shall hold their offices three years, and until their successors be appointed and qualified.
Sect 25. There shall be elected in each County, by the qualified electors thereof, one Sheriff, and one Coroner, at the times and places of holding elections for members of the General assembly. They shall continue in office two years, and until successors shall be chosen and duly qualified: provided, that no person shall be eligible to the office of sheriff more than four years in any term of six years.
Sect. 26. There shall be a seal of this State, which shall be kept by the Governor and used by him officially, and shall be called, the seal of the State of Indiana.