====== Constitution of North Dakota. ======

===== PREAMBLE. =====

We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the
blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain and establish this
Constitution.

===== ARTICLE I. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS. =====

=== Section 1. ===

All men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain
inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending
life and liberty; acquiring, possessing and protecting property and
reputation; and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness.

=== Section 2. ===

All political power is inherent in the people. Government is
instituted for the protection, security and benefit of the people, and
they have a right to alter or reform the same whenever the public
good may require.

=== Section 3. ===

The State of North Dakota is an inseparable part of the American Union
and the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the
land.

=== Section 4. ===

The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship,
without discrimination or preference shall be forever guaranteed in
this State, and no person shall be rendered incompetent to be a
witness or juror on account of his opinion on matters of religious
belief; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so
construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices
inconsistent with the peace or safety of this State.

=== Section 5. ===

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended
unless, when in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may
require.

=== Section 6. ===

All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for
capital offenses when the proof is evident or the presumption great.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
shall cruel or unusual punishments be inflicted. Witnesses shall not
be unreasonably detained, nor be confined in any room where criminals
are actually imprisoned.

=== Section 7. ===

The right of trial by jury shall be secured to all, and remain
inviolate; but a jury in civil cases, in courts not of record may
consist of less than twelve men, as may be prescribed by law.

=== Section 8. ===

Until otherwise provided by law, no person shall, for a felony, be
proceeded against criminally, otherwise than by indictment, except in
cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in
actual service in time of war or public danger. In all other cases,
offenses shall be prosecuted criminally by indictment or information.
The Legislative Assembly may change, regulate or abolish the grand
jury system.

=== Section 9. ===

Every man may freely write, speak and publish his opinions on all
subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that privilege. In all
civil and criminal trials for libel the truth may be given in
evidence, and shall be a sufficient defense when the matter is
published with good motives and for justifiable ends; and the jury
shall have the same power of giving a general verdict as in other
cases; and in all indictments or informations for libels the jury
shall have the right to determine the law and the facts under the
direction of the court as in other cases.

=== Section 10. ===

The citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together
for the common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of
government for the redress of grievances, or for other proper
purposes, by petition, address or remonstrance.

=== Section 11. ===

All laws of a general nature shall have a uniform operation.

=== Section 12. ===

The military shall be subordinate to the civil power. No standing army
shall be maintained by this State in time of peace, and no soldiers
shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent
of the owner; nor in time of war, except in the manner prescribed by
law.

=== Section 13. ===

In criminal prosecutions in any court whatever, the party accused
shall have the right to a speedy and public trial; to have the process
of the court to compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf; and
to appear and defend in person and with counsel. No person shall be
twice put in jeopardy for the same offense, nor be compelled in any
criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of
life, liberty or property without due process of law.

=== Section 14. ===

Private property shall not be taken or damaged for public use without
just compensation having been first made to, or paid into court for
the owner.  No right of way shall be appropriated to the use of any
corporation until full compensation therefor be first made in money or
ascertained and paid into court for the owner, irrespective of any
benefit from any improvement proposed by such corporation, which
compensation shall be ascertained by a jury, unless a jury be waived,
provided however, that when the state or any of its departments,
agencies or political subdivisions seeks to acquire right of way, it
may take possession upon making an offer to purchase and by depositing
the amount of such offer with the clerk of the district court of the
county wherein the right of way is located. The clerk shall
immediately notify the owner of such deposit.  The owner may thereupon
appeal to the court in the manner provided by law, and may have a jury
trial, unless a jury be waived, to determine the damages.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1957/pdf/CAA.pdf#page=2|Amended Jun. 26, 1956]], effective Jul. 26, 1956]

=== Section 15. ===

No person shall be imprisoned for debt unless upon refusal to deliver
up his estate for the benefit of his creditors, in such manner as
shall be prescribed by law; or in cases of tort; or where there is
strong presumption of fraud.

=== Section 16. ===

No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the
obligations of contracts shall ever be passed.

=== Section 17. ===

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment
of crime, shall ever be tolerated in this state.

=== Section 18. ===

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers
and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be
violated; and no warrant shall issue but upon probable cause,
supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the place to
be searched and the persons and things to be seized.

=== Section 19. ===

Treason against the State shall consist only in levying war against
it, adhering to its enemies or giving them aid and comfort. No person
shall be convicted of treason unless on the evidence of two witnesses
to the same overt act, or confession in open court.

=== Section 20. ===

No special privileges or immunities shall ever be granted which may
not be altered, revoked or repealed by the Legislative Assembly; nor
shall any citizen or class of citizens be granted privileges or
immunities which upon the same terms shall not be granted to all
citizens.

=== Section 21. ===

The provisions of this constitution are mandatory and prohibitory
unless, by express words, they are declared to be otherwise.

=== Section 22. ===

All courts shall be open, and every man for any injury done him in his
lands, goods, person or reputation shall have remedy by due process of
law, and right and justice administered without sale, denial or delay.
Suits may be brought against the State in such manner, in such courts,
and in such cases, as the Legislative Assembly may, by law, direct.

=== Section 23. ===

Every citizen of this State shall be free to obtain employment
wherever possible, and any person, corporation, or agent thereof,
maliciously interfering or hindering in any way, any citizen from
obtaining or enjoying employment already obtained, from any other
corporation or person, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

=== Section 24. ===

To guard against transgressions of the high powers which we have
delegated, we declare that everything in this article is excepted out
of the general powers of government and shall forever remain
inviolate.

===== ARTICLE II. THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. =====

=== Section 25. ===

The legislative power of this state shall be vested in a legislature
consisting of a senate and a house of representatives. The people,
however, reserve the power, first, to propose measures and to enact or
reject the same at the polls; second, to approve or reject at the
polls any measure or any item, section, part or parts of any measure
enacted by the legislature.

The first power reserved is the initiative. Ten thousand electors at
large may propose any measure by initiative petition. Every such
petition shall contain the full text of the measure and shall be filed
with the Secretary of State not less than ninety days before the
election at which it is to be voted upon. 

The second power reserved is the referendum. Seven thousand electors
at large may, by referendum petition, suspend the operation of any
measure enacted by the legislature, except an emergency measure. But
the filing of a referendum petition against one or more items,
sections or parts of any measure, shall not prevent the remainder from
going into effect. Such petition shall be filed with the Secretary of
State not later than ninety days after the adjournment of the session
of the legislature at which such measure was enacted. 

Each measure initiated by or referred to the electors, shall be
submitted by its ballot title, which shall be placed upon the ballot
by the Secretary of State and shall be voted upon at any state-wide
election designated in the petition, or at a special election called
by the Governor. The result of the vote upon any measure shall be
canvassed and declared by the board of canvassers. 

Any measure, except an emergency measure, submitted to the electors of
the state, shall become a law when approved by a majority of the votes
cast thereon. And such law shall go into effect on the 30th day after
the election, unless otherwise specified in the measure. 

If a referendum petition is filed against an emergency petition such
measure shall be a law until voted upon by the electors. And if it is
then rejected by a majority of the votes cast thereon, it shall he
thereby repealed. Any such measure shall be submitted to the electors
at a special election if so ordered by the Governor, or if the
referendum petition filed against it shall be signed by thirty
thousand electors at large. Such special election shall be called by
the Governor, and shall be held not less than one hundred nor more
than one hundred thirty days after the adjournment of the session of
the legislature.

The Secretary of State shall pass upon each petition, and if he finds
it insufficient, he shall notify the "Committee for the Petitioners"
and allow twenty days for correction or amendment. All decisions of
the Secretary of State in regard to any such petition shall be subject
to review by the Supreme Court. But if the sufficiency of such
petition is being reveiwed at the time the ballot is prepared, the
Secretary of State shall place the measure on the ballot and no
subsequent decision shall invalidate such measure if it is at such
election approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon.  If
procedlngs are brought against any petition upon any ground, the
burden of proof shall be upon the party attacking it. 

No law shall be enacted limiting the number of copies of a petition
which may be circulated. Such copies shall become part of the original
petition when filed or attached thereto. Nor shall any law be enacted
prohibiting any person from giving or receiving compensation for
circulating the petitions, nor in any manner interfering with the
freedom in securing signatures to petitions. 

Each petition shall have printed thereon a ballot title, which shall
fairly represent the subject matter of the measure, and the names of
at least five electors who shall, constitute the "committee for the
petitioners" and who shall represent and act for the petitioners. 

The enacting clause of all measures initiated by the electors shall
be: "Be it enacted by the people of the State of North Dakota." In
submitting measures to the electors, the Secretary of State and all
other officials shall be guided by the election laws until additional
legislation shall be provided. 

If conflicting measures initiated by or referred to the electors shall
be approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon, the one receiving
the highest number of affirmative votes shall become the law. 

The word "measure" as used herein shall include any law or amendment
thereto, resolution, legislative proposal or enactment of any
character. 

The veto power of the Governor shall not extend to the measures
initiated by or referred to the electors. No measure enacted or
approved by a vote of the electors shall be repealed or amended by the
legislature, except upon a yea and nay vote upon roll call of
two-thirds of all the members elected to each house. 

This section shall be self executing and all of its provisions shall
be treated as mandatory. Laws may be enacted to facilitate its
operation, but no laws shall be enacted to hamper, restrict or impair
the exercise of the rights herein reserved to the'people.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1915/sl1915.pdf#page=429|Amended Nov. 3, 1914]], effective Dec. 3, 1914]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=515|Amended Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1965/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=3|Amended Nov. 3, 1964]], effective Dec. 3, 1964]

=== Section 26. ===

The senate shall be composed of forty-nine members.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1961/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=4|Amended Jun. 28, 1960]], effective Jul. 28, 1960]

=== Section 27. ===

Senators shall be elected for the term of four years, except as
hereinafter provided.

=== Section 28. ===

No person shall be a senator who is not a qualified elector in the
district in which he may be chosen, and who shall not have attained
the age of twenty-five years, and have been a resident of the State or
Territory for two years next preceding his election.

=== Section 29. ===

Each existing senatorial district as provided by law at the effective
date of this amendment shall permanently constitute a senatorial
district. Each senatorial district shall be represented by one senator
and no more.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1961/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=4|Amended Jun. 28, 1960]], effective Jul. 28, 1960]

=== Section 30. ===

The senatorial districts shall be numbered consecutively from one
upwards, according to the number of districts prescribed, and the
Senators shall be divided into two classes. Those elected in the
districts designated by even numbers shall constitute one class, and
those elected in districts designated by odd numbers shall constitute
the other class. The Senators of one class, elected in the year 1890,
shall hold their office for two years, those of the other class shall
hold their office four years, and the determination of the two classes
shall be by lot, so that one-half of the Senators, as nearly as
practicable, may be elected biennially.

=== Section 31. ===

The Senate, at the beginning and close of each regular session, and at
such other times as may be necessary, shall elect one of its members
President pro tempore, who may take the place of the Lieutenant
Governor under rules prescribed by law.

=== Section 32. ===

The House of Representatives shall be composed of not less than sixty,
nor more than one hundred and forty members.

=== Section 33. ===

Representatives shall be elected for the term of two years.

=== Section 34. ===

No person shall be a Representative who is not a qualified elector in
the district for which he may be chosen, and who shall not have
attained the age of twenty-one years, and have been a resident of the
State or Territory for two years next preceding his election.

=== Section 35. ===

Each senatorial district shall be represented in the House of
Representatives by at least one representative except that any
senatorial district comprised of more than one county shall be
represented in the House of Representatives by at least as many
representatives as there are counties in such senatorial district. In
addition the Legislative Assembly shall, at the first regular session
after each federal decennial census, proceed to apportion the balance
of the members of the House of Representatives to be elected from the
several senatorial districts, within the limits prescribed by this
Constitution, according to the population of the several senatorial
districts.  If any Legislative Assembly whose duty it is to make an
apportionment shall fail to make the same as herein provided it shall
be the duty of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Attorney
General, Secretary of State, and the majority and minority leaders of
the House of Representatives within ninety days after the adjournment
of the legislature to make such apportionment and when so made a
proclamation shall be issued by the Chief Justice announcing such
apportionment which shall have the same force and effect as though
made by the Legislative Assembly.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1961/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=4|Amended Jun. 28, 1960]], effective Jul. 28, 1960]

=== Section 36. ===

The House of Representatives shall elect one of its members as
Speaker.

=== Section 37. ===

No judge or clerk of any court, secretary of state, attorney general,
register of deeds, sheriff or person holding any office of profit
under this State, except in the militia or the office of
attorney-at-law, notary public or justice of the peace, and no person
holding any office of profit or honor under any foreign government, or
under the government of the United States, except postmasters whose
annual compensation does not exceed the sum of $300, shall hold any
office in either branch of the Legislative Assembly or become a member
thereof.

=== Section 38. ===

No member of the Legislative Assembly, expelled for corruption, and no
person convicted of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime shall be
eligible to the Legislative Assembly, or to any office in either
branch thereof.

=== Section 39. ===

No member of the Legislative Assembly shall, during the term for which
he was elected, be appointed or elected to any civil office in this
State, which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which shall
have been increased, during the term for which he was elected; nor
shall any member receive any civil appointment from the Governor, or
Governor and Senate, during the term for which he shall have been
elected.

=== Section 40. ===

If any person elected to either house of the Legislative Assembly
shall offer or promise to give his vote or influence, in favor of, or
against any measure or proposition pending or proposed to be
introduced into the Legislative Assembly, in consideration, or upon
conditions, that any other person elected to the same Legislative
Assembly will give, or will promise or assent to give, his vote or
influence in favor of or against any other measure or proposition,
pending or proposed to be introduced into such Legislative Assembly,
the person making such offer or promise shall be deemed guilty of
solicitation of bribery. If any member of the Legislative Assembly,
shall give his vote or iufluence for or against any measure or
proposition, pending or proposed to be introduced into such
Legislative Assembly, or offer, promise or assent so to do upon
condition that any other member will give, promise or assent to give
his vote or influence in favor of or against any other such measure or
proposition pending or pro posed to be introduced into such
Legislative Assembly, or in consideration that any other member hath
given his vote or influence, for or against any other measure or
propositiau in such Legislative Assembly, he shall be deemed guilty of
bribery. And any person, member of the Legislative Assembly or person
elected thereto, who shall be guilty of either such offenses, shall be
expelled, and shall not, thereafter be eligible to the Legislative
Assembly, and, on the conviction thereof in the civil courts, shall be
liable to such further penalty as may be prescribed by law.

=== Section 41. ===

The term of service of the members of the Legislative Assembly shall
begin on the first Tuesday in January next, after their election.

=== Section 42. ===

The members of the Legislative Assembly shall in all eases except
treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest
during their attendance at the sessions of their respective houses,
and in going to or returning from the same. For wprds used in any
speech or debate in either house, they shall not be questioned in any
other place.

=== Section 43. ===

Any member who has a personal or private interest in any measure or
bill proposed or pending before the Legislative Assembly, shall
disclose the fact to the house of which he is a member, and shall not
vote thereon without the consent of the house.

=== Section 44. ===

The Governor shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies as
may occur in either house of the Legislative Assembly.

=== Section 45. ===

Each member of the Legislative Assembly shall receive as a
compensation for his services for each session, five dollars per day,
and ten cents for every mile of necessary travel in going to and
returning from the place of the meeting of the Legislative Assembly,
on the most usual route.

=== Section 46. ===

A majority of the members of each house shall constitute a quorum, but
a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may compel the
attendance of absent members, in such a manner, and under such a
penalty, as may be prescribed by law.

=== Section 47. ===

Each house shall be the judge of the election returns and
qualifications of its own members.

=== Section 48. ===

Each house shall have the power to determine the rules of proceeding,
and punish its members or other persons for contempt or disorderly
behavior in its presence; to protect its members against violence or
offers of bribes or private solicitation, and with the concurrence of
two-thirds, to expel a member, and shall have all other powers
necessary and usual in the Legislative Assembly of a free state. But
no imprisonment by either house shall continue beyond thirty days.
Punishment for contempt or disorderly behavior shall not bar a
criminal prosecution for the same offense.

=== Section 49. ===

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and the yeas and
nays on any question shall be taken and entered on the journal at the
request of one-sixth of those present.

=== Section 50. ===

The sessions of each house and of the Committee of the Whole shall be
open unless the business is such as ought to be kept secret.

=== Section 51. ===

Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for
more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the
two houses shall be sitting, except in case of epidemic, pestilence or
other great danger.

=== Section 52. ===

The Senate and House of Representatives jointly shall be designated as
the Legislative Assembly of the State of North Dakota.

=== Section 53. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall meet at the seat of government at 12
o'clock noon on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January,
in the year next following the election of the members thereof.

=== Section 54. ===

In all elections to be made by the Legislative Assembly, or either
house thereof, the members shall vote viva voce, and their votes shall
be entered in the journal.

=== Section 55. ===

The sessions of the Legislative Assembly shall be biennial, except as
otherwise provided in this Constitution.

=== Section 56. ===

No regular sessions of the Legislative Assembly shall exceed sixty
days, except in case of impeachment, but the first session of the
Legislative Assembly may continue for a period of one hundred and
twenty days.

