Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Virginia Question 5, Allow Churches to Incorporate Amendment (1996)
| Virginia Question 5 | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Election date |
|
| Topic Business regulations and Religion-related policy |
|
| Status |
|
| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Virginia Question 5 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Virginia on November 5, 1996. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported removing constitutional language that prevents the General Assembly from passing laws that allow religious organizations to incorporate. |
A "no" vote opposed removing constitutional language that prevents the General Assembly from passing laws that allow religious organizations to incorporate. |
Election results
|
Virginia Question 5 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 979,833 | 49.09% | ||
|
|
1,016,262 | 50.91% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 5 was as follows:
| “ | Shall the Constitution of Virginia be amended to remove the language which prohibits the General Assembly from passing a law permitting incorporation of any church or religious organization? | ” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Virginia Constitution
A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions for the Virginia General Assembly to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in the Virginia House of Delegates and 21 votes in the Virginia State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
See also
External links
Footnotes
 |
State of Virginia Richmond (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
