Article VII.
Organization and Government of Counties

Section 112.

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County and city officers

There shall be elected by the qualified voters of each county and city a treasurer, a sheriff, an attorney for the Commonwealth, a clerk, who shall be clerk of the court in the office of which deeds are recorded, and a commissioner of revenue. The duties and compensation of such officers shall be prescribed by general law or special act.
Regular elections for such officers shall be held on Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Such officers shall take office on the first day of the following January unless otherwise provided by law and shall hold their respective offices for the term of four years, except that the clerk shall hold office for eight years.
The General Assembly may provide for county or city officers or methods of their selection, including permission for two or more units of government to share the officers required by this section, without regard to the provisions of this section, either (1) by general law to become effective in any county or city when submitted to the qualified voters thereof in an election held for such purpose and approved by a majority of those voting thereon in each such county or city, or (2) by special act upon the request, made after such an election, of each county or city affected. No such law shall reduce the term of any person holding an office at the time the election is held. A county or city not required to have or to elect such officers prior to the effective date of this Constitution shall not be so required by this section.
The General Assembly may provide by general law or special act for additional officers and for the terms of their office.

This item is based on 5 items:

1902 — Article VII. Section 110

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1902 — Article VII. Section 112

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1902 — Article VIII. Section 118

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1902 — Article VIII. Section 119

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1902 — Article VIII. Section 120

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Elections for county and district officers, when held; terms of officers

Regular elections for county and district officers shall be held on Tuesday after the first Monday in November, and such officers shall enter upon the duties of their offices on the first day of January next succeeding their election, and shall hold their respective offices for the term of four years, except that the county clerks shall hold office for eight years.

All regular elections for county and district officers shall be held on Tuesday after the first Monday in November, and all of said officers shall enter upon the duties of their offices on the first day of January next succeeding their election, and shall hold, their respective offices for the term of four years, except that the county clerk shall hold office for eight years; provided that the term of the clerks first elected under this Constitution shall begin on the first of February, nineteen hundred and four, and end on the first of January, nineteen hundred and twelve.

There shall be elected by the qualified voters of the county one sheriff, one attorney for the commonwealth (who shall also be the commonwealth's attorney for the circuit court), one county clerk (who shall also be the clerk of the circuit court, except that in counties containing fifteen thousand inhabitants there may be a separate clerk for the circuit court), one county treasurer, and so many commissioners of the revenue as may be provided by law; and there shall be appointed in a like manner, to be provided by law, one superintendent of the poor and one county surveyor; and there shall also be appointed in the manner provided for in article eight one superintendent of schools.
All regular election for county officers shall be held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November, and all officers elected or appointed under this provision shall enter upon the duties of their offices on the first day of January next succeeding their election, and shall hold their respective offices for the term of four years, except that county and circuit court clerks shall hold office for six years.

There shall be elected by the qualified voters of the county, one sheriff, one attorney for the commonwealth, who shall also be the commonwealth's attorney for the circuit court; one county clerk, who shall also be clerk of the circuit court, except that in counties containing fifteen thousand inhabitants, there may be a separate clerk for the circuit court; one county treasurer, and so many commissioners of the revenue as may be provided by law; and there shall be appointed, in a manner to be provided by law, one superintendent of the poor, and one county surveyor; and there shall also be appointed, in the manner provided for in article eight, one superintendent of schools. All regular elections for county officers shall be held on the fourth Thursday in May; and all officers elected or appointed, under this provision, shall enter upon the duties of their offices on the first day of July, next succeeding their election, and shall hold their respective offices for the term of four years, except that county and circuit court clerks shall hold their offices for six years.

There shall be elected by the qualified voters of the county, one Sheriff; one Attorney for the Commonwealth, who shall also be the Commonwealth's Attorney for the Circuit Court; one County Clerk, who shall also be the clerk of the Circuit Court, except that in counties containing fifteen thousand inhabitants there may be a separate clerk for the circuit court; one County Treasurer; and one Superintendent of the Poor. And there shall be appointed in the manner provided for in Article eight, one Superintendent of Schools: Provided, that counties containing less than eight thousand inhabitants may be attached to adjoining counties for the formation of districts for Superintendents of Schools: Provided also, that in counties containing thirty thousand inhabitants there may be appointed an additional Superintendent of Schools therein. All regular elections for county officers shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, and all officers elected or appointed under this provision shall enter upon the duties of their offices on the first day of January next succeeding their election, and shall hold their respective offices for the term of three years, except that the County and Circuit Court Clerks shall hold their offices for four years.

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1902 — Article VII. Section 110

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1902 — Article VII. Section 112

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The voters of each county shall elect a clerk of the county court, a surveyor, an attorney for the Commonwealth, a sheriff, and so many commissioners of the revenue as may be authorized by law, who shall hold their respective offices as follows: The clerk, the commissioner of the revenue, and the surveyor for the term of six years; the attorney for the term of four years, and the sheriff for the term of two years. Constables and overseers of the poor shall be elected by the voters as may be prescribed by law.

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1870 — Article VI. Section 16

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1870 — Article VII. Section 1

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The voters of each county shall elect a clerk of the county court, a surveyor, an attorney for the commonwealth, a sheriff, and so many commissioners of the revenue as may be authorized by law, who shall hold their respective offices as follows: The clerk and the surveyor for the term of six years; the attorney for the term of four years; the sheriff and the commissioners for the term of two years. Constables and overseers of the poor shall be elected by the voters, as may be prescribed by law.

The Attorney-General shall be appointed by joint vote of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and commissioned by the Governor, and shall hold his office during the pleasure of the General Assembly. The Clerks of the several courts, when vacancies shall occur, shall be appointed by their respective courts, and the tenure of office, as well of those now in office as of those who may be hereafter appointed, shall be prescribed by law. The Sheriffs and coroners shall be nominated by the respective county courts, and when approved by the Governor, shall be commissioned by him. The justices shall appoint constables. And all fees of the aforesaid officers shall be regulated by law.

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1851 — Article VI. Section 18

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1851 — Article VI. Section 19

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1851 — Article VI. Section 20

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1851 — Article VI. Section 22

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1851 — Article VI. Section 30

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Redlined Comparison between 1901 and 1902 Amendment

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