IOWA OFFICIAL REGISTER


 

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF IOWA

Amendments of 1868

[1] 1st Strike the word white, from Section 1 of Article II thereof; [Electors]

[2] 2d. Strike the word white, from Section 33 of Article III thereof; [Census]

[3] 3d. Strike the word white, from Section 34 of Article III thereof; [Senators]

[4] 4th Strike the word white, from Section 35 of Article III thereof; [Apportionment]

[5] 5th Strike the word white, from Section 1 of Article VI thereof; [Militia]

The first of these amendments was submitted to the electorate with the Constitution in 1857 but was defeated.

Amendment of 1880

[6] Strike out the words free white from the third line of Section four (4) of Article three (III) of said Constitution, relating to the legislative department.

Amendments of 1884

[7] General election. [Amendment 1. The general election for State, District County and Township officers shall be held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November.]*

*The above amendment, published as section 7 of Article II was repealed by Amendment [14]

[8] Judicial districts. Amendment 2. At any regular session of the General Assembly the State may be divided into the necessary Judicial Districts for District Court purposes, or the said Districts may be reorganized and the number of the Districts and the Judges of said Courts increased or diminished; but no reorganization of the Districts or diminution of the Judges shall have the effect of removing a Judge from office.

See section 10 of Article V

[9] Grand jury. Amendment 3. The Grand Jury may consist of any number of members not less than five, nor more than fifteen, as the General Assembly may by law provide, or the

General Assembly may provide for holding persons to answer for any criminal offense without the intervention of a Grand Jury.

See section 11 of Article I

[10] Amendment 4. That Section 13 of Article V of the Constitution be stricken therefrom, and the following adopted as such Section.

County attorney. SECTION 13. [The qualified electors of each county shall, at the general election in the year 1886, and every two years thereafter elect a County Attorney, who shall be a resident of the county for which he is elected, and shall hold his office for two years, and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified.]*

*In 1970 this section was repealed: See Amendment [31]

Amendments of 1904

[11] Amendment 1. Add as Section 16, to Article XII of the Constitution, the following:

General election. SECTION 16. [The first general election after the adoption of this amendment shall be held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in the year one thousand nine hundred and six, and general elections shall be held biennially thereafter. In the year one thousand nine hundred and six there shall be elected a governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, attorney general, two judges of the supreme court, the successors of the judges of the district court whose terms of office expire on December 31st, one thousand nine hundred and six, state senators who would otherwise be chosen in the year one thousand nine hundred and five, and members of the house of representatives. The terms of office of the judges of the supreme court which would otherwise expire on December 31st, in odd numbered years, and all other elective state, county and township officers whose terms of office would otherwise expire in January in the year one thousand nine hundred and six, and members of the general assembly whose successors would otherwise be chosen at the general election in the year one thousand nine hundred and five, are hereby extended one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. The terms of offices of senators whose successors would otherwise be chosen in the year one thousand nine hundred and seven are hereby extended one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. The general assembly shall make such changes in the law governing the time of election and term of office of all other elective officers as shall be necessary to make the time of their election and terms of office conform to this amendment, and shall provide which of the judges of the supreme court shall serve as chief justice. The general assembly shall meet in regular session on the second Monday in January, in the year one thousand nine hundred and six, and also on the second Monday in January in the year one thousand nine hundred and seven, and biennially thereafter.]*

Practically the same amendment as the above was ratified in 1900, but the supreme court, in the case of State ex rel. Bailey v. Brookhart, 113 Iowa 250, held that said amendment was not proposed and adopted as required by the constitution, and did not become a part thereof

*The above amendment of 1904 has apparently been superseded by Amendment [14]

[12] Amendment 2.* That Sections thirty-four (34) thirty-five (35) and thirty-six (36) of Article (III) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, be repealed and the following be adopted in lieu thereof.

