Nevada Consittution, The Constitution of Nevada, Nevada State Constitution, Nevada Constitution
The literal text of the original, signed copy of the constitution filed in the office of the secretary of state has been retained, unless it has been repealed or superseded by amendment. Where the original text has been amended or where a new provision has been added to the original constitution, the source of the amendment or addition is indicated in the source note immediately following the text of the amended or new section. Leadlines for sections have been supplied by the Legislative Counsel of the State of Nevada.
Preliminary Action.
Ordinance.
Preamble.
Article.1. Declaration of Rights.
2. Right of Suffrage.
3. Distribution of Powers.
4. Legislative Department.
5. Executive Department.
6. Judicial Department.
7. Impeachment and Removal From Office.
8. Municipal and Other Corporations.
9. Finance and State Debt.
10. Taxation.
11. Education.
12. Militia.
13. Public Institutions.
14. Boundary.
15. Miscellaneous Provisions.
16. Amendments.
17. Schedule.
XVIII. [Right of Suffrage.] Repealed in 1992.
19. Initiative and Referendum.
[Election Ordinance.]
PRELIMINARY ACTION
Whereas,
The Act of Congress Approved March Twenty First A.D. Eighteen Hundred and Sixty Four "To enable the People of the Territory of Nevada to form a Constitution and State Government and for the admission of such State into the Union on an equal footing with the Original States," requires that the Members of the Convention for framing said Constitution shall, after Organization, on behalf of the people of said Territory, adopt the Constitution of the United States.-Therefore, Be it Resolved,
That the Members of this Convention, elected by the Authority of the aforesaid enabling Act of Congress, Assembled in Carson City the Capital of said Territory of Nevada, and immediately subsequent to its Organization, do adopt, on behalf of the people of said Territory the Constitution of the United States.
CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATES.
Nevada Constitutional Debates and Proceedings, pp. 779, 833.
ORDINANCE
Slavery prohibited; freedom of religious worship; disclaimer of public lands. [Effective until the date Congress consents to amendment or a legal determination is made that such consent is not necessary.] In obedience to the requirements of an act of the Congress of the United States, approved March twenty-first, A.D. eighteen hundred and sixty-four, to enable the people of Nevada to form a constitution and state government, this convention, elected and convened in obedience to said enabling act, do ordain as follows, and this ordinance shall be irrevocable, without the consent of the United States and the people of the State of Nevada:
First. That there shall be in this state neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the punishment for crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.
Second. That perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured, and no inhabitant of said state shall ever be molested, in person or property, on account of his or her mode of religious worship.
Third. That the people inhabiting said territory do agree and declare, that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within said territory, and that the same shall be and remain at the sole and entire disposition of the United States; and that lands belonging to citizens of the United States, residing without the said state, shall never be taxed higher than the land belonging to the residents thereof; and that no taxes shall be imposed by said state on lands or property therein belonging to, or which may hereafter be purchased by, the United States, unless otherwise provided by the congress of the United States.
[Amended in 1956. Proposed and passed by the 1953 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1955 legislature; approved and ratified by the people at the 1956 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1953, p. 718; Statutes of Nevada 1955, p. 926.]
CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATES.
Nevada Constitutional Debates and Proceedings, pp. 50, 66, 193, 779, 780, 833.
WEST PUBLISHING CO.
Constitutional Law ! 83(2), 84(1).
WESTLAW Topic No. 92.
C.J.S. Constitutional Law §§ 482 to 486, 513 to 517.
ATTORNEY GENERALS OPINIONS.
Nevada constitution prohibits legislation respecting establishment of religion or free exercise thereof. There is no question but that framers of Nevada constitution recognized the import of U.S. 1st amendment and in constitution provided that free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed in this state. Thus Nevada constitution, aside from U.S. 14th amendment, prohibits legislature from making any law respecting establishment of religion or free exercise thereof. AGO 320 (3-3-1954)
Slavery prohibited; freedom of religious worship; taxation of certain property. [Effective on the date Congress consents to amendment or a legal determination is made that such consent is not necessary.] In obedience to the requirements of an act of the Congress of the United States, approved March twenty-first, A.D. eighteen hundred and sixty-four, to enable the people of Nevada to form a constitution and state government, this convention, elected and convened in obedience to said enabling act, do ordain as follows, and this ordinance shall be irrevocable, without the consent of the United States and the people of the State of Nevada:
First. That there shall be in this state neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the punishment for crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.
Second. That perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured, and no inhabitant of said state shall ever be molested, in person or property, on account of his or her mode of religious worship.
Third. That the people inhabiting said territory do agree and declare, that lands belonging to citizens of the United States, residing without the said state, shall never be taxed higher than the land belonging to the residents thereof; and that no taxes shall be imposed by said state on lands or property therein belonging to, or which may hereafter be purchased by, the United States, unless otherwise provided by the Congress of the United States.
[Amended in 1956 and 1996. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1953 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1955 legislature; approved and ratified by the people at the 1956 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1953, p. 718; Statutes of Nevada 1955, p. 926. The second amendment was proposed and passed by the 1993 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1995 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1996 general election, effective on the date Congress consents to amendment or a legal determination is made that such consent is not necessary. See: Statutes of Nevada 1993, p. 3136; Statutes of Nevada 1995, p. 2917.]
PREAMBLE.
We the people of the State of Nevada Grateful to Almighty God for our freedom in order to secure its blessings, insure domestic tranquility, and form a more perfect Government, do establish this Constitution.
CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATES.
Nevada Constitutional Debates and Proceedings, pp. 33-35, 40, 193, 780, 781, 833.
Click on an Article to view it:
Article I - Declaration of Rights
Article II - Right of Sufferage
Article III - Distribution of Power
Article IV - Legislative Department
Article V - Executive Department
