Jonah Patel
The Arizona Constitution was last amended on November 5, 2024, when voters approved a new amendment. The current Arizona Constitution has been amended 161 times since it was first adopted in 1912. The Arizona Constitution outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. Amendments can be made through a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, or a state constitutional convention. Notably, Arizona was the 48th state to join the union on February 14, 1912, after its constitution was vetoed by President William H. Taft in 1910 due to objections regarding the recalling of judges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Last Amendment | November 5, 2024 |
| Number of Times Amended | 161 |
| First Constitution | Drafted in 1910 |
| Statehood | February 14, 1912 |
| First Amendment | 1912 |
| Most Recent Amendment | Article 2, 2024 |
| Subject of Most Recent Amendment | Explicit right to abortion |
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What You'll Learn
The Arizona Constitution was last amended on November 5, 2024
The constitution-making process began in 1910 when the Arizona Territory was authorized to hold a constitutional convention. The original constitution was approved by Congress but vetoed by President William H. Taft due to a provision that included judges in the recalling process. After this provision was removed, Arizona became a state on February 14, 1912.
The Arizona Constitution provides for three methods of amendment: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. A simple majority is required for voter approval of amendments, and citizens can initiate constitutional amendments through a ballot measure. This requires signatures equal to 15% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election, with petitions circulated for up to 24 months.
The Arizona Constitution has various articles that cover different aspects of governance and civil rights. For example, Article 2, amended in 2024, contains an explicit right to abortion. Article 3 establishes the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Article 5 outlines the qualifications and duties of the governor and other executive branch officials. Other articles cover topics such as labor, real estate agents, and public retirement systems.
The Arizona Constitution has evolved over time through amendments, ensuring that it remains relevant and responsive to the needs of the state's citizens. The process of amendment allows for the direct participation of citizens, empowering them to shape the laws that govern their state.
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Amendments can be citizen-initiated, legislative, or convention-referred
The Arizona Constitution was last amended on November 5, 2024, when voters approved a new amendment. Arizona's constitution provides for three methods of amending the document: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
Citizen-Initiated Amendments
Eighteen states, including Arizona, allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments. In Arizona, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is 15% of the votes cast for the governor in the most recent gubernatorial election. Petitions can be circulated for up to 24 months and must be submitted four months before the election. Once citizen-initiated amendments qualify for the ballot, they generally must be ratified by a simple majority of voters, as is the case in Arizona. However, some states require a supermajority of voters. Nevada has an additional requirement for citizen-initiated amendments to be approved by a majority of voters in two consecutive elections.
Legislative Amendments
Legislatures generate more than 80% of constitutional amendments considered and approved across the country each year. State requirements for legislatures to craft amendments vary, with some requiring a majority of legislators and others demanding supermajority legislative support. Amendments can be referred to the ballot for voter consideration, as is the case in Arizona, where a simple majority is needed during one legislative session. However, Delaware is an exception, with the legislature voting on constitutional amendments but not requiring voter approval.
Convention-Referred Amendments
Conventions are typically called by legislators, who must approve a convention referendum. A majority legislative vote is required in most states, while a supermajority legislative vote is needed in others. A referendum on calling a convention must then be approved by a majority of voters, although some states do not require this. In four states, it is possible to bypass the legislature and call a convention through the initiative process. Additionally, 14 states, including Arizona, provide for an automatic constitutional convention question on the ballot at periodic intervals. Arizona's constitution stipulates that the state legislature can only call for a convention if approved by a statewide vote.
The amendments to the Arizona Constitution have addressed a range of issues, including abortion rights, labor regulations, religious freedom, banning polygamy, English as the official language, real estate agents, ambulance regulation, and public retirement systems. The original constitution was vetoed by President William H. Taft due to a provision that included judges in the recalling process. After amending this provision, Arizona gained statehood in 1912.
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The state requires a simple majority for voter approval
The Arizona Constitution was last amended on November 5, 2024, when voters approved a new amendment. Arizona's constitution provides for three methods of amendment: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. In all cases, a simple majority is required for voter approval. This means that a majority of voters must approve an amendment for it to pass.
