Constitution of the State of Colorado

The Constitution of the State of Colorado is the foundation of the laws and government

Law and Government of Colorado

The Constitution of the State of Colorado provides for three branches of government: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial branches.-Sovereignty of the people:...

of the U.S. state of Colorado. The current, and only, Colorado State Constitution was drafted 1876-03-14, approved by Colorado voters 1876-07-01, and took effect upon the statehood of Colorado on 1876-08-01. From 1876 through 2007, the Colorado Constitution has been amended 152 times.

Chronology of the Colorado Constitution

In June 1858, Green Russell
William Greeneberry Russell
William Greeneberry "Green" Russell was an American prospector and miner.Green Russell lived in Georgia and worked in the California gold fields in the 1850s. Russell was married to a Cherokee woman, and through his connections to the tribe, he heard about an 1849 discovery of gold along the...

finds placer
Placer deposit
In geology, a placer deposit or placer is an accumulation of valuable minerals formed by gravity separation during sedimentary processes. The name is from the Spanish word placer, meaning "alluvial sand". Placer mining is an important source of gold, and was the main technique used in the early...

gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...

along the South Platte River
South Platte River
The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/Mountain West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska...

in western Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....

, inciting the Pike's Peak Gold Rush.
The first election in the gold fields is held for officers of Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory
Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory
Arapahoe County was a county of the United States Territory of Kansas that existed from 1855-08-25, to 1861-01-29.-History:On 1855-08-25, the Kansas Territorial Legislature created Arapahoe County to govern the western portion of the Territory of Kansas...

, on 1859-03-03. Unfortunately, voters are unaware that the Kansas Territorial Legislature
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....

split Arapahoe County into six new counties four weeks earlier on 1859-02-07.

A constitutional convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...

meeting in Denver City
History of Denver, Colorado
The history of Denver details the history of the City and County of Denver, Colorado, United States.-Pike's Peak Gold Rush:The Denver area, part of the Territory of Kansas was virtually unsettled until the late 1850s. Occasional parties of prospectors came looking for gold, then moved on...

proposes a new State of Jefferson
Jefferson Territory
The Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was an extralegal and unrecognized United States territory that existed from October 24, 1859 until the creation of the Colorado Territory on February 28, 1861...

to govern the gold fields in April 1859.
The first Jefferson Constitutional Convention
Jefferson Territory
The Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was an extralegal and unrecognized United States territory that existed from October 24, 1859 until the creation of the Colorado Territory on February 28, 1861...

meeting in Denver City adopts a proposed Constitution of the State of Jefferson
Jefferson Territory
The Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was an extralegal and unrecognized United States territory that existed from October 24, 1859 until the creation of the Colorado Territory on February 28, 1861...

on 1859-08-01. This proposed state constitution is a modified version of the second Constitution of the State of Iowa that was drafted two years earlier.
Voters of the gold fields reject statehood as premature on 1859-09-05.
The second Jefferson Constitutional Convention
Jefferson Territory
The Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was an extralegal and unrecognized United States territory that existed from October 24, 1859 until the creation of the Colorado Territory on February 28, 1861...

meeting in Denver City adopts a proposed Constitution of the Territory of Jefferson
Jefferson Territory
The Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was an extralegal and unrecognized United States territory that existed from October 24, 1859 until the creation of the Colorado Territory on February 28, 1861...

on 1859-10-03. This proposed territorial constitution is a modified version of the rejected state constitution that was drafted two months earlier.
By a vote of 2163 to 280, voters approve the creation of the free Territory of Jefferson on 1859-10-24. The new territory includes portions of the Territory of Kansas, the Territory of Nebraska, the Territory of New Mexico, the Territory of Utah, and the Territory of Washington. The United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

refuses to recognize the new citizen-initiated territory because of the precarious balance of power between the free states and the slave states. The Jefferson Territory governs the region until 1861 with little interference from the federal government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...

