Malcolm Rivera
The Wyoming Constitution has been amended 71 times since its ratification in 1889. Wyoming offers two mechanisms for amending its constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. A legislative process requires a two-thirds vote during a legislative session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. A constitutional convention question can be placed on the ballot with a two-thirds vote during a legislative session, and if a simple majority of voters approve the question, a convention will be called for the next session. Amendments can also be proposed through citizen signature petitions, though this method is rarely used.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of amendment mechanisms | 2 |
| Amendment mechanisms | Legislative process, state constitutional convention |
| Minimum legislative votes to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot | 42 in the Wyoming House of Representatives, 21 in the Wyoming State Senate |
| Minimum legislative percentage to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot | 66.67% (two-thirds) |
| Minimum legislative votes to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot | 42 in the Wyoming House of Representatives, 21 in the Wyoming State Senate |
| Minimum legislative percentage to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot | 66.67% (two-thirds) |
| Minimum voter approval percentage for constitutional amendments | 50% (simple majority) |
| Minimum voter approval percentage for constitutional convention | 50% (simple majority) |
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What You'll Learn
Legislative process
The Wyoming Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. Wyoming requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
A two-thirds vote is required during one legislative session for the Wyoming State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 42 votes in the Wyoming House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Wyoming State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
According to Section 3 of Article 20 of the Wyoming Constitution, a two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Wyoming State Legislature to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot. If a simple majority of voters approve the question, then the legislature needs to call for a convention during its next session.
Wyoming's legislative process for amending its constitution begins with the introduction of a bill in the state legislature. The bill must be referred to a committee, returned, and printed for the use of members. The bill must also contain only one subject, clearly expressed in its title. No bill shall be considered or become a law without following this process. Additionally, no law shall be passed except by bill, and no bill shall be altered on its passage through either house to change its original purpose. The enacting clause of every law is standardised: "Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming."
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Convention-referred constitutional amendment
Wyoming's Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. The Wyoming Constitution has been amended 71 times, with the most recent amendment being approved on November 5, 2024.
A convention-referred constitutional amendment is one of the ways to amend the Wyoming Constitution. According to Section 3 of Article 20 of the Wyoming Constitution, a two-thirds vote (66.67%) is required during a legislative session for the Wyoming State Legislature to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot. If a simple majority of voters approve the question, the legislature must call for a convention during its next session.
Wyoming requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments. This means that in addition to the two-thirds vote required to place the question on the ballot, a simple majority of voters must also approve the amendment for it to be adopted.
The convention-referred constitutional amendment process allows for direct citizen participation in amending the Wyoming Constitution. It provides a mechanism for voters to propose and approve changes to the state's fundamental document, which outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters.
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Voter approval
The Wyoming Constitution, which has been amended 71 times, outlines a state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. Wyoming offers two mechanisms for amending its state constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention.
Legislative Process
The legislative process requires a two-thirds vote during a legislative session for the Wyoming State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 42 votes in the Wyoming House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Wyoming State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments via this route do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
State Constitutional Convention
According to Section 3 of Article 20 of the Wyoming Constitution, a two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during a legislative session for the Wyoming State Legislature to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot. If a simple majority (50% plus 1) of voters approve the question, then the legislature needs to call for a convention during its next session.
Wyoming requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments. In Wyoming, voters who abstain from voting on an amendment count as no votes. This is in contrast to some other states, such as Illinois, which allows amendments to be approved by either a majority of voters on the amendment or a majority of voters in the entire election.
In most states, there are four ways that proposed constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot: through legislatively referred constitutional amendments, through initiated constitutional amendments put on the ballot through a citizen signature petition, through a state constitutional convention, or by a special commission.
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Legislator approval
The Wyoming Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. The legislative process involves a two-thirds vote during a legislative session for the Wyoming State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 42 votes in the Wyoming House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Wyoming State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments proposed through this process do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
The legislative process is one of the most common ways that constitutional amendments are proposed and passed in the United States, with state legislatures generating more than 80% of constitutional amendments that are considered and approved each year. While some states require that amendments secure the backing of a majority of legislators, others require supermajority legislative support. Some states require legislative support to be expressed in a single session, while others require two consecutive sessions. Wyoming's requirement of a two-thirds vote in a single session is a relatively common threshold, with 16 states requiring a two-thirds supermajority legislative vote in a single session.
Once an amendment has been placed on the ballot through the legislative process, it must then be approved by voters. Wyoming requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments. This means that voters who abstain from voting on an amendment are essentially counted as no votes. This is in contrast to other states, such as Illinois, which allows amendments to be approved by either a supermajority of voters on the amendment or a majority of voters in the entire election.
After an amendment has been approved by voters, it is typically enacted through a process specified by the state's constitution. In Wyoming, laws are enacted through bills passed by the legislature. No law shall be passed except by bill, and no bill may be altered on its passage through either house to change its original purpose. The enacting clause of every law is specified as follows: "Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming."
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Ballot measures
Wyoming's constitution can be amended through two mechanisms: a legislative process or a state constitutional convention. A legislatively referred constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote during a legislative session for the Wyoming State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 42 votes in the Wyoming House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Wyoming State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments via this route do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
The second method, a convention-referred constitutional amendment, requires a two-thirds (66.67%) vote during a legislative session for the Wyoming State Legislature to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot. If a simple majority of voters approve the question, the legislature must call for a convention during its next session.
Wyoming requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments. Wyoming is one of four states that require amendments to be approved by a majority of voters in the entire election; abstaining voters in these states are effectively counted as no votes.
Most ballot measures are placed on the ballot through citizen initiatives or legislative processes. Others are placed on the ballot automatically by a special commission or by a state constitutional convention. Citizen-initiated amendments are permitted in 17 states, though requirements vary. For example, Arizona and Oklahoma set the highest bar, requiring amendment supporters to collect signatures equal to 15% of the votes cast in the last election for governor. In contrast, Massachusetts sets the lowest bar, requiring only 3%.
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Frequently asked questions
Wyoming requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments. A two-thirds vote is required during one legislative session for the Wyoming State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 42 votes in the Wyoming House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Wyoming State Senate.
The current Wyoming Constitution has been amended 71 times. Voters last approved a new amendment on November 5, 2024.
There are two ways to amend the Wyoming Constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention.
