Omar Bennett
The Wyoming Constitution, ratified in 1889, consists of 21 articles and covers a wide range of issues pertaining to individual rights and limitations on government authority. Article 20 outlines the amendment process, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in the legislature for a proposed amendment to appear on a ballot. With specific reference to ordinances, Article 1, Section 38, grants the legislature the power to impose necessary restrictions on rights to protect the welfare of Wyoming citizens and accomplish the purposes set forth in the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of articles in the Wyoming Constitution | 21 |
| Topic of Article 1 | Individual rights and limitations on government authority |
| Article that provides the processes for amending the Constitution | Article 20 |
| Requirement for an amendment proposed in the legislature to appear on a ballot | Two-thirds of each chamber of the legislature must vote in its favor |
| Requirement for a proposal for a constitutional convention to appear on a ballot | Two-thirds of each chamber must vote in its favor |
| Court that interprets Wyoming's laws and constitution | Wyoming Supreme Court |
| Section that discusses the right to health care access | Article 1, Section 38 |
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What You'll Learn
- Amending the Wyoming Constitution: two-thirds of the legislature must vote in favour
- Ballot measures: a proposal will appear on a ballot with sufficient legislative support
- Legislative authority: the Wyoming legislature passes laws, which are interpreted by the state's Supreme Court
- Federal review: the Wyoming Supreme Court's decisions can be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court
- Individual rights: Article 1 of the Wyoming Constitution covers individual rights and limits government authority
Amending the Wyoming Constitution: two-thirds of the legislature must vote in favour
The Wyoming Constitution, ratified in 1889, a year before Wyoming became a state, consists of 21 articles. Article 1 covers individual rights and imposes stricter limitations on government authority than the US Constitution. It also covers a wider range of issues than the US Bill of Rights. Article 20 outlines the processes for amending the Constitution.
Amending the Wyoming Constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote in favour in each chamber of the legislature. This is outlined in Sections 1 and 2 of Article 20. Once an amendment is passed in the legislature, it will appear on a ballot. Sections 3 and 4 of the same article state that a proposal for a constitutional convention will appear on a ballot if two-thirds of each chamber votes in its favour.
The Wyoming Statutes contain the laws passed by the Wyoming legislature. The Wyoming Supreme Court is the only appellate court in the state and often interprets the laws and provisions of the Wyoming Constitution. The Wyoming Constitution grants the legislature the power to determine reasonable and necessary restrictions on the rights granted under the Constitution to protect the health and general welfare of the people or to accomplish other purposes set forth in the document.
The state of Wyoming is also required to act to preserve these rights from undue government infringement.
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Ballot measures: a proposal will appear on a ballot with sufficient legislative support
The Wyoming Constitution, which consists of 21 articles, was ratified in 1889, a year before Wyoming became a state. Article 20 outlines the processes for amending the Constitution. According to Sections 1 and 2, an amendment proposed in the legislature will appear on a ballot if two-thirds of each chamber of the legislature votes in its favour.
In the context of ballot measures, a proposal will typically appear on a ballot through citizen initiatives or legislative processes. Citizen-initiated ballot measures, also known as ballot initiatives, allow citizens to propose statutes or constitutional amendments and collect signatures to place their proposals on the ballot for voters to decide. This process empowers citizens to directly participate in shaping the laws and policies that affect their state.
The specific requirements for citizen-initiated ballot measures can vary from state to state. In some states, citizens can propose constitutional amendments directly, while in others, such as Wyoming, an indirect approach is required. For an indirect initiative, citizens must collect signatures and obtain approval from the state legislature before their proposed amendment can be placed on the ballot. This process involves collaboration and negotiation between citizens and legislators to refine and advance the proposed amendment.
Legislative referrals are another common method for placing measures on the ballot. A legislatively referred ballot measure is an issue, question, or law that appears on a state or local ballot due to a vote by state legislators. In the case of the Wyoming Constitution, a proposal for a constitutional amendment will appear on a ballot if it receives a two-thirds majority vote from each chamber of the legislature, demonstrating substantial legislative support.
Additionally, ballot measures can also be placed on the ballot automatically, either by a special commission or through a state constitutional convention. These automatic ballot referrals are typically outlined in state law or a state's constitution and may address specific topics or appear at certain intervals. The involvement of commissions or constitutional conventions adds another layer to the process of amending constitutions or proposing statutes.