=== Section 57. ===

Any bill may originate in either house of tho Legislative Assembly,
and a bill passed by one house may be amended by the other.

=== Section 58. ===

No law shall be passed, except by a bill adopted by both houses, and
no bill shall be so altered and amended on its passage through either
house as to change its original purpose.

=== Section 59. ===

The enacting clause of every law shall be as follows: Be it enacted by
the Legislative Assembly of the State of North Dakota.

=== Section 60. ===

No bill for the appropriation of money, except for the expenses of the
government, shall be introduced after the fortieth day of the session,
except by unanimous consent of the house in which it is sought to be
introduced.

=== Section 61. ===

No bill shall embrace more than one subject, which shall be expressed
in its title, but a bill which violates this provision shall be
invalidated thereby only as to so much thereof as shall not be so
expressed.

=== Section 62. ===

The general appropriation bill shall embrace nothing but
appropriations for the expenses of the Executive, Legislative and
Judicial Departments of the State, interest on the public debt and for
public schools. All other appropriations shall be made by separate
bills, each embracing but one subject.

=== Section 63. ===

Every bill shall be read two separate times, but the first and second
readings may not be upon the same day; and the first reading may be by
title of the bill only, unless upon such first reading, a reading at
length is demanded.  The second reading shall be at length. No
legislative day shall be shorter than the natural day.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1935/sl1935.pdf#page=509|Amended Sep. 22, 1933]], effective Oct. 22, 1933]

=== Section 64. ===

No bill shall be revised or amended, nor the provisions thereof
extended or incorporated in any other bill by reference to its title
only, but so much thereof as is revised, amended or extended or so
incorporated, shall be re-enacted and published at length.

=== Section 65. ===

No bill shall become a law except by a vote of the majority of all the
members elect in each house, nor unless, on its final passage, the
vote be taken by yeas and nays, and the names of those voting be
entered on the Journal.

=== Section 66. ===

The presiding officer of each house shall, in the presence of the
house over which he presides, sign all bills and joint resolutions
passed by the Legislative Assembly ; immediately before such signing
their title shall be publicly read, and the fact of signing shall be
at once entered on the Journal.

=== Section 67. ===

No act of the legislative assembly shall take effect until July first
after the close of the session, unless the legislature by a vote of
two-thirds of the members present and voting, in each house, shall
declare it an emergency measure, which declaration shall be set forth
in the act, provided, however, that no act granting a franchise or
special privilege, or act creating any vested right or interest other
than in the state, shall be declared an emergency measure. An
emergency measure shall take effect and be in force from and after its
passage and approval by the Governor. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=518|Amended Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

=== Section 68. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall pass all laws necessary to carry into
effect the provisions of this Constitution.

=== Section 69. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall not pass local or special laws in any of
the following enumerated cases, that is to say:

<WRAP indent>

1. For granting divorces.

2. Laying out, opening, altering or working roads or highways,
vacating roads, town plats, streets, alleys or public grounds.

3. Locating or changing county seats.

4. Regulating county or township affairs.

5. Regulating the practice of courts of justice.

6. Regulating the jurisdiction and duties of justices of the peace,
police magistrates or constables.

7. Changing the rules of evidence in any trial or inquiry.

8. Providing for changes of venue in civil or criminal cases.

9. Declaring any person of age.

10. For limitation of civil actions, or giving effect to informal or
invalid deeds.

11. Summoning or impaneling grand or petit juries.

12. Providing for the management of common schools.

13. Regulating the rate of interest on money.

14. The opening or conducting of any election, or designating the
place of voting.

15. The sale or mortgage of real estate belonging to minors or othere
under disability.

16. Chartering or licensing ferries, toll bridges or toll roads.

17. Remitting fines, penalties or forfeitures.

18. Creating, increasing or decreasing fees, percentages or allowances
of public officers.

19. Changing the law of descent.

20. Granting to any corporation, association or individual the right
to lay down railroad tracks, or any special or exclusive privilege,
immunity or franchise whatever.

21. For the punishment of crimes.

22. Changing the names of persons or places.

23. For the assessment or collection of taxes.

24. Affecting estates of deceased persons, minors or others under
legal disabilities.

25. Extending the time for the collection of taxes.

26. Refunding money into the State Treasury.

27. Relinquishing or extinguishing in whole or in part the
indebtedness, liability or obligation of any corporation or person to
this State, or to any municipal corporation therein.

28. Legalizing, except as against the State, the unauthorized or
invalid act of any officer.

29. Exempting property from taxation.

30. Restoring to citizenship persons convicted of infamous crimes.

31. Authorizing the creation, extension or impairing of liens.

32. Creating offices, or prescribing the powers or duties of officers
in counties, cities, townships, election or school districts, or
authorizing the adoption or legitimation of children.

33. Incorporation of cities, towns or villages, or changing or
amending the charter of any town, city or village.

34. Providing for the election of members of the Board of Supervisors
in townships, incorporated towns or cities.

35. The protection of game or fish.

</WRAP>

=== Section 70. ===

In all other cases where a general law can be made applicable, no
special law shall be enacted; nor shall the Legislative Assembly
indirectly enact such special or local law by the partial repeal of a
general law; but laws repealing local or special acts may be passed.

===== ARTICLE III. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. =====

=== Section 71. ===

The executive power shall be vested in a governor, who shall reside at
the seat of government and shall hold his office for the term of four
years beginning in the year 1965, and until his successor is elected
and duly qualified.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1965/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=3|Amended Jun. 30, 1964]], effective Jul. 30, 1964]

=== Section 72. ===

A Lieutenant Governor shall be elected at the same time and for the
same term as the Governor. In case of the death, impeachment,
resignation, failure to qualify, absence from the State, removal from
office, or the disability of the Governor, the powers and duties of
the office for the residue of the term, or until he shall be
acquitted, or the disability be removed, shall devolve upon the
Lieutenant Governor.

=== Section 73. ===

No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor or Lieutenant
Governor unless he be a citizen of the United States, and a qualified
elector of the State, who shall have attained the age of thirty years,
and who shall have resided five years next preceding the election
within the State or Territory, nor shall he be eligible to any other
office during the term for which he shall have been elected.

=== Section 74. ===

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be elected by the qualified
electors of the State at the time and places of choosen members of the
Legislative Assembly. The persons having the highest number of votes
for Governor and Lieutenant Governor respectively shall be declared
elected, but if two or more shall have an equal and highest number of
votes for Governor or Lieutenant Governor, the two houses of the
Legislative Assembly at its next regular session shall forthwith, by
joint ballot, choose one of such persons for said office. The returns
of the election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be made in
such manner as shall be prescribed by law.

=== Section 75. ===

The Governor shall be Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval
forces of the State, except when they shall be called into the service
of the United States, and may call out the same to execute the laws,
suppress insurrection and repel invasion. He shall have power to
convene the Legislative Assembly on ex traordinary occasions. He shall
at the commencement of each session communicate to the Legislative
Assembly by message, in formation of the condition of the State, and
recommend such measures as he shall deem expedient. He shall transact
all necessary business with the officers of the government, civil and
military. He shall expedite all such measures as may be resolved upon
by the Legislative Assembly, and shall take care that the laws be
faithfully executed.

=== Section 76. ===

The governor shall have power in conjunction with the board of
pardons, of which the governor shall be ex-officio a member and the
other members of which shall consist of the attorney general of the
state of North Dakota, the chief justice of the supreme court of the
state of North Dakota, and two qualified electors who shall be
appointed by the governor, to remit fines and forfeitures, to grant
reprieves, comumutations and pardons after conviction for all offenses
except treason and cases of impeachment; but the legislative assembly
may by law regulate the manner in which the remission of fines,
pardons, commutations and reprieves may be applied for. Upon
conviction of treason the governor shall have the power to suspend the
execution of sentence until the case shall be reported to the
legislative assembly at its next regular session, when the legislative
assembly shall either pardon or commute the sentence, direct the
execution of the sentence or grant further reprieve. The governor
shall communicate to the legislative assembly at each regular session
each case of remission of fine, reprieve, commutation or pardon granted
by the board of pardons, stating the name of the convict, the crime
for which he is convicted, the sentence and its date and the date of
remission, commutation, pardon or reprieve, with their reasons for
granting the same.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1899/sl1899.pdf#page=256|Amended Nov. 6, 1900]], effective Dec. 6, 1900 ]

=== Section 77. ===

The Lieutenant Governor shall be President of the Senate, but shall
have no vote unless they be equally divided. If, during a vacancy in
the office of Governor, the Lieutenant Governor shall be impeached,
displaced, resign or die, or from mental or physical disease, or
otherwise become incapable of performing the duties of his office, the
Secretary of State shall act as Governor until the vacancy shall be
filled or the disability removed.

=== Section 78. ===

When any office shall from any cause become vacant, and no mode is
provided by the Constitution or law for filling such vacancy, the
Governor shall have power to fill such vacancy by appointment.

=== Section 79. ===

Every bill which shall have passed the Legislative Assembly shall,
before it becomes a law, be presented to the Governor. If he approve,
he shall sign, but if not, he shall return it with his objections to
the house in which it originated, which shall enter the objections at
large upon the Journal and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such
reconsideration, two-thirds of the members elect shall agree to pass
the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other
house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if it be
approved by two-thirds of the members elect, it shall become a law;
but in all such cases the vote of both houses shall be determined by
the yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for and against
the bill shall be entered upon the Journal of each house respectively.
If any bill shall not be returned by the Governor within three days
(Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same
shall be a law, unless the Legislative Assembly by its adjournment,
prevent its return, in which case it shall be a law, unless he shall
file the same with his objections in the office of the Secretary of
State, within fifteen days after such adjournment.

=== Section 80. ===

The Governor shall have power to disapprove of any item or items, or
part or parts of any bill making appropriations of money or property
embracing distinct items, and the part or parts of the bill approved
shall be the law, and the item or items, and part or parts disapproved
shall be void, unless enacted in the following manner: If the
Legislative Assembly be in session he shall transmit to the house in
which the bill originated a copy of the item or items, or part or
parts thereof disapproved, together with his objections thereto, and
the items or parts objected to shall be separately reconsidered, and
each item or part shall then take the same course as is prescribed for
the passage of bills over the executive veto.

=== Section 81. ===

Any Governor of this State who asks, receives or agrees to receive any
bribe upon any understanding that his official opinion, judgment or
action shall be influenced thereby, or who gives or offers, or
promises his official influence in consideration that any member of
the Legislative Assembly shall give his official vote or influence on
any particular side of any question or matter upon which he may be
required to act in his official capacity, or who menaces any member by
the threatened use of his veto power, or who offers or promises any
member that he, the said Governor will appoint any particular person
or persons to any office created or thereafter to be created, in
consideration that any member shall give his official vote or
influence on any matter pending or thereafter to be introduced into
either house of said Legislative Assembly, or who threatens any member
that he, the said Governor, will remove any person or persons from
office or position with intent in any manner to influence the action
of said member, shall be punished in the manner now or that may here
after be provided by law, and upon conviction thereof shall forfeit
all right to hold or exercise any office of trust or honor in this
State.

=== Section 82. ===

There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the
times and places of choosing members of the legislative assembly, a
secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of public
instruction, commissioner of insurance, an attorney general, a
commissioner of agriculture and labor, and a tax commissioner, who
shall have attained the age of twenty-five years and shall have the
qualifications of state electors. They shall severally hold their
offices at the seat of government for the term of four years beginning
with the year 1965, and until their successors are elected and duly
qualified; but no person shall be eligible for the office of treasurer
for more than two consecutive terms. The tax commissioner shall be
elected on a no party ballot and he shall be nominated and elected in
the manner now provided for the nomination and election of the
superintendent of public instruction.

The board of railroad commissioners shall hereafter be known as the
public service commission and the members of the board of railroad
commissioners as public service commissioners and the powers and
duties now or hereafter granted to and conferred upon the board of
railroad commissioners are hereby transferred to the public service
commission. The public service commissioners shall have the
qualifications of state electors, have attained the age of twenty-five
years, be chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the times
and places of choosing members of the legislative assembly, hold
office at the seat of government and until their successors are
elected and duly qualified. As each of the three public service
commissioners now holding office completes his term, his successor
shall be elected for a term of six years.

The legislative assembly may by law provide for a department of labor,
which, if provided for, shall be separate and distinct from the
department of agriculture, and shall be administered by a public
official who may be either elected or appointed, whichever the
legislative assembly shall declare; and if such a department is
established the commissioner of agriculture and labor provided for
above shall become the commissioner of agriculture.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1927/sl1927.pdf#page=567|Amended Jun. 30, 1926]], effective Jul. 30, 1926 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1939/sl1939.pdf#page=512|Amended Jun. 28, 1938]], effective Jul. 28, 1938]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1941/sl1941.pdf#page=604|Amended Jun. 25, 1940]], effective Jul. 25, 1940 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1961/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=1|Amended Jun. 28, 1960]], effective Jul. 28, 1960]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1965/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=3|Amended Jun. 30, 1964]], effective Jul. 30, 1964]

=== Section 83. ===

The powers and duties of the secretary of state, auditor, treasurer,
superintendent of public instruction, commissioner of insurance,
commissioners of railroads, attorney general and commissioner of
agriculture and labor shall be prescribed by law. In the event that
the legislative assembly shall establish a separate and distinct
department of labor, the powers and duties of the officer
administering such department of labor shall be prescribed by law.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1961/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=1|Amended Jun. 28, 1960]], effective Jul. 28, 1960]

=== Section 84. ===

Salaries of public officers shall be as prescribed by law, but the
salaries of any of the said officers shall not be increased or
diminished during the period for which they shall have been elected,
and all fees and profits arising from any of the said offices shall be
covered into the state treasury.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1961/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=1|Amended Jun. 28, 1960]], effective Jul. 28, 1960]

===== ARTICLE IV. JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. =====

=== Section 85. ===

The judicial power of the State of North Dakota shall be vested in a
supreme court, district courts, county courts, justices of the peace,
and in such other courts as may be created by law for cities,
incorporated towns and villages.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1907/sl1907.pdf#page=483|Approved]] and [[https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Abstracts%20by%20Year/1900%20through%201908%20Statewide%20Election%20Results/1908/General%20Election%2011-03-1908.pdf|ratified]] Nov. 3, 1908, effective Dec. 3, 1908 ]

=== Section 86. ===

The supreme court, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution,
shall have appellate jurisdiction only, which shall be co-extensive
with the State and shall have a general superintending control over
all inferior courts under such regulations and limitations as may be
prescribed by law.

=== Section 87. ===

It shall have power to issue writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, quo
warranto, certiorari, injunction, and such other original and remedial
writs as may be necessary to the proper exercise of its jurisdiction,
and shall have authority to hear and determine the same; Provided,
however, that no jury trials shall be allowed in said supreme court,
but in proper cases questions of fact may be sent by said court to a
district court for trial.

=== Section 88. ===

Until otherwise provided by law three terms of the supreme court shall
be held each year, one at the seat of government, one at Fargo, in the
county of Cass, and one at Grand Forks, in the county of Grand Forks.

=== Section 89. ===

The Supreme Court shall consist of five judges, a majority of
whom shall be necessary to form a quorum or pronounce a decision, but
one or more of said, judges may adjourn the court from day to day or
to a day certain, provided, however, that in no case shall any
legislative enactment or law of the State of North Dakota be declared
unconstitutional unless at least four of the judges shall so decide.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1907/sl1907.pdf#page=483|Approved]] and [[https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Abstracts%20by%20Year/1900%20through%201908%20Statewide%20Election%20Results/1908/General%20Election%2011-03-1908.pdf|ratified]] Nov. 3, 1908, effective Dec. 3, 1908 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=515|Amended Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

=== Section 90. ===

The judges of the Supreme Court shall be elected by the qualified
electors of the State at general elections. The term of office shall
be ten years and the judges shall hold their offices until their
successors are duly qualified and shall receive such compensation for
their services as may be prescribed by law. Provided that this section
shall not be applicable to the terms of office of judges of the
Supreme Court elected prior to the general election of the year 1934,
at which election three Supreme Court Judges shall be chosen; and the
candidate at said election receiving the highest number of votes shall
be elected for a term of ten years, the candidate receiving the next
highest number of votes shall be elected for a term of eight years and
the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall be
elected for a term of six years.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1931/sl1931.pdf#page=593|Amended Jun. 25, 1930]], effective Jul. 25, 1930 ]

=== Section 91. ===

The term of office of the judges of the supreme court, except as in
this article otherwise provided, shall be six years, and they shall
hold their offices until their successors are duly qualified.

=== Section 92. ===

The judges of the supreme court shall, immediately after the first
election under this Constitution, be classified by lot so that one
shall hold his office for the term of three years, one for the term of
five years and one for the term of seven years from the first Monday
in December, A. D. 1889. The lots shall be drawn by the judges who
shall for that purpose assemble at the seat of government, and they
shall cause the result thereof to be certified to the Secretary of the
Territory and filed in his office unless the Secretary of State of
North Dakota shall have entered upon the duties of his office, in
which event said certification shall be filed therein. The judge
having the shortest term to serve, not holding his office by election
or appointment to fill a vacancy, shall be Chief Justice and shall
preside at all terms of the supreme court and in case of his absence
the judge having in like manner the next shortest term to serve shall
preside in his stead.

