Omar Bennett
The Constitution of the State of Washington was ratified in 1889, outlining the structure and function of the government of the U.S. State of Washington. While the U.S. Constitution establishes a federal system with a strong executive branch, Washington's Constitution divides the executive branch into nine independently elected officials, reflecting a suspicion of concentrated executive power. The state constitution also differs in its provisions, such as Article XI, which does not allow religious organizations to access state funding for charter schools. When conflicts arise between the two constitutions, the U.S. Constitution takes precedence due to the Supremacy Clause.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date written | Washington State Constitution: 1889 |
| US Constitution: Before 1840 | |
| Executive branch setup | Washington State Constitution: Divided into nine independently elected executive officials, including the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, state auditor, commissioner of public lands, and state insurance commission. |
| US Constitution: Single governor who oversees the executive branch | |
| Amendment process | Washington State Constitution: Does not allow for constitutional amendments through the initiative process. |
| US Constitution: Allows for constitutional amendments | |
| Supremacy | In case of conflict between the two, the US Constitution prevails. |
| Date last amended | Washington State Constitution: 2019 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Washington's Constitution was drafted in 1889, while the US Constitution was written in 1787
- Washington's Constitution was written by 75 elected delegates, while the US Constitution was written by 55 delegates
- Washington's Constitution has been amended, while the US Constitution has been amended many times
- Washington's Constitution has a different structure of the executive branch with nine elected officials, while the US Constitution has a single governor
- Washington's Constitution does not allow charter schools to be run by religious organisations, while the US Constitution does
Washington's Constitution was drafted in 1889, while the US Constitution was written in 1787
The US Constitution and Washington's Constitution were drafted more than a century apart, with the former being written in 1787 and the latter in 1889. The US Constitution was created by a group of lawyers and politicians who travelled to Philadelphia in 1787, with the aim of establishing a more stable form of government. The Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, and was ratified by the states between December 1787 and May 1790. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were proposed in 1789 and ratified in 1791.
Washington's Constitution, on the other hand, was drafted as part of Washington Territory's path to statehood. In 1877, Orange Jacobs, Washington Territory's Delegate to the US Congress, requested an enabling act that would allow Washington to become a state once a state constitution was drafted and ratified by voters. An earlier constitution was drafted and ratified in 1878, but it was never officially adopted by Congress. This 1878 constitution was used extensively during the drafting of the 1889 document, which became the official Constitution of the State of Washington. 75 delegates were elected to assemble in the Territorial Capitol Building in Olympia on July 4, 1889, and they worked through the summer to draft a constitution that would form the basis for all future Washington laws. This constitution was ratified by voters on October 1, 1889, and after a minor hiccup with an unsigned copy, it was approved by President Harrison on November 11, 1889, and Washington was admitted to the Union.
The US Constitution provided a framework for a stronger central government than the Articles of Confederation, while preserving tenets of independence and individual rights outlined in documents like the Magna Carta and Declaration of Independence. It drew on Athenian and English political philosophy to strike a balance. Washington's Constitution, a century later, was drafted with the benefit of this precedent and the experience of the intervening years, including the political thinking of the time, as evidenced by the 1878 constitution.
Becoming a Federal Judge: Understanding Constitutional Requirements
You may want to see also
Washington's Constitution was written by 75 elected delegates, while the US Constitution was written by 55 delegates
The US Constitution and Washington's Constitution were both written by a group of elected delegates. The US Constitution was written by 55 delegates, while Washington's Constitution was written by 75 delegates.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, and was the country's first framework of national government. It was crafted during the American Revolution and followed America's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money. The US Constitution was the result of a Grand Convention of state delegates organized to revise the Articles of Confederation. The convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, and the first public printing of the Constitution was published in a newspaper two days after it was signed.
The process of drafting Washington's Constitution began with an act passed by the Washington Territorial Legislative Assembly to convene a constitutional convention. Voters elected 15 delegates who met in Walla Walla in June and July 1878 and drafted a constitution. This constitution was approved by voters of the territory in November 1878 but was never officially adopted. In 1889, an election was held to choose 75 delegates to draft a new constitution for the State of Washington. The delegates assembled on July 4, 1889, in the Territorial Capitol Building in Olympia and drafted a constitution that would form the basis for all future Washington laws. This constitution was ratified by voters on October 1, 1889 and was approved by President Harrison on November 11, 1889, after an initial delay due to a missing signature from Governor Moore.
While the US Constitution was written by fewer delegates than Washington's Constitution, both documents followed a similar process of being drafted by elected delegates, undergoing a ratification process, and ultimately being approved by the relevant authorities.
Federalism's Constitutional Roots: Exploring the Document's Core Principles
You may want to see also
Washington's Constitution has been amended, while the US Constitution has been amended many times
The Constitution of the State of Washington was ratified in 1889 and last amended in 2019. It was drafted by 75 delegates who assembled in the Territorial Capitol Building in Olympia on July 4, 1889, and labored through the summer to draft a constitution that would form the basis for all future Washington laws. The constitution was adopted as part of Washington Territory's path to statehood. An earlier constitution was drafted and ratified in 1878, but it was never officially adopted.
