Section 3. Terms of office of Governor; number of terms

Of his continuance in office

The Governor shall hold his office during three years from the third Tuesday of January next ensuing his election, and shall not be capable of holding it longer than six in any term of nine years.

Of his continuance in office

The Governor shall hold his office during three years from the third Tuesday of December next ensuing his election, and shall not be capable of holding it longer than nine in any term of twelve years.

For the present the Supreme Executive Council of this State shall consist of twelve persons chosen in the following manner: The Freemen of the City of Philadelphia, and of the Countys of Philadelphia, Chester and Bucks respectively shall choose by ballot one person for the City and one for each County aforesaid to serve for three years and no longer at the time and place for electing representatives in General Assembly. The Freemen of the Counties of Lancaster, York Cumberland and Berks shall in like manner elect one person for each County respectively to serve as Counsellors for two years and no longer. And the Counties of Northampton, Bedford Northumberland and Westmoreland respectively shall in like manner Elect one person for each County to serve as Counsellors for one year and no longer. And at the Expiration of the time for which each Counsellor was chosen to serve The freemen of the City of Philadelphia, and of the several Counties in this State respectively shall elect one person to serve as Counsellor for three years and no longer and so on every third year forever. by this mode of Election and Continual rotation more Men will be trained to Public Business, there will in every subsequent year be found in the Council a number of Persons acquainted with the proceedings of the foregoing Years, whereby the Business will be more consistently Conducted and moreover the danger of Establishing an inconvenient Aristocracy will be effectually prevented. All vacancies in the Council that may happen by Death, Resignation or otherwise shall be filled at the next General Election for Representatives in General Assembly, unless a particular Election for that purpose shall be sooner appointed by the President and Council. No Member of the General Assembly or Delegate in Congress shall be chosen a Member of Council. The President and Vice President shall be chosen Annually by the joint Ballot of the General Assembly and Council of the Members of the Council any person having served as a Counsellor for three successive years shall be incapable of holding that office for four Years afterwards. Every Member of the Council shall be a Justice of the Peace for the whole Common Wealth by Virtue of his Office. In case new Additional Counties shall hereafter be Erected in this State such County or Counties shall Elect a Counsellor and such County or Counties shall be annexed to the next Neighbouring Counties, and shall take rotation with such counties. The Council shall meet Annually at the same time and place with the General Assembly.

The Treasurer of the State, Trustees of the Loan Office, Naval Officers Collectors of Customs or Excise, Judge of the Admirality, Attornies General, Sheriffs and Prothonotaries, shall not be capable of a Seat in the General Assembly, Executive Council, or Continental Congress.