=== Section 93. ===

There shall be a clerk and also a reporter of the supreme court, who
shall be appointed by the judges thereof, and who shall hold their
offices during the pleasure of said judges, and whose duties and
emoluments shall be prescribed by law and by rules of the supreme
court not inconsistent with law. The Legislative Assembly shall make
provision for the publication and distribution of the decisions of the
supreme court and for the sale of the published volumes thereof.

=== Section 94. ===

No person shall be eligible to the office of judge of the supreme
court unless he be learned in the law, be at least thirty years of age
and a citizen of the United States, nor unless he shall have resided
in this State or Territory of Dakota three years next preceding his
election.

=== Section 95. ===

Whenever the population of the State of North Dakota shall equal six
hundred thousand the Legislative Assembly shall have the power to
increase the number of the judges of the supreme court to five, in
which event a majority of said court, as thus increased, shall
constitute a quorum.

Sec 96. No duties shall be imposed by law upon the supreme court or
auy of the judges thereof, except such as are judicial, nor shall auy
of the judges thereof exercise auy power of appointment except as
herein provided.

=== Section 97. ===

The style of all process shall be "The State of North Dakota." All
prosecutions shall be carried ou in the name and by the authority of
the State of North Dakota, and conclude "against the peace and dignity
of the State of North Dakota."

=== Section 98. ===

Any vacancy happening by death, resignation or otherwise in the office
of judge of the supreme court shall be filled by appointment, by the
Governor, which appointment shall continue until the first general
election thereafter, when said vacancy shall be filled by election.

=== Section 99. ===

The judges of the supreme and district courts shall receive such
compensation for their services as may be prescribed by law, which
compensation shall not be increased or diminished during the term for
which a judge shall have been elected.

=== Section 100. ===

In case a judge of the supreme court shall be in any way interested in
a cause brought before said court, the remaining judges of said court
shall call one of the district judges to sit with them on the hearing
of said cause.

=== Section 101. ===

When a judgment or decree is reversed or confirmed by the supreme
court every point fairly arising upon the record of the case shall be
considered and decided, and the reasons there for shall be concisely
stated in writing, signed by the judges concurring, filed in the
office of the clerk of the supreme court and preserved with a record
of the case. Any judge dissenting there from may give the reasons of
his dissent in writing over his signature.

=== Section 102. ===

It shall be the duty of the court to prepare a syllabus of the points
adjudicated in each case, which shall be concurred in by a majority of
the judges thereof, and it shall be prefixed to the published reports
of the case.

==== DISTRICT COURTS. ====

=== Section 103. ===

The district court shall have original jurisdiction, except as
otherwise provided in this Constitution, of all causes both at law and
equity, and such appellate jurisdiction as may be conferred by law.
They and the judges thereof shall also have jurisdiction and power to
issue writs of habeas corpus, quo warranto, certiorari, injunction and
other original and remedial writs, with authority to hear and
determine the same.

=== Section 104. ===

The State shall be divided into not less than six judicial districts,
in each of which there shall be elected at general elections by the
electors thereof one or more judges of the District Court therein as
may be provided by law. The term of office of a Judge of the District
Court hereafter elected shall be six years from the first Monday in
January succeeding his election and he shall hold his office until his
successor is duly qualified. At the general election in 1932 there
shall be elected as many judges as there are judgeships to be filled
in each Judicial District; the candidate receiving the highest number
of votes shall be elected to a term of six years, the candidate
receiving the next highest number of votes shall be elected to a term
of four years, and in case three judges are to be elected, the
candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall be elected
to a term of two years, and thereafter each judge shall be elected to
a term of six years.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1931/sl1931.pdf#page=593|Amended Jun. 25, 1930]], effective Jul. 25, 1930 ]

=== Section 105. ===

Until otherwise provided by law said districts shall be constituted as
follows:

District No. One shall consist of the counties of Pembina, Cavalier,
Walsh, Nelson and Grand Forks.

District No. Two shall consist of the counties of Ramsey, Towner,
Benson, Pierce, Rolette, Bottineau, McHenry, Church, Renville, Ward,
Stevens, Mountraille, Garfield, Flannery and Buford.

District No. Three shall consist of the counties of Cass, Steele and
Traill.

District No. Four shall consist of the counties of Richland, Ransom,
Sargent, Dickey and McIntosh.

District No. Five shall consist of the counties of Logan, LaMoure,
Stutsman, Barnes, Wells, Foster, Eddy and Griggs.

District No. Six shall consist of the counties of Burleigh, Emmons,
Kidder, Sheridan, McLean, Morton, Oliver, Mercer, Williams, Stark,
Hettinger, Bowman, Billings, McKenzie, Dunn, Wallace and Allred, and
that portion of the Sioux Indian Reservation lying north of the
Seventh Standard parallel.

=== Section 106. ===

The Legislative Assembly may whenever two-thirds of the members of
each house shall concur therein, but not oftener than once in four
years, increase the number of said judicial districts and the judges
thereof; such districts shall be formed from compact territory and
bounded by county lines, but such increase or change in the boundaries
of the districts shall not work the removal of any judge from his
office during the term for which he may have been elected or
appointed.

=== Section 107. ===

No person shall be eligible to the office of district judge, unless he
be learned in the law, be at least twenty-five years of age, and a
citizen of the United States, nor unless he shall have resided within
the State or Territory of Dakota at least two years next preceding his
election, nor unless he shall at the time of his election be an
elector within the Judicial District for which he is elected.

=== Section 108. ===

There shall be a Clerk of the District Court in each organized county
in which a court is holden who shall be elected by the qualified
electors of the county, and shall hold his office for the same term as
other county officers. He shall receive such compensation for his
services as may be prescribed by law.

=== Section 109. ===

Writs of error and appeals may be allowed from the decisions of the
district courts to the Supreme Court under such regulations as may be
prescribed by law.

==== COUNTY COURTS. ====

=== Section 110. ===

There shall be established in each county a county court, which shall
be a court Of record open at all times and holden by one judge,
elected by the electors of the county, and whose term of office shall
be two years.

=== Section 111. ===

The County Court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in probate
and testamentary matters, the appointment of administrators and
guardians, the settlement of the accounts of executors, administrators
and guardians, the sale of lands by executors, administrators, and
guardians, and such other probate jurisdiction as may be conferred by
law; Provided, That whenever the voters of any county having a
population of two thousand or over shall decide by a majority vote
that they desire the jurisdiction of said court increased above that
limited by this constitution, then said County Courts shall have
concurrent jurisdiction with the District Courts in all civil actions
where the amount in controversy does not exceed one thousand dollars,
and in all criminal actions below the grade of felony, and in case it
is decided by the voters of any county to so increase the jurisdiction
of said county court, the jurisdiction in cases of misdemeanors
arising under State laws which may have been conferred upon police
magistrates, shall cease. The qualifications of the judge of the
County Court in counties where the jurisdiction of said court shall
have been increased shall be the same as those of the district judge,
except he shall be a resident of the county at the time of his
election, and said county judge shall receive such salary for his
services as may be provided by law. In case the voters of any county
decide to increase the jurisdiction of said county courts, then such
jurisdiction as thus increased shall remain until otherwise provided
by law.

==== JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. ====

=== Section 112. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall provide by law for the election of
justices of the peace in each organized county within the state. But
the number of said justices to be elected in each organized county
shall be limited by law to such a number as shall be necessary for the
proper administration of justice. The justices of the peace herein
provided for shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the district
court in all civil actions when the amount in controversy, exclusive
of costs, does not exceed two hundred dollars, and in counties where
no county court with criminal jurisdiction exists they shall have such
jurisdiction to hear and determine cases of misdemeanor as may be
provided by law, but in no case shall said justices of the peace have
jurisdiction when the boundaries of or title to real estate shall come
in question. The Legislative Assembly shall have power to abolish the
office of justice of the peace and confer that jurisdiction upon
judges of county courts, or elsewhere.

==== POLICE MAGISTRATES. ====

=== Section 113. ===

The legislative assembly shall provide by law for the selection or
election and the qualifications of municipal judges in cities,
incorporated towns, and villages, who shall hear, try, and determine
cases arising under the ordinances of said cities, towns and villages,
and shall have such other jurisdiction as the legislative assembly may
confer upon them.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1965/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=2|Amended Jun. 30, 1964]], effective Jul. 30, 1964]

=== Section 114. ===

Appeals shall lie from the county court, final decisions of justices
of the peace, and police magistrates in such cases and pursuant to
such regulations as may be prescribed by law.

==== MISCELLANEOUS. ====

=== Section 115. ===

The time of holding courts in the several counties of a district shall
be as prescribed by law, but at least two terms of the district court
shall be held annually in each organized county, and the Legislative
Assembly shall make provision for attaching unorganized counties or
territories to organized counties for judicial purposes.

=== Section 116. ===

Judges of the district courts may hold court in other districts than
their own under such regulations as shall be prescribed by law.

=== Section 117. ===

No judge of the supreme or district court shall act as attorney or
counsellor at law.

=== Section 118. ===

Until the Legislative Assembly shall provide by law for fixing the
terms of courts the judges of the supreme and district courts shall
fix the terms thereof.

=== Section 119. ===

No judge of the supreme or district court shall be elected or
appointed to any other than judicial offices or be eligible thereto
during the term for which he was elected or appointed such judge. All
votes or appointments for either of them for any elective or
appointive office except that of judge of the supreme court, or
district court, given by the Legislative Assembly or the people, shall
be void.

=== Section 120. ===

Tribunals of conciliation may be established with such powers and
duties as shall be prescribed by law, or the powers and duties of such
may be conferred upon other courts of justice; but such tribunals or
other courts when sitting as such, shall have no power to render
judgment to be obligatory on the parties, unless they voluntarily
submit their matters of difference and agree to abide the judgment of
such tribunals or courts.

===== ARTICLE V. ELECTIVE FRANCHISE. =====

=== Section 121. ===

Every person of the age of twenty-one or upwards who is a citizen of
the United States and who shall have resided in the state one year and
in the county ninety days and in the precinct thirty days next
preceding any election shall be a qualified elector at such election.
Provided that where a qualified elector moves from one precinct to
another within the state he shall be entitled to vote in the precinct
from which he moves until he establishes his residence in the precinct
to which he moves.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1897/sl1897.pdf#page=426|Amended Nov. 8, 1898]], effective Dec. 8, 1898 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=270|Approved Nov. 2, 1920]], effective Dec. 2, 1920 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=268|S.B. 57, 1921]], [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1923/sl1923.pdf#page=566|Approved Jun. 28, 1922]], effective Jul. 28, 1922 ]

[[[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1959/pdf/CAA.pdf#page=2|Amended Jun. 24, 1958]], effective Jul. 24, 1958]

=== Section 122. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall be empowered to make further extensions
of suffrage hereafter, at its discretion to all citizens of mature age
and sound mind, not convicted of crime, without regard to sex; but no
law extending or restricting the right of suffrage shall be enforced
until adopted by a majority of the electors of the state voting at a
general election.

=== Section 123. ===

Electors shall in all cases except treason, felony, breach of the
peace or illegal voting, be privileged from arrest on the days of
election during their attendance at, going to and returning from such
election, and no elector shall be obliged to perform military duty on
the day of election, except in time of war or public danger.

=== Section 124. ===

The general elections of the state shall be biennial, and shall be
held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November;
Provided, That the first general election under this Constitution
shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November,
A D. 1890.

=== Section 125. ===

No elector shall be deemed to have lost his residence in this state by
reason of his absence on business of the United States or of this
state, or in the military or naval service of the United States.

=== Section 126. ===

No soldier, seaman or marine in the army or navy of the United States
shall be deemed a resident of this state in consequence of his being
stationed therein.

=== Section 127. ===

No person who is under guardianship, non compos mentis or insane shall
be qualified to vote at any election; nor any person convicted of treason or
felony, unless restored to civil rights; and the legislature shall by law
establish an educational test as a qualification, and may prescribe penalties
for failing, neglecting or refusing to vote at any general election.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1897/sl1897.pdf#page=426|Amended Nov. 8, 1898]], effective Dec. 8, 1898 ]

=== Section 128. ===

Any woman having the qualifications enumerated in section 121 of this
article as to age, residence and citizenship, and including those now
qualified by the laws of the territory, may vote for all school
officers, and upon all questions pertaining solely to school matters,
and be eligible to any school office.

=== Section 129. ===

All elections by the people shall be by secret ballot, subject to such
regulations as shall be provided by law.

===== ARTICLE VI. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. =====

=== Section 130. ===

Except in the case of home rule cities and villages as provided in
this section the legislative assembly shall provide by general law for
the organization of municipal corporations, restricting their powers
as to levying taxes and assessments, borrowing money, and contracting
debts. Money raised by taxation, loan or assessment for any purpose
shall not be diverted to any other purpose except by authority of law.

The legislative assembly shall provide by law for the establishment of
home rule in cities and villages. It may authorize such cities and
villages to exercise all or a portion of any power or function which
the legislative assembly has power to devolve upon a non-home rule
city or village, not denied to such city or village by its own home
rule charter and which is not denied to all home rule cities and
villages by statute.  The legislative assembly shall not be restricted
in granting of home rule powers to home rule cities and villages by
section 183 of this Constitution.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1967/pdf/CAA.pdf#page=2|Amended Nov. 8, 1966]], effective Dec. 8, 1966 ]

===== ARTICLE VII. CORPORATIONS OTHER THAN MUNICIPAL. =====

=== Section 131. ===

No charter of incorporation shall be granted, changed or amended by
special law, except in the case of such municipal, charitable,
educational, penal or reformatory corporations as may be under the
control of the state; but the Legislative Assembly shall provide by
general laws for the organization of all corporations hereafter to be
created, and any such law, so passed, shall be subject to future
repeal or alteration.

=== Section 132. ===

All existing charters or grants of special or exclusive privileges,
under which a bona fide organization shall not have taken place and
business been commenced in good faith at the time this Constitution
takes effect, shall thereafter have no validity.

=== Section 133. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall not remit the forfeiture of the charter
to any corporation now existing, nor alter or amend the same, nor pass
any other general of special law for the benefit of such corporation,
except upon the condition that such corporation shall thereafter hold
its charter subject to the provisions of this constitution.

=== Section 134. ===

The exercise of the right of eminent domain shall never be abridged,
or so construed as to prevent the Legislative Assembly from taking the
property and franchises of incorporated companies and subjecting them
to public use, the same as the property of individuals; and the
exercise of the police power of this State shall never be abridged, or
so construed as to permit corporations to conduct their business in
such a manner as to infringe the equal rights of individuals or the
general well-being of the State.

=== Section 135. ===

In all elections for directors or managers of a corporation, each
member or shareholder may cast the whole number of his votes for one
candidate, or distribute them upon two or more candidates, as he may
prefer, provided, any co-operative corporation may adopt by-laws
limiting the voting power of its stockholders.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=514|Approved Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

=== Section 136. ===

No foreign corporation shall do business in this state without having
one or more places of business and an authorized agent or agents in
the same, upon whom process may be served.

=== Section 137. ===

No corporation shall engage in any business other than that expressly
authorized in its charter.

=== Section 138. ===

No corporation shall issue stock or bonds except for money, labor
done, or money or property actually received; and all fictitious
increase of stock or indebtedness shall be void. The stock and
indebtedness of corporations shall not be increased except in
pursuance of general law, nor without the consent of the persons
holding the larger amount in value of the stock first obtained.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1955/sl1955.pdf#page=646|Amended Jun. 29, 1954]], effective Jul. 29, 1954]

=== Section 139. ===

No law shall be passed by the Legislative Assembly granting the right
to construct and operate a street railroad, telegraph, telephone or
electric light plant within any city, town or incorporated village,
without requiring the consent of the local authorities having the
control of the street or highway proposed to be occupied for such
purposes.

=== Section 140. ===

Every railroad corporation organized and doing business in this state,
under the laws or authority thereof, shall have and maintain a public
office or place in the state for the transaction of its business,
where transfers of its stock shall be made and in which shall be kept
for public inspection, books in which shall be recorded the amount of
capital stock subscribed, and by whom, the names of the owners of its
stock and the amount owned by them respectively; the amount of stock
paid in and by whom, and the transfers of said stock; the amounts of
its assets and liabilities and the names and place of residence of its
officers. The directors of every railroad corporation shall annually
make a report, under oath, to the auditor of public accounts, or some
officer or officers to be designated by law, of all their acts and
doings, which report shall include such matters relating to railroads
as may be prescribed by law, and the Legislative Assembly shall pass
laws enforcing by suitable penalties the provisions of this section.
Providing the provisions of this section shall not be so construed as
to apply to foreign corporations.

=== Section 141. ===

No railroad corporation shall consolidate its stock, property or
franchises with any other railroad corporation owning a parallel or
competing line; and in no case shall any consolidation take place
except upon public notice given at least sixty days to all
stockholders, in such manner as may be provided by law. Any attempt to
evade the provisions of this section, by any railroad corporation, by
lease or otherwise, shall work a forfeiture of its charter.

