Malcolm Rivera
Iowa's current constitution was written and adopted in 1857, following two previous attempts in 1844 and 1846, which were rejected by voters. The 1857 constitution was ratified by voters and declared by Governor James W. Grimes as the supreme law of the State of Iowa. Since its adoption, the constitution has been amended 51 times, with the most recent amendments approved by voters in 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of current constitution | 1857 |
| Date of current constitution's adoption | 3 March 1857 |
| Date of current constitution's ratification by voters | August 1857 |
| Number of state constitutions Iowa has had | 3 |
| Number of amendments to the current constitution | 51 |
| Number of amendments most recently approved by voters | 2 |
| Date of most recent amendments approved by voters | 5 November 2024 |
| Number of constitutional conventions held | 3 |
| Dates of constitutional conventions | 1844, 1846, 1857 |
| Location of constitutional conventions | Iowa City |
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What You'll Learn
Iowa's three constitutions
Iowa has held three constitutional conventions, in 1844, 1846, and 1857, with the first two constitutions rejected by voters and the third ratified. The document drafted and amended by the 1857 convention is the current, original Constitution of the State of Iowa. This copy is a scanned copy of the handwritten 1857 Constitution on file in the Office of the Secretary of State.
The First Proposed Constitution (1844)
The first proposed constitution was created during the first constitutional convention in 1844. However, it was rejected by the voters. Unfortunately, there is limited information available regarding the specifics of this proposed constitution.
The Second Proposed Constitution (1846)
The second proposed constitution emerged from the 1846 constitutional convention. Like the first, this constitution was also rejected by the voters of Iowa. While the exact reasons for its rejection are not readily available, it is clear that this proposal did not meet the expectations or requirements of the Iowan people.
The Third Proposed Constitution (1857)
The third proposed constitution, drafted during the 1857 constitutional convention, was finally ratified by the voters. This document became the current, original Constitution of the State of Iowa and has been the foundation of the state's governance since its adoption.
The Current Constitution of Iowa
The current Constitution of Iowa, ratified in 1857, consists of 12 articles that outline the state's framework for governance. It addresses various aspects of state organization and function, including the rights of citizens, suffrage, distribution of powers, the executive and judicial departments, the militia, state debts, corporations, education, and the process of amending the constitution itself. The constitution has been amended multiple times to accommodate changing needs and circumstances, with the most recent amendments approved by voters in 2024.
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The 1857 convention
Iowa has held three constitutional conventions, in 1844, 1846, and 1857, all in Iowa City. The first two proposed constitutions were rejected by voters, but the third, proposed by the 1857 convention, was ratified. This document, drafted and amended by the 1857 convention, is the current, original Constitution of the State of Iowa.
Article I of the Iowa Constitution is labelled the "Bill of Rights" and contains 25 sections that describe the rights of Iowa citizens in great detail. Other articles cover a range of topics, including the executive and judicial departments, the state militia, corporations, education, and amendments to the Constitution.
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Amendments
The current Iowa Constitution was drafted and amended in 1857 and ratified by voters in August of the same year. Iowa has held three constitutional conventions, in 1844, 1846, and 1857, with the first constitution rejected by voters and the second and third ratified.
The Iowa Constitution has been amended 51 times. Amendments to the Iowa Constitution may be proposed by either the Senate or the House of Representatives. They must be agreed upon by two successive General Assemblies and ratified by a majority of electors voting at an election designated by the General Assembly.
The amendments are presented in the order of their ratification by the voters, followed by a footnote referring to the latest amendment, identified by the year of ratification and amendment number. The codified Iowa Constitution is an official legal publication as provided in Iowa's Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act, enacted in Iowa Code Chapter 2B.
The most recent amendments to the Iowa Constitution were approved by voters on November 5, 2024.
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The Bill of Rights
Iowa's current constitution was written and adopted in 1857, following three constitutional conventions in 1844, 1846, and 1857. The first proposed constitution was rejected by voters, while the second and third were ratified.
The Iowa Constitution's Bill of Rights is outlined in Article I, which has 25 sections that describe the rights of Iowa's citizens in great detail. Unfortunately, I could not find specific information on the contents of these 25 sections. However, as a bill of rights, it typically outlines fundamental rights and freedoms that are protected in the state of Iowa.
The Iowa Constitution has been amended 51 times, with the most recent amendments approved by voters on November 5, 2024. Amendments to the constitution can be proposed by either the Senate or the House of Representatives and must be agreed upon by two successive General Assemblies. They also require ratification by a majority of electors during an election designated by the General Assembly.
The Iowa 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.
Other notable articles within the Iowa Constitution include Article IV ("Executive Department"), which establishes the executive branch and outlines the governor's powers, and Article V ("Judicial Department"), which establishes the court system. There is also Article VI ("Militia"), which concerns the state militia, and Article VIII ("Corporations"), which covers the formation of corporations and their privileges and limitations.
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Iowa's statehood
Iowa has held three constitutional conventions, in 1844, 1846, and 1857, all in Iowa City. The state's current constitution was drafted in 1857 and ratified by voters in August of that year, making it the oldest state constitution in the US still in use. Iowa became the 29th state on 28 December 1846, and its third and current constitution was declared by Governor James W. Grimes to be the supreme law of the state in September 1857.
The first proposed constitution was rejected by voters in 1845, with the proposed state boundaries viewed unfavourably by some. The second proposed constitution was adopted by convention in May 1846 and ratified by voters in August of the same year. The third and final proposed constitution was adopted by convention in March 1857 and ratified by voters in August. The current constitution has been amended 51 times, most recently in November 2024.
The Iowa Constitution consists of 12 articles. Article I is labelled the "Bill of Rights" and has 25 sections, which describe the rights of the citizens of Iowa in great detail. Article IV, the "Executive Department", establishes the executive department and outlines the powers of the governor. Article V, the "Judicial Department", establishes the court system of the judicial department. Article VI, the "Militia", concerns the state militia. Article VII, "State Debts", deals with state debts.
Article VIII of the Iowa Constitution is labelled "Corporations" and concerns the formation of corporations and their privileges and limitations. Article IX, "Education and School Lands", has two parts: "Education" and "School Funds and School Lands". This article concerns the public school system of Iowa. Article X, "Amendments to the Constitution", governs the ways in which the state's constitution can be changed over time and describes how constitutional amendments are made.
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Frequently asked questions
Iowa's current constitution was written in 1857.
No, Iowa has held three constitutional conventions, in 1844, 1846, and 1857. The first constitution was rejected by voters, and the second and third were ratified.
Iowa's first proposed constitution was written in 1844 and rejected by voters in 1845.
Iowa's current constitution was ratified by voters in August 1857 and declared by Governor James W. Grimes to be the supreme law of the state in September 1857.
