Constitution of Connecticut (2025 publisher edition) — Amendment XXII

Publisher edition notice: The publisher identifies this compilation as revised to January 1, 2025. It preserves the annotated original 1965 text and all ratified amendments, alongside the Revisors' unofficial convenience version incorporating extant amendments. The latter does not supersede the original Constitution and amendments; later changes have not been independently verified.

Amendment XXII Ratified amendment and publisher annotations.

ARTICLE XXII.*
*Adopted November 28, 1984.
Absence of governor from state divests governor of power to act even where the other state officials who could have
exercised the governor’s powers in her absence were also absent from state. 183 C. 7. Cited. 236 C. 1.
(Permanent or temporary transfer of governor’s authority, powers and duties
to lieutenant-governor. Council on gubernatorial incapacity.)
Section 18 of article fourth of the Constitution is amended to read as follows:
a. In case of the death, resignation, refusal to serve or removal from office of the
governor, the lieutenant-governor shall, upon taking the oath of office of governor, be
governor of the state until another is chosen at the next regular election for governor
and is duly qualified.
b. In case of the impeachment of the governor or of his absence from the state,
the lieutenant-governor shall exercise the powers and authority and perform the duties
appertaining to the office of governor until, if the governor has been impeached, he is
acquitted or, if absent, he has returned.
c. Whenever the governor transmits to the lieutenant-governor his written declara-
tion that he is unable to exercise the powers and perform the duties of his office, and
until the governor transmits to the lieutenant-governor a written declaration to the
contrary, the lieutenant-governor shall exercise the powers and authority and perform
the duties appertaining to the office of governor as acting governor.
d. In the absence of a written declaration of incapacity by the governor, when-
ever the lieutenant-governor or a majority of the members of the council on guber-
natorial incapacity transmits to the council on gubernatorial incapacity a written
declaration that the governor is unable to exercise the powers and perform the duties
of his office, the council shall convene within forty-eight hours after the receipt
of such written declaration to determine if the governor is unable to exercise the
powers and perform the duties of his office. If the council, within fourteen days
after it is required to convene, determines by two-thirds vote that the governor is
unable to exercise the powers and perform the duties of his office, it shall trans-
mit a written declaration to that effect to the president pro tempore of the senate

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208 AMENDMENTS TO THE Art. XXII
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT
and the speaker of the house of representatives and to the lieutenant-governor and
the lieutenant-governor, upon receipt of such declaration, shall exercise the powers
and authority and discharge the duties appertaining to the office of the governor as
acting governor; otherwise, the governor shall continue to exercise the powers and
discharge the duties of his office. Upon receipt by the president pro tempore of the
senate and the speaker of the house of representatives of such a written declaration
from the council, the general assembly shall, in accordance with its rules, decide the
issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the
general assembly, within twenty-one days after receipt of the written declaration or,
if the general assembly is not in session, within twenty-one days after the general
assembly is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of each house that
the governor is unable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his office,
the lieutenant-governor shall continue to exercise the powers and authority and
perform the duties appertaining to the office of governor; otherwise, the governor
shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
e. In the absence of a written declaration of incapacity by the governor and in
an emergency, when the governor is unable to exercise the powers and perform the
duties of his office and the business of the state requires the immediate exercise of
those powers and performance of those duties, the lieutenant-governor shall transmit
to the council on gubernatorial incapacity a written declaration to that effect and
thereupon shall exercise the powers and authority and discharge the duties apper-
taining to the office of governor as acting governor. The council shall convene or the
members of the council shall otherwise communicate with each other collectively
within twenty-four hours after the receipt of such written declaration to determine
if the governor is unable to exercise the powers and perform the duties of his office.
If the council, within fourteen days after it is required to convene, determines by
two-thirds vote that the governor is unable to exercise the powers and perform the
duties of his office, it shall transmit a written declaration to that effect to the presi-
dent pro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and
to the lieutenant-governor and the lieutenant-governor shall continue to exercise the
powers and authority and perform the duties appertaining to the office of governor
as acting governor; otherwise, the governor shall resume the powers and duties of his
office. Upon receipt by the president pro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the
house of representatives of such a written declaration from the council, the general
assembly shall, in accordance with its rules, decide the issue, assembling within
forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the general assembly, within
twenty-one days after receipt of the written declaration or, if the general assembly
is not in session, within twenty-one days after the general assembly is required to
assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of each house that the governor is unable
to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his office, the lieutenant-governor
shall continue to exercise the powers and authority and perform the duties appertain-
ing to the office of governor; otherwise, the governor shall resume the powers and
duties of his office.
f. Whenever the governor transmits to the president pro tempore of the senate and
the speaker of the house of representatives his written declaration that no inability
exists he shall resume the powers and duties of his office upon the determination by a
majority vote of each house of the general assembly, in accordance with its rules, that
he is able to exercise the powers and perform the duties of his office.

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Art. XXIV AMENDMENTS TO THE 209
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT
g. There shall be a council on gubernatorial incapacity, the membership, proce-
dures and terms of office of the members of which the general assembly shall establish
by law.
h. The supreme court shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate
disputes or questions arising under this section.