Untitled Document
The Territorial Act establishing
the Constitutional Convention provides, with respect to officers of the Convention,
as follows:
"The Governor of
Alaska shall open the convention and preside until temporary officers are
selected… (The Convention) shall have the power by vote of a majority
of the delegates to which the body is entitled to choose a president and secretary
and all other appropriate officers, to prescribe their functions, powers and
duties...."
The only duty assigned to
an officer of the Convention by the Act relates to the payment of Convention
expenses:
"The disbursements
for all costs attributable to the elections of delegates to the convention,
not to exceed $60, 000, shall be made upon vouchers certified by the Governor
of Alaska. All other disbursements of moneys appropriated hereunder (total
appropriation-$300,000) shall be made upon vouchers certified by the president
of the convention.”
The Hawaii Constitutional
Convention in 1950 provided for the following officers:
President
Vice Presidents (1 from each of four senatorial districts)
Secretary
The President in addition
to his duties as presiding officer was according to the Rules of the Convention
assigned the responsibility of naming all committees, except as the Convention
otherwise ordered. The Secretary kept a journal of the proceedings, determined
the calendar of business of the Convention in conformity to the Rules, and was
the official custodian of all papers and documents. (The Secretary may or may
not be a delegate). In addition to the officers named, the Hawaii Convention
elected a Chief Clerk, an Assistant Chief Clerk, two Sergeants at Arms, and
a Chaplain. Other staff were appointive.
The Constitutional Convention
of Puerto Rico had a President and two Vice Presidents. Other officials of the
Convention included a Secretary, a Sergeant at Arms, three Assistant Secretaries,
a Paymaster and a Property Clerk.
The New Jersey Constitutional
Convention Enabling Act of 1947 specifically provides for the election of a
president and a secretary. In addition, the delegates were authorized to choose
"all other appropriate officers, to prescribe their functions, powers,
and duties." In the conduct of the convention a president, first and second
vice presidents, and a secretary were chosen. Among other duties prescribed
in the rules of the convention, the president, with the secretary, was to certify
all official acts and all vouchers for payment of expenditures of the convention.
In addition, he was authorized to appoint all committees, except where the convention
otherwise ordered. The first and second vice presidents were assigned no specific
duties in the rules other than to preside and assume the duties of the president
in his temporary absence or temporary inability. A temporary absence or disability
was defined as one of less than five consecutive convention days.