Senators-number-method of apportionment. SECTION 34. [The Senate shall be composed of fifty members to be elected from the several senatorial districts, established by law and at the next session of the general assembly held following the taking of the state and national census, they shall be apportioned among the several counties or districts of the state, according to population as shown by the last preceding census.]**

*In 1968 this section was repealed and a substitute adopted in lieu thereof: See Amendment [26]

**See Amendment [16]; also Art. III, sec. 6

Representatives-number-apportionment. SECTION 35. [The House of Representatives shall consist of not more than one hundred and eight members. The Ratio of representation shall be determined by dividing the whole number of the population of the state as shown by the last preceding state or national census, by the whole number of counties then existing or organized, but each county shall constitute one representative district and be entitled to one representative, but each county having a population in excess of the ratio number, as herein provided of three fifths or more of such ratio number shall be entitled to one additional representative, but said addition shall extend only to the nine counties having the greatest population.]*

*In 1968 this section was repealed and a substitute adopted in lieu thereof: See Amendment [26]

Ratio of representation. SECTION 36. [The General Assembly shall, at the first regular session held following the adoption of this amendment, and at each succeeding regular session held next after the taking of such census, fix the ratio of representation, and apportion the additional representatives, as herein before required.]*

*In 1968 this section was repealed and a substitute adopted in lieu thereof: See Amendment [26]

Amendment of 1908

[13] That there be added to Section eighteen (18) of Article one (I) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, the following:

Drainage ditches and levees. The General Assembly, however, may pass laws permitting the owners of lands to construct drains, ditches, and levees for agricultural, sanitary or mining purposes across the lands of others, and provide for the organization of drainage districts, vest the proper authorities with power to construct and maintain levees, drains and ditches and to keep in repair all drains, ditches, and levees heretofore constructed under the laws of the state, by special assessments upon the property benefited thereby. The General Assembly may provide by law for the condemnation of such real estate as shall be necessary for the construction and maintenance of such drains, ditches and levees, and prescribe the method of making such condemnation.

Amendment of 1916

[14] To repeal Section seven (7) of Article two (II) of the Constitution of Iowa and to adopt in lieu thereof the following, to-wit:

General election. SECTION 7. The general election for state, district county and township officers in the year 1916 shall be held in the same month and on the same day as that fixed by the laws of the United States for the election of presidential electors, or of president and vice-president of the United States; and thereafter such election shall be held at such time as the general assembly may by law provide.

The above amendment repealed Amendment [7], which was published as section 7 of Article II: See also Amendment [11]

For statutory provisions, see 39.1 of the Code

In 1916 a proposed amendment to extend the election franchise to women was defeated by the people

In 1917 a second proposed prohibition amendment was defeated by the people

In 1919 a second proposed amendment to enfranchise women was nullified by a procedural defect in failure to publish

Amendment of 1926

[15] Strike out the word male from Section four (4) of Article three (III) of said constitution, relating to the legislative department.

Amendment of 1928*

[16] [That the period (.) at the end of said section thirty-four (34) of Article three (III) of the Constitution of the state of Iowa be stricken and the following inserted: , but no county shall be entitled to more than one (1) senator.]**

See Art. III, sec. 6<br>

*The above amendment was repealed by Amendment [26]

**Applicable to Amendment [12]

Amendment of 1936

[17] Amend Article three (III) by repealing Section thirty-three (33) relating to the state census.

Amendment of 1942

[18] That Article Seven (VII) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa be amended by adding thereto, as Section eight (8) thereof, the following:

Motor vehicle fees and fuel taxes. SECTION 8. All motor vehicle registration fees and licenses and excise taxes on motor vehicle fuel, except cost of administration, shall be used exclusively for the contruction, maintenance and supervision of the public highways exclusively within the state or for the payment of bonds issued or to be issued for the construction of such public highways and the payment of interest on such bonds.

Amendments of 1952

[19] Amendment 1. Section four (4) of Article IV of the Constitution of Iowa is amended by adding thereto the following:

Death of governor-elect or failure to qualify. [If upon the completion of the canvass of votes for Governor and Lieutenant Governor by the General Assembly, it shall appear that the person who received the highest number of votes for Governor has since died, resigned, is unable to qualify, fails to qualify, or for any other reason is unable to assume the duties of the office of Governor for the ensuing term, the powers and duties of the office shall devolve upon the person who received the highest number of votes for Lieutenant nor until the disability is removed and, upon inauguration, he shall assume the powers and duties of Governor.]*

*In 1988 this section was repealed and a substitute adopted in lieu thereof: See Amendment [41]