=== Section 142. ===

Railways heretofore constructed or that may hereafter be constructed
in this state are hereby declared public highways, and all railroad,
sleeping car, telegraph, telephone and transportation companies of
passengers, intelligence and freight, are declared to be common
carriers and subject to legislative control; and the Legislative
Assembly shall have power to enact laws regulating and controlling the
rates of charges for the transportation of passengers, intelligence
and freight, as such common carriers from one point to another in this
State; Provided, That appeal may be had to courts of this State from
the rate so fixed; but the rates fixed by the Legislative Assembly or
Board of Railroad Commissioners shall remain in full force pending the
decision of the courts.

=== Section 143. ===

Any association or corporation organized for the purpose shall have
the right to construct and operate a railroad between any points
within this state, and to connect at the state line with the railroads
of other states. Every railroad company shall have the right with its
road to intersect, connect with or cross any other; and shall receive
and transport each other's passengers, tonnage and cars, loaded or
empty, without delay or discrimination.

=== Section 144. ===

The term "corporation," as used in this article, shall not be
understood as embracing municipalities or political subdivisions of
the State unless otherwise expressly stated, but it shall be held and
construed to include all associations and joint stock companies having
any of the powers or privileges of corporations not possessed by
individuals or partnerships.

=== Section 145. ===

If a general banking law be enacted, it shall provide for the registry
and countersigning by an officer of the State, of all notes or bills
designed for circulation, and that ample security to the full amount
thereof shall be deposited with the State Treasurer for the redemption
of such notes or bills.

=== Section 146. ===

Any combination between individuals, corporations, associations, or
either having for its object or effect the controlling of the price of
any product of the soil or any article of manufacture or commerce, or
the cost of exchange or transportation, is prohibited and hereby
declared unlawful and against public policy; and any and all
franchises heretofore granted or extended, or that may hereafter be
granted or extended in this state, when ever the owner or owners
thereof violate this article shall be deemed annulled and become void.

===== ARTICLE VIII. EDUCATION. =====

=== Section 147. ===

A high degree of intelligence, patriotism, integrity and morality on
the part of every voter in a government by the people being necessary
in order to insure the continuance of that government and the
prosperity and happiness of the people, the Legislative Assembly shall
make provision for the establishment and maintenance of a system of
public schools which shall be open to all children of the state of
North Dakota and free from sectarian control. This legislative
requirement shall be irrevocable without the consent of the United
States and the people of North Dakota.

=== Section 148. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall provide at their first session, after
the adoption of this Constitution, for a uniform system of free public
schools throughout the state; beginning with the primary and extending
through all grades up to and including the normal and collegiate
course.

=== Section 149. ===

In all schools instruction shall be given as far as practicable in
those branches of knowledge that tend to impress upon the mind the
vital importance of truthfulness, temperance, purity, public spirit,
and respect for honest labor of every kind.

=== Section 150. ===

A superintendent of schools for each county shall be elected every
four years beginning in the year 1964, whose qualifications, duties,
powers and compensation shall be fixed by law. Provided, however, a
superintendent of schools may be elected by and serve two or more
counties or parts of counties as provided by law.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1965/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=3|Amended Jun. 30, 1964]], effective Jul. 30, 1964]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1967/pdf/CAA.pdf#page=2|Amended Sep. 6, 1966]], effective Oct. 6, 1966 ]

=== Section 151. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall take such other steps as may be
necessary to prevent illiteracy, secure a reasonable degree of
uniformity in course of study, and to promote industrial, scientific
and agricultural improvement.

=== Section 152. ===

All colleges, universities and other educational institutions, for the
support of which lands have been granted to this state, or which are
supported by a public tax, shall remain under the absolute and
exclusive control of the State. No money raised for the support of the
public schools of the State shall be appropriated to or used for the
support of any sectarian school.

===== ARTICLE IX. SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LANDS. =====

=== Section 153. ===

All proceeds of the public lands that have hereto fore been, or may
hereafter be granted by the United States for the support of the
common schools in this state; all such percentum as may be granted by
the United States on the sale of public lands; the proceeds or
property that shall fall to the state by escheat; the proceeds of all
gifts and donations to the state for common schools, or not otherwise
appropriated by the terms of the gift, and all other property
otherwise acquired for common schools, shall be and remain a perpetual
fund for the maintenance of the common schools of the state. It shall
be deemed a trust fund, the principal of which shall forever remain
inviolate and may be increased but never diminished. The state shall
make good all losses thereof.

=== Section 154. ===

The interest and income of this fund together with the net proceeds of
all fines for violation of state laws, and all other sums which may be
added thereto by law, shall be faithfully used and applied each year
for the benefit of the common schools of the state, and shall be for
this purpose apportioned among and between all the several common
school corporations of the state in proportion to the number of
children in each of school age, as may be fixed by law; and no part of
the fund shall ever be diverted, even temporarily, from this purpose
or used for any other purpose whatever than the maintenance of common
schools for the equal benefit of all the people of the state ;
Provided, however, That if any portion of the interest or income
aforesaid be not expended during any year, said portion shall be added
to and become a part of the school fund.

=== Section 155. ===

After one year from the assembling of the first legislative assembly
the lands granted to the state from the United States for the support
of the common schools, may be sold upon the following conditions and
no other: No more than one-fourth of all such lands shall be sold
within the first five years after the same become salable by virtue of
this section.  No more than one-half of the remainder within ten years
after the same become salable as aforesaid.  The residue may be sold
at any time after the expiration of said ten years. The legislative
assembly shall provide for the sale of all school lands subject to the
provisions of this article. In all sales of lands subject to the
provisions of this article all minerals therein, including but not
limited to oil, gas, coal, cement materials, sodium sulphate, sand and
gravel, road material, building stone, chemical substances, metallic
ores, uranium ores, or colloidal or other clays, shall be reserved and
excepted to the state of North Dakota, except that leases may be
executed for the extraction and sale of such materials in such manner
and upon such terms as the legislative assembly may provide.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1961/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=3|Amended Jun. 28, 1960]], effective Jul. 28, 1960]

=== Section 156. ===

The Superintendent of Public Instruction, Governor, Attorney-General,
Secretary of State and State Auditor, shall constitute a Board of
Commissioners, which shall be denominated the "Board of University and
School Lands," and, subject to the provisions of this article and any
law that may be passed by the Legislative Assembly, said board shall
have control of the appraisement, sale, rental and disposal of all
school and university lands, and shall direct the investment of the
funds arising therefrom in the hands of the State Treasurer, under the
limitations in section 160 of this article.

=== Section 157. ===

The county superintendent of common schools, the chairman of the
county board, and the county auditor shall constitute boards of
appraisal and under the authority of the State Board of University and
School Lands shall appraise all school lands within their respective
counties which they may from time to time recommend for sale at their
actual value under the prescribed terms and shall first select and
designate for sale the most valuable lands.

=== Section 158. ===

No original grant school or institutional land shall he sold for less
than the fair market value thereof, and in no case for less than ten
dollars ($10.00) per acre. provided that when lands have been sold on
contract and the contract has been cancelled, such lands may be resold
without reappraisement by the board of appraisal.  The purchaser shall
pay twenty (20) per cent of the purchase price at the time the
contract is executed; thereafter annual payments shall be made of not
less than six (6) per cent of the original purchase price. An amount
equal to not less than three (3) per cent per annum of the unpaid
principal shall be credited to interest and the balance shall be
applied as payment on principal as credit on purchase price. The
purchaser may pay all or any installment or installments not yet due
to any interest paying date. If the purchaser so desires, he may pay
the entire balance due on his contract with interest to date of
payment at any time and he will then be entitled to proper conveyance.

All sales shall be held at the county seat of the county in which
the land to be sold is situated, and shall be at public auction and to
the highest bidder, and notice of such sale shall be published once
each week for a period of three weeks prior to the day of sale in
a legal newspaper published nearest the land and in the newspaper
designated for the publication of the official proceedings and legal
notices within the county in which said land is situated.

No grant or patent for such lands shall issue until payment is
made for the same; provided that the land contracted to be sold by
the State shall be subject to taxation from the date of the contract.
In case the taxes assessed against any of said lands for any year
remain unpaid until the first Monday in October of the following
year, the contract of sale for such land shall, if the Board of University
and School Lands so determine, by it, be declared null and void.
No contract of sale heretofore made under the provisions of said
Section 158 of the Constitution as then providing shall be affected by
this amendment, except prepayment of principal may be made as
herein provided.

Any of said lands that may be required for townsite purposes, school
house sites, church sites, cemetery sites, sites for other educational
or charitable institutions, public parks, air plane landing fields,
fair grounds, public highways, railroad right-of-way, or other
railroad uses and purposes, reservoirs for the storage of water for
irrigation, irrigation canals, and ditches, drainage ditches, or for
any of the purposes for which private lands may be taken under the
right of eminent domain under the Constitution and Laws of this state,
may be sold under the provisions of this Article, and shall be paid
for in full at the time of sale, or at any time thereafter as herein
provided. Any of said lands and any other lands controlled by the
Board of University and School Lands, may, with the approval of said
Board, be exchanged for lands of the United States, the State of North
Dakota or any county or municipality thereof as the Legislature may
provide, and the lands so acquired shall be subject to the trust to
which the lands exchanged therefor were subject, and the State shall
reserve all mineral and water power rights in lands so transferred.

When any of said lands have been heretofore or may be hereafter
sold on contract, and the purchaser or his heirs or assigns is unable
to pay in full for the land purchased within twenty years after the
date of purchase and such contract is in default and subject to being
declared null and void as by law provided, the Board of University
and School Lands may, after declaring such contract null and void,
resell the land described in such contract to such purchaser, his
heirs or assigns, for the amount of the unpaid principal, together
with interest thereon reckoned to the date of such resale at the rate
of not less than three (3%) per cent, but in no case shall the resale
price he more than the original sale price; such contract of resale
shall be upon the terms herein provided, provided this seetion shall
be deemed self-executing insofar as the provisions for resale herein
made are concerned.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1907/sl1907.pdf#page=482|Approved]] and [[https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Abstracts%20by%20Year/1900%20through%201908%20Statewide%20Election%20Results/1908/General%20Election%2011-03-1908.pdf|ratified]] Nov. 3, 1908, effective Dec. 3, 1908 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1909/sl1909.pdf#page=360|Amended Nov. 8, 1910]], effective Dec. 8, 1910.]

[ Amended Nov. 5, 1912, effective Dec. 5, 1912.]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1939/sl1939.pdf#page=510|Amended Jun. 28, 1938]], effective Jul. 28, 1938]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1945/sl1945.pdf#page=432|Approved Jun. 27, 1944]], effective Jul. 27, 1944]

=== Section 159. ===

All land, money or other property donated, granted or received from
the United States or any other source for a University, School of
Mines, Reform School, Agricultural College, Deaf and Dumb Asylum,
Normal School or other educational or charitable institution or
purpose, and the proceeds of all such lands and other property so
received from any source, shall be and remain perpetual funds, the
interest and income of which together with the rents of all such land
as may remain unsold shall be inviolably appropriated and applied to
the specific objects of the original grants or gifts. The principal of
every such fund may be increased but shall never be diminished, and
the interest and income only shall be used. Every such fund shall be
deemed a trust fund held by the state, and the state shall make good
all losses thereof.

=== Section 160. ===

All lands mentioned in the preceding section shall be appraised and
sold in the same manner and under the same limitations and subject to
all the conditions as to price and sale as provided above for the
appraisal and sale of lands for the benefit of common schools; but a
distinct and separate account shall be kept by the proper officers of
each of said funds; Provided, That the limitations as to the time in
which school land may be sold shall apply only to lands granted for
the support of common schools.

=== Section 161. ===

The legislative assembly shall have authority to provide by law for
the leasing of lands granted to the state for educational and
charitable purposes; but no such law shall authorize the leasing of
said lands for a longer period than five years. Said lands shall only
be leased for pasturage and meadow purposes and at a public auction
after notice as heretofore provided in case of sale; provided, that
all of said school lands now under cultivation may be leased, at the
discretion and under the control of the Board of University and School
Lands, for other than pasturage and meadow purposes until sold. All
rents shall be paid in advance. 

Provided, further, that coal lands may also be leased for agricultural
cultivation upon such terms and conditions and for such a period, not
exceeding five years, as the legislature may provide. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=268|Amended Mar. 16, 1920]], effective Apr. 15, 1920]

=== Section 162. ===

The moneys of the permanent school fund and other educational funds
shall be invested only in bonds of school corporations or of counties,
or of townships, or of municipalities within the state, bonds issued
for the construction of drains under authority of law within the
state, bonds of the United States, bonds of the state of North Dakota,
or on first mortgages on farm lands in this state to the extent such
mortgages are guaranteed or insured by the United States or any
instrumentality thereof, or if not so guaranteed or insured, not
exceeding in amount one-half of the actual value of any subdivision on
which the same may be loaned such value to be determined by the board
of appraisal of school lands.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1907/sl1907.pdf#page=481|Approved]] and [[https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Abstracts%20by%20Year/1900%20through%201908%20Statewide%20Election%20Results/1908/General%20Election%2011-03-1908.pdf|ratified]] Nov. 3, 1908, effective Dec. 3, 1908 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=271|Amended Nov. 2, 1920]], effective Dec. 2, 1920 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1953/sl1953.pdf#page=606|Amended Jun. 24, 1952]], effective Jul. 24, 1952]

=== Section 163. ===

No law shall ever be passed by the Legislative Assembly granting to
any person, corporation or association any privileges by reason of the
occupation, cultivation or improvement of any public lands by said
person, corporation or association subsequent to the survey thereof by
the general government. No claim for the occupation, cultivation or
improvement of any public lands shall ever be recognized, nor shall
such occupation, cultivation or improvement of any public lands ever
be used to diminish either directly or indirectly the purchase price
of said lands.

=== Section 164. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall have authority to provide by law for
the sale or disposal of all public lands that have been heretofore, or
may hereafter be granted by the United States to the state for
purposes other than set forth and named in sections 153 and 159 of
this article. And the Legislative Assembly in providing for the
appraisement, sale, rental and disposal of the same shall not be
subject to the provisions and limitations of this article.

=== Section 165. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall pass suitable laws for the safekeeping,
transfer and disbursement of the state school funds; and shall require
all officers charged with the same or the safe keeping thereof to give
ample bonds for all moneys and funds received by them, and if any of
said officers shall convert to his own use in any manner or form, or
shall loan with or without interest or shall deposit in his own name,
or otherwise than in the name of the state of North Dakota or shall
deposit in any banks or with any person or persons, or exchange for
other funds or property any portion of the school funds aforesaid or
purposely allow any portion of the same to remain in his own hands
uninvested except in the manner prescribed by law, every such act
shall constitute an embezzlement of so much of the aforesaid school
funds as shall be thus taken or loaned, or deposited, or exchanged, or
withheld and shall be a felony; and any failure to pay over, produce
or account for, the state school funds or any part of the same
entrusted to any such officer, as by law required or demanded, shall
be held and be taken to be prima facie evidence of such embezzlement.

===== ARTICLE X. COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION. =====

=== Section 166. ===

The several counties in the Territory of Dakota lying north of the
Seventh Standard Parallel, as they now exist, are hereby declared to
be counties of the State of North Dakota.

=== Section 167. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall provide by general law for organizing
new counties, locating county seats thereof temporarily, and changing
the county lines; but no new county shall be organized, nor shall any
organized county be so reduced as to include an area of less than
twenty-four congressional townships, and containing a population of
less than five thousand bona fide inhabitants.  And in the
organization of new counties and in changing the lines of organized
counties and boundaries of congressional townships the natural
boundaries shall be observed as nearly as may be.

The Legislative Assembly shall also provide by general law for the
consolidation of counties, and for their dissolution, but no counties
shall be consolidated without a fifty-five per cent vote of those
voting on the question in each county affected, and no county shall be
dissolved without a fifty-five per cent vote of the electors of such
county voting on such question.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1941/sl1941.pdf#page=602|Amended Jun. 25, 1940]], effective Jul. 25, 1940 ]

=== Section 168. ===

All changes in the boundaries of organized counties before taking
effect shall be submitted to the electors of the county or counties,
to be effected thereby at a general election and be adopted by a
majority of all the legal votes cast in each county at such election;
and in case any portion of an organized county is stricken off and
added to another, the county to which such portion is added shall
assume and be holden for an equitable proportion of the indebtedness
of the county so reduced.

=== Section 169. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall provide by general law for changing
county seats in organized counties, but it shall have no power to
remove the county seat of any organized county.

