Jonah Patel
The Arizona Constitution is the governing document for the State of Arizona and has been amended far more frequently than the federal Constitution. Arizona's charter has been amended multiple times since its statehood in 1912, with the most recent amendment occurring in 2024, when Article 2 was amended to include an explicit right to abortion. Arizona's constitution provides for three methods of amendment: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Amendments can be proposed through a citizen-initiated process, with the number of signatures required being 15% of the votes cast for governor in the latest gubernatorial election. Amendments can also be proposed through a legislative process, with a simple majority required to approve them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Amendments | 161 |
| Date of Last Amendment | November 5, 2024 |
| Methods of Amending the Constitution | Citizen-initiated process, legislative process, and state constitutional convention |
| Requirements for Voter Approval | Simple majority |
| Requirements for Ballot Measures to Approve Taxes | 60% vote |
| Requirements for Ballot Measures to Approve Amendments | 60% of votes |
| Article on Removal from Office | Article 8 |
| Article on Labor | Article 18 and Article 25 |
| Article on Real Estate Agents | Article 26 |
| Article on Ambulances | Article 27 |
| Article on Public Retirement Systems | Article 29 |
| Article on Official Language | Article 28 |
| Article on Marriage | Article 30 |
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What You'll Learn
Methods of amending the constitution
The Arizona Constitution has been amended 161 times since it was first adopted in 1912. The constitution outlines the framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. There are three methods of amending the Arizona Constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
Citizen-Initiated Process
Article 21 of the Arizona Constitution grants citizens the power to initiate constitutional amendments. This process involves citizens proposing a ballot measure that, if approved, would amend the state's constitution. Arizona is one of eighteen states that allow this method of amendment. To get an initiated constitutional amendment on the ballot in Arizona, citizens must collect signatures equal to 15% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election. Petitions can be circulated for up to 24 months, and signatures must be submitted four months before the election. A simple majority is required for voter approval of constitutional amendments, while a 60% vote is needed to pass ballot measures to approve taxes.
Legislative Process
According to Article XVI, the Arizona 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 legislature to place an amendment on the ballot. This 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 referred by the legislature do not require the governor's signature.
State Constitutional Convention
According to Section 2 of Article XXI, the Arizona State Legislature can call for a constitutional convention if approved by a statewide vote of the electorate. Any amendments, revisions, or proposals resulting from the convention would then be subject to a simple majority vote by the electorate.
Referendums and Initiatives
In addition to the three main methods of amending the constitution, specific provisions within the constitution can be modified through referendums and initiatives. For example, Article VII, Section 13 states that questions upon bond issues or special assessments shall be submitted to a vote of real property taxpayers, who are also qualified electors of the state. Another example is Article VIII, which allows for the adjustment of the apportionment of the legislature through an initiative process.
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Child labour laws
Child labor is defined as any kind of work performed by children that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their education, or poses a threat to their health and safety. Child labor laws in Arizona aim to protect children from exploitation and hazardous working conditions, ensuring their basic rights are respected. These laws regulate wages, hours, and working conditions for workers under 18 years old.
In Arizona, children under 18 are legally permitted to work, but their working hours are restricted to no more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. They must also be afforded regular breaks and are prohibited from working between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., unless employed by their parents in non-hazardous jobs. Children under 15 can only be employed for up to 30 minutes at a time during school hours and must obtain a work permit prior to starting any job.
Children 13 years old or younger are generally not allowed to work in Arizona, except in limited circumstances. For 14 and 15-year-olds, there are specific restrictions on the times they can work, the number of hours they can work per week, and the types of jobs they can perform. These regulations aim to ensure that their education remains a priority and that their work does not interfere with their schooling.
Arizona's child labor laws also prohibit minors from engaging in hazardous activities, such as operating certain machinery, working with explosives or toxic materials, climbing ladders, or driving motor vehicles. These restrictions are in place to safeguard the health, safety, and overall well-being of young workers.
The state of Arizona has a comprehensive set of child labor laws that are designed to protect minors from exploitative or dangerous work situations. These laws are regularly updated through a process of amendments, with the current Arizona Constitution having been amended 161 times. This reflects the state's commitment to ensuring that its laws remain relevant and effective in safeguarding the rights and well-being of its youngest citizens.
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Alcoholic beverage laws
The Arizona Constitution has been amended far more frequently than the federal Constitution. This is because the state constitution was designed to be highly responsive to the wishes of the local citizenry. Arizona's constitution provides for three methods of amendment: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Citizens can initiate constitutional amendments in 18 states, and Arizona requires a number of signatures equal to 15% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election.