[20] Amendment 2. Section nineteen (19) of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Gubenatorial succession. SECTION 19. [If there be a vacancy in the office of Governor and the Lieutenant Governor shall by reason of death, impeachment, resignation, removal from office, or other disability become incapable of performing the duties pertaining to the Goveroffice of Governor, the President pro tempore of the Senate shall act as Governor until the vacancy is filled or the disability removed; and if the President pro tempore of the Senate, for any of the above causes, shall be incapable of performing the duties pertaining to the office of Governor the same shall devolve upon the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and if the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for any of the above causes, shall be incapable of performing the duties of the office of Governor, the Justices of the Supreme Court shall convene the General Assembly by proclamation and the General Assembly shall organize by the election of a President pro tempore by the Senate and a Speaker by the House of Representatives. The General Assembly shall thereupon immediately proceed to the election of a Governor and Lieutenant Governor in joint convention.]*

Practically the same amendments were proposed in 1947 but nullified by a procedural defect in 1949 by failure to publish before the election

*In 1988 this section was repealed and a substitute adopted in lieu thereof: See Amendment [42]

Amendment of 1962

[21] Article Five (V) is amended in the following manner:

1. Section four (4) is amended by striking from lines eight (8) and nine (9) of such section the words, exercise of supervisory and inserting in lieu thereof the words, shall exercise a supervisory and administrative.

2. Sections three (3), five (5), nine (9) and eleven (11) are repealed.

3. The following sections are added thereto:

Vacancies in courts. SECTION 15. Vacancies in the Supreme Court and District Court shall be filled by appointment by the Governor from lists of nominees submitted by the appropriate judicial nominating commission. Three nominees shall be submitted for each Supreme Court vacancy, and two nominees shall be submitted for each District Court vacancy. If the Governor fails for thirty days to make the appointment, it shall be made from such nominees by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

State and district nominating commissions. SECTION 16. There shall be a State Judicial Nominating Commission. Such commission shall make nominations to fill vacancies in the Supreme Court. Until July 4, 1973, and thereafter unless otherwise provided by law, the State Judicial Nominating Commission shall be composed and selected as follows: There shall be not less than three nor more than eight appointive members, as provided by law, and an equal number of elective members on such Commission, all of whom shall be electors of the state. The appointive members shall be appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate. The elective members shall be elected by the resident members of the bar of the state. The judge of the Supreme Court who is senior in length of service on said Court, other than the Chief Justice, shall also be a member of such Commission and shall be its chairman.

There shall be a District Judicial Nominating Commission in each judicial district of the state. Such commissions shall make nominations to fill vacancies in the District Court within their respective districts. Until July 4, 1973, and thereafter unless otherwise provided by law, District Judicial Nominating Commissions shall be composed and selected as follows: There shall be not less than three nor more than six appointive members, as provided by law, and an equal number of elective members on each such commission, all of whom shall be electors of the district. The appointive members shall be appointed by the Governor. The elective members shall be elected by the resident members of the bar of the district. The district judge of such district who is senior in length of service shall also be a member of such commission and shall be its chairman.

Due consideration shall be given to area representation in the appointment and election of Judicial Nominating Commission members. Appointive and elective members of Judicial Nominating Commissions shall serve for six year terms, shall be ineligible for a second six year term on the same commission, shall hold no office of profit of the United States or of the state during their terms, shall be chosen without reference to political affiliation, and shall have such other qualifications as may be prescribed by law. As near as may be, the terms of one-third of such members shall expire every two years.

Terms-judicial elections. SECTION 17. Members of all courts shall have such tenure in office as may be fixed by law, but terms of Supreme Court Judges shall be not less than eight years and terms of District Court Judges shall be not less than six years. Judges shall serve for one year after appointment and until the first day of January following the next judicial election after the expiration of such year. They shall at such judicial election stand for retention in office on a separate ballot which shall submit the question of whether such judge shall be retained in office for the tenure prescribed for such office and when such tenure is a term of years, on their request, they shall, at the judicial election next before the end of each term, stand again for retention on such ballot. Present Supreme Court and District Court Judges, at the expiration of their respective terms, may be retained in office in like manner for the tenure prescribed for such office. The General Assembly shall prescribe the time for holding judicial elections.