.
On 1860-10-01, Denver City voters approve the Constitution of the People's Government of Denver
History of Denver, Colorado
The history of Denver details the history of the City and County of Denver, Colorado, United States.-Pike's Peak Gold Rush:The Denver area, part of the Territory of Kansas was virtually unsettled until the late 1850s. Occasional parties of prospectors came looking for gold, then moved on...

, an independent municipal government.
An Act Admitting the State of Kansas to the Union is enacted by Congress and signed into law by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....

on 1861-01-29. The act includes only the eastern two-thirds of the Territory of Kansas in the new state, and leaves the western portion of the Kansas Territory (claimed by the Territory of Jefferson) unorganized
Unorganized territory
An unorganized territory is a region of land without a "normally" constituted system of government. This does not mean that the territory has no government at all or that it is unclaimed territory...

.

An Organic Act for the Territory of Colorado
Colorado Territory
The Territory of Colorado was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 28, 1861, until August 1, 1876, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Colorado....

is enacted by Congress and signed into law by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....

on 1861-02-28. The free Territory of Colorado occupies the greater southeastern portion of the extralegal Territory of Jefferson, but is 41% less extensive. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

ironically names the new U.S. territory for a river that does not flow through it.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...

becomes the 16th President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

on 1861-03-04.
The Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...

attack on Fort Sumter
Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter, near Charleston, South Carolina, that started the American Civil War. Following declarations of secession by seven Southern states, South Carolina demanded that the U.S. Army abandon its facilities in Charleston Harbor. On...

initiates the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

on 1861-04-12. Though the citizens of Colorado hail from many states and countries, the vast majority remain staunchly pro-Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...

.

An Enabling Act for the State of Colorado is enacted by Congress and signed into law by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...

on 1864-03-21.
The first Colorado Constitutional Convention meeting in Denver City adopts a proposed Constitution of the State of Colorado on 1864-07-11. This proposed state constitution was inspired by the Wyandotte Constitution
Wyandotte Constitution
The present Constitution of the State of Kansas was originally known as the Wyandotte Constitution to distinguish it from three proposed constitutions that preceded it...

of the State of Kansas drafted in 1859.
By a vote of 1520 to 4672, Colorado voters reject the first proposed Colorado State Constitution on 1864-10-11, primarily because it includes a preselected slate of candidates for state and national office.
President Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...

is assassinated
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...

and dies on 1865-04-15. The Republican-led
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

soon spars with the new Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...

.
The second Colorado Constitutional Convention adopts a second proposed Constitution of the State of Colorado on 1865-08-12.
Colorado voters approve the second proposed Constitution for the State of Colorado on 1865-09-01. Fearing a strengthened Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

majority
Majority
A majority is a subset of a group consisting of more than half of its members. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset may consist of less than half the group's population...

in Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...

refuses to declare the statehood of Colorado.
Frustrated by the President's refusal to declare the statehood of Colorado, Congress approves a Colorado Statehood Bill, but President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...

vetoes the measure on 1866-05-15.
Congress approves a second Colorado Statehood Bill, but President Johnson vetoes this bill also on 1867-01-28.

The United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

votes to impeach President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...

on 1868-02-24.
The United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

votes to acquit President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...

on 1868-05-26.
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...

becomes the 18th President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

on 1869-03-04
Congress fails to pass a third Colorado Statehood Bill in 1869.
Congress fails to pass a fourth Colorado Statehood Bill in 1871.
Congress fails to pass a fifth Colorado Statehood Bill in 1873.
In his Fifth Annual Message to Congress on 1873-12-01, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...

endorses a second Enabling Act for the State of Colorado.

