Jonah Patel
The Connecticut Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. The legislative process involves two steps: the legislature must first pass a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment with a 3/4 majority in both chambers, and then submit that resolution to a popular vote for ratification in the next election. Alternatively, a proposed amendment that passes by a simple majority in both chambers in two successive legislative sessions may also be submitted for ratification. The state constitutional convention is a question about whether to hold a convention that appears on the state's ballot every 20 years, with the next one being in 2028. Connecticut requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of mechanisms to amend the constitution | 2 |
| Legislative process | Requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments |
| State constitutional convention | A question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention appears automatically on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1978 |
| Minimum votes in the Connecticut House of Representatives | 76 |
| Minimum votes in the Connecticut State Senate | 19 |
| Total number of amendments | 34 |
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What You'll Learn
Legislative process
The Connecticut Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention.
The legislative process involves two steps. First, the legislature must pass a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment. This requires a 3/4 majority in both chambers, which amounts to a minimum of 114 votes in the Connecticut House of Representatives and 27 votes in the Connecticut State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Alternatively, a simple majority in both chambers (a minimum of 76 votes in the House and 19 in the Senate) will suffice if the amendment passes during two successive legislative sessions.
Second, the resolution must be submitted to the popular vote for ratification in the next election. A simple majority (50% plus 1) is required for voters to approve constitutional amendments. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
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State constitutional convention
The Connecticut Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention.
A state constitutional convention can be called in two ways. Firstly, it can be called by a vote of two-thirds of each house of the General Assembly at least 10 years after the last convention. Secondly, the General Assembly must call a convention when a majority of voters approve a general election ballot question posed at least 20 years after the last convention or ballot question. According to Article XIII of the Connecticut Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1978.
The first constitutional convention in Connecticut was called by the legislature and held in 1818. It was not open to the public, and only brief minutes and voting records were kept. The 1818 convention produced the Constitution of 1818, which replaced the Fundamental Orders of 1639 and introduced a new mode of governance, including a Declaration of Rights that limited the role of the state in religion. The current Connecticut Constitution was adopted in 1965 and has been amended 34 times.
The Constitution of 1965 had been amended 28 times by 1992. Since 1992, voters have approved six additional constitutional amendments. The most recent amendment was approved on November 5, 2024, when voters approved the Connecticut No-Excuse Absentee Voting Amendment.
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Simple majority vote
The Connecticut Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. One of the legislative processes for amending the Connecticut Constitution involves a simple majority vote. This requires 50% plus one of voters to approve the constitutional amendment.
The first step in the process is for the legislature to pass a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment. This resolution must pass with a simple majority in both chambers of the legislature. That amounts to a minimum of 76 votes in the Connecticut House of Representatives and 19 votes in the Connecticut State Senate, assuming no vacancies.
Once the resolution has passed with a simple majority in both chambers, it must then pass during two successive legislative sessions to be placed on the ballot. This means that the amendment is submitted for ratification in the next election. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
The Connecticut Constitution has been amended multiple times using this process. The Constitution of 1965 had been amended 28 times by 1992, and since then, voters have approved six additional constitutional amendments.
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Legislative sessions
The Connecticut Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention.
The legislative process involves two steps. First, the legislature must pass a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment. This requires a 3/4 majority in both chambers, which amounts to a minimum of 114 votes in the Connecticut House of Representatives and 27 votes in the Connecticut State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Alternatively, a simple majority in both chambers (a minimum of 76 votes in the House and 19 in the Senate) will also suffice, but the amendment must then pass during two successive legislative sessions. In either case, amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Once an amendment has passed in the legislature, it is submitted to the ballot for ratification in the next election. A simple majority vote (50% plus one) is required for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
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Ballot
The Connecticut Constitution is the state constitution of Connecticut. The current Connecticut Constitution, adopted in 1965, has been amended 34 times. The Connecticut Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention.
Legislative Process
In Connecticut, a constitutional amendment can be referred to the ballot after one legislative session or two legislative sessions, depending on the vote count. When an amendment receives a 75% vote in both legislative chambers, the amendment goes on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 114 votes in the Connecticut House of Representatives and 27 votes in the Connecticut State Senate, assuming no vacancies. When an amendment receives a simple majority vote in both legislative chambers, the amendment must pass during two successive legislative sessions to go on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 76 votes in the Connecticut House of Representatives and 19 votes in the Connecticut State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
State Constitutional Convention
According to Article XIII of the Connecticut Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years, starting in 1978. Connecticut is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question. The Legislature can also refer a constitutional convention question to the ballot. A two-thirds (66.67%) vote of legislators in each chamber is required.
Once an amendment is referred to the ballot, a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) of voters is required to approve the constitutional amendment. For example, on November 5, 2024, voters approved the Connecticut No-Excuse Absentee Voting Amendment, which permitted voters to vote by absentee ballot without providing an excuse.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step to amending the Connecticut Constitution is for the legislature to pass a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment.
A 3/4 majority in both chambers is required to pass a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment. Alternatively, a simple majority in both chambers in two successive legislative sessions may also be passed.
The resolution is then submitted to the popular vote for ratification in the next election. A simple majority vote (50% plus 1) is required for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
