Section 5-202 - Membership(a)(1) The Ethics Commission consists of five members.(2) The Governor shall appoint: (i) with the advice and consent of the Senate, three members, at least one of whom shall be a member of the principal political party of which the Governor is not a member;(ii) one member nominated by the President of the Senate; and(iii) one member nominated by the Speaker of the House.(3) The Governor may reject a nominee of the President or of the Speaker only for cause.(4) If the Governor rejects a nominee under paragraph (3) of this subsection, the appropriate presiding officer shall nominate another individual.(5) A vacancy shall be filled in a manner consistent with this subsection.(b) A member of the Ethics Commission may not:(1) hold elected or appointed office in, be an employee of, or be a candidate for office in: (i) the federal government;(ii) the State government;(iii) a municipal corporation, county, or multicounty agency of the State; or(iv) a political party; or(2) be a regulated lobbyist.(c) Before taking office, each appointee to the Ethics Commission shall take the oath required by Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution.(d)(1) The term of a member is 5 years.(2) The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms in effect for members of the Ethics Commission on October 1, 2013.(3) A member may serve no more than two consecutive 5-year terms.(4) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves for the rest of the term.(5) At the end of a term, a member may continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.(e)(1) The Governor may remove a member for: (ii) misconduct in office;(iii) a disability that makes the member unable to discharge the powers and duties of office; or(iv) a violation of this title.(2) Before removing a member, the Governor shall give the member:(i) written notice of the charges; and(ii) an opportunity to answer the charges.Added by 2014 Md. Laws, Ch. 94, Sec. 2, eff. 10/1/2014.