The second Enabling Act for the State of Colorado is enacted by Congress and signed into law by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...

on 1875-03-03.
On 1875-10-25, Colorado voters elect delegates to the third Colorado Constitutional Convention.
The third Colorado Constitutional Convention meeting in Denver adopts a third proposed Constitution of the State of Colorado on 1876-03-14. This proposed state constitution was inspired by the third Constitution of the State of Illinois drafted in 1870, the fourth Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania drafted in 1873, and the third Constitution of the State of Missouri drafted in 1875. The Colorado Constitution was, and still is, one of the lengthiest of the state constitutions
State constitution (United States)
In the United States, each state has its own constitution.Usually, they are longer than the 7,500-word federal Constitution and are more detailed regarding the day-to-day relationships between government and the people. The shortest is the Constitution of Vermont, adopted in 1793 and currently...

of the United States.
By a vote of 15,443 to 4039, Colorado voters approve the third proposed Constitution of the State of Colorado on 1876-07-01.
The nation celebrates the Centennial of the United States on 1876-07-04, despite the shocking news of the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...

.
President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...

proclaims that the Territory of Colorado has been accepted into the Union
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

as the State of Colorado on 1876-08-01. The 38th State is immediately nicknamed the Centennial State.
The Constitution of the State of Colorado has been amended 152 times from 1876 through 2007.

Outline of the Colorado Constitution

Constitution of the State of Colorado

Preamble

We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, in order to form a more independent and perfect government; establish justice; insure tranquillity; provide for the common defense; promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the "State of Colorado".

ARTICLE I. Boundaries

The boundaries of the State of Colorado shall be as follows: Commencing on the thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude

37th parallel north

The 37th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 37 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Africa, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....

, where the twenty-fifth meridian of longitude west from Washington

25th meridian west from Washington

The 25th meridian of longitude west from Washington is a line of longitude approximately 102.05 degrees west of the Prime Meridian of Greenwich...

crosses the same; thence north, on said meridian, to the forty-first parallel of north latitude

41st parallel north

The 41st parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 41 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....

; thence along said parallel, west, to the thirty-second meridian of longitude west from Washington

32nd meridian west from Washington

The 32nd meridian of longitude west from Washington is a line of longitude approximately 109°02′48″ west of the Prime Meridian of Greenwich. In the United States of America, the meridian 32 degrees west of the Washington Meridian defines the western boundaries of the State of Colorado and the...

; thence south, on said meridian, to the thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude; thence along said thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude to the place of beginning.

ARTICLE II. Bill of Rights

Section 1 Vestment of political power.
Section 2. People may alter or abolish form of government - proviso.
Section 3. Inalienable Rights.
Section 4. Religious Freedom.
Section 5. Freedom of Elections.
Section 6. Equality of Justice.
Section 7. Security of Person and Property Searches Seizures Warrants.
Section 8. Prosecutions Indictment or Information.
Section 9. Treason Estates of Suicides.
Section 10. Freedom of Speech and Press.
Section 11. Ex Post Facto Laws.
Section 12. No Imprisonment for Debt.
Section 13. Right to Bear Arms.
Section 14. Taking Private Property for Private Use.
Section 15. Taking Property for Public Use Compensation, How Ascertained.
Section 16. Criminal Prosecutions Rights of Defendant.
Section 16a. Rights of Crime Victims.
Section 17. Imprisonment of Witnesses Depositions Form.
Section 18. Crimes Evidence Against One's Self Jeopardy.
Section 19. Right to Bail Exceptions.
Section 20. Excessive Bail, Fines or Punishment.
Section 21. Suspension of Habeas Corpus.
Section 22. Military Subject to Civil Power Quartering of Troops.
Section 23. Trial by Jury Grand Jury.
Section 24. Right to Assemble and Petition.
Section 25. Due Process of Law.
Section 26. Slavery Prohibited.
Section 27. Property Rights of Aliens.
Section 28. Rights Reserved Not Disparaged.
Section 29. Equality of the Sexes.
Section 30. Right to Vote or Petition on Annexation Enclaves.
Section 30a. Official Language.
Section 30b. No Protected Status Based on Sexual Orientation. [Declared in Romer v. Evans
Romer v. Evans
Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 , is a landmark United States Supreme Court case dealing with civil rights and state laws. It was the first Supreme Court case to deal with LGBT rights since Bowers v...

to violate the United States Constitution; not in force.
Section 31. Marriages - valid or recognized.

