The County Council may, by ordinance, approved by the affirmative vote of at least six members, propose the termination of this Charter and return of the County to the County Commission form of government in effect prior to the adoption of this Charter. The same proposal may be made by petition signed by twenty per centum or more of the registered voters of the County, or 10,000 or more of such registered voters in case twenty per centum is greater than 10,000. Such petition shall conform with the requirements of Article XI-A of the Constitution of the State of Maryland and shall be filed with the County Executive. The question so proposed by act of the County Council or by petition shall be published by the County Executive in at least one newspaper of general circulation published in the County once each month for five successive months prior to the next general election or Congressional election occurring after the passage of such act or the filing of such petition. At such election, such question shall be submitted to the voters of the County, and if the majority of votes cast on the question shall be in favor of repealing this Charter, then, at the next quadrennial election, County Commissioners shall be elected under the public general laws of the State of Maryland. When the County Commissioners so elected have qualified for office, this Charter shall terminate. All laws, regulations and ordinances in effect at the termination of this Charter shall remain in force until changed by action of the General Assembly of Maryland, or the Board of County Commissioners, as provided by the Constitution and public general laws of this State.
(a) Amendments to this Charter may be proposed by a resolution of the County Council approved by not less than five of its members, and such action shall be exempt from executive veto. Amendments may also be proposed by petition filed with the Chair of the County Council and signed by not less than twenty per centum of the registered voters of the County, or 10,000 or more of such registered voters in case twenty per centum of the number of registered voters is greater than 10,000. When so proposed, whether by resolution of the County Council or by petition, the County Council shall make available to the press and public a reasonable number of copies of the question which shall be submitted to the voters of the County at the next general or Congressional election occurring after the passage of said act or the filing of said petition; and if at said election the majority of votes cast on the question shall be in favor of the proposed amendment, such amendment shall stand adopted from and after the thirtieth day following said election. Any amendments to this Charter, proposed in the manner aforesaid, shall be published by the Chair of the County Council in at least one newspaper of general circulation published in the County for five successive weeks prior to the election at which the question shall be considered by the voters of the County.
(b) If, at the election held on November 3, 1992, or at any election thereafter, the voters approve Charter amendments containing provisions so inconsistent that only one can be given effect, only the amendment that receives the higher number of favorable votes shall take effect and amend the Charter.
(Res. No. 44-88; Res. No. 32-90; Res. No. 51-92; Res. No. 30-22)
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