The citizen-initiated process is outlined in Article 21 of the Arizona Constitution. Citizens have the power to initiate constitutional amendments by proposing laws and amendments directly. This can be done through a ballot measure, which requires signatures from at least 15% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election. Petitions can be circulated for up to 24 months, and signatures must be submitted four months before the election.
The legislative process is outlined in Article 22 and allows the state legislature to refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voter approval. A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Arizona State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 31 votes in the Arizona House of Representatives and 16 votes in the Arizona State Senate, assuming no vacancies. It's important to note that amendments proposed through this process do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Finally, the state constitutional convention process is outlined in Section 2 of Article XXI of the Arizona Constitution. According to this process, the state legislature can only call for a convention if it is approved by a majority of voters in a statewide vote. This process was used to draft the original Arizona Constitution in 1910 and played a crucial role in Arizona's path to statehood, which was granted in 1912.
While a simple majority is generally required for voter approval of constitutional amendments, there are exceptions for certain ballot measures. For example, Arizona requires a 60% vote to pass ballot measures related to approving taxes.
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The original constitution was vetoed by President William H. Taft
The original Arizona Constitution was vetoed by President William H. Taft on August 15, 1911, due to objections concerning the recalling of judges. This provision was deemed by the President to contradict the need for an independent judiciary.
The Arizona Territory was authorized to hold a constitutional convention in 1910, where the constitution was drafted and subsequently submitted to Congress. While the original constitution was initially approved by Congress, it was then vetoed by President Taft. The constitution was then amended by the constitutional convention, removing the recalling of judges, and was resubmitted. Upon these changes, President Taft approved Arizona's statehood on February 14, 1912, as the 48th state.
Interestingly, shortly after Arizona became a state, the state legislature approved a constitutional amendment that restored the ability to recall judges. This amendment was approved in the 1912 general election.
The current Arizona Constitution has been amended 161 times, with voters last approving a new amendment on November 5, 2024. The Arizona Constitution outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, as well as individual and civil rights.
The Arizona Constitution provides for three methods of amending the document: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. A simple majority is required for voter approval, although a 60% vote is necessary to pass ballot measures related to approving taxes.
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The constitution has been amended 161 times
The Arizona Constitution, the governing document and framework for the State of Arizona, has been amended 161 times. Arizona became the 48th state on February 14, 1912, and its constitution was first drafted in 1910. The constitution was amended soon after Arizona became a state, with the state legislature approving a constitutional amendment to restore the ability to recall judges, which was approved in the 1912 general election.
The Arizona Constitution provides for three methods of amending the document: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. A simple majority is required for voter approval of constitutional amendments, and citizens have the power to initiate constitutional amendments. An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments, and in Arizona, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is 15% of the votes cast for the governor in the most recent gubernatorial election. Petitions can be circulated for up to 24 months and must be submitted four months before the election.
The Arizona Constitution consists of various articles that outline different aspects of the state's governance. For example, Article 2, titled the Declaration of Rights, is the state's equivalent of the Bill of Rights, and was amended in 2024 to include an explicit right to abortion. Article 3 establishes the state government's division into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Article 4 outlines the legislature and the people's legislative authority, while Article 5 details the qualifications and duties of the Governor and other executive branch officials.
Other notable amendments to the Arizona Constitution include Proposition 107, which created term limits for various elective offices, and amendments to Articles 26, 27, and 29, which deal with real estate agents, the regulation of ambulances, and public retirement systems, respectively. The constitution was last amended on November 5, 2024, with the addition of an explicit right to abortion.
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Frequently asked questions
The Arizona Constitution was last amended on November 5, 2024.
The current Arizona Constitution has been amended 161 times.
The last amendment was to Article 2, which was amended to include an explicit right to abortion.
The Arizona Constitution outlines three methods of amending the document: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. A simple majority is required for voter approval.
The first Arizona Constitution was drafted and submitted to Congress in 1910. However, it was vetoed by President William H. Taft due to objections concerning the recalling of judges. The constitution was amended to address this issue, and statehood was granted in 1912.