ARTICLE III. Distribution of Powers

The powers of the government of this state are divided into three distinct departments: the legislative, executive, and judicial; and no person or collection of persons charged with the exercise of powers properly belonging to one of these departments shall exercise any power properly belonging to either of the others, except as in this constitution expressly directed or permitted.

ARTICLE IV. Executive Department

Section 1. Officers Terms of Office.
Section 2. Governor Supreme Executive.
Section 3. State Officers Election Returns.
Section 4. Qualifications of State Officers.
Section 5. Governor CommanderinChief of Militia.
Section 6. Appointment of Officers Vacancy.
Section 7. Governor May Grant Reprieves and Pardons.
Section 8. Governor May Require Information from Officers Message.
Section 9. Governor May Convene Legislature or Senate.
Section 10. Governor May Adjourn Legislature.
Section 11. Bills Presented to Governor Veto Return.
Section 12. Governor May Veto Items in Appropriation Bills Reconsideration.
Section 13. Succession to the Office of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
Section 14. Lieutenant Governor President of Senate President Pro Tem (Repealed).
Section 15. No Lieutenant Governor Who to Act as Governor (Repealed).
Section 16. Account and Report of Moneys.
Section 17. Executive Officers to Make Report (Repealed).

Section 18. State Seal.
Section 19. Salaries of Officers Fees Paid into Treasury.
Section 20. State Librarian.
Section 21. Elected Auditor of State Powers and Duties (Repealed).
Section 22. Principal Departments.
Section 23. Commissioner of Insurance.

ARTICLE V. Legislative Department

Section 1. General Assembly Initiative and Referendum.
Section 2. Election of Members Oath Vacancies.
Section 3. Terms of Senators and Representatives.
Section 4. Qualifications of Members.
Section 5. Classification of Senators.
Section 6. Salary and Expenses of Members.
Section 7. General Assembly Shall Meet When Term of Members Committees.
Section 8. Members Precluded from Holding Office.
Section 9. Increase of Salary When Forbidden (Repealed).
Section 10. Each House to Choose Its Officers.
Section 11. Quorum.
Section 12. Each House Makes and Enforces Rules.
Section 13. Journal Ayes and Noes to be Entered, When.
Section 14. Open Sessions.
Section 15. Adjournment for More Than Three Days.
Section 16. Privileges of Members.
Section 17. No Law Passed but by Bill Amendments.
Section 18. Enacting Clause.
Section 19. When Laws Take Effect Introduction of Bills.
Section 20. Bills Referred to Committee Printed.
Section 21. Bill to Contain but One Subject Expressed in Title.
Section 22. Reading and Passage of Bills.
Section 22a. Caucus Positions Prohibited Penalties.
Section 22b. Effect of Sections 20 and 22a.
Section 23. Vote on Amendments and Report of Committee.
Section 24. Revival, Amendment or Extension of Laws.
Section 25. Special Legislation Prohibited.
Section 25a. Eighthour Employment.
Section 26. Signing of Bills.
Section 27. Officers and Employees Compensation.
Section 28. Extra Compensation to Officers, Employees, or Contractors Forbidden.
Section 29. Contracts for Facilities and Supplies.
Section 30. Salary of Governor and Judges to be Fixed by Legislature Term Not to be Extended or Salaries Increased or Decreased (Repealed).
Section 31. Revenue Bills.
Section 32. Appropriation Bills.
Section 33. Disbursement of Public Money.
Section 34. Appropriations to Private Institutions Forbidden.
Section 35. Delegation of Power.
Section 36. Laws on Investment of Trust Funds.
Section 37. Change of Venue (Repealed).
Section 38. No Liability Exchanged or Released.
Section 39. Orders and Resolutions Presented to Governor.
Section 40. Bribery and Influence in General Assembly.
Section 41. Offering, Giving, Promising Money or Other Consideration (Repealed).
Section 42. Corrupt Solicitation of Members and Officers (Repealed).
Section 43. Member Interested Shall Not Vote.

