Colorado State Constitution (Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States)

cover
Half title
Series
The Colorado State Constitution
Copyright
Contents
Series Foreword by Lawrence Friedman
Preface
part one The History of the Colorado Constitution
	Prelude to the 1875–​1876 Constitutional Convention
	The 1875–​1876 Constitutional Convention
	The Constitution in Place: Significant Amendments
	Constitutional Moments
part two The Colorado Constitution and Commentary
	Article I: Boundaries
	Article II: Bill of Rights
		Introduction
		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 homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual orientation
		Section 31. Marriages—​valid or recognized
	Article III: Distribution of Powers
	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 commander-​in-​chief 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
		Section 15. No lieutenant governor—​who to act as governor
		Section 16. Account and report of moneys
		Section 17. Executive officers to make report
		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
		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
		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. Eight-​hour 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
		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
		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
		Section 42. Corrupt solicitation of members and officers
		Section 43. Member interested shall not vote
		Section 44. Representatives in congress—​congressional districts—​commission created
		Section 44.1. Commission composition and appointment—​ vacancies
		Section 44.2. Commission organization—​procedures—​transparency—​voting requirements
		Section 44.3  Criteria for determinations of congressional districts—​definition
		Section 44.4  Preparation, amendment, and approval of plans—​public hearings and participation
		Section 44.5  Supreme court review
		Section 44.6  Severability
		Section 45. General assembly
		Section 46. Senatorial and representative districts—​commission created
		Section 47. Commission composition and appointment—​vacancies
		Section 48. Commission organization—​procedures—​transparency—​voting requirements
		Section 48.1  Criteria for determination of legislative districts—​ definition
		Section 48.2  Preparation, amendment, and approval of plans—​public hearings and participation
		Section 48.3  Supreme court review
		Section 48.4  Severability
		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
		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
		Section 7. Term of office
		Section 8. Qualifications of justices
		Section 9. District courts—​jurisdiction
		Section 10. Judicial districts—​district judges
		Section 11. Qualifications of district judges
		Section 12. Terms of court
		Section 13. District attorneys—​election—​term—​salary—​qualifications
		Section 14. Probate court—​jurisdiction—​judges—​election— ​term—​qualifications
		Section 15. Juvenile court—​jurisdiction—​judges—​election— ​term—​qualifications
		Section 16. County judges—​terms—​qualifications
		Section 17. County courts—​jurisdiction—​appeals
		Section 18. Compensation and services
		Section 19. Laws relating to courts—​uniform
		Section 20. Vacancies
		Section 21. Rule-​making 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
		Section 3. Educational qualifications of elector
		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—​definitions
		Section 4. Appropriation for capitol building
		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 trust lands
		Section 11. Compulsory education
		Section 12. Regents of university
		Section 13. President of university
		Section 14. Control of university
		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 3.5. Homestead exemption for qualifying senior citizens and disabled veterans
		Section 4. Public property exempt
		Section 5. Property used for religious worship, schools, and charitable purposes exempt
		Section 6. Self-​propelled 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
		Section 10. 1976 Winter Olympics
	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
		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
		Section 6. County commissioners—​election—​term
		Section 7. Officers compensation
		Section 8. County officers—​election—​term—​salary
		Section 8.5. Sheriff—​qualifications
		Section 8.7. Coroner—​qualifications
		Section 9. Vacancies—​how filled
		Section 10. Elector only eligible to county office
		Section 11. Justices of the peace—​constables
		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
		Section 1. Commissioner of mines
		Section 2. Ventilation—​employment of children
		Section 3. Drainage
		Section 4. Mining, metallurgy, in public institutions
		Section 5. Water of streams public property
		Section 6. Diverting unappropriated water—​priority preferred uses
		Section 7. Right-​of-​way 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—​limitations on terms
		Section 10. Severability of constitutional provisions
		Section 11. Elected government officials—​limitation on terms
		Section 12. Congressional Term Limits Amendment
		Section 12a. Congressional Term Limits Declaration
		Section 12b. Prohibited methods of taking wildlife
		Section 14. Medical use of marijuana for persons suffering from debilitating medical conditions
		Section 15. State minimum wage rate
		Section 16. Personal use and regulation of marijuana
	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 XXII: Intoxicating Liquor
		Section 1. Repeal of intoxicating liquor laws
	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
	Article XXVI: Nuclear Detonations
		Section 1. Nuclear detonations prohibited—​exceptions
		Section 2. Election required
		Section 3. Certification of indemnification required
		Section 4. Article self-​executing
		Section 5. Severability
	Article XXVII: Great Outdoors Colorado
		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 laws
		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. Purposes 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
		Section 15. (No headnote provided)
		Section 16. (No headnote provided)
		Section 17. (No headnote provided)
	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
Bibliographical Essay
Table of Cases
Index
About the Authors