The US Constitution, on the other hand, was ratified in 1788 and has been amended numerous times since then. The process of amending the US Constitution is outlined in Article V, which provides for two methods of proposing amendments and two methods of ratifying them. The first method of proposing amendments is for Congress to pass a bill with a two-thirds majority in both houses. The second method is for a national convention to be called at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures.
The Washington State Constitution is quite different from the US Constitution, particularly in the way the executive branch is set up. The people who wrote state constitutions from the 1840s onward were suspicious of concentrated executive power. As a result, they divided up the executive branch. Instead of having just a governor who oversees the executive branch, Washington's constitution establishes nine independently elected executive officials, eight of whom are named in the original constitution. These include the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, state auditor, and commissioner of public lands. These officials are individually responsible to the voters for specific jobs within the state government, marking a significant departure from the structure of the national government.
The Washington State Constitution also differs from the US Constitution in terms of individual rights. For example, Article XI of the state constitution prohibits religious organizations from accessing state funding for charter schools, while the First Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. In the event of a direct conflict between the two constitutions, the US Constitution takes precedence due to the Supremacy Clause.
Women's Influence on the US Constitution
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Washington's Constitution has a different structure of the executive branch with nine elected officials, while the US Constitution has a single governor
The Constitution of the State of Washington is the document that outlines the structure and function of the government of the US State of Washington. It was drafted in 1889, as Washington, along with Montana and the two Dakotas, was granted statehood by Congress. Notably, Washington's Constitution has a distinct structure for the executive branch, differing from the US Constitution in that it comprises nine elected officials, whereas the US Constitution establishes a single governor at the head of the executive branch.
The writers of state constitutions from the 1840s onwards were wary of concentrating power in the hands of a single executive. Consequently, they opted to distribute power across multiple offices within the executive branch. This approach stands in contrast to the US Constitution, which vests executive authority primarily in the governor.
The nine independently elected executive officials in Washington's Constitution include the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, state auditor, commissioner of public lands, and the state insurance commission, which was added later. Each of these officials is directly accountable to the voters for specific roles within the state government.
The Washington State Constitution has been amended over time, with the most recent amendment occurring in 2019. One notable aspect of Washington's constitution is its Article XI, which does not allow religious organizations to access state funding for charter schools. This provision sets it apart from the US Constitution's Freedom of Religion clause and could potentially lead to legal challenges in the future.
In summary, while both the Washington State Constitution and the US Constitution outline the structure and function of their respective governments, they differ in the structure of their executive branches. Washington's Constitution favours a distributed model with nine elected officials, while the US Constitution establishes a unitary executive in the form of a governor.
Civil Servants: Sworn to Protect the Constitution?
You may want to see also
Washington's Constitution does not allow charter schools to be run by religious organisations, while the US Constitution does
The US Constitution and Washington's Constitution differ in several ways, including their approach to charter schools run by religious organisations. While the US Constitution has not explicitly prohibited charter schools from being operated by religious organisations, Washington's Constitution has taken a different approach.
In the US, the First Amendment's Establishment Clause prohibits the government from endorsing any particular religion or favouring one religion over another. At the same time, the Free Exercise Clause outlaws religious discrimination, protecting the right to religious practice. The interpretation and application of these clauses have been a subject of debate, with some arguing that allowing charter schools run by religious organisations would violate the Establishment Clause, while others claim that prohibiting them would constitute religious discrimination, violating the Free Exercise Clause.
The US Supreme Court has leaned towards allowing religious charter schools, citing religious freedom and equality. In the case of Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, the Court held that prohibiting religious organisations from accessing the same benefits or funds as secular organisations is unconstitutional. However, the Court has not definitively ruled on the matter, and the decision to approve religious charter schools has been left to individual states.
On the other hand, Washington's Constitution, drafted in 1889, has taken a more secular approach to education. While the state allows religious instruction in private schools, it maintains a clear separation between church and state in its public school system. Washington's Constitution likely interprets charter schools as part of the public school system, and therefore, they must remain secular and free from religious influence in their operations, admissions policies, and curriculum. This interpretation is in contrast to the potential interpretation of charter schools as private operators, which would allow for religious influence.
While there have been attempts to establish religious charter schools in Washington, they have been blocked by the state Supreme Court. The state's constitution, with its emphasis on secular education, has been a crucial factor in these decisions. Washington's Constitution, with its historical roots and focus on secular governance, provides a framework that differs from the US Constitution in this specific aspect, ensuring that public education remains free from religious influence.
Enumerated Powers: Where the Constitution Details Them
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Washington State Constitution is the document that describes the structure and function of the government of the U.S. State of Washington.
The Washington State Constitution was written in 1889.
It's quite different. For example, Article XI of the Washington State Constitution does not allow religious organizations to access state money for charter schools.
The people who wrote state constitutions from the 1840s onward were suspicious of concentrated executive power. Because of this, they divided up the executive branch. Instead of having just a governor who oversees the executive branch, Washington has nine independently elected executive officials.
When there's a direct conflict, the U.S. Constitution prevails. That's known as the Supremacy Clause.