=== Section 170. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall provide by law for optional forms of
government for counties, which forms shall be, in addition to that
form provided by Sections 172 and 173 of the Constitution, and which
forms shall specify the number, functions and manner of selection of
county officers, but no such optional form of government shall become
operative in any county until submitted to the electors thereof at a
special election or a general election, and approved by fifty-five per
cent of those voting thereon. The manner of exercising the powers
herein granted shall be by general laws, but such laws shall provide
that the initiative for the submission of the question of the adoption
of one of the optional forms of county government may be had either by
a vote of not less than two-thirds of the county legislative body or
upon petition of electors of the county equal to at least fifteen per
centum of the total number of voters of the county who voted for
Governor at the last general election.  Among the optional forms of
county government to be provided by the Legislative Assembly under
this provision, at least one form shall provide for a county manager.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1941/sl1941.pdf#page=602|Amended Jun. 25, 1940]], effective Jul. 25, 1940 ]

=== Section 171. ===

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1941/sl1941.pdf#page=602|Repealed Jun. 25, 1940]], effective Jul. 25, 1940 ]

=== Section 172. ===

Until one of the optional forms of county government provided by the
Legislative Assembly under Section I70 of the Constitution, as
amended, be adopted by any county, the fiscal affairs of said county
shall be transacted by a board of county commissioners.  Said board
shall consist of not less than three and not more than five members
whose terms of office shall be prescribed by law. Said board shall
hold sessions for the transaction of county business, as shall be
provided by law.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1941/sl1941.pdf#page=602|Amended Jun. 25, 1940]], effective Jul. 25, 1940 ]

=== Section 173. ===

There shall be elected in each county, organized under the provisions
of section 172 of the Constitution of the state of North Dakota, a
register of deeds, county auditor, treasurer, sheriff, state's
attorney, county judge and a clerk of the district court, who shall be
electors in the county in which they are elected and who shall hold
their office for a term of four years and until their successors are
elected and qualified; provided in counties having fifteen thousand
population or less, the county judge shall also be clerk of the
district court; provided further that in counties having population of
six thousand or less the register of deeds shall also be clerk of the
district court and county judge. This amendment shall be construed as
applying to the officers elected at the general election in 1962. This
amendment shall be self-executing, but legislation may be enacted to
facilitate its operation.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1925/sl1925.pdf#page=341|Amended Mar. 18, 1924]], effective Apr. 17, 1924 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1935/sl1935.pdf#page=509|Amended Sep. 22, 1933]], effective Oct. 22, 1933]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1941/sl1941.pdf#page=602|Amended Jun. 25, 1940]], effective Jul. 25, 1940 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1953/sl1953.pdf#page=606|Amended Jun. 24, 1952]], effective Jul. 24, 1952]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1957/pdf/CAA.pdf#page=3|Approved Jun. 26, 1956]], effective Jul. 26, 1956]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1963/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=4|Amended Nov. 6, 1962]], effective Dec. 6, 1962]

===== ARTICLE XI. REVENUE AND TAXATION. =====

=== Section 174. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall provide for raising revenue sufficient
to defray the expenses of the state for each year, not to exceed in
any one year four (4) mills on the dollar of the assessed valuation of
all taxable property in the state, to be ascertained by the last
assessment made for state and county purposes, and also a sufficient
sum to pay the interest on the state debt.

=== Section 175. ===

No tax shall be levied except in pursuance of law, and every law
imposing a tax shall state distinctly the object of the same, to which
only it shall be applied. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other
provisions of this Constitution, the legislative assembly, in any law
imposing a tax or taxes on, in respect to or measured by income, may
define the income on, in respect to or by which such tax or taxes are
imposed or measured or may define the tax itself by reference to any
provision of the laws of the United States as the same may be or
become effective at any time or from time to time, and may prescribe
exceptions or modifications to any such provision.

[ [[ https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1967/pdf/CAA.pdf|Amended Sep. 6, 1966]], effective Oct. 6, 1966 ]

=== Section 176. ===

Taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of property; including
franchises within the territorial limits of the authority levying the
tax. The legislature may by law exempt any or all classes of personal
property from taxation and within the meaning of this section,
fixtures, buildings and improvements of every character, whatsoever,
upon land shall be deemed personal property. The property of the
United States and of the state, county and municipal corporations and
property used exclusively for school, religious, cemetery, charitable
or other public purposes shall be exempt from taxation.  Except as
restricted by this Article, the legislature may provide for raising
revenue and fixing the situs of all property for the purpose of
taxation.  Provided that all taxes and exemptions in force when this
amendment is adopted shall remain in force until otherwise provided by
statute.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1903/sl1903.pdf#page=291|Amended Nov. 8, 1904.]], effective Dec. 8, 1904 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1915/sl1915.pdf#page=433|Amended Nov. 3, 1914]], effective Dec. 3, 1914]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=519|Amended Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

=== Section 177. ===

The legislature may by law provide for the levy and collection of an
acreage tax on lands within the state in addition to the limitations
specified in Section 174 in Article 11 of the Constitution. The
proceeds of such tax shall be used to indemnify the owners of growing
crops against damages by hail, provided that lands used exclusively
for public roads, rights of way of common carriers, mining,
manufacturing or pasturage may be exempt from such tax.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=519|Amended Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

=== Section 178. ===

The power of taxation shall never be surrendered or suspended by any
grant or contract to which the State or any county or other municipal
corporation shall be a party.

=== Section 179. ===

All taxable property except as hereinafter in this section provided,
shall be assessed in the county, city, township, village or district
in which it is situated, in the manner prescribed by law. The
property, including franchises of all railroads operated in this
state, and of all express companies, freight line companies, dining
car companies, sleeping car companies, car equipment companies, or
private car line companies, telegraph or telephone companies, the
property of any person, firm or corporation used for the purpose of
furnishing electric light, heat or power, or in distributing the same
for public use, and the property of any other corporation, firm or
individual now or hereafter operating in this state, and used directly
or indirectly in the carrying of persons, property or messages, shall
be assessed by the State Board of Equalization in a manner prescribed
by such state board or commission as may be provided by law. But
should any railroad allow any portion of its railway to be used for
any purpose other than the operation of a railroad thereon, such
portion of its railway, while so used shall be assessed in a manner
provided for the assessment of other real property.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1899/sl1899.pdf#page=257|Amended Nov. 6, 1900]], effective Dec. 6, 1900 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1915/sl1915.pdf#page=433|Amended Nov. 3, 1914]], effective Dec. 3, 1914]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1929/sl1929.pdf#page=416|Amended Mar. 20, 1928]], effective Apr. 20, 1928]

=== Section 180. ===

The Legislative Assembly may provide for the levy, collection and
disposition of an annual poll tax of not more than one dollar and
fifty cents ($1.50) on every male inhabitant of this state over
twenty-one and under fifty years of age, except paupers, idiots,
insane persons and Indians not taxed.

=== Section 181. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall pass all laws necessary to carry out
the provisions of this article.

===== ARTICLE XII. Public Debt and Public Works. =====

=== Section 182. ===

The State may issue or guarantee the payment of bonds, provided that
all bonds in excess of two million dollars shall be secured by first
mortgage upon real estate in amounts not to exceed one-half of its
value; or upon real and personal property of state owned utilities,
enterprises or industries, in amounts not exceeding its value, and
provided further, that the state shall not issue or guarantee bonds
upon property of state owned utilities, enterprises or industries in
excess of ten million dollars.

No further indebtedness shall be incurred by the state unless
evidenced by a bond-issue, which shall be authorized by law for
certain purposes, to be clearly defined. Every law authorizing a bond
issue shall provide for levying an annual tax, or make other
provision, sufficient to pay the interest semi-annually, and the
principal within thirty years from the date of the issue of such
bonds, and shall specially appropriate the proceeds of such tax, or of
such other provisions to the payment of said principal and interest,
and such appropriation shall not be repealed nor the tax or other
provisions discontinued until such debt, both principal and interest,
shall have been paid. No debt in excess of the limit named herein
shall be incurred except for the purpose of repelling invasion,
suppressing insurrection, defending the state in time of war or to
provide for the public defense in case of threatened hostilities.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=519|Amended Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1925/sl1925.pdf#page=341|Approved Mar. 18, 1924]], effective Apr. 17, 1924 ]

=== Section 183. ===

The debt of any county, township, city, town, school district or any
other political subdivision, shall never exceed the per centum upon
the assessed value of the taxable property therein; provided that any
incorporated city may, by a two-thirds vote, increase such
indebtedness three per centum on such assessed value beyond said five
per centum limit, and a school district, by a majority vote may
increase such indebtedness five per cent on such assessed value beyond
said five per centum limit; provided also that any county or city by a
majority vote may issue bonds upon any revenue producing utility owned
by such county or city, or for the purchasing or acquiring the same or
building or establishment thereof, in amounts not exceeding the
physical value of such utility, industry or enterprise.

In estimating the indebtedness which a city, county, township, school
district or any other political subdivision may incur, the entire
amount, exclusive of the bonds upon said revenue producing utilities,
whether contracted prior or subsequent to the adoption of this
constitution, shall be included; provided further that any
incorporated city may become indebted in any amount not exceeding four
per centum of such assessed value without regard to the existing
indebtedness of such city for the purpose of constructing or
purchasing waterworks for furnishing a supply of water to the
inhabitants of such city, or for the purpose of constructing sewers,
and for no other purpose whatever. All bonds and obligations in excess
of the amount of indebtedness permitted by this constitution, given by
any city, county, township, town, school district, or any other
political subdivision shall be void. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=268|Amended Mar. 16, 1920]], effective Apr. 15, 1920]

=== Section 184. ===

Any city, county, township, town, school district or any other
political subdivision incurring indebtedness shall, at or before the
time of so doing, provide for the collection of an annual tax
sufficient to pay the interest and also the principal thereof when
due, and all laws or ordinances providing for the payment of the
interest or principal of any debt shall be irrepealable until such
debt be paid.

=== Section 185. ===

The state, any county or city may make internal improvements and may
engage in any industry, enterprise or business not prohibited by
Article 20 of the Constitution, but neither the state nor any
political subdivision thereof shall otherwise loan or give its credit
or make donations to or in aid of any individual, association or
corporation except for reasonable support of the poor, nor subscribe
to or become the owner of capital stock in any association or
corporation. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1915/sl1915.pdf#page=433|Amended Nov. 3, 1914]], effective Dec. 3, 1914]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=520|Amended Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

=== Section 186. ===

1. All public moneys, from whatever source derived, shall be paid over
monthly by the public official, employee, agent, director, manager,
board, bureau, or institution of the State receiving the same, to the
State Treasurer, and deposited by him to the credit of the State, and
shall be paid out and disbursed only pursuant to appropriation first
made by the Legislature; provided, however, that there is hereby
appropriated the necessary funds required in the financial
transactions of the Bank of North Dakota, and required for the payment
of losses, duly approved, payable from the State Hail Insurance Fund,
State Bonding Fund, and State Fire and Tornado Fund, and required for
the payment of compensation to injured employees or death claims, duly
approved, payable from the Workmen's Compensation Fund, and required
for authorized investments made by the Board of University and School
Lands, and required for the financial operations of the State Mill and
Elevator Association, and required for the payment of interest and
principal of bonds and other fixed obligations of the State, and
required for payments required by law to be paid to beneficiaries of
the Teachers' Insurance and Retirement Fund, and required for refunds
made under the provisions of the Retail Sales Tax Act, and the State
Income Tax Law, and the State Gasoline Tax Law, and the Estate and
Succession Tax Law, and the income of any State institution derived
from permanent trust funds, and the funds allocated under the law to
the State Highway Department and the various counties for the
construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of public roads.

This constitutional amendment shall not be construed to apply to fees
and moneys received in connection with the licensing and organization
of physicians and surgeons, pharmacists, dentists, osteopaths,
optometrists, embalmers, barbers, lawyers, veterinarians, nurses,
chiropractors, accountants, architects, hairdressers, Chiropodists,
and other similarly organized, licensed trades and professions; and
this constitutional amendment shall not be construed to amend or
repeal existing laws or acts amendatory thereof concerning such fees
and moneys.

2. No bills, claims, accounts, or demands against the State or any
county or other political subdivision shall be audited, allowed, or
paid until a full itemized statement in writing shall be filed with
the officer or officers whose duty it may be to audit the same, and
then only upon warrant drawn upon the Treasurer of such funds by the
proper officer or officers.

3. This amendment shall become effective on July 1, 1939.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1939/sl1939.pdf#page=512|Approved Jun. 28, 1938]], effective Jul. 28, 1938]

=== Section 187. ===

No bond or evidence of indebtedness of the state shall be valid unless
the same shall have indorsed thereon a certificate, signed by the
Auditor and Secretary of State showing that the bond or evidence of
debt is issued pursuant to and is within the debt limit. No bond or
evidence of debt of any county, or bond of any township or other
political subdivision shall be valid unless the same have endorsed
thereon a certificate signed by the county auditor, or other officer
authorized by law to sign such certificate, stating that said bond, or
evidence of debt, is issued pursuant to law and is within the debt
limit.

===== ARTICLE XIII. MILITIA. =====

=== Section 188. ===

The milita of this State shall consist of all able- bodied male
persons residing in the state, between the ages of eighteen and
forty-five years, except such as may be exempted by the laws of the
United States or of this State. Persons whose religions tenets or
conscientious scruples forbid them to bear arms shall not be compelled
to do so in times of peace, but shall pay an equivalent for a personal
service.

=== Section 189. ===

The milita shall be enrolled, organized, uniformed, armed and
disciplined in such a manner as shall be provided by law, not
incompatible with the Constitution or laws of the United States.

=== Section 190. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall provide by law for the establishment of
volunteer organizations of the several arms of the service, which
shall be classed as active militia; and no other organized body of
armed men shall be permitted to perform military duty in this State
except the army of the United States without the proclamation of the
Governor of the State.

=== Section 191. ===

All militia officers shall be appointed or elected in such a manner as
the Legislative Assembly shall provide.

=== Section 192. ===

The commissioned officers of the militia shall be commissioned by the
Governor, and no commissioned officer shall be removed from office
except by sentence of court martial, pursuant to law.

=== Section 193. ===

The militia forces shall in all cases, except treason, felony or
breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance
at musters, parades and elections of officers, and in going to and
returning from the same.

===== ARTICLE XIV. IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE. =====

=== Section 194. ===

The House of Representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment.
The concurrence of a majority of all members elected shall be
necessary to an impeachment.

=== Section 195. ===

All impeachments shall be tried by the senate. When sitting for that
purposes the senators shall be upon oath or affirmation to do justice
according to the law and evidence. No person shall be convicted
without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members elected. When the
Governor or Lieutenant Governor is on trial, the presiding judge of
the supreme court shall preside.

=== Section 196. ===

The Governor and other state and judicial officers, except county
judges, justices of the peace, and police magistrates, shall be liable
to impeachment for habitual drunkenness, crimes, corrupt conduct, or
malfeasance or misdemeanor in office, but judgment in such cases shall
not extend further than removal from office and disqualification to
hold any office of trust, or profit under the state. The person
accused, whether convicted or acquitted, shall nevertheless be liable
to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.

=== Section 197. ===

All officers not liable to impeachment shall be subject to removal for
misconduct, malfeasance, crime or misdemeanor in office, or for
habitual drunkenness or gross incompetency in such manner as may be
provided by law.

=== Section 198. ===

No officer shall exercise the duties of his office after he shall have
been impeached and before his acquittal.

=== Section 199. ===

On trial of impeachment against the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor
shall not act as a member of the court.

=== Section 200. ===

No person shall be tried on impeachment before he shall have been
served with a copy thereof, at least twenty days previous to the day
set for trial.

=== Section 201. ===

No person shall be liable to impeachment twice for the same offense.

===== ARTICLE XV. FUTURE AMENDMENTS. =====

=== Section 202. ===

Any amendment or amendments to the constitution of the state may be
proposed in either house of the legislature, and if the same shall be
agreed to upon roll call by a majority of the members elected to each
house, it shall be submitted to the electors and if a majority of the
votes cast thereon are affirmative, such amendment shall be a part of
this constitution. 

Amendments to the constitution of the state may also be proposed by an
initiative petition of the electors; such petition shall be signed by
twenty thousand electors at large and shall be filed with the
Secretary of State at least one hundred twenty days prior to the
election at which they are to be voted upon, and any amendment, or
amendments so proposed, shall be submitted to the electors and become
a part of the constitution, if a majority of the votes cast thereon
are affirmative. All provisions of the constitution relating to the
submission and adoption of measures by initiative petition, and on
referendum petition shall apply to the submission and adoption of
amendments to the constitution of the state. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1915/sl1915.pdf#page=431|Amended Nov. 3, 1914]], effective Dec. 3, 1914]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=518|Amended Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

===== ARTICLE XVI. COMPACT WITH THE UNITED STATES. =====

The following article shall be irrevocable without the consent of the
United States and the people of this State.

=== Section 203. ===

First. Perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured, and
no inhabitant of this state shall ever be molested in person or
property on account of his or her mode of religious worship.

Second. The people inhabiting this state do agree and declare that
they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public
lands lying within the boundaries thereof, and to all lands lying
within said limits owned or held by any Indian or Indian tribes, and
that until the title thereto shall have been extinguished by the
United States, the same shall be and remain subject to the disposition
of the United States, and that said Indian lands shall remain under
the absolute jurisdiction and control of the Congress of the United
States, provided, however, that the Legislative Assembly of the state
of North Dakota may, upon such terms and conditions as it shall adopt,
provide for the acceptance of such jurisdiction as may be delegated to
the state by act of Congress; that the lands belonging to citizens of
the United States residing without this state shall never be taxed at
a higher rate than the lands belonging to residents of this state;
that no taxes shall be imposed by this state on lands or property
therein, belonging to, or which may hereafter be purchased by the
United States or reserved for its use.  But nothing in this article
shall preclude this state from taxing as other lands are taxed, any
lands owned or held by any Indian who has severed his tribal
relations, and has obtained from the United States or from any person,
a title thereto, by patent or other grant, save and except such lands
as have been or may be granted to any Indian or Indians under any acts
of Congress containing a provision exempting the lands thus granted
from taxation, which last mentioned lands shall be exempt from
taxation so long, and to such an extent, as is, or may be provided in
the act of Congress granting the same.