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Legislative authority: the Wyoming legislature passes laws, which are interpreted by the state's Supreme Court
The Wyoming Constitution was ratified in 1889, a year before Wyoming became a state. It consists of 21 articles, with Article 1 covering individual rights and imposing stricter limitations on government authority than the US Constitution. The Wyoming Statutes contain the laws passed by the Wyoming Legislature, which are often interpreted by the Wyoming Supreme Court, the state's only appellate court. The Wyoming Supreme Court holds general appellate jurisdiction, co-extensive with the state, in both civil and criminal causes.
The Wyoming Legislature passes laws, and the constitution provides the processes for amending these laws. Under Sections 1 and 2 of Article 20, an amendment proposed in the legislature will appear on a ballot if two-thirds of each chamber of the legislature votes in its favour. Sections 3 and 4 outline that a proposal for a constitutional convention will appear on a ballot with the same supermajority requirement.
The Wyoming Legislature also has the power to establish and ordain subordinate courts as needed. It can provide for the retirement and compensation of justices and judges of the supreme and district courts, and it may also provide benefits for their dependents. The legislature prescribes the age of seventy years for the vacancy of the office of a justice or judge, with certain exceptions.
The Wyoming Supreme Court interprets the laws passed by the legislature and the provisions of the Wyoming Constitution. It also administers the oath to members of the senate and the house of representatives. The court holds appellate jurisdiction and hears appeals from decisions of compulsory boards of arbitration.
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Federal review: the Wyoming Supreme Court's decisions can be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court
The Wyoming Constitution, which consists of 21 articles, was ratified in 1889, one year before Wyoming became a state. Article 20 outlines the processes for amending the Constitution. Ordinances in the Wyoming Constitution can be amended through a proposal in the legislature or a proposal for a constitutional convention.
The Wyoming Supreme Court is the final arbiter of cases filed in Wyoming trial courts. Its decisions are final unless a case involves a question of federal law, in which case it can be appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The Wyoming Supreme Court supervises the operations of lower courts in the state and holds general jurisdiction to review appeals in civil and criminal cases. It may issue writs such as habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, and certiorari to fulfil its appellate function. The Court also exercises administrative supervision over the Wyoming State Bar, regulating the practice of law in the state and admitting new attorneys.
The Wyoming Supreme Court's decisions can be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court in cases involving federal law. The U.S. Supreme Court may also review cases appealed from the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, which has the authority to review decisions made by the Wyoming District Court. The Wyoming Supreme Court's decisions are binding on all other courts and state agencies unless changed by legislative action.
The Wyoming Supreme Court consists of five justices who serve eight-year terms. Justices must be U.S. citizens, at least 30 years old, and residents of Wyoming for at least three years. They are selected by the Wyoming Judicial Nominating Commission and must stand for retention in office after their first year through a statewide ballot at the next general election.
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Individual rights: Article 1 of the Wyoming Constitution covers individual rights and limits government authority
Article 1 of the Wyoming Constitution, also known as the Declaration of Rights, covers individual rights and imposes stricter limitations on government authority than the U.S. Constitution. It spans a wider range of issues than the U.S. Bill of Rights and consists of 37 sections.
Article 1 was amended by a resolution adopted by the 1980 legislature and ratified by a vote of the people at the general election on November 4, 1980, coming into effect on November 14, 1980. It was also amended in 1976 and 1988 following a similar process of legislative resolution, ratification by popular vote, and proclamation.
The Wyoming Constitution, comprising 21 articles, was ratified in 1889, one year before Wyoming became a state. The Wyoming Statutes contain the laws passed by the Wyoming legislature, and these laws, along with the provisions of the Wyoming Constitution, are often interpreted by the Wyoming Supreme Court, the only appellate court in the state.
Article 1 of the Wyoming Constitution places stricter limitations on government authority than the U.S. Constitution, demonstrating a commitment to protecting individual rights and ensuring that government power is limited in scope. This article has been amended multiple times to reflect the evolving nature of law and society, with the people of Wyoming having a direct say in these amendments through their votes.
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Frequently asked questions
The Wyoming Constitution spells out the processes for amending the constitution in Article 20. An amendment proposed in the legislature must be passed by two-thirds of each chamber to appear on a ballot.
Article 1 of the Wyoming Constitution covers individual rights and imposes limitations on government authority. Article 1, Section 38, for instance, grants Wyoming residents the right to access healthcare.
The Wyoming Supreme Court is the only appellate court in the state and often interprets the laws and provisions of the Wyoming Constitution.
A proposed amendment must be passed by two-thirds of each chamber of the legislature to appear on a ballot.
Yes, citizens of Wyoming can propose amendments to the state's constitution through a process called a constitutional convention. If two-thirds of each chamber of the legislature approve the proposal, it will appear on a ballot.
