Omar Bennett
Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution, unanimously voting to do so on December 7, 1787. Delaware was the first of the original 13 states to approve the document, which replaced the Articles of Confederation. The state was admitted to the United States on the same day, on the condition that at least nine other colonies would also agree to the Constitution. Interestingly, Delaware is the only state in the US that can amend its own constitution without a referendum.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution | 30-0 unanimous vote on December 7, 1787 |
| The Delaware Constitution was the first to be written after the Declaration of Independence | Approved on September 20, 1776 |
| The Delaware Constitution does not require popular approval to adopt constitutional amendments | The state legislature can amend the constitution without a vote of the people |
| The Delaware Constitution has a bicameral legislature | The General Assembly of Delaware |
| The Delaware Constitution has an executive branch | The executive has broad authority after consulting with the Privy Council |
| The Delaware Constitution has a judicial branch | The Executive and General Assembly select the judicial branch |
| The Delaware Constitution prohibits slavery | Prohibited the entry of anyone from Africa or other places for the purpose of holding the individuals in slavery |
| The Delaware Constitution has a Bill of Rights | Establishes the Bill of Rights of the citizens of Delaware |
| The Delaware Constitution has an article on Revenue and Taxation | Deals with state revenue and the taxation process |
| The Delaware Constitution has an article on Corporations | Establishes the rights and limitations of corporations in the state |
| The Delaware Constitution has an article on Education | Concerns education in the state |
| The Delaware Constitution has an article on Agriculture | Establishes a board of agriculture |
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What You'll Learn
- Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution
- Delaware's constitution was written by a convention
- Delaware's legislature can amend its constitution without a referendum
- Delaware's constitution establishes a board of agriculture
- Delaware's constitution establishes the rights and limitations of corporations in the state
Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution
Delaware was the first of the original 13 states to ratify the US Constitution, on December 7, 1787. The state's convention met on December 3, 1787, and shortly after, unanimously voted 30-0 to ratify the Constitution.
Delaware was admitted as "The First State" on December 7, 1787, and this signing admitted the state to the United States, subject to at least nine other colonies agreeing to the US Constitution.
The Delaware Constitution of 1776 was replaced by the Delaware Constitution of 1792, which remained in effect until 1831. The current constitution, Delaware's fourth, was adopted in 1897 and remains in effect. Delaware is the only state in the country that does not require popular approval to adopt constitutional amendments. It also does not allow initiatives or referendums at the state or local level.
The Delaware General Assembly can amend the constitution. The state legislature can amend the constitution without a vote of the people. For the legislature to amend the constitution, two-thirds of all the members elected to each chamber must vote in favor of a proposed amendment. The Delaware Secretary of State must then publish the proposed amendment(s) three months prior to the next general election in at least three newspapers in each county. The subsequent General Assembly then votes again on the proposed amendment(s) and if an amendment receives a two-thirds majority approval of all members, it becomes part of the constitution.
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Delaware's constitution was written by a convention
Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so on December 7, 1787, by a unanimous vote of 30-0. It was also the first state to have a convention write a constitution following the Declaration of Independence. The Delaware Constitution of 1776 was approved by the convention on September 20, 1776, and became effective immediately.
The 1776 constitution was replaced by the Delaware Constitution of 1792, which remained in effect until 1831 when a convention approved a third state constitution. The current constitution, Delaware's fourth, was adopted in 1897 and remains in effect. The convention convened in December 1896 and adjourned on June 4, 1897.
The Delaware Constitution is unusual in that the legislature has the authority to amend it without a referendum. It is the only state in the country that does not require popular approval to adopt constitutional amendments. The Delaware General Assembly can amend the constitution without a vote of the people. For the legislature to amend the constitution, two-thirds of all the members elected to each chamber can vote in favour of a proposed amendment. The Delaware Secretary of State must then publish the proposed amendment(s) three months before the next general election in at least three newspapers in each county. The subsequent General Assembly then votes again on the proposed amendment(s) and if an amendment receives a two-thirds majority approval of all members, it becomes part of the constitution.
The Delaware Constitution of 1897 includes articles on the legislature, the executive, the judiciary, revenue and taxation, corporations, education, and agriculture.
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Delaware's legislature can amend its constitution without a referendum
Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution on December 7, 1787, and is the only state in the country that does not require popular approval to adopt constitutional amendments. Delaware's legislature can amend its constitution without a referendum or a vote of the people.
Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution defines two mechanisms by which the Delaware Constitution can be amended: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. The Delaware General Assembly can amend the constitution without a vote of the people. For the legislature to amend the constitution, two-thirds of all the members elected to each chamber can vote in favour of a proposed amendment. The Delaware Secretary of State must then publish the proposed amendment(s) three months prior to the next general election in at least three newspapers in each county. The subsequent General Assembly then votes again on the proposed amendment(s) and if an amendment receives two-thirds majority approval of all members, it becomes part of the Constitution.
The people are notified of the proposed amendment through the newspaper publications and may make their views known by voting for or against those legislators seeking office. However, Delaware does not feature the power of citizen initiative for either initiated constitutional amendments or initiated state statutes.
The current Delaware Constitution, the state's fourth, was adopted in 1897 and remains in effect. The state's first constitution was approved by convention in 1776, becoming the first state to have a convention write a constitution after the Declaration of Independence.
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Delaware's constitution establishes a board of agriculture
Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so on December 7, 1787. The state has had four constitutions of its own, the current one being adopted in 1897.
The Delaware 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. It consists of 17 articles, including those on the Bill of Rights, the legislative, executive, and judicial departments of government, revenue and taxation, corporations, and education.
Delaware is unique in that it does not require popular approval to adopt constitutional amendments. Amendments can be made through a legislative process or a state constitutional convention, without a vote of the people. The Delaware General Assembly has the power to amend the constitution, with a two-thirds majority approval required from all members.
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Delaware's constitution establishes the rights and limitations of corporations in the state
Delaware is known as "The First State" because it was the first of the original 13 states to ratify the US Constitution, on December 7, 1787. The state's representatives voted unanimously, 30-0, to approve the document, which replaced the Articles of Confederation.
Delaware's constitution, which was first written in 1776, establishes the rights and limitations of corporations in the state. The Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL) is the statute that governs corporate law in the state. The DGCL was adopted in 1899 and has made Delaware the most prevalent jurisdiction in US corporate law.
The state has become a corporate haven due to its business-friendly laws, which are more relaxed compared to most other US states. For example, Delaware charges no income tax on corporations not operating within the state, and it does not require corporations to have at least one director and two officers. All offices may be held by a single person, who can also be the sole shareholder. This person does not need to be a US citizen or resident and can operate anonymously.
Delaware's extensive experience in corporate law has resulted in a well-developed body of case law, which provides corporations and their counsel with greater guidance on matters of corporate governance and transaction liability issues. The state's Court of Chancery, a separate court of equity, hears disputes over the internal affairs of Delaware corporations.
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Frequently asked questions
The Delaware Constitution was a constitution written by a convention in 1776, after the Declaration of Independence. It had a bicameral legislature, an executive with broad authority after consulting with the Privy Council, and a judicial branch selected by the Executive and General Assembly.
The Delaware Constitution was unique in that it was the first state constitution written after the Declaration of Independence. It also prohibited the entry of anyone from Africa or other places for the purpose of holding them in slavery.
Delaware was the first state to ratify and approve the US Constitution on December 7, 1787.
The Delaware Constitution can be amended in two ways: through a legislative process or a state constitutional convention. Unlike other states, Delaware does not require popular approval to adopt constitutional amendments.
