CONSTITUTION OF TIIE STATE OF WASHINGTON. Articles 1 Declaration of rights. 2. Legislative department. 3. The Executive. 4. The Judiciary. 5. Impeachment. 6. Election and election rights. 7. Revenue and taxation. 8. State, county and municipal in debtedness. 9. Education, 10. Militia. 11. County, city and township or ganization. 12. Corporations other than munic ipal. 13. State institutions. 14. Seat of government. 15. Harbors and tide water. 16. Schools and granted lands. 17. Tide lands. 18. State seals. 19. Exemptions. 20. Public health and vital statis tics. 21. Water and water rights. 22. Legislative apportionment. 23. Amendments. 24. Boundaries. 25, Jurisdiction. 26. Compact with the United States. 27. Schedule. Preamble ARTICLE I. Declaration of Rights. Section 1. All political power is inherent in the people. 2. The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land. 3. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property with out due process of law. 4. The people have the right to as semble in a peaceable manner to consult for the common good. Section 5. Freedom of speech. 6. The manner of administering an oath. 7. No person shall be disturbed in his private affairs or his home invaded without authority of law. 8. No law granting any privilege or franchise shall be passed by the Legislature. 9. No persons shall be compelled to give evidence against them- . selves, or be twice put in jeop ardy for the same offense. 10. Justice to be administered open ly and without delay. 11. Freedom of religious thought and worship.-No appropriations for support of religious instruction.--No religious qualifications required for public office. 12. No law granting to any class of citizens, etc., privileges or immunities. 13. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be sus pended. 14. Excessive bail or fines not to be imposed, nor cruel punishments inflicted. 15. Conviction shall not work cor ruption of blood nor forfeiture of estate. 16. Private property shall not be taken without just compensa tion. 17. No imprisonment for debt, ex cept. 18. The military shall be subordi nate to the civil power. 19. All elections shall be free and equal. 20. Bail accepted for all crimes ex cept capital offenses. 21. The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate. Section Section 22. In criminal prosecutions, the ac stitution shall be on the first cused shall have the right to Tuesday after the first Monappear and defend in person, day in November, 1890. etc., and demand the nature 6. After the first election Senators and cause of the accusation shall be elected in the same against him. manner as members of the 23. No bill of attainder, ex post House are required to be facto law, etc., shall ever be elected. passed. 7. To be eligible to the Legislature. 24. Right to bear arms. 8. Each House shall be judge of 25. Offenses heretofore required to the election and qualification be prosecuted by indictment of its own members. may be prosecuted by infor- ; 9. Each House may punish for conmation. tempt and disorderly behavior. 26. How grand juries may be sum- 10. Each House shall elect its owo moned. officers; when Lieutenant-Goy27. Treason against the State de ernor is acting as Governor fined. the Senate shall choose a tem28. No hereditary emoluments or porary president. privileges shall be granted. 11. Each House shall keep its own 29. The provisions of this Constitu journal. tion are mandatory unless de 12. When the first Legislature shall clared to be otherwise. meet. 30. The enumeration of rights in 13. Members of the Legislature may this Constitution not to deny not hold a civil office, etc. others retained by the people. 14. Those who are not eligible as 31. No standing army.-Quartering members of the Legislature. of soldiers. 15. The Governor shall issue writs 32. A frequent recurrence of funda of elections to fill such vacan cies as may occur. 16. When members of the Legisla ture may be privileged from rights and the perpetuity of a arrest. free government. 17. Absolute freedom of speech and debate. ARTICLE II. 18. The style of the laws.—No laws Legislatire Department. shall be enacted except by bill. 19. No bill shall embrace more than 1. Vested in the Senate and House one subject. of Representatives. 20. A bill may originate in either 2. The House shall consist of not House. less than sixty-three nor more 21. Yeas and nays shall be entered than ninety-nine members. on the journal, etc. The number of Senators not more than one-half nor less 22. Requirements for a bill to be than one third of the members come a law. of the House. 23. Pay of legislators. 3. A census to be taken in 1895 and 24. The Legislature shall not auevery ten years thereafter. thorize any lobby or grant 4. Election of the members of the any divorce. House.-Term of office. 25. No extra compensation to be 5. The next election of members granted to any public officer, after the adoption of this con agent, etc. Section law in what manner and in brought against the State. shall be viva voce. from enacting any private or lowing cases. abolished. bers of the Legislature shall be shall not vote thereon.. bills, to take effect until nine- enacted. be signed by the presiding of- in open session. who have not declared their heritance. reau of statistics, agriculture and immigration. 35. Laws to be passed for the pro tection of persons working in mines, factories, etc. 36. Every bill must be introduced at least ten days before the final adjournment, unless. 37. No bill shall ever be revised or amended by mere reference to its title. be allowed which shall change bill. accept a pass from any rail- ARTICLE III. Executive. Section 1. The executive department shall consist of Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary ot State, etc. 2. The supreme executive power of the State is vested in the Governor.-Term of office four years. 3. Term of office of other State officers. 4. What is to be done with the re turns for the election of the officers named above. 