Simone Lawson
The Constitution of the State of Connecticut is the governing document of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was approved by referendum on December 14, 1965, and proclaimed by the governor as adopted on December 30. The 1965 Constitution is the fourth distinct document in the state's history outlining its form of government and comprises 14 articles. It replaced the earlier constitution of 1818, which was drafted by a convention assembled in Hartford on August 26, 1818, and approved by a vote of 13,918 in its favour.
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What You'll Learn
The 1965 Constitution is the latest
The Constitution of the State of Connecticut is the state's governing document. It was approved by referendum on December 14, 1965, and proclaimed by the governor on December 30, 1965. This 1965 Constitution is the latest and represents the fourth distinct document in Connecticut's history outlining the mechanics of its government. The 1965 Constitution comprises 14 articles and has been amended 31 times. It replaced the earlier constitution of 1818, which was drafted by a convention assembled in 1818 and approved by popular vote.
The 1965 Constitution is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it reaffirmed much of the language from the 1818 Constitution, either verbatim or with minor changes. Secondly, it addressed the issue of disproportional representation in the lower legislative house by reapportioning the number of representatives. This ensured that small rural towns and large urban communities had more proportional representation. Thirdly, it granted non-Christians official freedom of religion, removing references to Christianity from the earlier constitution. Additionally, the 1965 Constitution provided a constitutional right to free public education and established a mechanism to convene future constitutional conventions if necessary.
The Connecticut Constitution outlines the state's form of government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. While the 1965 Constitution did not significantly alter the role of the executive, it did grant the governor a more substantial power of veto. This power of veto could only be overridden by a two-thirds majority in both houses of the legislature, making it more challenging to overturn than in the previous constitution.
The process of amending the Connecticut Constitution is outlined in the document itself. Amendments can be proposed by a two-thirds vote of each house of the General Assembly or by a majority vote of the electorate during a referendum. If an amendment is approved by a three-fourths majority in both houses of the General Assembly, it is then submitted to the voters during the next even-numbered year's general election. If it fails to achieve a three-fourths majority in either house but still obtains a majority, it must be approved by a majority in each house during the next legislative session before being put to a vote in the subsequent general election.
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The 1818 Constitution was the previous one
The 1818 Constitution of Connecticut made the executive a constitutional and independent part of the government. The governor was no longer granted a seat in the legislature but was given the power of veto. However, this power was essentially useless as the veto could be overruled by a simple majority vote from the Assembly. The General Assembly retained the authority to nominate judges under the 1818 Constitution, and this was not changed until 1880 when nomination powers were transferred to the governor.
The legislative branch also experienced some changes under the 1818 Constitution. The council was renamed the Senate, and half of the legislative sessions were to take place in Hartford, with the other half convening in New Haven. The 1818 Constitution also provided for a mechanism to convene future constitutional conventions if necessary.
The 1818 Constitution was amended several times. For example, in 1828, the Senate of Connecticut was to consist of not less than eighteen, nor more than twenty-four members, chosen by districts. In 1843, a law was passed by the legislature that recognised Jews' right to worship, although these laws were largely ignored following large-scale Jewish and Catholic immigration in the last half of the 19th century.
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The 1818 Constitution was drafted in Hartford
The State of Connecticut did not adopt its first state constitution until 1818, more than thirty years after most of the other twelve original colonies had adopted theirs. The 1818 Constitution was drafted in Hartford, Connecticut, on August 26, 1818.
The people of Connecticut had long been satisfied with the form of government derived from the charter and sanctioned by the legislature. However, many considered that they had no constitution, as their government under the charter had never received the explicit approbation of the people after the declaration of independence. It was also considered inconsistent with the dignity of a free nation to hold their rights, even nominally, by the tenure of a Royal Grant. As a result, it was decided to call a convention to draft a constitution.
The 1818 Constitution was drafted by a convention assembled in Hartford, Connecticut, on August 26, 1818. The convention was called for by the General Assembly, which also voted on whether only a simple majority of the legislature would be required to approve the final draft of the constitution. The vote was carried by a single-vote margin, and so a resolution vital to the future success of the constitution was passed. This resolution disestablished the state church and separated church and state.
The 1818 Constitution was submitted to the people of Connecticut and approved by a vote of 13,918 in favour and 12,364 against. On October 12, 1818, Governor Wolcott issued a proclamation declaring that the constitution was to be observed by all persons as the supreme law of the state. The 1818 Constitution was replaced by the 1965 Constitution, which remains the supreme authority in Connecticut today.
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The 1818 Constitution was approved by a narrow margin
The Constitution of the State of Connecticut was approved by a narrow margin in 1818. The 1818 Constitution was the second distinct document in Connecticut's history to outline the state's form of government. The document was drafted by a convention that convened in Hartford on 26 August 1818. The convention was assembled because many people in Connecticut considered themselves to have no constitution, as their government under the charter had never received the explicit approval of the people.
The 1818 Constitution was approved by a vote of 13,918 in favour and 12,364 against. This was a margin of just 1,554 votes. The vote followed a powerful short sermon by Croswell, which may have influenced the result. The constitution was then reaffirmed almost verbatim in 1965, with the addition of a constitutional right to free public education.
The 1818 Constitution made the executive a constitutional and independent part of the government. The governor was no longer granted a seat in the legislature, but was given the power of veto. However, this power was essentially useless, as the legislature could override the veto with a simple majority vote. The legislative branch also experienced some changes. The council was renamed the Senate, and legislative sessions were to be split between Hartford and New Haven.
The 1818 Constitution also included a mechanism to amend or revise the document. A majority of the house of representatives could propose alterations, which would be published alongside any laws passed at the same session. If two-thirds of each house approved the amendments, they would be transmitted to the town clerk in each town, to be presented to the inhabitants for their consideration. If a majority of electors approved the amendments, they would become a valid part of the constitution.
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The 1818 Constitution was drafted by delegates
The Constitution of Connecticut has undergone several revisions since the state's earliest days. The 1818 Constitution was drafted by delegates and approved by a vote of 13,918 in favour and 12,364 against. This document was considered significant as it disestablished the state church and separated church and state.
The 1818 Constitution was the second distinct document in Connecticut's history outlining the mechanics for its form of government. The first was the Fundamental Orders, adopted in 1639, which is thought to be the earliest such document in Western civilization.
The 1818 Constitution made some changes to the legislative and executive branches of government. The council, for example, was renamed the Senate. However, the role of the executive remained relatively weak. While the governor was granted a new power of veto, this could be overruled by a simple majority vote from the Assembly, rendering the power essentially useless. The General Assembly also retained the authority to nominate judges, which would not change until 1880.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of the State of Connecticut was approved by referendum on December 14, 1965, and proclaimed by the governor as adopted on December 30. It is the state's second constitution since the establishment of the United States.
The U.S. Constitution was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states. Of the 74 delegates who were chosen, 55 attended and 39 signed.
The primary purpose of the 1965 Constitutional Convention was to reapportion the representatives in the lower legislative house.
