Canadians Can Own Land in Washington, Amendment 24 (1950)
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| Voting on Civil Rights |
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| Ballot Measures |
| By state |
| By year |
| Not on ballot |
Election results
| Amendment 24 | ||||
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 292,857 | 50.24% | ||
| No | 290,005 | 49.76% | ||
Amendment 24 was a change to Section 33 of Article II of the Washington State Constitution. It was the 24th amendment approved to the (second) Washington State Constitution subsequent to its ratification in October 1889.
Amendment 24 exempted certain Canadians from the list of those non-U.S. citizens who were forbidden by Section 33 to own land in the State of Washington. The Canadians who were exempted were those who are from Canadian provinces "as do not expressly or by implication prohibit ownership of provincial lands by citizens of this state."
In 1966, Section 33 of Article II was repealed in its entirety from the state's constitution.
Section 33, Article II
Before Amendment 24
Before Amendment 24, Section 33 of Article II said:
- "OWNERSHIP OF LANDS BY ALIENS, PROHIBITED - Exceptions - The ownership of lands by aliens, other than those who in good faith have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States, is prohibited in this state, except where acquired by inheritance, under mortgage or in good faith in the ordinary course of justice in the collection of debts; and all conveyances of lands hereafter made to any alien directly or in trust for such alien shall be void: Provided, That the provisions of this section shall not apply to lands containing valuable deposits of minerals, metals, iron, coal, or fire-clay, and the necessary land for mills and machinery to be used in the development thereof and the manufacture of the products therefrom. Every corporation, the majority of the capital stock of which is owned by aliens, shall be considered on alien for the purposes of this prohibition."
Amendment 24
When Amendment 24 was enacted, Section 33 of Article II said:
- "ALIEN OWNERSHIP - The ownership of lands by aliens, other than those who in good faith have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States, is prohibited in this state, except where acquired by inheritance, under mortgage or in good faith in the ordinary course of justice in the collection of debts; and all conveyances of lands hereafter made to any alien directly, or in trust for such alien, shall be void: Provided, That the provisions of this section shall not apply to lands containing valuable deposits of minerals, metals, iron, coal, or fire clay, and the necessary land for mills and machinery to be used in the development thereof and the manufacture of the products therefrom: And provided further, That the provisions of this section shall not apply to the citizens of such of the Provinces of the Dominion of Canada as do not expressly or by implication prohibit ownership of provincial lands by citizens of this state. Every corporation, the majority of the capital stock of which is owned by aliens, shall be considered an alien for the purposes of this prohibition."
After Amendment 24
- Section 33 was again amended in 1954 by Foreign Corporations Prohibited from Owning Land in Washington, Amendment 29 (1954).
- Then, in 1966, Section 33 was altogether repealed by State of Washington Amendment 42 (1966).
Text on the Ballot
Shall Article II, Section 33 of the Constitution be amended to permit ownership of land by Canadians who are citizens of provinces wherein citizens of this state may own land?
See also
- Washington 1950 ballot measures
- List of Washington ballot measures
- 1950 ballot measures
- List of ballot measures by year
- List of ballot measures by state
External links
References
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