Happy 150th Birthday Iowa Constitution

Today is the 150th Anniversary of the signing of Iowa's state Constitution. From 19 January to 5 March 1857 36 men met in the then Iowa state capital of Iowa City to work on what would be the 3rd constitution for Iowa. It is still in effect & has been amended 46 times in the years since. This makes it 1 of the oldest state constitutions continuosly in effect. & at about 12000 words it is also 1 of the shortest. In 2006 the Iowa General Assembly approved an amendment to change Article II, section 5. This amendment will replace the words that say "idiot, or insane person" as a disqualification for voting with words that say a person "adjudged mentally incompetent" is disqualified. This will have to again be approved by the 2007-2008 General Assembly & then approved by a majority of Iowa voters in the Nov 2008 General Election.

(Note: Although everyone thinks that Des Moines is the exclusive location of the Iowa state Capital this is not strictly true. According to Art. XI, Sec. 8 "The seat of government is hereby permanently established, as now fixed by law, at the city of Des Moines, in the county of Polk; and the state university, at Iowa City, in the county of Johnson." Yup, Iowa's capital is still in its original location of Iowa City. The Old Capital still exists & is open to the public. The original dome & cupola were unfortunately destroyed in a 20 Nov 2001 fire, but it has since been restored.)

Timeline

1838 - Iowa Territory created from a part of Wisconsin Territory

1844 - 1st Constitution drafted

1845 - Proposed Constitution is rejected by residents of Iowa Territory after US Congress modifies proposed borders

1846 - 2nd Constitution drafted & accepted

1846 - 28 December - Iowa admitted into the Union

1857 - 19 January - Constitutional Convention convenes

1857 - 5 March - work on document finished & signed

1857 - 3 August - Iowa voters approve new constitution

1857 - 3 September - Gov. James Grimes issues proclamation that the new constitution is now in effect

1998 - last time the Iowa Constitution was amended

Celebrate a birthday: Expand civil rights

THE DRAFTING OF IOWA'S CONSTITUTION from Iowa Official Register (Red Book)

IOWA CONSTITUTION (As currently amended)

IOWA (Official State site)

Official Iowa Symbols

(The Iowa State Seal is under control of the Iowa Governor. Its use here fits in with my understanding of fair use as described here.)