The Constitution of the State of Delaware of 1897 is the fourth and current governing document for
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
state government and has been in effect since June 10 of that year.
Executive
The Governor is the executive officer of the State, and is chosen by the qualified electors of the State, once every four years, at the general election. The term of the
Governor
A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
is for four years, from the third Tuesday in January following the election. A person may be elected Governor only twice. The Governor must be thirty years old, a citizen and inhabitant of the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
for twelve years before the day of the election, and for the last six years of that time an inhabitant of
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
.
The Governor is commander-in-chief of the state armed forces including the militia and, with the consent of the
State Senate
In the United States, the state legislature is the legislative branch in each of the 50 U.S. states.
A legislature generally performs state duties for a state in the same way that the United States Congress performs national duties at ...
, appoint the
Secretary of State to serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
Legislation approved by the
General Assembly
A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company.
Specific examples of general assembly include:
Churches
* General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of presby ...
is submitted to the Governor for approval. In the event approval is not given, the legislation is returned to the
General Assembly
A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company.
Specific examples of general assembly include:
Churches
* General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of presby ...
, reconsidered, and may become law without the Governor's approval only if three-fifths of each House of the General Assembly approve it.
Members of the
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
Constitutional Convention of 1897. The Convention convened in December 1896 and adjourned June 4, 1897.
*John Biggs, President, Democrat from New Castle County
*Edward G. Bradford
*Martin B. Burris
*William A. Cannon
*Paris T. Carlisle Jr.
*Wilson T. Cavender
*David S. Clark
*J. Wilkins Cooch
*Ezekiel W. Cooper
*Robert W. Dasey
*Joshua A. Ellegood
*Charles B. Evans
*James B. Gilchrist
*Robert G. Harman
*Edward D. Hearne
*John W. Hering
*Andrew J. Horsey
*Andrew L. Johnson
*Woodburn Martin
*Elias N. Moore
*George H. Murray
*William P. Orr Jr.
*Nathan Pratt
*Charles F. Richards
*Lowder L. Sapp
*William Saulsbury
*William T. Smithers
*William C. Spruance, Republican from New Castle County
*Isaac K. Wright
Amendment procedure
The Delaware Constitution is unusual in that the legislature has authority to amend it without a
referendum
A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...
. Article XVI, Section 1, of the Delaware Constitution provides that
The people are notified of the proposed amendment through the newspaper publications and may make their views known, and give effect to their desires, by voting for or against those legislators who are seeking to amend the constitution.
History
Delaware held a convention in 1853 regarding slavery, producing a constitution that was rejected by voters.
See also
*
Delaware Constitution of 1776
The Delaware Constitution of 1776 was the first governing document for Delaware state government and was in effect from its adoption in September 1776 until its replacement by the 1792 constitution.
Background
On June 15, 1776, at the urging of ...
*
Delaware Constitution of 1792 The Delaware Constitution of 1792 was the second governing document for Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. ...
*
Delaware Constitution of 1831 The Delaware Constitution of 1831 was the third governing document for the U.S. state of Delaware, replacing the Delaware Constitution of 1792, and was in effect from its adoption on December 2, 1831, until replaced on June 4, 1897, by the present ...
References
Further reading
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External links
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{{Constitutions of the United States
Constitution of 1897
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
1897 in Delaware
1897 establishments in Delaware
1897 in American law