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Between 2010 and 2022 in states with a two-session requirement, what percent of constitutional amendments that made it through the first session before a change in party control of the legislature ended up failing in the second session?

You answered: 14%.
The correct answer was 79%.

Between the 2010 and 2022 legislative sessions, 106 constitutional amendments were approved during one legislative session in the states with two-session vote requirements. However, 40 of these constitutional amendments (37.7%) failed during the second legislative session.

From 2010 to 2022, when there was a change in party control of the legislature between legislative sessions, 79% (11 of 14) of the constitutional amendments approved during the first session failed and 21% (3 of 14) passed during the second session.

  • Example: In 2015, the Republican-controlled Nevada State Legislature approved five constitutional amendments for the first time. Democrats controlled the legislature during the next legislative session in 2017, and four of the five constitutional amendments did not receive a floor vote.
  • Example: In 2009 and 2010, Democrats controlled the Wisconsin State Legislature and approved three constitutional amendments. Republicans controlled the legislature during the next legislative session in 2011, and zero of the constitutional amendments received a floor vote.

The following is a list of constitutional amendments in which two different political parties controlled the legislature during successive sessions:

Amendments requiring two-session approval and that saw party control changes between sessions, 2010—2022
State Amendment Session 1 year Session 1 party Session 2 year Session 2 party Status
Nevada Legislature Revisions 2013 Democratic 2015 Republican Failed in 2nd session (no floor vote)
Nevada Marriage Regardless of Gender 2013 Democratic 2015 Republican Failed in 2nd session (no floor vote)
Nevada Compensation Commission 2015 Republican 2017 Democratic Failed in 2nd session (no floor vote)
Nevada Right to Hunt and Fish 2015 Republican 2017 Democratic Failed in 2nd session (no floor vote)
Nevada Two-Thirds Vote for Revenue Increasing Measures 2015 Republican 2017 Democratic Failed in 2nd session (no floor vote)
Nevada Property Tax Limits 2015 Republican 2017 Democratic Failed in 2nd session (no floor vote)
Nevada Marsy's Law Crime Victims Rights 2015 Republican 2017 Democratic Passed in 2nd session (certified)
Wisconsin Continuation of Government 2009/2010 Democratic 2011/2012 Republican Failed in 2nd session (no floor vote)
Virginia Question 1, Redistricting Commission Amendment 2019 Republican 2020 Democratic Passed in 2nd session (certified)
Virginia Question 2, Motor Vehicle Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Amendment 2019 Republican 2020 Democratic Passed in 2nd session (certified)
Virginia Right to Marriage Regardless of Gender Amendment 2021 Democratic 2022 Divided Failed in 2nd session (no floor vote in House)
Virginia Felon Voting Rights Restoration Amendment 2021 Democratic 2022 Divided Failed in 2nd session (no floor vote in House)
Wisconsin Local Executive Veto of Words to Create New Words 2009/2010 Democratic 2011/2012 Republican Failed in 2nd session (no floor vote)
Wisconsin Governor Veto of Words to Create New Words 2009/2010 Democratic 2011/2012 Republican Failed in 2nd session (no floor vote)


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