Article VII - Local Government

N.C. Const. (1971)

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Section 1

The General Assembly shall provide for the organization and
government and the fixing of boundaries of counties, cities and towns, and
other governmental subdivisions, and, except as otherwise prohibited by this
Constitution, may give such powers and duties to counties, cities and towns,
and other governmental subdivisions as it may deem advisable.
The General Assembly shall not incorporate as a city or town,
nor shall it authorize to be incorporated as a city or town, any territory
lying within one mile of the corporate limits of any other city or town having
a population of 5,000 or more according to the most recent decennial census of
population taken by order of Congress, or lying within three miles of the
corporate limits of any other city or town having a population of 10,000 or
more according to the most recent decennial census of population taken by order
of Congress, or lying within four miles of the corporate limits of any other
city or town having a population of 25,000 or more according to the most recent
decennial census of population taken by order of Congress, or lying within five
miles of the corporate limits of any other city or town having a population of
50,000 or more according to the most recent decennial census of population
taken by order of Congress. Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations, the
General Assembly may incorporate a city or town by an act adopted by vote of
three-fifths of all the members of each house.

Section 2

In each county a Sheriff shall be elected by the qualified
voters thereof at the same time and places as members of the General Assembly
are elected and shall hold his office for a period of four years, subject to
removal for cause as provided by law. No person is eligible to serve as Sheriff
if that person has been convicted of a felony against this State, the United
States, or another state, whether or not that person has been restored to the
rights of citizenship in the manner prescribed by law. Convicted of a felony
includes the entry of a plea of guilty; a verdict or finding of guilt by a
jury, judge, magistrate, or other adjudicating body, tribunal, or official,
either civilian or military; or a plea of no contest, nolo contendere, or the
equivalent. (2010-49, s. 1)

Section 3

Any unit of local government formed by the merger or
consolidation of a county or counties and the cities and towns therein shall be
deemed both a county and a city for the purposes of this Constitution, and may
exercise any authority conferred by law on counties, or on cities and towns, or
both, as the General Assembly may provide.