Page:New York Constitution of 1846.pdf/20

 ARTICLE X.

Section 1. [Election and removal of certain county officers.]— Sheriffs, clerks of counties, including the register and clerk of the city and county of New York, coroners, and district attorneys shall be chosen by the electors of the respective counties once in every three years, and as often as vacancies shall happen. Sheriffs shall hold no other office, and be ineligible for the next three years after the termination of their offices. They may be required by law to renew their security from time to time; and in default of giving such new security, their offices shall be deemed vacant. But the county shall never be made responsible for the acts of the sheriff.

The governor may remove any officer in this section mentioned, within the term for which he shall have been elected; giving to such officer a copy of the charges against him, and an opportunity of being heard in his defense.

§ 2. [Local officers, how chosen.]—All county officers whose election or appointment is not provided for by this Constitution shall be elected by the electors of the respective counties, or appointed by the boards of supervisors or other county authorities, as the legislature shall direct. All city, town, and village officers whose election or appointment is not provided for by this Constitution shall be elected by the electors of such cities, towns, and villages, or of sonic division thereof, or appointed by such authorities thereof, as the legislature shall designate for that purpose. All other officers whose election or appointment is not provided for by this Constitution, and all officers whose offices may hereafter be created by law, shall be elected by the people, or appointed, as the legislature may direct.

§ 3. [Duration of certain offices, how fixed.]—When the duration of any office is not provided by this Constitution, it may be declared by law, and if not so declared, such office shall be held during the pleasure of the authority making the appointment. § 4. [Legislature to prescribe time of elections.]—The time of electing all officers named in this article shall be prescribed by law. § 5. [Vacancies.]—The legislature shall provide for filling vacancies in office, and, in case of elective officers, no person appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold his office by virtue of such appointment longer than the commencement of the political year next succeeding the first annual election after the happening of the vacancy. § 6. [Political year and legislative term; opening of legislature.]—The political year and legislative term shall begin on the first day of January, and the legislature shall, every year, assemble on the first Tuesday in January, unless a different day shall be appointed by law.

§ 7. [Removal of officers.]—Provision shall be made by law for the removal for misconduct or malversation in office, of all officers (except judicial) whose powers and duties are not local or