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nor shall any person, otherwise competent, be deemed incompetent as a witness, or juror, on account of his religious belief; provided, he believes in the existence of God, and that under His dispensation such person will be held morally accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefor
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Article III creates the
Legislature, styled the General Assembly, separated into two houses, a Senate and House of Delegates, defines the qualification and number of members of each house, the means of election and provisions for removal from office for misconduct, and process for replacement of
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doctrine, which is implied in the federal constitution. The
Maryland Constitution states that "the Legislative, Executive and Judicial powers of Government ought to be forever separate and distinct from each other; and no person exercising the functions of one of said Departments shall assume or
81:, while the Unionists temporarily controlled Maryland. Approved by a bare majority (50.31%) of the state's eligible voters, including Maryland men who were serving in the Union army outside the state, it temporarily disfranchised the approximately 25,000 men in Maryland who had fought for the
445:, when the Maryland Constitution is amended the official text of the document is edited, removing language that is no longer in force. However, most printed versions of the constitution include annotations which indicate which portions were amended or removed and at what times.
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charged with certain crimes is suspended or removed from office. Under the amended law, an elected official would be suspended when found guilty and removed when the conviction becomes final or when pleading guilty or no contest. The amendment was approved with 88% of the vote.
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Article XI creates the City of
Baltimore and deems it an independent city, and provides it with a mayor and a two-part City Council with a maximum 90 day period of operation, and provides for several additional sub-articles within article XI regarding the operation of the City.
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and the
Fugitive Slave Law of 1850), and today very much the minority position. The right of the jury to be judge of the law has since been declared unconstitutional, at least with respect to matters implicating federal constitutional rights, by the
481:), as had been accomplished by other states through various means, beginning with Mississippi's new constitution of 1890. Other Maryland laws had already reduced black voter rolls, but this amendment was rejected by voters at the general election.
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Article I defines the requirements for holding elections, the qualifications to be allowed to vote, and penalties for voter misconduct (such as intentionally voting in a district one does not reside in, or voting more than once in an election).
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Article V creates the office of the
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Article II creates the offices of
Governor and Lieutenant Governor, establishes the qualifications for candidates, the rules for counting ballots, deciding who shall become governor or Lieutenant governor in the event of a tie,
100:, between May 8 and August 17, 1867. It was submitted to the adult white male citizens of the state for ratification on September 18 and was approved by a vote of 47,152 to 23,036. It took effect on October 5, 1867.
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Reflecting
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should be convened. Such a convention is called if a majority of the voters request it. At the latest election where this question could be asked in 2010, the voters did not choose to call a convention.
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to have a
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While the average state constitution has been amended approximately 115 times, as of 2004, the
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and various lower courts, sets the requirement for judges, length of tenure, and removal from office. It also provides for a Sheriff to be elected for each county.
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for misconduct, and the process for replacement if the office becomes vacant temporarily or permanently due to death, resignation, disability or impeachment.
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outside of their home district. The amendment was approved with 72.1% of the vote. The second amendment proposed to authorize the state to issue up to five
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with a three-fifths vote in both chambers. Amendments must then be ratified by a simple majority of the people voting on the question in a
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but, like most state bills of rights, is broader than the federal version. Among other things, the Maryland Constitution guarantees
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licenses for the primary purpose of raising revenue for education of children in
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is the proper and natural defence of a free Government," it does not guarantee a
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ballot for the state of Maryland. The first amendment proposed to require
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ballot for the state of Maryland. The first amendment proposed to allow
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under which the state has been governed. It was last amended in 2022.
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In 1970, voters approved an amendment that created the office of the
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786:"2012 General Election Results: Maryland State Board of Elections"
723:"2008 General Election Results: Maryland State Board of Elections"
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While the Declaration of Rights does say that "a well regulated
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Article VII provides for the election of County Commissioners.
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In 2012, three constitutional amendments were proposed on the
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found that an attempt to enforce this provision violated the
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A unanimous 1961 decision by US Supreme court in the case of
855:"2012 Ballot Question 3: Maryland State Board of Elections"
830:"2012 Ballot Question 2: Maryland State Board of Elections"
808:"2012 Ballot Question 1: Maryland State Board of Elections"
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Whitman H. Ridgway. Maryland Humanities Council (2001). "
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Whitman H. Ridgway. Maryland Humanities Council (2001). "
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668:"Maryland's appellate courts will get new names Dec. 14"
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244:. It also forbids, among other things, the passage of
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Maryland held a constitutional convention in 1967-68.
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to help keep power in the hands of the white elite.
152:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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504:In 2008, two amendments were proposed on the
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889:Richard E. Berg-Andersson (Dec 5, 2004). "
857:. elections.state.md.us. November 28, 2012
832:. elections.state.md.us. November 28, 2012
810:. Elections.state.md.us. November 28, 2012
788:. elections.state.md.us. November 28, 2012
621:Hayes-Williams, Janice (31 October 2020).
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725:. elections.state.md.us. December 3, 2008
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32:Constitution of the State of Maryland
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319:discharge the duties of any other."
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859:. Retrieved
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960:States
538:judges
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