Congressional and Legislative Apportionments

Section 44. Representatives in Congress.
Section 45. General Assembly.
Section 46. Senatorial and Representative Districts.
Section 47. Composition of Districts.
Section 48. Revision and Alteration of Districts Reapportionment Commission.
Section 49. Appointment of State Auditor Term Qualifications Duties.
Section 50. Public Funding of Abortion Forbidden.

ARTICLE VI. Judicial Department

Section 1. Vestment of Judicial Power.

Supreme Court

Section 2. Appellate Jurisdiction.
Section 3. Original Jurisdiction Opinions.
Section 4. Terms.
Section 5. Personnel of Court Departments Chief Justice.
Section 6. Election of Judges (Repealed).
Section 7. Term of Office.
Section 8. Qualifications of Justices.

District Courts

Section 9. District Courts Jurisdiction.
Section 10. Judicial Districts District Judges.
Section 11. Qualifications of District Judges.
Section 12. Terms of Court.

District Attorneys

Section 13. District Attorneys Election Term Salary Qualifications.

Probate and Juvenile Courts

Section 14. Probate Court Jurisdiction Judges Election Term Qualifications.
Section 15. Juvenile Court Jurisdiction Judges Election Term Qualifications.

County Courts

Section 16. County Judges Terms Qualifications.
Section 17. County Courts Jurisdiction Appeals.

Miscellaneous

Section 18. Compensation and Services.
Section 19. Laws Relating to Courts Uniform.
Section 20. Vacancies.
Section 21. Rulemaking Power.
Section 22. Process Prosecution In Name of People.
Section 23. Retirement and Removal of Justices and Judges.
Section 24. Judicial Nominating Commissions.
Section 25. Election of Justices and Judges.
Section 26. Denver County Judges.

ARTICLE VII. Suffrage and Elections

Section 1. Qualifications of Elector.
Section 1a. Qualifications of Elector Residence on Federal Land.
Section 2. Suffrage to Women (Repealed).
Section 3. Educational Qualifications of Elector (Deleted by amendment).
Section 4. When Residence Does Not Change.
Section 5. Privilege of Voters.
Section 6. Electors Only Eligible to Office.
Section 7. General Election.
Section 8. Elections by Ballot or Voting Machine.
Section 9. No Privilege to Witness in Election Trial.
Section 10. Disfranchisement During Imprisonment.
Section 11. Purity of Elections.
Section 12. Election Contests By Whom Tried.

ARTICLE VIII. State Institutions

Section 1. Established and Supported by State.
Section 2. Seat of Government Where Located.
Section 3. Seat of Government How Changed.
Section 4. Appropriation for Capitol Building (Repealed).
Section 5. Educational Institutions.

ARTICLE IX. Education

Section 1. Supervision of Schools Board of Education.
Section 2. Establishment and Maintenance of Public Schools.
Section 3. School Fund Inviolate.
Section 4. County Treasurer to Collect and Disburse.
Section 5. Of What School Fund Consists.
Section 6. County Superintendent of Schools.
Section 7. Aid to Private Schools, Churches, Sectarian Purpose, Forbidden.
Section 8. Religious Test and Race Discrimination Forbidden Sectarian Tenets.
Section 9. State Board of Land Commissioners.
Section 10. Selection and Control of Public Lands.
Section 11. Compulsory Education.
Section 12. Regents of University.
Section 13. President of University.
Section 14. Control of University (Repealed).
Section 15. School Districts Board of Education.
Section 16. Textbooks in Public Schools.
Section 17. Education - Funding.

