Isabella Carter
The South Dakota Constitution has been amended several times since its inception. Amendments may be proposed through a citizen-led initiative, a legislative process, or a state constitutional convention. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval of a constitutional amendment, which outlines the state's framework for governance, individual and civil rights, and other matters. Since 2006, the South Dakota Constitution has been amended at least 13 times, with the most recent amendment occurring on November 5, 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times the South Dakota Constitution has been amended | 13 times since 2006 |
| Last amendment approved | November 5, 2024 |
| Ways to propose amendments | Citizen-initiated process, legislative process, or state constitutional convention |
| Number of signatures required for citizen-initiated constitutional amendment | 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election |
| Number of votes required for voter approval | Simple majority |
| Number of votes required for the South Dakota State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot | 36 votes in the House of Representatives and 18 votes in the State Senate |
| Number of sections in Article III ("Legislative Department") | 32 |
| Number of sections in Article IV ("Executive Department") | 13 |
| Number of sections in Article V ("Judicial Department") | 39 |
| Number of sections in Article VI ("Bill of Rights") | 29 |
| Number of sections in Article VII ("Elections and Right of Suffrage") | 10 |
| Number of sections in Article VIII ("Education and School Lands") | 20 |
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What You'll Learn
South Dakota Constitution amended 13 times since 2006
The South Dakota Constitution has been amended 13 times since 2006. Amendments can be proposed in three ways: through a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, or a state constitutional convention. A citizen-initiated process requires the signatures of at least 10% of the number of voters from the last gubernatorial election, as well as a simple majority vote for approval. The legislative process requires a simple majority vote during a legislative session, which amounts to a minimum of 36 votes in the House of Representatives and 18 votes in the State Senate.
The South Dakota Constitution was first adopted in 1889, and it has since undergone numerous amendments. Article III, entitled "Legislative Department," has seen a long history of proposed amendments, with some being accepted and others rejected over the years. For instance, amendments were proposed in 1897, 1913, 1921, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1980, and 1987, with the 1987 amendment being the only one accepted.
Articles IV and V, which are titled "Executive Department" and "Judicial Department," respectively, have had several sections superseded. Article VI, "Bill of Rights," and Article VII, "Elections and Right of Suffrage," have also been amended, with some sections of Article VII superseded.
Article XXIV, entitled "Prohibition," was repealed in 1933, and Article XXVII, "State Control of Manufacture and Sale of Liquor," was repealed in 1899. Article I, "Name and Boundary," and Article VIII, "Education and School Lands", have not had any amendments mentioned.
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Amendments proposed by citizens, legislators, or conventions
The South Dakota Constitution can be amended in three ways: through a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, or a state constitutional convention. Citizens in South Dakota can initiate constitutional amendments by collecting signatures equivalent to 10% of the votes cast in the previous gubernatorial election, and a simple majority is required for voter approval. This method is also referred to as an initiated constitutional amendment and is allowed in 18 states.
Legislatively referred constitutional amendments require a simple majority vote during one legislative session for the South Dakota State Legislature to place the amendment on the ballot. This translates to a minimum of 36 votes in the South Dakota House of Representatives and 18 votes in the South Dakota State Senate.
The third method is through a state constitutional convention, which can also be referred to as a convention-referred constitutional amendment. This method was used to establish the original South Dakota Constitution in 1889. The constitutional convention was held in Sioux Falls, and the resulting constitution was approved by voters later that year.
The South Dakota Constitution has been amended several times through these processes since its inception. For example, an amendment was approved in 1992 through a citizen-initiated process. Additionally, amendments have been proposed and, in some cases, approved or rejected by the state legislature, as evidenced by the history of amendments proposed under SL (Statutory Law) in different years.
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Article III amended in 1998, 1936, 1948, and 2014
The South Dakota Constitution has been amended 13 times since 2006, with the last amendment taking place on November 5, 2024. Amendments to the South Dakota Constitution can be proposed in three ways: through a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, or a state constitutional convention.
