Page:Revised Statutes of the State of North Carolina - Volume 1.djvu/47

Rh 5. The governor elect shall enter on the duties of the office on the first day of January next after his election, having previously taken the oaths of office in presence of the members of both branches of the General Assembly, or before the chief of justice of the supreme court, who, in case the governor elect should be prevented from attendance before the General Assembly, by sickness or other unavoidable cause, it authorized to administer the same.

1. The governor, judges of the supreme court, and judges of the superior courts, and all other officers of this State, (except the justices of the peace and militia officers,) may be impeached for wilfully violating any article of the constitution, mal-administration or corruption.

2. Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall not extend further than to removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under this State; but the party convicted, may, nevertheless, be liable to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.

3. The house of commons shall have the sole power of impeachment. The senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments; no person shall be convicted upon any impeachment, unless twothirds of the senators present shall concur in such conviction; and before the trial of any impeachment, the members of the senate shall take an oath or affirmation truly and impartially to try and determine the charge in question according to evidence.

1. Any judge of the supreme court, or of the superior courts, may be removed from office for mental or physical inability, upon a concurrent resolution of twothirds of both branches of General Assembly. The judge, against whom the legislature may be about to proceed, shall receive notice thereof, accompanied by a copy of the causes alleged for his removal, at least twenty days before the day on which either branch of the General Assembly shall act thereon.

2. The salaries of the judges of the supreme court, or of the superior courts, shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.