ARTICLE X. Revenue

Section 1. Fiscal Year.
Section 2. Tax Provided for State Expenses.
Section 3. Uniform Taxation Exemptions.
Section 4. Public Property Exempt.
Section 5. Property Used for Religious Worship, Schools and Charitable Purposes Exempt.
Section 6. Selfpropelled Equipment, Motor Vehicles, and Certain Other Movable Equipment.
Section 7. Municipal Taxation by General Assembly Prohibited.
Section 8. No County, City, Town to be Released.
Section 9. Relinquishment of Power to Tax Corporations Forbidden.
Section 10. Corporations Subject to Tax.
Section 11. Maximum Rate of Taxation.
Section 12. Public Funds Report of State Treasurer.
Section 13. Making Profit on Public Money Felony.
Section 14. Private Property Not Taken for Public Debt.
Section 15. Boards of Equalization Duties Property Tax Administrator.
Section 16. Appropriations Not to Exceed Tax Exceptions.
Section 17. Income Tax.
Section 18. License Fees and Excise Taxes Use of.
Section 19. State Income Tax Laws by Reference to United States Tax Laws.
Section 20. The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.
Section 21. Tobacco Taxes for Health Related Purposes.

ARTICLE XI. Public Indebtedness

Section 1. Pledging Credit of State, County, City, Town or School District Forbidden.
Section 2. No Aid to Corporations No Joint Ownership by State, County, City, Town, or School District.
Section 2a. Student Loan Program.
Section 3. Public Debt of State Limitations.
Section 4. Law Creating Debt.
Section 5. Debt for Public Buildings How Created.
Section 6. Local Government Debt.
Section 7. State and Political Subdivisions May Give Assistance to Any Political Subdivision.
Section 8. City Indebtedness; Ordinance, Tax, Water Obligations Excepted.
Section 9. This Article Not to Affect Prior Obligations (Repealed).
Section 10. 1976 Winter Olympics (Deleted by Amendment).

ARTICLE XII. Officers

Section 1. When Office Expires Suspension by Law.
Section 2. Personal Attention Required.
Section 3. Defaulting Collector Disqualified from Office.
Section 4. Disqualifications from Holding Office of Trust or Profit.
Section 5. Investigation of State and County Treasurers.
Section 6. Bribery of Officers Defined.
Section 7. Bribery Corrupt Solicitation.
Section 8. Oath of Civil Officers.
Section 9. Oaths Where Filed.
Section 10. Refusal to Qualify Vacancy.
Section 11. Elected Public Officers Term Salary Vacancy.
Section 12. Duel Disqualifies for Office (Deleted by Amendment).
Section 13. Personnel System of State Merit System.
Section 14. State Personnel Board State Personnel Director.
Section 15. Veterans' Preference.

ARTICLE XIII. Impeachments

Section 1. House Impeach Senate Try Conviction When Chief Justice Presides.
Section 2. Who Liable to Impeachment Judgment No Bar to Prosecution.
Section 3. Officers Not Subject to Impeachment Subject to Removal.

ARTICLE XIV. Counties

Section 1. Counties of State.
Section 2. Removal of County Seats.
Section 3. Striking Off Territory Vote.
Section 4. New County Shall Pay Proportion of Debt.
Section 5. Part Stricken Off Pay Proportion of Debt.

County Officers

Section 6. County Commissioners Election Term.
Section 7. Officers Compensation (Repealed).
Section 8. County Officers Election Term Salary.
Section 9. Vacancies How Filled.
Section 10. Elector Only Eligible to County Office.
Section 11. Justices of the Peace Constables (Repealed).
Section 12. Other Officers.
Section 13. Classification of Cities and Towns.
Section 14. Existing Cities and Towns May Come Under General Law.
Section 15. Compensation and Fees of County Officers.
Section 16. County Home Rule.
Section 17. Service Authorities.
Section 18. Intergovernmental Relationships.