Article III of the South Dakota Constitution has also undergone several amendments over the years, including in 1998, 1936, 1948, and 2014. Here is a detailed breakdown of these amendments:
In 1998, an amendment to Article III was proposed by SL 1998, ch 1, §§ 1 and 2, and was accepted on November 3, 1998. Unfortunately, I could not find specific details on the nature of this amendment.
In 1936, an amendment to Article III was proposed by SL 1935, ch 136, and was approved in November 1936. Similar to the 1998 amendment, I could not find specific information on the changes made to Article III in this year.
In 1948, Article III was amended following the approval of an amendment proposed by SL 1947, ch 250 or SL 1947, ch 251 (there seems to be a slight discrepancy in the source material). This amendment was approved in November 1948. Again, specific details on the changes made are not readily available.
In 2014, Article III was amended by the approval of South Dakota Gambling in Deadwood, Amendment Q, on November 4, 2014. This amendment pertained to gambling regulations in the state.
These amendments to Article III of the South Dakota Constitution reflect the dynamic nature of the state's legal framework and its adaptation to the evolving needs and preferences of its citizens.
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Article XXIV on 'Prohibition' repealed in 1933
The South Dakota Constitution outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. Since 2006, it has been amended 13 times, with the most recent amendment being approved by voters on November 5, 2024.
One notable amendment to the South Dakota Constitution was the repeal of Article XXIV, titled "Prohibition." This article was repealed in 1933, marking a significant shift in the state's stance on prohibition and the regulation of alcohol.
Article XXIV of the South Dakota Constitution originally imposed strict prohibitions on the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the state. However, as public attitudes and national policies shifted, the state followed suit and re-evaluated its stance on prohibition. The repeal of Article XXIV in 1933 reflected a move towards a more regulated approach to alcohol rather than a complete ban.
The process of amending the South Dakota Constitution is outlined in Article XXIII, aptly named "Amendments and Revisions of the Constitution." This article details the procedures through which amendments can be proposed and enacted. One unique aspect of South Dakota's constitution is that it allows for citizen-initiated amendments, empowering citizens to have a direct say in shaping the state's governing document.
To initiate a constitutional amendment in South Dakota, citizens must gather a significant number of signatures. Specifically, the number of signatures required is equivalent to 10% of the votes cast in the previous gubernatorial election. This allows for direct citizen involvement in the amendment process, giving them a powerful tool to drive change and adapt the constitution to the evolving needs and preferences of the state's population.
The repeal of Article XXIV on Prohibition in 1933 exemplifies how the South Dakota Constitution has been amended over time to reflect the changing societal norms and priorities of its citizens. Through the amendment process, the state can adapt its governing framework while still preserving the core principles and rights outlined in the constitution.
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Article XXVII on 'Liquor' repealed in 1899
The South Dakota Constitution outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. Since 2006, it has been amended 13 times.
One notable amendment occurred in 1899, with the repeal of Article XXVII, which was entitled "State Control of Manufacture and Sale of Liquor." This article had been approved by voters just two years prior, in 1898, as "South Dakota State Control of Liquor," with 51.89% of the vote. However, on November 6, 1900, the state legislature proposed a referendum to repeal this article, and it was approved by the voters.
The South Dakota Constitution allows for amendments to be proposed in three ways: through a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, or a state constitutional convention. In the case of the repeal of Article XXVII, it was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. This means that the state legislature proposed the amendment, and it required a majority vote during one legislative session to place it on the ballot for voter approval.
The specific details of Article XXVII and the reasons for its repeal are not readily available. However, the title "State Control of Manufacture and Sale of Liquor" suggests that it likely dealt with regulations and policies surrounding the liquor industry in South Dakota. The repeal of this article indicates a shift in the state's approach to managing this aspect of its economy and social landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
The South Dakota Constitution has been amended 13 times since 2006.
Amendments to the South Dakota Constitution may be proposed in three ways: through a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, or a state constitutional convention.
In South Dakota, a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment requires signatures from 10% of the voters who participated in the last gubernatorial election, followed by a simple majority vote for approval.
A simple majority vote during one legislative session is required for the South Dakota State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 36 votes in the House of Representatives and 18 votes in the State Senate.
Yes, the most recent amendment to the South Dakota Constitution was approved by voters on November 5, 2024.
