North Carolina manual.

2008·330.3 MB·English

by  North Carolina. Secretary of State

No nk i 'uraliiui ncctefcuy oj Stalg

NOV 1 0 2009

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2016
https://archive.org/details/northcarolinaman2007nort
printing information
This publication is printed on permanent, acid-free paper in compliance with
the General Statutes of North Carolina. 3,000 copies of this document were printed
at a total cost of $27,390.00 or $9.13 per copy.
NORTH CAROLINA
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North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State
Executive
Elaine F. Marshall North Carolina Secretary of State
Rodney Maddox Chief Deputy Secretary of State
George Jeter Director of Communications
Publications Division
Sam Stowe Director of Publications
Linda Wise Editorial Assistant
Cathy Moss Editorial Assistant
mailing address
NC Department of the Secretary of State
PO Box 29622
Raleigh NC 27626-0622
Web site address
www.sosnc.com
SbCRblARY OF STATE
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A Message from the North Carolina Secretary of State
For over a century, the North Carolina Manual has served as an accurate and
thorough reference source for North Carolina state government and politics. In
fact, I cannot think of another source for these topics as comprehensive as the one
you are currently holding in your hand.
Americans in general and North Carolinians in particular have always emphasized
the importance of an informed citizenry in maintaining the health of our democracy
The North Carolina Manual informs us about what our government does and who
makes decisions that affect us. The Manual helps the state’s various executive branch
agencies, universities and colleges and other institutions educate the people of North
Carolina about their respective missions. In turn, I think, the Manual reminds us
that state government — and the political process — is not some faceless machine,
but a human creation that functions only as well as the wisdom and sound judgment
of the people who lead it.
The North Carolina Manual also helps put a face on North Carolina itself for the
many people outside our state who may wonder what kind of place North Carolina
is and what its residents are like. Our state, as all of us know, enjoys a combination
NORTH CAROLINA
of scenic beauty, diversity of natural resources and quality of living that is unmatched
by any other state in the United States. It is also a place where people accomplish
some pretty remarkable goals without undue or excessive public pride or
boastfulness. North Carolina’s greatest resource throughout its four centuries of
existence has been its people. Our state has provided far more than its fair share of
regional and national leaders in politics, journalism, science, technology, business,
industry, national defense, education and the arts. 1 think we will see, as this young
century continues, that many of the solutions to the challenges facing us as a nation
will first take root in North Carolina. Our state, in many respects, is a very humble,
unpretentious giant.
If this edition of the North Carolina Manual is your first exposure to our state,
I would like to thank you for taking an interest in North Carolina. As any of our
residents can tell you, it is an interest that will repay you many times over. Enjoy!
Elaine F. Marshall
N.C. Secretary of State
SFCRblARY Oh SI ATE
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Introduction
North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State 7
A Message from the North Carolina Secretary of State 8
Chapter one
North Carolina’s State Symbols 21
Chapter two
North Carolina’s Beginnings 69
Chapter three
Our Constitutions: An Historical Perspective 85
Chapter four
The Council of State and the Executive Branch 149
The Office of the Governor 157
Michael F. Easley 161
Office of the Lieutenant Governor 179
Beverly Eaves Perdue 180
Department of the Secretary of State 183
Elaine E Marshall 187
Office of the State Auditor 196
Leslie Merritt 197
Department of State Treasurer 198
Richard H. Moore 204
Department of Public Instruction 210
June Atkinson 212
Office of the Attorney General 215
Roy A. Cooper 223
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 231
Steve Troxler 241
Department of Labor 244
Cherie K. Berry 250
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