Salaries-qualifications-retirement. SECTION 18. Judges of the Supreme Court and District Court shall receive salaries from the state, shall be members of the bar of the state and shall have such other qualifications as may be prescribed by law. Judges of the Supreme Court and District Court shall be ineligible to any other office of the state while serving on said court and for two years thereafter, except that District Judges shall be eligible to the office of Supreme Court Judge. Other judicial officers shall be selected in such manner and shall have such tenure, compensation and other qualification as may be fixed by law. The General Assembly shall prescribe mandatory retirement for Judges of the Supreme Court and District Court at a specified age and shall provide for adequate retirement compensation. Retired judges may be subject to special assignment to temporary judicial duties by the Supreme Court, as provided by law.

 

Amendment of 1964

[22] Section three (3) of Article ten (X) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Constitutional convention. SECTION 3. At the general election to be held in the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy, and in each tenth year thereafter, and also at such times as the General Assembly may, by law, provide, the question, Shall there be a Convention to revise the Constitution, and propose amendment or amendments to same? Shall be decided by the electors qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly; and in case a majority of the electors so qualified, voting at such election, for and against such proposition, shall decide in favor of a Convention for such purpose, the General Assembly, at its next session, shall provide by law for the election of delegates to such Convention, and for submitting the results of said Convention to the people, in such manner and at such time as the General Assembly shall provide; and if the people shall approve and ratify such amendment or amendments, by a majority of the electors qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly, voting thereon, such amendment or amendments shall become a part of the constitution of this state. If two or more amendments shall be submitted at the same time, they shall be submitted in such a manner that electors may vote for or against each such amendment separately.

Amendment of 1966

[23] Section twenty-six (26) of Article III is amended by striking from line four (4) the word Fourth and inserting in lieu thereof the word first.

Amendments of 1968

[24] Amendment 1. Section two (2) of Article three (III) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is hereby repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Annual sessions of General Assembly. SECTION 2. [The General Assembly shall meet in session on the second Monday of January of each year. The Governor of the state may convene the General Assembly by proclamation in the interim.]*

*In 1974 this section was repealed and a substitute adopted: See Amendment [36]

[25] Amendment 2. Article three (III), legislative department. Constitution of the State of Iowa is hereby amended by adding the following new section:

Municipal home rule. SECTION 38A. Municipal corporations are granted home rule power and authority, not inconsistent with the laws of the General Assembly, to determine their local affairs and government, except that they shall not have power to levy any tax unless expressly authorized by the General Assembly.

The rule or proposition of law that a municipal corporation possesses and can exercise only those powers granted in express words is not a part of the law of this state.

[26] Amendment 3. Section six (6) of Article three (III) section thirty-four (34) of Article three (III) and the 1904 and 1928 amendments thereto, sections thirty-five (35) and thirty-six (36) of Article three (III) and the 1904 amendment to each such section, and section thirty-seven (37) of Article three (III) are hereby repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Senators-number and classification. SECTION 6. The number of senators shall total not more than one-half the membership of the house of representatives. Senators shall be classified so that as nearly as possible one-half of the members of the senate shall be elected every two years.

Senate and House of Representatives-limitation. SECTION 34. The senate shall be composed of not more than fifty and the house of representatives of not more than one hundred members. Senators and representatives shall be elected from districts established by law. Each district so established shall be of compact and contiguous territory. The state shall be apportioned into senatorial and representative districts on the basis of population. The General Assembly may provide by law for factors in addition to population, not in conflict with the Constitution of the United States, which may be considered in the appor tioning of senatorial districts. No law so adopted shall permit the establishment of senatorial districts whereby a majority of the members of the senate shall represent less than forty percent of the population of the state as shown by the most recent United States decennial census.

Senators and representatives-number and districts. SECTION 35. The General Assembly shall in 1971 and in each year immediately following the United States decennial census determine the number of senators and representatives to be elected to the General Assembly and establish senatorial and representative districts. The General Assembly shall complete the apportionment prior to September 1 of the year so required. If the apportionment fails to become law prior to September 15 of such year, the Supreme Court shall cause the state to be apportioned into senatorial and representative districts to comply with the requirements of the Constitution prior to December 31 of such year. The reapportioning authority shall, where necessary in establishing senatorial districts, shorten the term of any senator prior to completion of the term. Any senator whose term is so terminated shall not be compensated for the uncompleted part of the term.