Third. In order that payment of the debts and liabilities contracted
or incurred by and in behalf of the Territory of Dakota may be justly
and equitably provided for and made, and in pursuance of the
requirements of an act of congress approved February 22, 1889,
entitled "An act to provide for the division of Dakota into two states
and to enable the people of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and
Washington to form constitutions and state governments and to be
admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original states,
and to make donations of public lands to such states," the states of
North Dakota and South Dakota, by proceedings of a joint commission,
duly appointed under said act, the sessions whereof were held at
Bismarck in said State of North Dakota, from July 16, 1889, to July
31, 1889, inclusive, have agreed to the following adjustment of the
amounts of the debts and liabilities of the Territory of Dakota which
shall be assumed and paid by each of the States of North Dakota and
South Dakota, respectively, to-wit: This agreement shall take effect
and be in force from and after the admission into the Union, as one of
the United States of America, of either the State of North Dakota or
the State of South Dakota.

The words "State of North Dakota" wherever used in this agreement,
shall be taken to mean the Territory of North Dakota in case the State
of South Dakota shall be admitted into the Union prior to the
admission into the Union of the State of North Dakota; and the words
"State of South Dakota," wherever used in this agreement, shall be
taken to mean the Territory of South Dakota in case the State of North
Dakota shall be admitted into the Union prior to the admission into
the Union of the State of South Dakota.

The said State of North Dakota shall assume and pay all bonds issued
by the Territory of Dakota to provide funds for the purchase,
construction, repairs or maintenance of such public institutions,
grounds or buildings as are located within the boundaries of North
Dakota, and shall pay all warrants issued under and by virtue of that
certain Act of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Dakota,
approved March 8, 1889, entitled "An Act to provide for the refunding
of outstanding warrants drawn on the Capitol Building Fund."

The said State of South Dakota shall assume and pay all bonds issued
by the Territory or Dakota to provide funds for the purchase,
construction, repairs or maintenance of such public institutions,
grounds or buildings as are located within the boundaries of South
Dakota.

That is to say: The State of North Dakota shall assume and pay the
following bonds and indebtedness, to-wit:

Bonds issued on account of the Hospital for Insane at Jamestown, North
Dakota, the face aggregate of which is $266,000; also bonds issued on
account of the North Dakota University at Grand Forks, North Dakota,
the face aggregate of which is $96,700; also, bonds issued on account
of the Penitentiary at Bismarck, North Dakota, the face aggregate of
which is $93,600; also, refunding Capitol Building warrants dated
April 1, 1889, $83,507.46.

And the State of South Dakota shall assume and pay the following bonds
and indebtedness, to-wit:

Bonds issued on account of the Hospital for the Insane at Yankton,
South Dakota, the face aggregate of which is $210,000; also, bonds
issued on account of the School for Deaf Mutes, at Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, the face aggregate of which is $51,000; also, bonds issued on
account of the University at Vermillion, South Dakota, the face
aggregate of which is $75,000; also, bonds issued on account of the
Penitentiary at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the face aggregate of which
is $94,300; also, bonds issued on account of the Agricultural College
at Brookings, South Dakota, the face aggregate of which is $97,500;
also, bonds issued on account of the Normal School at Madison, South
Dakota, the face aggregate of which is $49,400; also, bonds issued on
account of the School of Mines at Rapid City, South Dakota, the face
aggregate of which is $33,000; also, bonds issued on account of the
Reform School at Plankinton, South Dakota, the face aggregate of which
is $30,000; also, bonds issued on account of the Normal School at
Spearfish, South Dakota, the face aggregate of which is $25,000; also
bonds issued on account of the Soldiers' Home at Hot Springs, South
Dakota, the face aggregate of which is $45,000.

The States of North Dakota and South Dakota shall pay one- half each
of all liabilities now existing or hereafter and prior to the taking
effect of this agreement incurred, except those hereto fore or
hereafter incurred on account of public institutions, grounds or
buildings, except as otherwise herein specifically provided.

The State of South Dakota shall pay to the State of North Dakota
$46,500, on account of the excess of Territorial appropriations for
the permanent improvement of territorial institutions which under this
agreement will go to South Dakota, and in full of the undivided
one-half interest of North Dakota in the territorial library, and iu
full settlement of unbalanced accounts, and of all claims against the
territory, of whatever nature, legal or equitable, arising out of the
alleged erroneous or unlawful taxation of Northern Pacific Railroad
lands, and the payment of said amount shall discharge and exempt the
State of South Dakota from all liability for or on account of the
several matters herein before referred to; nor shall either state be
called upon to pay or answer to any portion of liability hereafter
arising or accruing on account of transactions heretofore had, which
liability would be a liability of the Territory of Dakota had such
territory remained in existence, and which liability shall grow out of
matters connected with any public institutions, grounds or buildings
of the territory situated or located within the boundaries of the
other state.

A final adjustment of accounts shall be made upon the following basis:
North Dakota shall be charged with all sums paid on account of the
public institutions, grounds or buildings located within its
boundaries on account of the current appropriations since March 9,
1889, and South Dakota shall be charged with all sums paid on account
of public institutions, grounds or buildings located within its
boundaries on the same account and during the same time. Each state
shall be charged with one-half of all other expenses of the
territorial government during the same time. All moneys paid into the
treasury during the period from March 8, 1889, to the time of taking
effect of this agreement by any county, municipality or person within
the limits of the proposed state of North Dakota, shall be credited to
the State of North Dakota; and all sums paid into said treasury within
the same time by any county, municipality or person within the limits
of the proposed State of South Dakota shall be credited to the State
of South Dakota; except that any and all taxes on gross earnings paid
into said treasury by railroad corporations, since the 8th day of
March, 1889, based upon earnings of years prior to 1888, under and by
virtue of the act of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of
Dakota, approved March 7, 1889, and entitled "An Act providing for the
levy and collection of taxes upon property of railroad companies in
this Territory," being Chapter 107 of the Session Laws of 1889, (that
is, the part of such sums going to the Territory) shall be equally
divided between the States of North Dakota and South Dakota; and all
taxes heretofore or here after paid into said treasury under and by
virtue of the act last mentioned, based on the gross earnings of the
year 1888, shall be distributed as already provided by law, except
that so much thereof as goes to the territorial treasury shall be
divided as fol lows: North Dakota shall have so much thereof as shall
be or has been paid by railroads within the limits of the proposed
State of North Dakota, and South Dakota so much thereof as shall be or
has been paid by railroads within the limits of the proposed State of
South Dakota; each state shall be credited also with all balances of
appropriations made by the Seventeenth Legislative Assembly of the
Territory of Dakota for the account of the public institutions,
grounds or buildings situated within its limits, remaining unexpended
on March 8, 1889. If there shall be any indebtedness except the
indebtedness represented by the bonds and refunding warrants
hereinbefore mentioned, each state shall at the time of such final
adjustment of accounts, assume its share of said indebtedness as
determined by the amount paid on account of the public institutions,
grounds or buildings of such state in excess of the receipts from
counties, municipalities, railroad corporations or persons within the
limits of said state, as provided in this article ; and if there
should be a surplus at the time of such final adjustment, each state
shall be entitled to the amounts received from counties,
municipalities, railroad corporations or persons within its limits
over and above the amount charged it. And the State of North Dakota
hereby obligates itself to pay such part of the debts and liabilities
of the Territory of Dakota as is declared by the foregoing agreement
to be its proportion thereof, the same as if such proportion had been
originally created by said State of North Dakota as its own debt or
liability.

[[[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1959/pdf/CAA.pdf|Amended Jun. 24, 1958]], effective Jul. 24, 1958]

=== Section 204. ===

Jurisdiction is ceded to the United States over the military
reservations of Fort Abraham Lincoln, Fort Buford, Fort Pembina and
Fort Totten, heretofore declared by the President of the United
States; Provided, Legal process, civil and criminal, of this state,
shall extend over such reservations in all cases in which exclusive
jurisdiction is not vested in the United States, or of crimes not
committed within the limits of such reservations.

=== Section 205. ===

The State of North Dakota hereby accepts the several grants of land
granted by the United States to the State of North Dakota by an act of
congress entitled "An act to provide for the division of Dakota into
two states, and to enable the people of North Dakota, South Dakota,
Montana and Washington to form Constitutions and state governments,
and to be admitted into the Union on equal footing with the original
states, and to make donations of public lands to such states," under
the conditions and limitations therein mentioned; reserving the right
however to apply to congress for modifications of said conditions and
limitations in case of necessity.

===== ARTICLE XVII. MISCELLANEOUS. =====

=== Section 206. ===

The name of this state shall be "North Dakota." The State of North
Dakota shall consist of all the territory included within the
following boundaries, to-wit: Commencing at a point in the main
channel of the Red River of the north, where the forty-ninth degree of
north latitude crosses the same; thence south up the main channel of
the same and along the boundary line of the State of Minnesota to a
point where the Seventh Standard parallel intersects the same; thence
west along said Seventh Standard parallel produced due west to a point
where it intersects the twenty-seventh meridian of longitude west from
Washington; thence north on said meridian to a point where it
intersects the forty-ninth degree of north latitude; thence east along
said line to place of beginning.

=== Section 207. ===

The following described seal is hereby declared to be and hereby
constituted the Great Seal of the State of North Dakota, to-wit: A
tree in the open field, the trunk of which is surrounded by three
bundles of wheat; on the right a plow, anvil and sledge; on the left a
bow crossed with three arrows, and an Indian on horseback pursuing a
buffalo towards the setting sun; the foliage of the tree arched by a
half circle of forty two stars, surrounded by the motto "Liberty and
Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable;" the words "Great Seal"
at the top; the words "State of North Dakota" at the bottom ; "October
1st" on on the left and "1889" on the right. The seal to be two and
one-half inches in diameter.

=== Section 208. ===

The right of the debtor to enjoy the comforts and necessaries of life
shall be recognized by wholesome laws, exempting from forced sale to
all heads of families a homestead the value of which shall be limited
and defined by law, and a reasonable amount of personal property; the
kind and value shall be fixed by law. This section shall not be
construed to prevent liens against the homestead for labor done and
materials furnished in the improvement thereof, in such manner as may
be prescribed by law.

=== Section 209. ===

The labor of children under twelve years of age, shall be prohibited
in mines, factories and workshops in this state.

=== Section 210. ===

All flowing streams and natural water courses shall forever remain the
property of the State for mining, irrigating and manufacturing
purposes.

=== Section 211. ===

Members of the Legislative Assembly and judicial department except
such inferior officers as may be by law exempted shall, before they
enter on the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe
the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm as
the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United
States and the Constitution of the State of North Dakota; and that I
will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of according to the
best of my ability, so help me God," (if an oath), (under pains and
penalties of perjury), if an affirmation, and no other oath,
declaration, or test shall be required as a qualification for any
office or public trust.

=== Section 212. ===

The exchange of "black lists" between corporations shall be
prohibited.

=== Section 213. ===

The real and personal property of any woman in this State, acquired
before marriage, and all property to which she may after marriage
become in any manner rightfully entitled, shall be her separate
property and shall not be liable for the debts of her husband.

===== ARTICLE XVIII. CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE APPORTIONMENT.
=====

=== Section 214. ===

Until otherwise provided by law, the member of the House of
Representatives of the United States apportioned to this State, shall
be elected at large.

Until otherwise provided by law, the Senatorial and Representative
Districts shall be formed, and the senators and the representatives
shall be apportioned as follows:

The First District shall consist of the townships of Walhalla, St.
Joseph, Neche, Pembina, Bathgate, Carlisle, Joliet, Midland, Lincoln
and Drayton, in the county of Pembina, and be entitled to one senator
and two representatives.

The Second District shall consist of the townships of St. Thomas,
Hamilton, Cavalier, Akra, Beaulien, Thingvalla, Gardar, Park, Crystal,
Elora and Lodema, in the county of Pembina, and be entitled to one
senator and two representatives.

The Third District shall consist of the townships of Perth, Latona,
Adams, Silvesta, Cleveland, Morton, Vesta, Tiber, Medford, Vernon,
Golden, Lampton, Eden, Rushford, Kensington, Dundee, Ops, Prairie
Center, Fertile, Park River and Glenwood, in the county of Walsh, and
be entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Fourth District shall consist of the townships of Forest River,
Walsh Center, Grafton, Farmington, Ardock, Village of Ardock,
Harrison, City of Grafton, Oakwood, Martin, Walshville, Pulaski,
Ackton, Minto and St. Andrews, in the county of Walsh, and be entitled
to one senator and three representatives.

The Fifth District shall consist of the townships of Gilby, Johnstown,
Strabane, Wheatfield, Hegton, Arvilla, Avon, Northwood, Lind, Grace,
Larimore, and the city of Larimore, Elm Grove, Agnes, Inkster,
Elkmount, Oakwood, Niagara, Moraine, Logan and Loretta in the county
of Grand Forks, and be entitled to one senator and two
representatives.

The Sixth District shall consist of the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth
wards of the city of Grand Forks, as now constituted, and the
townships of Falconer, Harvey, Turtle River, Ferry, Rye, Blooming,
Meckinock, Lakeville and Levant in the county of Grand Forks and be
entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Seventh District shall consist of the First and Second wards of
the city of Grand Forks, as now constituted, and the townships of
Grand Forks, Brenna, Oakville, Chester, Pleasant View, Fairfield,
Allendale, Walle, Bentru, Americus, Michigan, Union and Washington, in
the county of Grand Forks, and be entitled to one senator and two
representatives.

The Eighth District shall consist of the county of Traill and be
entitled to one senator and four representatives.

The Ninth District shall consist of the township of Fargo and the City
of Fargo in the County of Cass and the fractional township number 139
in range 48, and be entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Tenth District shall consist of the townships of Noble, Wiser,
Harwood, Reed, Barnes, Stanley, Pleasant, Kenyon, Gardner, Berlin,
Raymond, Mapleton, Warren, Norman, Elm River, Harmony, Durbin,
Addison, Davenport, Casselton and the City of Casselton, in the County
of Cass, and be entitled to one senator and three representatives.

The Eleventh District shall consist of the townships of Webster, Rush
River, Hunter, Arthur, Amenia, Everest, Maple River, Leonard, Dows,
Erie, Empire, Wheatland, Gill, Walburg, Watson, Page, Rich, Ayr,
Buffalo, Howes, Eldred, Highland, Rochester, Lake, Cornell, Tower,
Hill, Clifton and Pontiac, in the County of Cass, and be entitled to
one senator and three representatives.

The Twelfth District shall consist of the county of Richland and be
entitled to one senator and three representatives.

The Thirteenth District shall consist of the county of Sargent and be
entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Fourteenth District shall consist of the county of Ransom and be
entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Fifteenth District shall consist of the county of Barnes and be
entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Sixteenth District shall consist of the counties of Steele and
Griggs and be entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Seventeenth District shall consist of the county of Nelson and be
entitled to one senator and one representative.

The Eighteenth District shall consist of the county of Cavalier and be
entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Nineteenth District shall consist of the counties of Towner and
Rolette and be entitled to one senator and one representative.

The Twentieth District shall consist of the counties of Benson and
Pierce and be entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Twenty-first District shall consist of the county of Ramsey and be
entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Twenty-second District shall consist of the counties of Eddy,
Foster and Wells and be entitled one senator and two representatives.

The Twenty-third District shall consist of the county of Stutsman, and
be entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Twenty-fourth District shall consist of the county of LaMoure, and
be entitled to one senator and one representative.

The Twenty-fifth District shall consist of the county of Dickey, and
be entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Twenty-sixth District shall consist of the counties of Emmons,
McIntosh, Logan and Kidder, and be entitled to one senator and two
representatives.

The Twenty-seventh District shall consist of the county of Burleigh,
and be entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Twenty-eighth District shall consist of the counties of Bottineau
and McHenry and be entitled to one senator and one representative.

The Twenty-ninth District shall consist of the counties of Ward,
McLean, and all the unorganized counties laying north of the Missouri
river, and be entitled to one senator and one representative.

The Thirtieth District shall consist of the counties of Morton and
Oliver, and be entitled to one senator and two representatives.

The Thirty-first District shall consist of the counties of Mercer,
Stark and Billings and all the unorganized counties lying south of the
Missouri river, and be entitled to one senator and one representative.

===== ARTICLE XIX. PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. =====

=== Section 215. ===

Sec. 215. The following public institutions of the State are
permanently located at the places hereinafter named, each to have the
lands specifically granted to it by the United States in the Act of
Congress approved February 22, 1889, to be disposed of and used in
such manner as the Legislative Assembly may prescribe subject to the
limitations provided in the article on school and public lands
contained in this Constitution.