ARTICLE XV. Corporations

Section 1. Unused Charters or Grants of Privilege.
Section 2. Corporate Charters Created by General Law.
Section 3. Power to Revoke, Alter or Annul Charter.
Section 4. Railroads Common Carriers Construction Intersection.
Section 5. Consolidation of Parallel Lines Forbidden.
Section 6. Equal Rights of Public to Transportation.
Section 7. Existing Railroads to File Acceptance of Constitution.
Section 8. Eminent Domain Police Power Not to be Abridged.
Section 9. Fictitious Stock, Bonds Increase of Stock.
Section 10. Foreign Corporations Place Agent.
Section 11. Street Railroads Consent of Municipality.
Section 12. Retrospective Laws Not to be Passed.
Section 13. Telegraph Lines Consolidation.
Section 14. Railroad or Telegraph Companies Consolidating with Foreign Companies.
Section 15. Contracts with Employees Releasing from Liability Void.

ARTICLE XVI. Mining and Irrigation

Mining

Section 1. Commissioner of Mines.
Section 2. Ventilation Employment of Children.
Section 3. Drainage.
Section 4. Mining, Metallurgy, in Public Institutions.

Irrigation

Section 5. Water of Streams Public Property.
Section 6. Diverting Unappropriated Water Priority Preferred Uses.
Section 7. Rightofway for Ditches, Flumes.
Section 8. County Commissioners to Fix Rates for Water, When.

ARTICLE XVII. Militia

Section 1. Persons Subject to Service.
Section 2. Organization Equipment Discipline.
Section 3. Officers How Chosen.
Section 4. Armories.
Section 5. Exemption in Time of Peace.

ARTICLE XVIII. Miscellaneous

Section 1. Homestead and Exemption Laws.
Section 2. Lotteries Prohibited Exceptions.
Section 3. Arbitration Laws.
Section 4. Felony Defined.
Section 5. Spurious and Drugged Liquors Laws Concerning.
Section 6. Preservation of Forests.
Section 7. Land Value Increase Arboreal Planting Exempt.
Section 8. Publication of Laws.
Section 9. Limited Gaming Permitted.
Section 9a. U.S. Senators and Representatives Limitation on Terms.
Section 10. Severability of Constitutional Provisions.
Section 11. Elected Government Officials—Limitations on Terms.
Section 12. Congressional Term Limits Amendment.
Section 12a. Congressional Term Limits Declaration.
Section 13. Prohibited Methods of Taking Wildlife.
Section 14. Medical use of marijuana for persons suffering from debilitating medical conditions.
Section 15. State minimum wage rate.

ARTICLE XIX. Amendments

Section 1. Constitutional Convention How Called.
Section 2. Amendments to Constitution How Adopted.

ARTICLE XX. Home Rule Cities and Towns

Section 1. Incorporated.
Section 2. Officers.
Section 3. Transfer of Government.
Section 4. First Charter.
Section 5. New Charters, Amendments or Measures.
Section 6. Home Rule for Cities and Towns.
Section 7. City and County of Denver Single School District Consolidations.
Section 8. Conflicting Constitutional Provisions Declared Inapplicable.
Section 9. Procedure and Requirements for Adoption.
Section 10. City and county of Broomfield - created
Section 11. Officers - city and county of Broomfield
Section 12. Transfer of government
Section 13. Sections self-executing - appropriations

ARTICLE XXI. Recall from Office

Section 1. State Officers May be Recalled.
Section 2. Form of Recall Petition.
Section 3. Resignation Filling Vacancy.
Section 4. Limitation Municipal Corporations May Adopt, When.

ARTICLE XXIII. Publication of Legal Advertising

Section 1. Publication of Proposed Constitutional Amendments and Initiated and Referred Bills.

ARTICLE XXIV. Old Age Pensions

Section 1. Fund Created.
Section 2. Moneys Allocated to Fund.
Section 3. Persons Entitled to Receive Pensions.
Section 4. The State Board of Public Welfare to Administer Fund.
Section 5. Revenues for Old Age Pension Fund Continued.
Section 6. Basic Minimum Award.
Section 7. Stabilization Fund and Health and Medical Care Fund.
Section 8. Fund to Remain Inviolate.
Section 9. Effective Date.