Arizona's alcoholic beverage laws prohibit adults under the age of 21 from consuming alcohol. This includes 20-year-old newlyweds from sharing a glass of wine at their wedding reception and those under 21 from practising religious rites involving wine. The law also prohibits parents from teaching their children how to drink in moderation. Arizona law criminalises these and similar acts.
Arizona drinking laws do not require a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test for a conviction of DUI. A simple suspicion by an officer that a driver is impaired to any degree by alcohol and/or drugs is sufficient for a conviction. Penalties for a DUI conviction include jail time, driver's license suspension, alcohol assessment and treatment, and mandatory ignition interlock device (IID) installation. A BAC of 0.08% within two hours of driving or physically controlling a vehicle is illegal. A BAC exceeding 0.15% but below 0.20% is considered Extreme DUI, with penalties including 30 days in jail, a 90-day license suspension, and an IID. A BAC of 0.20% or higher is classified as Super Extreme DUI, with penalties including 45 days in jail, a 90-day license suspension, and an IID. It is illegal for anyone under 21 to drive with any trace of alcohol in their system.
Other alcoholic beverage laws in Arizona include the prohibition of the following:
- Selling or dealing in alcohol for beverage purposes without complying with relevant regulations
- Using a vending machine to dispense spirituous liquor
- Offering for sale a wine with a label referencing Arizona unless at least 75% of the grapes used were grown in the state
- Knowingly allowing customers to bring their own alcohol onto licensed premises, except for wine and food clubs
- Employees under the legal drinking age being on the premises of a licensed retailer during hours when alcohol is primarily sold, dispensed, or consumed, unless a designated area is separated by a physical barrier
- Conducting drinking contests
- Offering an unlimited number of drinks for a set price
- Serving more than 50 ounces of beer, one litre of wine, or four ounces of spirits to a single person at one time
- A visibly intoxicated person buying or consuming alcohol in a licensed business, or attempting to do so
- Using a false ID to buy or attempt to buy alcohol. A person under 21 doing so is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanour and may face imprisonment
- Possessing a firearm in a business licensed to sell alcohol
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Tax laws
The Arizona Constitution has been amended far more frequently than the federal Constitution. This is because the framers of the state constitution intended to create a document that would be responsive to the wishes of the local citizens. Arizona's constitution provides for three methods of amendment: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
A citizen-initiated amendment requires signatures from at least 15% of the votes cast for the governor in the most recent gubernatorial election. This is in contrast to the legislative process and state constitutional convention methods. Arizona requires a simple majority to approve constitutional amendments, except for tax laws, which require a 60% vote to pass.
The Arizona Department of Revenue is responsible for individual income tax returns. The state taxes residents on the same income they report for federal income tax purposes, with some modifications allowed under state law. Full-year residents are taxed on all income, including earnings from other states and retirement income. Part-year residents are taxed on income earned while an Arizona resident, as well as retirement income from another state, and any income from an Arizona source before or after their residency in the state. Non-residents are subject to Arizona tax on any income earned from Arizona sources.
Arizona does not tax benefits, annuities, or pensions from retired or retainer pay of the uniformed services of the United States (as of 2021). There is a subtraction of up to $2,500 for pension income received from Arizona and its political subdivisions or from US government service. For retired or retainer pay of the uniformed services, there is a subtraction of up to $3,500.
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Marriage laws
The Arizona Constitution has been amended 161 times. It provides for three methods of amending the constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. A simple majority is required for voter approval.
Arizona does not recognize common-law marriages contracted within the state. However, it does recognize valid common-law marriages from other states. Same-sex marriage is legal in Arizona per the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. Prohibited marriages include close blood relatives, with some exceptions for first cousins.
Arizona also recognizes covenant marriages, which were introduced in 1998. These marriages require premarital counseling and a written commitment to take all reasonable efforts to preserve the marriage. Covenant marriages have stricter rules for divorce, and the court may only enter a decree of dissolution or legal separation if the marriage is "irretrievably broken."
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Frequently asked questions
The current Arizona Constitution has been amended 161 times.
The Arizona Constitution provides for three methods of amending the document: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
The first amendment to the Arizona Constitution was made in 1912 when the state legislature approved a constitutional amendment that restored the ability to recall judges.
The most recent amendment to the Arizona Constitution was approved by voters on November 5, 2024. Article 2 was amended to include an explicit right to abortion.
Notable amendments to the Arizona Constitution include Proposition 107, which created term limits for various elective offices, and amendments that deal with real estate agents, the regulation of ambulances, and public retirement systems.