First: The seat of government at the City of Bismarck in the County of
Burleigh. 

Second: The State University and the School of Mines at the city of
Grand Forks, in the County of Grand Forks.

Third: The North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied
Science at the City of Fargo, in the County of Cass.

Fourth: A State Normal School at the city of Valley City, in the
County of Barnes, and the Legislative Assembly, in apportioning the
grant of eighty thousand acres of land for normal schools made in the
act of Congress referred to shall grant to the said Normal School at
Valley City, as aforementioned, fifty thousand (50,000) acres, and
said lands are hereby appropriated to said institution for that
purpose.

Fifth: The School for the Deaf and Dumb of North Dakota at the City of
Devils Lake, in the County of Ramsey.

Sixth: A State Training School at the City of Mandan, in the County of
Morton.

Seventh: A State Normal School at the City of Mayville, in the County
of Traill, and the Legislative Assembly in apportioning the grant of
lands made by Congress in the act aforesaid for State Normal Schools
shall assign thirty thousand (30,000) acres to the institution hereby
located at Mayville, and said lands are hereby appropriated for said
purpose.

Eighth: A State Hospital for the Insane at the City of Jamestown, in
the County of Stutsman.  And the Legislative Assembly shall
appropriate twenty thousand acres of the grant of lands made by the
Act of Congress aforesaid for other educational and charitable
institutions to the benefit and for the endowment of said institution,
and there shall be located at or near the City of Grafton, in the
County of Walsh, an institution for the Feeble Minded, on the grounds
purchased by the Secretary of the Interior for a Penitentiary
building.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1903/sl1903.pdf#page=292|Amended Nov. 8, 1904.]], effective Dec. 8, 1904 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=270|Amended Nov. 2, 1920]], effective Dec. 2, 1920 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1961/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=6|Amended Nov. 8, 1960]], effective Dec. 8, 1960]

=== Section 216. ===

The following named public institutions are hereby permanently located
as hereinafter provided, each to have so much of the remaining grant
of one hundred and seventy thousand acres of land made by the United
States for "other educational and charitable institutions," as is
allotted by law, viz:

First: A Soldiers' Home, when located, or such other charitable
institution as the legislative assembly may determine at Lisbon; in
the County of Ransom, with a grant of forty thousand acres of land.

Second: The blind asylum shall be known as the North Dakota school for
the blind and may be removed from the county of Pembina to such other
location as may be determined by the board of administration to be in
the best interests of the students of such institution and the state
of North Dakota.

Third: An Industrial School and School for Manual Training, or such
other educational or charitable institution as the legislative
assembly may provide, at the Town of Ellendale, in the County of
Dickey, with a grant of forty thousand acres.

Fourth: A School of Forestry, or such other institution as the
legislative assembly may determine, at the City of Bottineau in the
County of Bottineau.

Fifth: A Scientific School or such other educational or charitable
institution as the legislative assembly may prescribe, at the City of
Wahpeton, County of Richland, with a grant of forty thousand acres.

Sixth: A state normal school at the City of Minot in the County of Ward. 

Seventh: (a) A state normal school at the City of Dickinson, 
in the County of Stark. 

Seventh: (b) A state hospital for the insane at such place
within this state as shall be selected by the legislative
assembly. 

Provided, That no other institution of a character similar to any 
one of those located by this Article shall be established or maintained
without a revision of this Constitution. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1909/sl1909.pdf#page=362|Approved and ratified Nov. 8, 1910]], effective Dec. 8, 1910.]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1915/sl1915.pdf#page=432|Amended Nov. 3, 1914]], effective Dec. 3, 1914]

[ [[ https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1917/sl1917.pdf#page=431|Amendment art. XXI approved Nov. 7, 1916]], effective Dec. 7, 1916 ]

[ [[ https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1917/sl1917.pdf#page=432|Amendment art. XXII approved Nov. 7, 1916]], effective Dec. 7, 1916 ]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1953/sl1953.pdf#page=607|Amended Jun. 24, 1952]], effective Jul. 24, 1952]

===== ARTICLE XX. Prohibition. =====

=== Section 217. ===

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1933/sl1933.pdf#page=507|Repealed Nov. 8, 1932]], effective Dec. 8, 1932]

===== SCHEDULE. =====

=== Section 1. ===

That no inconvenience may arise from a change of
territorial government to state government, it is declared that all
writs, actions, prosecutions, claims and rights of individuals and
bodies corporate shall continue as if no change of government had
taken place, and all processes which may, be fore the organization of
the judicial department under this Constitution, be issued under the
authority of the Territory of Dakota shall be as valid as if issued in
the name of the State.

=== Section 2. ===

All laws now in force in the Territory of Dakota, which are not
repugnant to this Constitution, shall remain in force until they
expire by their own limitations or be altered or repealed.

=== Section 3. ===

All fines, penalties, forfeitures and escheats accruing to the
Territory of Dakota shall accrue to the use of the states of North
Dakota and South Dakota and may be sued for and recovered by either of
said states as necessity may require.

=== Section 4. ===

All recognizances, bonds, obligations or other undertakings heretofore
taken, or which may be taken before the organization of the judicial
department under this Constitution, shall remain valid, and shall pass
over to, and may be prosecuted in the name of the state; all bonds,
obligations or other undertakings executed to this territory, or to
any officer in his official capacity, shall pass over to the proper
state authority, and to their successors in office, for the uses
therein respectively expressed, and may be sued for and recovered
accordingly; all criminal prosecutions and penal actions which have
arisen, or may arise before the organization of the judicial
department, under this Constitution, <r which shall then be pending,
may be prosecuted to judgment and execution in the name of the state.

=== Section 5. ===

All property, real and personal, and credits, claims and choses in
action belonging to the Territory of Dakota at the time of the
adoption of this Constitution, shall be vested in and become the
property of the States of North Dakota and South Dakota.

=== Section 6. ===

Whenever any two of the judges of the Supreme court of the State,
elected under the provisions of this Constitution shall have qualified
in their offices, the causes then pending in the Supreme court of the
Territory on appeal or writ of error from the district courts of any
county or subdivision within the limits of this State, and the papers,
records and proceedings of said court shall pass into the jurisdiction
and possession of the Supreme court of the State, except as otherwise
provided in the enabling act of Congress, and until so superseded the
Supreme court of the Territory and the judges thereof shall continue,
with like powers and jurisdiction, as if this Constitution had not
been adopted. Whenever the judge of the district court of any district
elected under the provisions of this Constitution shall have qualified
in his office, the several causes then pending in the district court
of the Territory within any county in such district, and the records,
papers and proceedings of said district court, and the seal and other
property pertaining thereto, shall pass into the jurisdiction and
possession of the district court of the State for such county, except
as provided in the enabling act of Congress, and until the district
courts of this Territory shall be superseded in the manner aforesaid,
the said district courts and the judges thereof shall continue with
the same jurisdiction and power to be exercised in the same judicial
districts respect ively as heretofore constituted under the laws of
the Territory.

=== Section 7. ===

Until otherwise provided by law, the seals now in use in the supreme
and district courts of this Territory are hereby declared to be the
seals of the supreme and district courts respectively of the State.

=== Section 8. ===

Whenever this Constitution shall go into effect, the books, records
and papers, and proceedings of the probate court in each county, and
all causes and matters of administration and other matters pending
therein, shall pass into the jurisdiction and possession of the county
court of the same county, and the said county court shall proceed to
final decree or judgment, order or other determination in the said
several matters and causes as the said probate court might have done
if this Constitution had not been adopted. And until the election and
qualification of the judges of the county courts provided for in this
Constitution, the probate judges shall act as the judges of the county
courts within their respective counties, and the seal of the probate
court in each county shall be the seal of the county court therein,
until the said court shall have procured a proper seal.

=== Section 9. ===

The terms "probate court" or "probate judge" whenever occurring in the
statutes of the territory shall, after this Constitution goes into
effect, be held to apply to the county court or county judge.

=== Section 10. ===

All territorial, county and precinct officers, who may be in office at
the time this Constitution takes effect, whether holding their offices
under the authority of the United States or of the Territory, shall
hold and exercise their respective offices, and perform the duties
thereof as prescribed in this Constitution, until their successors
shall be elected and qualified in accordance with the provisions of
this Constitution, and official bonds of all such officers shall
continue in full force and effect as though this Constitution had not
been adopted; and such officers for their term of service, under this
Constitution, shall receive the same salaries and compensation as is
by this Constitution, or by the laws of the territory, provided for
like officers; Provided, That the county and precinct officers shall
hold their offices for the term for which they were elected. There
shall be elected in each organized county in this State, at the
election to be held for the ratification of this Constitution, a clerk
of the district court, who shall hold his office under said election
until his successor is duly elected and qualified. The judges of the
district court shall have power to appoint states attorneys in any
organized county where no such attorneys have been elected, which
appointment shall continue until the general election to be held in
1890, and until his successor is elected and qualified.

=== Section 11. ===

This Constitution shall take effect and be in full force immediately
upon the admission of the territory as a state.

=== Section 12. ===

Immediately upon the adjournment of this Convention the Governor of
the Territory, or in case of his absence or failure to act, the
Secretary of the Territory, or in case of his absence or failure to
act, the President of the Constitutional Convention shall issue a
proclamation, which shall be published and a copy thereof mailed to
the chairman of the board of county commissioners of each county,
calling an election by the people on the first Tuesday in October,
1889, of all the state and district officers created and made elective
by this Constitution. This Constitution shall be submitted for
adoption or rejection at said election to a vote of the electors
qualified by the laws of this territory to vote at all elections. At
the election provided for herein the qualified voters shall vote
directly for or against this Constitution and for or against the
article separately submitted.

=== Section 13. ===

The board of commissioners of the several counties shall there upon
order such election for said day, and shall cause notice thereof to be
given "for the period of 20 days in the manner provided by law." Every
qualified elector of the territory, at the date of said election,
shall be entitled to vote thereat. Said election shall be conducted in
all respects in the same manner as provided by the laws of the
territory for general elections, and the returns for all state and
district officers, and members of the Legislative Assembly, shall be
made to the canvassing board hereinafter provided for.

=== Section 14. ===

The Governor, Secretary and Chief Justice or a majority of them, shall
constitute a board of canvassers to canvass the vote of such election
for all state and district officers aud members of the Legislative
Assembly. The said board shall assemble at the seat of government of
the Territory on the fifteenth day after the day of such election (or
on the following day if such day falls on Sunday), and proceed to
canvass the votes on the adoption of this Constitution and for all
State and district officers and members of the Legislative Assembly in
the manner provided by the laws of the Territory for canvassing the
vote for Delegate to Congress, and they shall issue certificates of
election to the persons found to be elected to said offices severally,
and shall make and file with the Secretary of the Territory an
abstract certified by them, of the number of votes cast for or against
the adoption of the Constitution, and for each person for each of said
offices and of the total number of votes cast in each county.

=== Section 15. ===

All officers elected at such election shall, within sixty days after
the date of the executive proclamation admitting the State of North
Dakota into the Union, take the oath required by this Constitution,
and give the same bond required by the law of the Territory to be
given in case of like officers of the Territory and districts, and
shall thereupon enter upon the duties of their respective offices; but
the Legislative Assembly may require by law all such officers to give
other or further bonds as a condition of their continuance in office.

=== Section 16. ===

The judges of the district court who shall be elected at the election
herein provided for shall hold their offices until the first Monday in
January, 1893, and until their successors are elected and qualified.
All other state officers, except judges of the supreme court, who
shall be elected at the election herein provided for, shall hold their
offices until the first Monday in January, 1891, and until their
successors are elected and qualified. Until otherwise provided by law
the judges of the supreme court snail receive for their services the
salary of four thousand dollars per annum, payable quarterly; and the
district judges shall receive for their services the salary of three
thousand dollars per annum, payable quarterly.

=== Section 17. ===

The Governor-elect of the state immediately upon his qualifying and
entering upon the duties of his office shall issue his proclamation
convening the Legislative Assembly of the State at the seat of
government, on a day to be named in said proclamation, and which shall
not be less than fifteen nor more than forty days after the date of
such proclamation. And said Legislative Assembly after organizing
shall proceed to elect two senators of the United States for the State
of North Dakota; and at said election the two persons who shall
receive a majority of all the votes cast by the said senators and
representatives shall be elected such United States Senators. And the
presiding officers of the senate and house of representatives shall
each certify the election to the Governor and Secretary of the State
of North Dakota; and the Governor and Secretary of State shall certify
the elections of such senators as provided by law.

=== Section 18. ===

At the election herein provided for there shall be elected a
Representative to the Fifty-first Congress of the United States, by
the electors of the state at large.

=== Section 19. ===

It is hereby made the duty of the Legislative Assembly at its first
session to provide for the payment of all debts and indebtedness
authorized to be incurred by the Constitutional Convention of North
Dakota, which shall remain unpaid after the appropriation made by
Congress for the same shall have been exhausted.

=== Section 20. ===

There shall be submitted at the same election at which this
Constitution is submitted for rejection or adoption. Article 20
entitled "prohibition" and persons who desire to vote for said article
shall have written or printed on their ballots "for prohibition," and
all persons desiring to vote against said article shall have written
or printed on their ballots "against prohibition." If it shall appear
according to the returns herein provided for that a majority of all
the votes cast at said election for and against prohibition are for
prohibition, then said Article 20 shall be and form a part of this
Constitution and be in full force and effect as such from the date of
the admission of this state into the Union. But if a majority of said
votes shall appear according to said returns to be "against
prohibition, then said Article 20 shall be null and void, and shall
not be a part of this Constitution.

=== Section 21. ===

The agreement made by the Joint Commission of the Constitutional
Conventions of North Dakota aud South Dakota concerning the records,
books and archives of the Territory of Dakota, is hereby ratified and
confirmed; which agreement is in the words following: --That is to
say--

The following books, records and archives of the Territory of Dakota
shall be the property of North Dakota, to-wit: All records, books and
archives in the offices of the Governor and Secretary of the Territory
(except records of Articles of Incorporation of Domestic Corporations,
returns of election of Delegates to the Constitutional Convention/of
1889 for South Dakota, returns of elections held under the so called
Local Option Law, in counties within the limits of South Dakota, bonds
of Notaries Public appointed for counties within the limits of South
Dakota, papers relating to the organization of counties situate within
the limits of South Dakota, all which records and archives are a part
of the records and archives of said Secretary's office: excepting
also, census returns from counties situate within the limits of South
Dakota and papers relating to requisitions issued upon the application
of officers of counties situate within the limits of South Dakota, all
which are a part of the records and archives of said Governor's
office). And the following records, books and archives shall also be
the property of the State of North Dakota, to-wit:

Vouchers in the office or custody of the Auditor of this Territory
relating to expenditures on account of public institutions, grounds or
buildings situate within the limits of North Dakota. One Warrant
Register in the office of the Treasurer of this territory, being a
record of warrants issued under and by virtue of Chapter 24 of the
laws enacted by the Eighteenth Legislative Assembly of Dakota
Territory All letters, receipts and vouchers in the same office now
filed by counties and pertaining to counties within the limits of
North Dakota. Paid and canceled coupons in the same office
representing interest on bonds of South Dakota which said State of
North Dakota is to assume and pay. Reports of gross earnings of the
year 1888 in the same office, made by corporations operating lines of
railroads situated wholly or mainly within the limits of North Dakota.
Records and papers of the office of the Public Examiner of the Second
District of the territory. Records and papers of the office of the
District Board of Agriculture. Records and papers in the office of the
Board of Pharmacy of the District of North Dakota.

All records, books and archives of the Territory of Dakota which it is
not herein agreed shall be the property of North Dakota, shall be the
property of South Dakota.

The following books shall be copied and the copies shall be the
property of North Dakota and the cost of such copies shall be borne
equally by said States of North Dakota and South Dakota. That is to
say :

Appropriation Ledger for years ending November 1889-90 -- one volume.

The Auditor's Current Warrant Register -- one volume.

Insurance Record for 1889 -- one volume.

Treasurer's Cash Book -- "D."

Assessment Ledger -- "B."

Dakota Territory Bond Register -- one volume.

Treasurer's Current Ledger -- one volume.

The originals of the foregoing volumes which are to be copied shall at
any time after such copying shall have been completed, be delivered on
demand to the proper authorities of the State of South Dakota.

All other records, books and archives which it is hereby agreed shall
be the property of South Dakota, shall remain at the Capitol of North
Dakota until demanded by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota
and until the State of North Dakota shall have had a reasonable time
after such demand is made to provide copies or abstracts of such
portions thereof as the said State of North Dakota may desire to have
copies or abstracts of.

The State of South Dakota may also provide copies or abstracts of such
records, books and archives, which it is agreed shall be the property
of North Dakota, as said State of South Dakota shall desire to have
copies or abstracts of.

The expense of all copies or abstracts of records, books and archives
which it is herein agreed may be made, shall be borne equally by said
two states.

=== Section 22. ===

Should the counties containing lands which form a part of the grant of
lands made by Congress to the Northern Pacific railroad company be
compelled by law to refund moneys paid for such lands or any of them
by purchasers thereof at tax sales thereof, based upon taxes illegally
levied upon -said lands, then and in that case the State of North
Dakota shall appropriate the sum of $25,000, or so much thereof as may
be necessary to reimburse said counties for the amount so received
from said illegal tax sales and paid by said counties into the
treasury of Dakota Territory.