ARTICLE XXV. Public Utilities

In addition to the powers now vested in the General Assembly of the State of Colorado, all power to regulate the facilities, service and rates and charges therefor, including facilities and service and rates and charges therefor within home rule cities and home rule towns, of every corporation, individual, or association of individuals, wheresoever situate or operating within the State of Colorado, whether within or without a home rule city or home rule town, as a public utility, as presently or as may hereafter be defined as a public utility by the laws of the State of Colorado, is hereby vested in such agency of the State of Colorado as the General Assembly shall by law designate.

Until such time as the General Assembly may otherwise designate, said authority shall be vested in the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Colorado; provided however, nothing herein shall affect the power of municipalities to exercise reasonable police and licensing powers, nor their power to grant franchises; and provided, further, that nothing herein shall be construed to apply to municipally owned utilities.

ARTICLE XXVI. Nuclear Detonations

Section 1. Nuclear Detonations Prohibited Exceptions.
Section 2. Election Required.
Section 3. Certification of Indemnification Required.
Section 4. Article Selfexecuting.
Section 5. Severability.

ARTICLE XXVII. Great Outdoors Colorado Program

Section 1. Great Outdoors Colorado Program.
Section 2. Trust Fund Created.
Section 3. Moneys Allocated to Trust Fund.
Section 4. Fund to Remain Inviolate.
Section 5. Trust Fund Expenditures.
Section 6. The State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund.
Section 7. No effect on Colorado water law.
Section 8. No Substitution Allowed.
Section 9. Eminent Domain.
Section 10. Payment in lieu of Taxes.
Section 11. Effective Date.

ARTICLE XXVIII. Campaign and Political Finance

Section 1. Purpose and findings.
Section 2. Definitions.
Section 3. Contribution limits.
Section 4. Voluntary campaign spending limits.
Section 5. Independent expenditures.
Section 6. Electioneering communications.
Section 7. Disclosure.
Section 8. Filing - where to file - timeliness.
Section 9. Duties of the secretary of state - enforcement.
Section 10. Sanctions.
Section 11. Conflicting provisions declared inapplicable.
Section 12. Repeal of conflicting statutory provisions.
Section 13. Applicability and Effective Date.
Section 14. Severability.

ARTICLE XXIX. Ethics in Government

Section 1. Purposes and findings.
Section 2. Definitions.
Section 3. Gift ban.
Section 4. Restrictions on representation after leaving office.
Section 5. Independent ethics commission.
Section 6. Penalty.
Section 7. Counties and municipalities.
Section 8. Conflicting provisions declared inapplicable.
Section 9. Legislation to facilitate article.

Schedule

Section 1. All Laws Remain Until Repealed.
Section 2. Contracts Recognizances Indictments.
Section 3. Territorial Property Vests in State.
Section 4. Duty of General Assembly.
Section 5. Supreme and District Courts Transition.
Section 6. Judges District Attorneys Term Commence on Filing Oath.
Section 7. Seals of Supreme and District Courts.
Section 8. Probate Court County Court.
Section 9. Terms Probate Court, Probate Judge, Apply to County Court, County Judge.
Section 10. County and Precinct Officers.
Section 11. Vacancies in County Offices.
Section 12. Constitution Takes Effect on President's Proclamation.
Section 13. First Election, Contest.
Section 14. First Election Canvass.
Section 15. Senators Representatives Districts.
Section 16. Congressional Election Canvass.
Section 17. General Assembly, First Session Restrictions Removed.
Section 18. First General Assembly Canvass.
Section 19. Presidential Electors, 1876.
Section 20. Presidential Electors After 1876.
Section 21. Expenses of Convention.
Section 22. Recognizances, Bonds, Payable to People Continue.

External links

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