West Virginia Constitution

West Virginia Constitution
Preamble
Articles
I • II • III • IV • V • VI • VII • VIII • IX • X • XI • XII • XIII • XIV

The Constitution of West Virginia is the basic governing document for the state of West Virginia.

Features

The West Virginia Constitution consists of a preamble followed by 14 articles.

Preamble

See also: Preambles to state constitutions

The preamble to the West Virginia Constitution states:

Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia, in and through the provisions of this Constitution, reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God and seek diligently to promote, preserve and perpetuate good government in the state of West Virginia for the common welfare, freedom and security of ourselves and our posterity.

Article I: Relations to the U.S. Government

Article I of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "Relations to the U.S. Government" and consists of four sections.

Article II: The State

Article II of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "The State" and consists of eight sections.

Article III: Bill of Rights

Article III of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "Bill of Rights" and consists of 22 sections.

Article IV: Election & Officers

Article IV of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "Election & Officers" and consists of twelve sections.

Article V: Division of Powers

Article V of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "Division of Powers" and consists of one section.

Article VI: The Legislature

Article VI of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "The Legislature" and consists of 57 sections.

Article VII: Executive Department

Article VII of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "Executive Department" and consists of 19 sections.

Article VIII: Judicial Power

Article VIII of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "Judicial Power" and consists of 16 sections.

Article IX: County Organization

Article IX of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "County Organization" and consists of 13 sections.

Article X: Taxation & Finance

Article X of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "Taxation & Finance" and consists of 14 sections.

Article XI: Corporations

Article XI of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "Corporations" and consists of 12 sections.

Article XII: Education

Article XII of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "Education" and consists of 12 sections.

Article XIII: Land Titles

Article XIII of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "Land Titles" and consists of six sections, four of which have been repealed.

Article XIV: Amendments

Article XIV of the West Virginia Constitution is entitled "Amendments" and consists of two sections.

Amendments

The final section of the West Virginia Constitution is not a numbered Article, but rather is a list of constitutional amendments added at the end of the constitution that have a variety of purposes.

Amending the constitution

See also: Amending state constitutions

West Virginians can modify the West Virginia Constitution through two different paths, a constitutional convention and legislatively referred constitutional amendments.

Section 1 of Article XIV of the West Virginia Constitution addresses how constitutional conventions can be called:

• A majority vote of both chambers of the West Virginia State Legislature is required to put a question before the voters on a statewide ballot as to whether they wish a convention to be held.
• If the voters agree to a convention by a simple majority vote, it is to be called.
• Any proposed amendments that come out of a convention must go on a statewide ballot for possible ratification by the state's voters.

Section 2 of Article XIV of the West Virginia Constitution lays out how legislatively referred constitutional amendments are to be implemented.

• Amendments can be proposed in either house of the state legislature.
• The membership of both houses must support a proposed amendment by a two-thirds vote.
• A vote on the proposed amendment may take place at a general or a special election. West Virginia has a unique requirement with regard to voting on amendments at special elections: "Whenever one or more amendments are submitted at a special election, no other question, issue or matter shall be voted upon at such special election."
• A simple majority vote is required for ratification.
• Proposed amendments must be placed on the ballot in such a way that they can be voted on separately.
• "An amendment may relate to a single subject or to related subject matters and may amend or modify as many articles and as many sections of the constitution as may be necessary and appropriate in order to accomplish the objectives of the amendment."

History

This is West Virginia's second constitution. This first was ratified in 1863 and the second in 1872.

West Virginia citizens elected delegates to a constitutional convention after Virginia's decision to secede from the United States. On November 26, 1861, the West Virginian delegates met in Wheeling, West Virginia and started their draft based on Virginia's constitution of 1851. The convention made significant changes to gear the document towards issues facing those in West Virginia as well as the name of the new state, the boundaries and the issue of slavery.

On February 18, 1862, the constitution was approved unanimously by the delegates and submitted to West Virginia's voters. The voters approved the constitution on April 3, 1862 by a vote of 18,862 to 514.

See also

• State constitution
• Constitutional article
• Constitutional amendment
• Constitutional revision
• Constitutional convention
• Amendments
  • Initiated constitutional amendment
  • Legislatively-referred constitutional amendment
  • Publication requirements for proposed state constitutional amendments
  • Rules about constitutional conventions in state constitutions
  • State constitutional articles governing state legislatures

External links

Suggest a link

• West Virginia Legislature, "West Virginia Constitution"

Additional reading

• Bastress, Robert M. (2011). The West Virginia Constitution, New York, New York: Oxford University Press
• Stealey III, John E. (2013). West Virginia’s Civil War–Era Constitution, Kent State University Press