The state's first constitution, adopted in 1776 and substantially amended in 1835, was replaced in 1868 as a condition of readmission to the Union. The present constitution, based heavily on the immediately preceding one, became effective in 1971. Proposals for constitutional amendments may be approved by a three-fifths vote in each house of the legislature and then approved by a majority of the popular vote. The political parties choose their candidates in even-year primaries held on a date (usually in May) fixed by the General Assembly. A voter must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age, and a resident of the state for 30 days. Registration is canceled for convicted felons and for those who fail to vote for more than four years.
Structure of Government.
The constitution provides for three branches of government - the executive, legislative, and judicial.
The chief executive officer is the governor, who from 1776 to 1835 was elected to a one-year term by joint ballot of the legislature, and from 1836 to 1868 to a two-year term by qualified voters. After 1868 the governor was limited to one four-year elected term, but a constitutional amendment approved in 1977 permitted a governor to serve two consecutive elected terms and an unlimited number of non-consecutive terms.
The office of governor, even with its wide appointive powers, is one of the weakest among the states and is the only one without veto power. A council of state made up of department heads elected by statewide ballot acts with the governor in an advisory and limiting capacity. The governor's cabinet, for which there is no constitutional provision, is made up of appointed department heads.
The General Assembly, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives, is elected biennially in even-numbered years. The districts are redrawn at least decennially for fairer population distribution. The lieutenant governor presides over the Senate; the House elects its own speaker.
North Carolina's general court of justice consists of a state supreme court with a chief justice and six associate justices elected by popular vote to eight-year terms; an intermediate court of appeals with 12 judges and a superior court of about 75 judges, all elected to eight-year terms; and district and magistrates' courts. A vacancy is filled by appointment of the governor until the next general election.
Political Divisions.
The 100 counties are the most important political divisions in the state. Their broad powers, derived both from constitution and statute, are exercised mainly by a board of commissioners. There are no "independent cities"; in other words, each of the more than 500 municipalities is also a part of the county in which it is located. Municipalities are governed by a city council (variously named) and an elected mayor, appointed manager, or both.
Public Finance.
By far the major sources of the state's revenue are the individual and corporate income taxes, sales tax, gasoline tax, and various license fees. The constitution requires a balanced state budget. Property taxes are the chief support of local governments, and together the counties, municipalities, and special tax districts produce a layered system of property taxation. State and local expenditures are made principally for education, welfare, hospitals and health services, highways, law enforcement, and correctional institutions.
Politics.
"Waving the bloody shirt" and espousing white supremacy, the Democrats defeated the newly formed Republican Party during Reconstruction and , except for a brief period of Republican-Populist fusion in the 1890's, remained the dominant political force in North Carolina for a century. Party loyalty began to wane after World War II and fell precipitously as more powers were transferred from the state to the federal government in the 1960's. The fortunes of the Democrats reached a low point in 1972, when Republicans elected their first governor and U.S. senator in the 20th century and swept 98 of the 100 counties in the presidential election. Despite continued Democratic superiority in voter registration and control of the legislature and most local governments, North Carolina has become a two-party state.
