Sec.5.  The governor has power also, in some of the states, with the consent of the senate, to appoint the higher officers of the militia of the state, and the higher civil officers in the executive and judicial departments.  In a few of the states, there are executive councils whose advice and consent are required in such cases.  In making such appointments, the governor nominates, that is, he names to the senate, in writing, the persons to be appointed.  If a majority of the senators consent, the persons so nominated are appointed.  Many other duties are by the constitution devolved upon the governor.

Sec.6.  A lieutenant-governor has few duties to perform.  He presides in the senate, in which he has only a casting vote.  In the state of New York, he serves in some of the boards of executive officers.  In nearly one-half of the states the office of lieutenant-governor does not exist.  The chief object of electing this officer seems to be to provide a suitable person to fill the vacancy in the office of governor in case the latter should die, resign, be removed, or otherwise become incompetent.

Sec.7.  When the lieutenant-governor acts as governor, the senate chooses from its own number a president.  If the offices of both the governor and lieutenant-governor should become vacant, the president of the senate must act as governor.  If there should be neither a governor, a lieutenant-governor, nor a president or speaker of the senate, then, the speaker of the house of representatives would become the acting governor.  This is believed to be the rule for supplying vacancies in most if not all of the states.

Chapter XIII.

Assistant Executive State Officers.

Sec.1.  Among the executive officers who assist in the administration of the government, there are in every state, some or all of the following:  a secretary of state, a controller or auditor, a treasurer, an attorney-general, a surveyor-general.  The mode of their appointment and the terms of their respective offices, are prescribed by the constitution or by law.  In some states they are appointed by the governor and senate; in others by the legislature; and in others they are elected by the people.  They keep their offices at the seat of government of the state.

Sec.2.  The secretary of state keeps a record of the official acts and proceedings of the legislature and of the executive departments, and has the care of the books, records, deeds of the state, parchments, the laws enacted by the legislature, and all other papers and documents required by law to be kept in his office.  He causes the laws passed by the legislature to be published in one or more newspapers, as directed by law; and also to be printed and bound in a volume, and distributed among the state officers for their use, and among the county and town clerks, to be kept in their offices for the use of the people who wish to examine the laws.  Also one or more copies are exchanged with each of the other states for copies of their laws to be kept in the state library.  Various other duties are performed by the secretary.