Isabella Carter
The Ohio Constitution is the state constitution of Ohio, which became the 17th state of the United States of America in 1803. Ohio has had two or three constitutions since statehood was granted. The current Ohio Constitution was adopted in 1851 and has been amended 173 times. The constitution follows 18 or 19 articles and a preamble. This paragraph introduces the topic of whether there is a preamble in the Ohio Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of state constitutions | 3 |
| Current constitution adopted | 1851 |
| Number of amendments | 173 |
| Number of articles | 19 |
| Last amended | November 7, 2023 |
| Number of sections in Article I | 21 |
| Number of sections in Article III | 23 (7 repealed) |
| Number of sections in Article IV | 9 (2 repealed) |
| Number of sections in Article V | 6 |
| Number of sections in Article VII | 3 |
| Number of sections in Article VIII | 17 (1 repealed) |
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What You'll Learn
- The Ohio Constitution has a preamble and 18 articles
- The constitution was adopted in 1851 and has been amended 173 times
- Ohio has had two state constitutions
- The document outlines the state's framework for governance, including powers, structure, and limitations of the state government
- The constitution includes the Bill of Rights, Judicial, and Elective Franchise, with relevant sections repealed
The Ohio Constitution has a preamble and 18 articles
The Ohio Constitution is the basic governing document of the State of Ohio, which became the 17th state of the United States of America in 1803. The current Ohio Constitution, adopted in 1851, is the state's second constitution and comprises a preamble and 18 articles (or 19, according to another source).
The first constitution of Ohio was in effect from 1803 until 1851. It was drafted in 1802 at a state constitutional convention in Chillicothe, Ohio, and was modelled on the 1796 constitution of Tennessee, with those of Pennsylvania and Kentucky as other influences. The constitution provided for a "`weak`" governor and judiciary, with most power vested in a bicameral legislature, known as the General Assembly. The first General Assembly met in Chillicothe on March 1, 1803, which is considered the date of Ohio statehood.
The current constitution has been amended 173 times, with voters most recently approving a new amendment on November 7, 2023. Ohio's constitution can be amended via a legislative, citizen-initiated, or convention-referred constitutional amendment, all of which require voter approval. The state requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
The Ohio Constitution's Bill of Rights (Article I) is substantially similar to its federal counterpart but also includes the right to alter, reform or abolish the government; rights of conscience and education; rights for victims of crime; a prohibition of imprisonment for debt; and the right to payment of damages for wrongful death. Other articles of the constitution cover the state's judicial system (Article IV), elective franchise (Article V), education (Article VI), public institutions (Article VII), and public debt and public works (Article VIII).
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The constitution was adopted in 1851 and has been amended 173 times
The Ohio Constitution is the basic governing document of the State of Ohio, which became the 17th state of the USA in 1803. Ohio has had two constitutions since statehood was granted, with the current constitution being adopted in 1851. The first constitution was in effect from 1803 until 1851. The first General Assembly met in Chillicothe, the new state capital, on March 1, 1803, which is considered the date of Ohio statehood.
The current constitution has 19 articles and has been amended 173 times. The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. All amendments require voter approval. Voters last approved a new amendment to the constitution on November 7, 2023, when they approved Issue 1.
The Ohio Constitution's Bill of Rights (Article I) is substantially similar to its federal counterpart but also includes the right to alter, reform or abolish the government, rights of conscience and education, rights for victims of crime, a prohibition of imprisonment for debt, and the right to payment of damages for wrongful death. Article III details the state's executive branch, including the governor and other statewide officers. Article IV describes the state's judicial system, which has three tiers: the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Ohio District Courts of Appeals, and the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas. Article V is entitled "Elective Franchise" and consists of nine sections, two of which have been repealed. Article VI, entitled "Education", consists of six sections, while Article VII, entitled "Public Institutions", consists of three sections. Article VIII, "Public Debt and Public Works", has 17 sections, one of which has been repealed.
