Colorado Amendment Q, Moving the State Government in the Case of a Disaster Amendment (2010)

Colorado Amendment Q
Election date November 2, 2010
Topic Government continuity policy
Status Approved
Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

Colorado Amendment Q was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Colorado on November 2, 2010. It was approved.

A “yes” vote supported creating a process for moving the seat for the state government in the case of a declared disaster.

A “no” vote opposed creating a process for moving the seat for the state government in the case of a declared disaster.

Election results

Colorado Amendment Q
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		944,446	57.52%
No		697,373	42.48%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Amendment Q was as follows:

“

Shall there be an amendment to section 3 of article VIII of the constitution of the state of Colorado, concerning a process for temporarily moving the seat of government in a disaster emergency that substantially affects the ability of the state government to operate in the city and county of Denver, and, in connection therewith, requiring the general assembly to convene in a temporary meeting location designated by the governor and authorizing the general assembly to determine by law a temporary location for the seat of government of the state?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Constitutional changes

Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.

Section 3. Seat of government - how changed - definitions.
(1) When the seat of government shall have been located IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER as herein provided IN SECTION 2 OF THIS ARTICLE, the location thereof shall not thereafter be changed, except by a vote of two-thirds of all the qualified electors of the state voting on that question, at a general election, at which the question of location of the seat of government shall have been submitted by the general assembly.

(2) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (1) OF THIS SECTION, IF THE GOVERNOR DETERMINES THAT A DISASTER EMERGENCY EXISTS THAT SUBSTANTIALLY AFFECTS THE ABILITY OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO OPERATE IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER, THE GOVERNOR MAY ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER DECLARING A DISASTER EMERGENCY. AFTER DECLARING THE DISASTER EMERGENCY AND AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE GOVERNOR MAY DESIGNATE A TEMPORARY MEETING LOCATION FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(3) AFTER THE DECLARATION OF A DISASTER EMERGENCY BY THE GOVERNOR, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL CONVENE AT THE TEMPORARY MEETING LOCATION, WHETHER DURING REGULAR SESSION OR IN A SPECIAL SESSION CONVENED BY THE GOVERNOR OR BY WRITTEN REQUEST BY TWO-THIRDS OF THE MEMBERS OF EACH HOUSE. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ACTING BY BILL, MAY THEN DESIGNATE A TEMPORARY LOCATION FOR THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. THE BILL SHALL CONTAIN A DATE ON WHICH THE TEMPORARY LOCATION OF THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT SHALL EXPIRE.

(4) AS USED IN THIS SECTION:

(a) "DISASTER EMERGENCY" MEANS THE OCCURRENCE OR IMMINENT THREAT OF WIDESPREAD OR SEVERE DAMAGE, INJURY, ILLNESS, OR LOSS OF LIFE OR PROPERTY RESULTING FROM AN EPIDEMIC OR A NATURAL, MAN-MADE, OR TECHNOLOGICAL CAUSE.

(b) "SEAT OF GOVERNMENT" MEANS THE LOCATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE, AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Colorado Constitution

A two-thirds vote was needed in each chamber of the Colorado State Legislature to refer the constitutional amendment to the ballot for voter consideration.

See also

2010 Measures

• 2010 Measures
• Government continuity policy on the ballot
• 2010 legislative sessions

Colorado

• Colorado ballot measures
• Colorado ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Colorado Blue Book (2010)