Arizona Constitution
| Arizona Constitution |
|---|
|
| Preamble |
| Articles |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 6.1 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • |
The Arizona Constitution is the state constitution of Arizona.
- The current constitution was adopted in 1912.
- Arizona has had one state constitution.
- The current state constitution has 30 articles.
- The current Arizona Constitution has been amended 160 times.[1]
- Voters last approved four new amendments to the Arizona Constitution on November 8, 2022.
A state constitution is the fundamental document that outlines a state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters.
Background
Arizona became the 48th state on February 14, 1912. The Arizona Territory was authorized to hold a constitutional convention in 1910. The constitution drafted at that convention was signed by delegates on December 9, 1910. It was then submitted to Congress. Though the original constitution was approved by Congress, it was vetoed by President William H. Taft on his objections to a provision that included judges in the recalling process. After the constitutional convention amended the document to remove that provision, President Taft approved Arizona's statehood on February 14, 1912.[2]
Preamble
The preamble to the Arizona Constitution states:
Article 1
- See also: Article 1, Arizona Constitution
Article 1 is titled "State Boundaries" and has two sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 2
- See also: Article 2, Arizona Constitution
Article 2 is titled "Declaration of Rights" and has 37 sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 3
- See also: Article 3, Arizona Constitution
Article 3 is titled "Distribution of Powers."[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 4
- See also: Article 4, Arizona Constitution
Article 4 is titled "Legislative Department" and is composed of two parts with a total of 27 sections between them.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 5
- See also: Article 5, Arizona Constitution
Article 5 is titled "Executive Department" and has 12 sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 6
- See also: Article 6, Arizona Constitution
Article 6 is titled "Judicial Department" and has 42 sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 6.1
- See also: Article 6.1, Arizona Constitution
Article 6.1 is titled "Commission on Judicial Conduct" and has six sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 7
- See also: Article 7, Arizona Constitution
Article 7 is titled "Suffrage and Elections" and has 18 sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 8
- See also: Article 8, Arizona Constitution
Article 8 is titled "Removal from Office" and has two parts with a total of eight sections between them.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 9
- See also: Article 9, Arizona Constitution
Article 9 is titled "Public Debt, Revenue and Taxation" and has 24 sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 10
- See also: Article 10, Arizona Constitution
Article 10 is titled "State and School Lands" and has 12 sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 11
- See also: Article 10, Arizona Constitution
Article 11 is titled "Education" and has 10 sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 12
- See also: Article 12, Arizona Constitution
Article 12 is titled "Counties" and has nine sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 13
- See also: Article 13, Arizona Constitution
Article 13 is titled "Municipal Corporations" and has seven sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 14
- See also: Article 14, Arizona Constitution
Article 14 is titled "Corporations Other Than Municipal" and has 19 sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 15
- See also: Article 15, Arizona Constitution
Article 15 is titled "The Corporation Commission" and has 19 sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 16
- See also: Article 16, Arizona Constitution
Article 16 is titled "Militia" and has three sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 17
- See also: Article 17, Arizona Constitution
Article 17 is titled "Water Rights" and has two sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 18
- See also: Article 18, Arizona Constitution
Article 18 is titled "Labor" and has 10 sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 19
- See also: Article 19, Arizona Constitution
Article 19 is titled "Mines."[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 20
- See also: Article 20, Arizona Constitution
Article 20 is titled "Ordinance" and has 13 sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 21
- See also: Article 21, Arizona Constitution
Article 21 is titled "Mode of Amending" and has two sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 22
- See also: Article 22, Arizona Constitution
Article 22 is titled "Schedule and Miscellaneous" and has 22 sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Articles 23 and 24
Articles 23 and 24 were both repealed.[3]
Article 25
- See also: Article 25, Arizona Constitution
Article 25 is titled "Right to Work" and has one section.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 26
- See also: Article 26, Arizona Constitution
Article 26 is titled "Right of Licensed Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen to Prepare Instruments Incident to Property Transactions" and has one section.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 27
- See also Article 27, Arizona Constitution
Article 27 is titled "Regulation of Health, Safety and Welfare" and has two sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 28
- See also Article 28, Arizona Constitution
Article 28 is titled "English as the Official Language" and has six sections.[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 29
- See also: Article 29, Arizona Constitution
Article 29 is titled "Public Retirement Systems."[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Article 30
- See also: Article 30, Arizona Constitution
Article 30 is titled "Marriage."[3]
Click here to read this article of the Arizona Constitution.
Amending the Arizona Constitution
- See also: Amending state constitutions
The Arizona Constitution provides for three methods of amending the Arizona Constitution—a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Arizona requires a simple majority to approve constitutional amendments. Arizona requires a 60% vote to pass ballot measures to approve taxes.
Initiative
- See also: Initiated constitutional amendment
Article 21, citizens have the power to initiate constitutional amendments in Arizona. An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.
In Arizona, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment for the ballot is equal to 15 percent of votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election. Petitions can be circulated for up to 24 months. Signatures must be submitted four months prior to the election at which the measure is to appear. A simple majority is required for voter approval. Arizona requires a 60% vote to pass ballot measures to approve taxes.
Legislature
According to Article XVI, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Arizona State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 31 votes in the Arizona House of Representatives and 16 votes in the Arizona State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Convention
According to Section 2 of Article XXI of the Arizona Constitution, the state legislature can only call for a convention if it is approved by the electorate in a statewide vote. Any amendments, revisions, or proposals of the Constitution require a simple majority vote by the electorate.
See also
- State constitution
- Constitutional article
- Constitutional amendment
- Constitutional revision
- Constitutional convention
- Amendments
External links
- Arizona State Legislature, "Arizona Constitution" (Links to each section)
- Arizona State Legislature, "Arizona Constitution" (Entire Document in PDF)
Footnotes
- ↑ According to Leshy (2013), the Constitution of 1912 had been amended 151 times through 2013. Since 2013, voters have approved nine additional constitutional amendments.
- ↑ Leshy (2013). The Arizona State Constitution. New York, NY: Oxford University Press
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 Arizona State Legislature, "Arizona Constitution," accessed May 12, 2014
| ||||||||||||||||
|
State of Arizona Phoenix (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2024 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