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Ohio has had two state constitutions
The State of Ohio has had two constitutions since it became the 17th state to join the United States on March 1, 1803. The first constitution was in effect from 1803 until 1851, when the second constitution was adopted. The current constitution has been amended 173 times, most of which occurred after 1912 when the requirements for passing amendments were loosened. The Ohio Constitution is the fundamental document that outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters.
The current constitution has 19 articles and 225 sections, up from the original 16 articles and 169 sections. The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Notably, Ohio was the first state to allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments directly. This process was established in 1912 and requires signatures from at least 10% of the number of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election.
Ohio has held four state constitutional conventions, including in 1802 and 1850-1851. The third convention was held in 1873-1874, and the fourth was held in 1912. At this convention, delegates proposed 42 constitutional amendments, of which 34 were approved by voters. One of these amendments created the citizen-initiated ballot measure process.
Over the years, the Ohio Constitution has been amended to address a range of issues, including gambling legalization, the creation of the Ohio Lottery, and the legalization of casino gambling. The Modern Courts Amendment of 1968 significantly revised the judiciary article of the constitution, granting the Supreme Court of Ohio administrative control over the state's judiciary.
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The document outlines the state's framework for governance, including powers, structure, and limitations of the state government
The Ohio Constitution is the basic governing document of the State of Ohio, which became the 17th state of the USA in 1803. The current Ohio Constitution, adopted in 1851, is the state's second constitution and has been amended 173 times. It outlines the state's framework for governance, including powers, structure, and limitations of the state government.
The Ohio Constitution has 19 articles and a preamble. Article I is entitled "Bill of Rights" and consists of 21 sections. It is substantially similar to its federal counterpart but also includes the right to alter, reform, or abolish the government; rights of conscience and education; rights for victims of crime; a prohibition of imprisonment for debt; and the right to payment of damages for wrongful death.
Article III details the state's executive branch, including the governor and other statewide officers. The governor lacked substantial power initially, and it was not until 1903 that governors gained veto power. The article also contains little information on the power of other constitutional officers. Most of the article deals with the powers and duties of the governor.
Article IV describes the state's judicial system, which consists of three tiers: the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Ohio District Courts of Appeals, and the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas. The legislature can also create additional courts. Seven of the 23 sections in this article have been repealed.
The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Ohio is one of 18 states that allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.
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The constitution includes the Bill of Rights, Judicial, and Elective Franchise, with relevant sections repealed
The Ohio Constitution is the state constitution of Ohio, which became the 17th state of the United States of America in 1803. Ohio has had two state constitutions, with the current one being adopted in 1851. The Ohio Constitution includes 19 articles and a preamble. Article I, entitled "Bill of Rights", consists of 21 sections, including the right to alter, reform or abolish the government, rights of conscience and education, rights for victims of crime, a prohibition of imprisonment for debt, and the right to payment of damages for wrongful death.
Article IV, entitled "Judicial", consists of 23 sections, seven of which have been repealed. This article describes the state's judicial system, creating three tiers: the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Ohio District Courts of Appeals, and the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas. The legislature can also create additional courts. In 1968, voters adopted the "Modern Courts Amendment", which significantly revised this article.
Article V, entitled "Elective Franchise", consists of nine sections, two of which have been repealed. This article outlines the process for elections and voting rights.
The Ohio Constitution has been amended 173 times, with voters approving a new amendment as recently as November 7, 2023. The constitution can be amended through a legislative, citizen-initiated, or convention-referred process, all of which require voter approval. Ohio is one of 18 states that allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Ohio Constitution has a preamble and 18 articles.
The Ohio Constitution is the state constitution of Ohio. It is the basic governing document of the State of Ohio.
The current Ohio Constitution, adopted in 1851, has been amended 173 times. The most recent amendment was approved on November 7, 2023.
Article I of the Ohio Constitution is the Bill of Rights and consists of 21 sections. It includes the right to alter, reform or abolish the government, rights of conscience and education, rights for victims of crime, a prohibition of imprisonment for debt, and the right to payment of damages for wrongful death.
There are three mechanisms for amending the Ohio Constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. All amendments require a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for approval.