5. The Governor may require information in writing from the officers of the State. 6. He shall communicate by mes sage. 7. He may, on extraordinary occa sions, convene the Legislature by proclamation. 8. He is commander-in-chief of the military of the State. 9. The pardoning power shall be vested in the Governor, with restrictions. 10. When the Lieutenant-Governor is to act as Governor. 11. The Governor is to report to the Legislature at its next meet. ing each case of reprieve, commutation or pardon grant ed. 12. Every act to be signed by the Governor before it becomes a law. 13. Certain vacancies to be filled by the Governor by appointment. 14. His salary. 15. All commissions, how issued and signed. 16. Lieutenant-Governor presiding officer of the Senate.-His sal ary. 17. Secretary of State.-His duties. 18. Seal of State, to be kept by Secretary. 19. Treasurer.-His duties and sal. ary. 20. The Au litor.-His powers, duties and salary. Section 21. The Attorney-General.-His du ties and salary. 22. Superintendent of Public In struction.-His duties. 23. The Coromissioner of Public Lands.-His duties and com pensation, 24. The public records of each office to be kept at the seat of gov ernment. 25. To be eligible to hold office under the State. Section Superior Court within ninety days.-Provided. 21. Opinions of Supreme Court to be published. 22. Clerk of the same.-His term and salary. 23. Court commissioners.-Their au thority and duties. 24. Uniform rules to be established for government of Superior Courts. 25. Defects and omissions in the laws to be reported. 26. County clerk to be clerk of Su. perior Court. 27. The style of process. 28. Judges to take an oath to sup port the constitutions of United States and this State. ARTICLE IV. re of ARTICLE V. Impeachment. 1. The House of Representatives shall have sole power of impeachment.--A majority Judiciary. 1. Judicial powers, how vested. 2. Supreme Court shall consist of five judges. 3. Election of same.-They shall be classified by lot.-Who Chief Justice.-In case of va cancy. 4. Supreme Court.-Its jurisdiction : and powers. 5. Superior Court.--Election quired. 2. Which officers are liable to impeachment. - The party, whether convicted or acquitted, shall be liable to prose cution. 3. Other officers, not liable to im peachment, shall be removed. Judges.---Enumeration of said judges. 6. Its jurisdiction. 7. A Superior Court judge may hold court in any county. Judge pro tempore. 8. Forfeiture of office. 9. The removal of officers. 10. Justices of the peace.---Number, duties and jurisdiction. 11. Which are to be court of record. 12. Jurisdiction of inferior courts to be prescribed by law. 13. Who may receive fees, etc. 14. Salaries of judges of Supreme and Superior Courts. 15. They may not hold any office other than judicial. 16. How judges shall charge juries. 17. To be eligible for office of judge of the Supreme and Superior Courts. 18. A court reporter, his salary. 19. No judge of a court of record shall practice law. 20. Cases to be decided by judge of ARTICLE VI. Elections and Elective Rights. 1. The qualifications required to vote. 2. Women may vote at school elec tions. 3. Enumeration of those who may not vote. 4. No person shall be deemed to have lost or gained a residence by reason of his absence while in the civil or military service of this State or the United States. 5. Voters to be privileged from ar rest during their attendance at elections, nor shall they be required to do military duty on that day. Section 6. All elections shall be by ballot. 7. The Legislature shall enact a registration law. 8. When the first election of county and district officers is to take place, when not otherwise provided for, ARTICLE VII. Revenue and Taxation. 1. The Legislature shall provide by law an annual tax, suffcient for the estimated ex penses of the State. 2. Uniform and equal rate of as sessment shall be provided for. 3. The Legislature shall provide by general law for the levying of taxes on all corporation prop erty. 4. The power to tax corporations shall not be surrendered. 5. No tax shall be levied except in pursuance to law. 6. All taxes for State purposes shall be paid in money only. 7. A statement of receipts and ex penditures of public money shall be published annually. 8. Whenever the expenses for any fiscal year shall exceed the income, how provided for. 9. Cities, towns and villages may be invested with the power to make local improvements by special taxation. ARTICLE VIII. State, County and Municipal Indebted Section of the treasury of' this state except by appropriation. 6. The credit of the State shall not be given or loaned. 6. No sub-division of the State shall become indebted to an amount exceeding one and onehalt per cent of the taxable property. 7. No sub-division of the State shall give money or loan its credit in aid of any individual or corporation. ARTICLE IX. Education. 1. Education for all children shall be provided without distinction on account of race, color or sex. 2. A uniform system of public schools.--Enumeration of the different grades. 3. A principle of common school fund shall remain inviolate. 4. All schools supported by public fund shall be free from secta rian control. 5. In regard to losses to the perma nent school fund. ARTICLE X. Mitua. 1. Those who are liable to military duty. 2. The Legislature shall provide by law for organizing and equip ping the militia. 3. A soldiers' home to be provided. 4. Provision shall be made for the safe keeping of public arms. 5. The militia shall be privileged from arrest, except. 6. Persons having conscientious scruples against bearing arms shall not be compelled to do so. ne88. 1. The State may contract debts to meet casual deficits not to exceed $400,000. 2. In addition to the above, debts may be contracted to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, etc. 3. No other debts shall be con tracted except as are author ized by law. ARTICLE XI. tion. hereby recognized as legal subdivisions of this State. |
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