Review by Supreme Court. SECTION 36. Upon verified application by any qualified elector, the Supreme Court shall review an apportionment plan adopted by the General Assembly which has been enacted into law. Should the Supreme Court determine such plan does not comply with the requirements of the Constitution, the court shall within ninety days adopt or cause to be adopted an apportionment plan which shall so comply. The Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction of all litigation questioning the apportionment of the General Assembly or any apportionment plan adopted by the General Assembly.

Congressional districts. SECTION 37. When a congressional district is composed of two or more counties it shall not be entirely separated by a county belonging to another district and no county shall be divided in forming a congressional district.

[27] Amendment 4. Section sixteen (16) of article three (III) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is hereby amended by adding the following new paragraph at the end thereof.

Item veto by Governor. The Governor may approve appropriation bills in whole or in part, and may disapprove any item of an appropriation bill; and the part approved shall become a law. Any item of an appropriation bill disapproved by the Governor shall be returned, with his objections, to the house in which it originated, or shall be deposited by him in the office of the Secretary of State in the case of an appropriation bill submitted to the Governor for his approval during the last three days of a session for the General Assembly, and the procedure in each case shall be the same as provided for other bills. Any such item of an appropriation bill may be enacted into law notwithstanding the Governors objections, in the same manner as provided for other bills.

[28] Amendment 5. Section twenty-five (25) of Article three (III) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is hereby repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Compensation and expenses of General Assembly. SECTION 25. Each member of the General Assembly shall receive such compensation and allowances for expenses as shall be fixed by law but no General Assembly shall have the power to increase compensation and allowances effective prior to the convening of the next General Assembly following the session in which any increase is adopted.

Amendments of 1970

[29] Amendment 1. Article three (III) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is hereby amended by adding thereto the following new section:

Legislative districts. SECTION 39. In establishing senatorial and representative districts, the state shall be divided into as many senatorial districts as there are members of the senate and into as many representative districts as there are members of the house of representatives. One senator shall be elected from each senatorial district and one representative shall be elected from each representative district.

[30] Amendment 2. Section one (1) of Article two (II) of the Constitution, as amended in 1868, is hereby repealed and the following is hereby adopted in lieu thereof:

Electors. SECTION 1. Every citizen of the United States of the age of twenty-one years, who shall have been a resident of this state for such period of time as shall be provided by law and of the county in which he claims his vote for such period of time as shall be provided by law, shall be entitled to vote at all elections which are now or hereafter may be authorized by law. The General Assembly may provide by law for different periods of residence in order to vote for various officers or in order to vote in various elections. The required periods of residence shall not exceed six months in this state and sixty days in the county.

See Amendments 19 and 26 to U.S. Constitution

[31] Amendment 3. Section thirteen (13) of Article five (V) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa as amended by Amendment 4 of the Amendments of 1884 is hereby repealed. [County Attorney].

 

Amendments of 1972

[32] Amendment 1. Section two (2) of Article four (IV) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Election and term [governor]. SECTION 2. [The Governor shall be elected by the qualified electors at the time and place of voting for members of the General Assembly, and shall hold his office for four years from the time of his installation, and until his successor is elected and qualifies.]*

*In 1988 this section was repealed and a substitute adopted in lieu thereof:See Amendment [41]

Section three (3) of Article four (IV) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is hereby repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Lieutenant governor-returns of elections. SECTION 3. [There shall be a Lieutenant Governor who shall hold his office for the same term, and be elected at the same time as the Governor. In voting for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, the electors shall designate for whom they vote as Governor, and for whom as Lieutenant Governor. The returns of every election for Governor, and Lieutenant Governor, shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of government of the State, directed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall open and publish them in the presence of both Houses of the General Assembly.]*

*In 1988 this section was repealed and a substitute adopted in lieu thereof: See Amendment [41]

Section fifteen (15) of Article four (IV) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is hereby repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Terms-compensation of lieutenant governor. SECTION 15. [The official term of the Governor, and Lieutenant Governor, shall commence on the second Monday of January next after their election, and continue until their successors are elected and qualify. The Lieutenant Governor, while acting as Governor, shall receive the same compensation as provided for Governor; and while presiding in the Senate, and between sessions such compensation and expenses as provided by law.]*

*In 1988 this section was repealed and a substitute adopted in lieu thereof: See Amendment [42]

Section twenty-two (22) of Article four (IV) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Secretary-auditor-treasurer. SECTION 22. A Secretary of State, an Auditor of State and a Treasurer of State shall be elected by the qualified electors at the same time that the governor is elected and for a four-year term commencing on the first day of January next after their election, and they shall perform such duties as may be provided by law.

