South Carolina Secretary of State
From Ballotpedia
| South Carolina Secretary of State | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| 2012-2013 FY Budget: | $2,251,369 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | South Carolina Constitution, Article VI, Section 7 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
 | |
| Name: | Mark Hammond |
| Officeholder Party: | Republican |
| Assumed office: | January 2003 |
| Compensation: | $92,007 |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 |
| Last election: | November 2, 2010 |
| Other South Carolina Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Comptroller • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Adjutant General • Inspector General • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
Contents |
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Mark Hammond.
Authority
The South Carolina Secretary of State's authority is established in Article VI, Section 7 of the state constitution.
Article VI, Section 7:
| There shall be elected by the qualified voters of the State a Secretary of State, an Attorney General, a Treasurer, a Superintendent of Education, Comptroller General, Commissioner of Agriculture, and an Adjutant General who shall hold their respective offices for a term of four years, coterminous with that of the Governor. The duties and compensation of such offices shall be prescribed by law and their compensation shall be neither increased nor diminished during the period for which they shall have been elected. |
Qualifications
Article VI, Section 7 of the South Carolina Constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:
| No person may be popularly elected to and serve in any office in this State or its political subdivisions unless he possesses the qualifications of an elector, is not disqualified by age as prescribed in this Constitution, and has not been convicted of a felony under state or federal law or convicted of tampering with a voting machine, fraudulent registration or voting, bribery at elections, procuring or offering to procure votes by bribery, voting more than once at elections, impersonating a voter, or swearing falsely at elections/taking oath in another's name, or has not pled guilty or nolo contendere to these offenses. However, notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, this prohibition does not apply to a person who has been pardoned under state or federal law or to a person who files for public office fifteen years or more after the completion date of service of the sentence, including probation and parole time, nor shall any person, serving in office prior to the ratification of this provision, be required to vacate the office to which he is elected. No person may be elected or appointed to office in this State for life or during good behavior, but the terms of all officers must be for some specified period except officers in the militia. |
- possess the qualities of an elector
- not disqualified by age as prescribed in this Constitution
- has not been convicted of a felony under state or federal law or convicted of tampering with a voting machine, fraudulent registration or voting, bribery at elections, procuring or offering to procure votes by bribery, voting more than once at elections, impersonating a voter, or swearing falsely at elections/taking oath in another's name, or has not pled guilty or nolo contendere to these offenses
Elections
Article VI, Section 7 of the state constitution stipulates the secretary of state will be elected every four years, to a term of four year term. The secretary, like South Carolina's other executive officials, is elected in mid-term elections: 2010, 2014, and 2018.
Duties
The secretary of state maintains a database of all notaries public, issues commissions for elected and appointed officials, issues state-wide cable franchises, serves as the repository for several types of municipal filings, and regulates charitable organizations, professional fundraisers, business opportunities, and employment agencies. The office is responsible for the statewide filing of most registrations, including:
- business corporations
- nonprofit corporations
- limited partnerships
- limited liability partnerships
- limited liability companies
- Uniform Commercial Code secured transactions
- state trademarks[1][2]
Divisions
The secretary of state's office is comprised of four divisions:
- The Division of Business Filings charters corporations and other business entities, records liens made under the Uniform Commercial Code and serves as a registered agent for foreign corporations not authorized to to business in South Carolina. This division also licenses employment agencies and monitors certain types of investments for business opportunities.
- The Trademarks Division registers trademarks and service marks used in commerce in South Carolina, and investigates counterfeit marks and fraudulent use of registered trademarks.
- The Division of Public Charities is responsible for the oversight and regulation of charitable organizations and professional fundraisers pursuant to the state's Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act.
- The Cable Franchise Authority regulates cable television providers within the state.
State budget
The budget for the Secretary of State's office in Fiscal Year 2012-2013 was $2,251,369.[3]
Compensation
In 2010, the South Carolina Secretary of State was paid an estimated $92,007 according to the Council of State Governments.[4]
Contact information
South Carolina Secretary of State
Edgar Brown Building
1205 Pendleton Street
Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 734-2170
Fax: (803) 734-1661
E-mail: rdaggerhart@sos.sc.gov
See also
- Mark Hammond, South Carolina Secretary of State
- Governor of South Carolina
- Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
- Attorney General of South Carolina
- South Carolina Constitution
External links
References
- ↑ SCSOS.com, "General FAQs," accessed October 13, 2011
- ↑ SCSOS.com, "Mission statement," accessed October 13, 2011
- ↑ South Carolina Budget and Control Board, "Current Budget Plans FY 2013-2014," accessed April 9, 2013
- ↑ The Council of State Governments,"The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," retrieved April 23, 2011
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