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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 4 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 5 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 7 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 8