Section twelve (12) of Article five (V) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Attorney general. SECTION 12. The General Assembly shall provide, by law, for the election of an Attorney General by the people, whose term of office shall be four years, and until his successor is elected and qualifies.

[33] Amendment 2. Article five (V), Constitution of the State of Iowa, is hereby amended by adding thereto the following new section:

Retirement and discipline of judges. SECTION 19. In addition to the legislative power of impeachment of judges as set forth in Article three (III), sections nineteen (19) and twenty (20) of the Constitution, the Supreme Court shall have power to retire judges for disability and to discipline or remove them for good cause, upon application by a commission on judicial qualifications. The General Assembly shall provide by law for the implementation of this section.

[34] Amendment 3. Section twenty-eight (28) of Article three (III) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is hereby repealed. [Lottery prohibition].

Amendments of 1974

[35] Amendment 1. Section four (4), subdivision two (2), entitled School Funds and School Lands, of Article nine (IX) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is hereby repealed.

Section four (4) of Article twelve (XII) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is hereby repealed.

[36] Amendment 2. Section two (2) of Article three (III) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, as amended by amendment number one (1) of the Amendments of 1968 to the Constitution of the State of Iowa, is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

The General Assembly shall meet in session on the second Monday of January of each year. Upon the written request to the presiding officer of each House of the General Assembly by two thirds of the members of each House, the General Assembly shall convene in special session. The Governor of the state may convene the General Assembly by proclamation in the interim.

 

Amendment of 1978

[37] Article three (III), legislative department, Constitution of the State of Iowa is hereby amended by adding the following new section:

Counties Home Rule. SECTION 39A. Counties or joint county-municipal corporation governments are granted home rule power and authority, not inconsistent with the laws of the general assembly, to determine their local affairs and government, except that they shall not have power to levy any tax unless expressly authorized by the general assembly. The general assembly may provide for the creation and dissolution of joint county-municipal corporation governments. The general assembly may provide for the establishment of charters in county or joint county-municipal corporation governments.

If the power or authority of a county conflicts with the power and authority of a municipal corporation, the power and authority exercised by a municipal corporation shall prevail within its jurisdiction.

The proposition or rule of law that a county or joint county-municipal corporation government possesses and can exercise only those powers granted in express words is not a part of the law of this state.

Amendments of 1984

[38] Amendment 1. Article three (III), legislative department, Constitution of the State of Iowa, is amended by adding the following new section:

Legislative veto of administrative rules. SECTION 40. The general assembly may nullify an adopted administrative rule of a state agency by the passage of a resolution by a majority of all of the members of each house of the general assembly.

[39] Amendment 2. Section 7, subsection 2 entitled School Funds and School Lands, of Article IX of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed.

Amendments of 1986

[40] Section 26 of Article III of the Constitution of Iowa, as amended by the Amendment of 1966, is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

An act of the General Assembly passed at a regular session of a General Assembly shall take effect on July 1 following its passage unless a different effective date is stated in an act of the General Assembly. An act passed at a special session of a General Assembly shall take effect ninety days after adjournment of the special session unless a different effective date is stated in an act of the General Assembly. The general assembly may establish by law a procedure for giving notice of the contents of acts of immediate importance which become law.

Amendments of 1988

[41] Amendment 1. Section two (2) of Article four (IV) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, as amended by amendment number one (1) of the Amendments of 1972, is repealed beginning with the general election in the year 1990 and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

SECTION 2. The governor and the lieutenant governor shall be elected by the qualified electors at the time and place of voting for members of the general assembly. Each of them shall hold office for four years from the time of installation in office and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

Section three (3) of Article four (IV) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, as amended by amendment number one (1) of the Amendments of 1972, is repealed beginning with the general election in the year 1990 and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

SECTION 3. The electors shall designate their selections for governor and lieutenant governor as if these two offices were one and the same. The names of nominees for the governor and the lieutenant governor shall be grouped together in a set on the ballot according to which nominee for governor is seeking office with which nominee for lieutenant governor, as prescribed by law. An elector shall cast only one vote for both a nominee for governor and a nominee for lieutenant governor. The returns of every elections for governor and lieutenant governor shall be sealed and transmitted to the seat of government of the state, and directed to the speaker of the house of representatives who shall open and publish them in the presence of both houses of the general assembly. Section four (4) of Article four (IV) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, as amended by amendment number one (1) of the Amendments of 1952, is repealed beginning with the general election in the year 1990 and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

 

SECTION 4. The nominees for governor and lieutenant governor jointly having the highest number of votes cast for them shall be declared duly elected. If two or more sets of nominees for governor and lieutenant governor have an equal and the highest number of votes for the offices jointly, the general assembly shall by joint vote proceed, as soon as is possible, to elect one set of nominees for governor and lieutenant governor. If, upon the completion by the general assembly of the canvass of votes for governor and lieutenant governor, it appears that the nominee for governor in the set of nominees for governor and lieutenant governor receiving the highest number of votes has since died or resigned, is unable to qualify, fails to qualify, or is for any other reason unable to assume the duties of the office of governor for the ensuing term, the powers and duties shall devolve to the nominee for lieutenant governor of the same set of nominees for governor and lieutenant governor, who shall assume the powers and duties of governor upon inauguration and until the disability is removed. If both nominees for governor and lieutenant governor are unable to assume the duties of the office of governor, the person next in succession shall act as governor.

Section five (5) of Article four (IV) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed beginning with the general election in the year 1990 and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

SECTION 5. Contested elections for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor shall be determined by the general assembly as prescribed by law.

[42] Amendment 2. Section fifteen (15) of Article four (IV) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, as amended by amendment number one (1) of the Amendments of 1972, is repealed beginning with the second Monday in January, 1991, and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

SECTION 15. The official terms of the governor and lieutenant governor shall commence on the Tuesday after the second Monday of January next after their election and shall continue until their successors are elected and qualify. The governor and lieutenant governor shall bepaid compensation and expenses as provided by law. The lieutenant governor, while acting as governor, shall be paid the compensation and expenses prescribed for the governor. Section eighteen (18) of Article four (IV) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed beginning with the second Monday in January, 1991, and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

SECTION 18. The lieutenant governor shall have the duties provided by law and those duties of the governor assigned to the lieutenant governor by the governor. Section nineteen (19) of Article four (IV) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, as amended by amendment number two (2) of the Amendments of 1952, is repealed beginning with the second Monday in January, 1991, and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

SECTION 19. If there be a vacancy in the office of the governor and the lieutenant governor shall by reason of death, impeachment, resignation, removal from office, or other disability become incapable of performing the duties pertaining to the office of governor, the president of the senate shall act as governor until the vacancy is filled or the disability removed; and if the president of the senate, for any of the above causes, shall be incapable of performing the duties pertaining to the office of governor the same shall devolve upon the speaker of the house of representatives; and if the speaker of the house of representatives, for any of the above causes, shall be incapable of performing the duties of the office of governor, the justices of the supreme court shall convene the general assembly by proclamation and the general assembly shall organize by the election of a president by the senate and a speaker by the house of representatives. The general assembly shall thereupon immediately proceed to the election of a governor and lieutenant governor in joint convention.

Amendment of 1992

[43] Section 5 of Article 1 of the Constitution of Iowa is repealed.

Amendment of 1996

[44] Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is amended by adding the following new section:

Fish and Wildlife Protection Funds. SECTION 9. All revenue derived from state license fee for hunting, fishing, and trapping, and all state funds appropriated for, and federal or private funds received by the state for, the regulation or advancement of hunting, fishing, or trapping, or the protection, propagation, restoration, management, or harvest of fish or wildlife, shall be used exclusively for the performance and administration of activities related to those purposes.

 

Amendments of 1998

[45] Section 1 of Article 1 of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is amended to read as follows:

Rights of Persons. SECTION 1. All men and women are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inalienable rights - among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness.

[46] Section 11, unnumbered paragraph 1, Article I of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is amended to read as follows:

All offenses less than felony and in which the maximum permissible imprisonment does not exceed thirty days shall be tried summarily before an officer authorized by law, on information under oath, without indictment, or the intervention of a grand jury, saving to the defendant the right of appeal; and no person shall be held to answer for any higher criminal offense, unless on presentment or indictment by a grand jury, except in cases arising in the army, or navy, or in the militia, when in actual service, in time of war or public danger.