=== Section 23. ===

This Constitution shall after its enrollment be signed by the
President of this Convention and the Chief Clerk thereof and such
delegates as desire to sign the same, whereupon it shall be deposited
in the office of the Secretary of the Territory, where it may be
signed at any time by any delegate who shall be prevented from signing
the same for any reasons at the time of the adjournment of this
Convention.

=== Section 24. ===

In case the territorial officers of the Territory of Dakota, or any of
them who are now required by law to report to the Governor of the
Territory, annually or biennially, shall prepare and publish such
reports covering the transactions of their offices up to the time of
the admission of the State of North Dakota into the Union, the
Legislative Assembly shall make sufficient appropriations to pay
one-half of the cost of such publication.

=== Section 25. ===

The Governor and Secretary of the Territory are hereby authorized to
make arrangements for the meeting of the first Legislative Assembly,
and the inauguration of the State government.

=== Section 26. ===

The Legislative Assembly shall provide for the editing, and for the
publication, in an independent volume, of this Constitution, as soon
as it shall take effect, and whenever it shall be altered or amended,
and shall cause to be published in the same volume the Declaration of
Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Enabling
Act.

Done at Bismarck, Dakota, in open Convention, this 17th day of August,
A. D. 1889.

John G. Hamilton, F. B. Fancher,

Chief Clerk. President.

===== AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION. =====

==== ARTICLE I. ====

The Legislative Assembly shall have no power to authorize lotteries or
gift enterprises for any purpose and shall pass laws to prohibit the
sale of lottery or gift enterprise tickets.

[[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1893/sl1893.pdf#page=291|(Ratified by popular vote Nov. 6, 1894)]]

==== ARTICLE II. ====

Sec. 121. Every male person of the age of twenty-one years or upwards,
belonging to either of the following classes, who shall have resided
in the state one year and in the county six months, and in the
precinct ninety days next preceding any election, shall be a qualified
elector at such election:

First - Citizens of the United States.

Second - Civilized persons of Indian descent who shall have severed
their tribal relations two years next preceding such election.

Sec. 127. No person who is under guardianship, non compos mentis or
insane shall be qualified to vote at any election; nor any person
convicted of treason or felony, unless restored to civil rights; and
the legislature shall by law establish an educational test as a
qualification, and may prescribe penalties for failing, neglecting or
refusing to vote at any general election.

[[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1897/sl1897.pdf#page=426 |(Ratified by popular vote Nov. 8, 1898.)]]

==== ARTICLE III. ====

Sec. 76. The governor shall have power in conjunction with the board
of pardons, of which the governor shall be ex-officio a member and the
other members of which shall consist of the attorney general of the
state of North Dakota, the chief justice of the supreme court of the
state of North Dakota, and two qualified electors who shall be
appointed by the governor, to remit fines and forfeitures, to grant
reprieves, comumutations and pardons after conviction for all offenses
except treason and cases of impeachment; but the legislative assembly
may by law regulate the manner in which the remission of fines,
pardons, commutations and reprieves may be applied for. Upon
conviction of treason the governor shall have the power to suspend the
execution of sentence until the case shall be reported to the
legislative assembly at its next regular session, when the legislative
assembly shall either pardon or commute the sentence, direct the
execution of the sentence or grant further reprieve. The governor
shall communicate to the legislative assembly at each regular session
each case of remission of fine, reprieve, commutation or pardon granted
by the board of pardons, stating the name of the convict, the crime
for which he is convicted, the sentence and its date and the date of
remission, commutation, pardon or reprieve, with their reasons for
granting the same.

[[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1899/sl1899.pdf#page=256|(Ratified by popular vote Nov. 6, 1900.)]]

==== ARTICLE IV. ====

Sec. 179. All property, except as hereinafter in this section
provided, shall be assessed in the county, city, township, village or
district in which it is situated, in the manner prescribed by law. The
franchise, roadway, roadbed, rails and rolling stock of all railroads,
and the franchise and all other property of all express companies,
freight line companies, car equipment companies, sleeping car
companies, dining car companies, telegraph or telephone companies or
corporations operated in this state and used directly or indirectly in
the carrying of persons, property or messages, shall be assessed by
the state board of equalization at their actual value, and such
assessed value shall be apportioned to the counties, cities, towns.
villages, townships and districts in which such railroad companies,
express companies, sleeping car companies, dining car companies,
telegraph and telephone companies are located, or through which they
are operated, as a basis for the taxation of such property, in
proportion to the number of miles of such property within such
counties, cities, towns, villages, townships and districts, or over
which any part of such property is used or operated within such
counties, towns, villages, townships and districts.  But should any
railroad allow any portion of its roadway to be used for any purpose
other than the operation of a railroad thereon, such portion of its
roadway, while so used, shall be assessed in the manner provided for
the assessment of other real property.

[[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1899/sl1899.pdf#page=257|(Ratified by popular vote Nov. 6, 1900.)]]

==== ARTICLE V. ====

Subdivision 5 of section 215.

Fifth. The school for the deaf and dumb of North Dakota, at the City
of Devils Lake, in the county of Ramsey.

[[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1903/sl1903.pdf#page=293|(Approved and ratified Nov. 8, 1904.)]]

==== ARTICLE VI. ====

Subdivision 8 of section 215.

Eighth. A state hospital for the insane at the city of Jamestown, in
the county of Stutsman. And the legislative assembly shall appropriate
twenty thousand acres of the grant of lands made by the act of
congress aforesaid for "other educational and charitable
institutions," to the benefit and for the endowment of said
institution, and there shall be located at or near the city of
Grafton, in the county of Walsh, an institution for the feeble minded
on the grounds purchased by the secretary of the interior for a
penitentiary building.

[[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1903/sl1903.pdf#page=292|(Approved and ratified Nov. 8, 1904.)]]

==== ARTICLE VII. ====

Addenda to section 176: The legislative assembly may further provide
that grain grown within the state and held therein in elevators,
warehouses and granaries may be taxed at a fixed rate.

[[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1903/sl1903.pdf#page=291|(Approved and ratified Nov. 8, 1904.)]]

==== ARTICLE VIII. ====

Sec. 162. The moneys of the permanent school fund and other
educational funds shall be invested only in bonds of school
corporations or of counties, or of townships, or of municipalities
within the state, bonds issued for the construction of drains under
authority of law within the state, bonds of the United States, bonds
of the state of North Dakota, bonds of other states; provided, such
states have never repudiated any of their indebtedness, or on first
mortgages on farm lands in this state, not exceeding in amount one
third of the actual value of any subdivision on which the same may be
loaned, such value to be determined by the board of appraisal of
school lands.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1907/sl1907.pdf#page=481|Approved]] and [[https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Abstracts%20by%20Year/1900%20through%201908%20Statewide%20Election%20Results/1908/General%20Election%2011-03-1908.pdf|ratified]] Nov. 3, 1908, effective Dec. 3, 1908 ]

==== ARTICLE IX. ====

Sec. 158. Minimum Price of State Lands. No lands shall be sold for
less than the appraised value and in no case for less than ten dollars
per acre. The purchaser shall pay one-fifth of the price in cash, and
the remaining four fifths as follows: One-fifth in five years,
one-fifth in ten years, one-fifth in fifteen years and one-fifth in
twenty years, with interest at the rate of not less than six per
centum, payable annually in advance. All sales shall be held at the
county seat of the county in which the land to be sold is situate, and
shall be at public auction and to the highest bidder, after sixty
days' advertisement of the same in a newspaper of general circulation
in the vicinity of the lands to be sold, and one at the seat of
government. Such lands as shall not have been specially subdivided
shall be offered in tracts of one-quarter section, and those so
subdivided in the smallest subdivisions.  All lands designated for
sale and not sold within two years after appraisal, shall be
reappraised before they are sold. No grant or patent for any such
lands shall issue until payment is made for the same; provided, that
the lands contracted to be sold by the state shall be subject to
taxation from the date of such contract. In case the taxes assessed
against any of said lands for any year remain unpaid until the first
Monday in October of the following year, then and thereupon the
contracts of sale of such lands shall, at the election of the board of
university and school lands, become null and void; and no such
contract heretofore made shall be held void for nonpayment of taxes
accruing on the lands described therein; provided, such taxes shall
have been paid before this amendment takes effect; provided, further,
that any school or institution land that may be required for town site
purposes may be paid for at any time and patent issued therefor.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1907/sl1907.pdf#page=482|Approved]] and [[https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Abstracts%20by%20Year/1900%20through%201908%20Statewide%20Election%20Results/1908/General%20Election%2011-03-1908.pdf|ratified]] Nov. 3, 1908, effective Dec. 3, 1908 ]

==== ARTICLE X. ====

Sec. 89. The supreme court shall consist of five judges, a majority of
whom shall be necessary to form a quorum or pronounce a decision; but
one or more of said judges may adjourn the court from day to day or to
a day certain.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1907/sl1907.pdf#page=483|Approved]] and [[https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Abstracts%20by%20Year/1900%20through%201908%20Statewide%20Election%20Results/1908/General%20Election%2011-03-1908.pdf|ratified]] Nov. 3, 1908, effective Dec. 3, 1908 ]

==== ARTICLE XI. ====

Sec. 158. No land shall be sold for less than the appraised value, and
in no case for less than ten dollars per acre. The purchaser shall pay
one-fifth of the price in cash and the remaining four-fifths as
follows: One-fifth in five years, one-fifth on or before the
expiration of ten years, one-fifth on or before the expiration of
fifteen years, and one-fifth on or before the expiration of twenty
years, with interest payable at the rate of not less than five per
centum per annum payable annually in advance; provided, that when
payments are made before due they shall be made at an interest paying
date, and one year's interest in advance shall be paid on all moneys
so paid. All sales shall be held at the county seat of the county in
which the land to be sold is situated, and be at public auction and to
the highest bidder after sixty days' advertisement of the same in a
newspaper in general circulation in the vicinity of the land to be
sold, and also published in a newspaper published at the county seat,
and also in a newspaper published at the seat of government. Such
lands as shall not have been especially subdivided shall be offered in
tracts of one-quarter section, and those sub divided in the smallest
subdivision. All lands designated for sale and not sold within two
years after appraisal shall be re-appraised before they are sold. No
grant or patent for such lands shall issue until payment is made for
the same; provided, that the lands contracted to be sold by the state
shall be subject to taxation from the date of such contract.  In case
the taxes assessed against any of said lands for any year remain
unpaid until the first Monday in October of the following year, then
and thereupon the contract of sale for such lands shall, if the board
of university and school lands so determine, become null and void. Any
lands under the provisions of section 158 of the constitution of the
state of North Dakota that have heretofore been sold may be paid for,
except as to interest, as provided herein; provided, further, that any
school or institution lands that may be required for township
purposes, may be paid for at any time and patent issued therefor.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1909/sl1909.pdf#page=360|Approved and ratified Nov. 8, 1910]], effective Dec. 8, 1910.]

==== ARTICLE XII. ====

Sec. 216. The following named public institutions are hereby permanently
located as hereinafter provided, each to have so much of the remaining grant
of one hundred and seventy thousand acres of land made by the United
States for "other educational and charitable institutions" as is allotted
by law, namely:

First. A soldiers' home, when located, or such other charitable institution
as the legislative assembly may determine, at Lisbon, in the county of
Ransom, with a grant of forty thousand acres of land.

Second. A blind asylum, or such other institution as the legislative
assembly may determine, at such place in the county of Pembina as the
qualified electors of the said county may determine at an election to be held
as prescribed by the legislative assembly, with a grant of thirty thousand
acres.

Third. An industrial school and school for manual training, or such other
educational or charitable institutions as the legislative assembly may provide,
at the town of Ellendale, in the county of Dickey, with a grant of forty
thousand acres.

Fourth. A school of forestry, or such other institution as the legislative
assembly may determine, at such place in one of the counties of McHenry,
Ward, Bottineau or Rolette, as the electors of said counties may determine
by an election for that purpose, to be held as provided by the legislative
assembly.

Fifth. A scientific school, or such other educational or charitable
institution as the legislative assembly may prescribe, at the city of Wahpeton,
county of Richland, with a grant of forty thousand acres.

Sixth. A state normal school at the city of Minot, in the county of Ward;
provided that no other institution of a character similar to any one of those
located by this article, shall be established or maintained without a revision
of this constitution.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1909/sl1909.pdf#page=362|Approved and ratified Nov. 8, 1910]], effective Dec. 8, 1910.]

==== ARTICLE XIII. ====

Sec. 158. No land shall be sold for less than the appraised value, and
in no case for less than ten dollars per acre. The purchaser shall pay
one-fifth of the price in cash, and the remaining four-fifths as
follows: One-fifth in five years, one-fifth on or before the
expiration of ten years, one-fifth on or before the expiration of
fifteen years, and one-fifth on or before the expiration of twenty
years, with interest at the rate of not less than five per cent per
annum, payable annually in advance; provided, that when payments are
made before due they shall be made at an interest paying date, and one
year's interest in advance shall be paid on all moneys so paid.  All
sales shall be held at the county seat of the county in which the land
to be sold is situated, and shall be at public auction and to the
highest bidder, after sixty days' advertisement of the same in a
newspaper of general circulation in the vicinity of the land to be
sold, and one at the seat of government. Such lands as shall not have
been specially subdivided shall be offered in tracts of one-quarter
section, and those subdivided in the smallest subdivisions. All lands
designated for sale and not sold within two years after appraisal
shall be reappraised before they are sold. No grant or patent for such
lands shall issue until payment is made for the same; provided that
the land contracted to be sold by the state shall be subject to
taxation from the date of contract. In case the taxes assessed against
any of said lands for any year remain unpaid until the first Monday in
October of the following year, then thereupon the contract of sale for
such lands shall, if the board of university and school lands so
determine, become null and void. Any lands under the provisions of
section 158 of the constitution of the state of North Dakota that have
heretofore been sold, may be paid for, except as to interest, as
provided, further, that any school or institution lands that may be
required for townsite purposes, school house sites, church sites,
cemetery sites, sites for other educational or charitable
institutions, public parks, fair grounds, public highways, railroad
right of way, or for other railroad uses and purposes, reservoirs for
the storage of water for irrigation, drain ditches or irrigation
ditches, and lands that may be required for any of the purposes over
which the right of eminent domain may be exercised under the
constitution and the laws of the state of North Dakota, may be sold
under the provisions of this section, and shall be paid for, principal
and interest, in full in advance, at the time of sale, or at any time
thereafter, and patent issued therefor, when principal and interest
are paid.

[ Approved and ratified Nov. 5, 1912, effective Dec. 5, 1912.]

==== ARTICLE XIV. ====

The legislative assembly is hereby authorized and empowered to provide
by law for the erection, purchasing or leasing and operation of one or
more terminal grain elevators in the states of Minnesota or Wisconsin,
or both, to be maintained and operated in such manner as the
legislative assembly shall prescribe, and provide for inspection,
weighing and grading of all grain received in such elevator or
elevators.

[ Approved and ratified Nov. 5, 1912, effective Dec. 5, 1912.]

==== ARTICLE XV. ====

Sec. 25. The legislative authority of the state of North Dakota shall
be vested in a legislative assembly consisting of a senate and house
of representatives, but the people reserve to themselves power to
propose laws and to enact or reject the same at the polls, independent
of the legislative assembly, and also reserve power, at their own
option, to approve or reject at the polls any act, item, section or
part of any act or measure passed by the legislative assembly.  The
first power reserved by the people is the initiative, or the power to
propose measures for enactment into laws, and at least ten per cent of
the legal voters to be secured in a majority of the counties of the
state shall be required to propose any measure by initiative petition,
and every such petition shall include the full text of the measure so
proposed. Initiative petitions shall be filed with the secretary of
state and not less than thirty days before any regular session of the
legislative assembly; he shall transmit the same to the legislative
assembly as soon as it convenes. Such initiative measure shall take
precedence over all other measures in the legislative assembly except
appropriation bills, and shall be either enacted or rejected without
change or amendment by the legislative assembly within forty days. If
any such initiative measure shall be enacted by the legislative
assembly it shall be subject to referendum petition, or it may be
referred by the legislative assembly to the people for approval or
rejection. If it is rejected or no action is taken upon it by the
legislative assembly within said forty days, the secretary of state
shall submit it to the people for approval or rejection at the next
ensuing regular general election.  The legislative assembly may reject
any measure so proposed by initiative petition and propose a different
one to accomplish the same purpose, and in any such event both
measures shall be submitted by the secretary of state to the people
for approval or rejection at the next ensuing regular election.  If
conflicting measures submitted to the people at the next ensuing
election shall be approved by a majority of the votes severally cast
for and against the same, the one receiving the highest number of
afiirmative votes shall thereby become valid, and the other shall
thereby be rejected. The second power is the referendum, or the power
to order any act, item, or part of any act to be referred to the
people for their approval or rejection at the polls, and it may be
ordered (except as to laws necessary for the immediate preservation of
the public peace, health or safety), as to any measure or any parts,
items or sections of any measures passed by the legislative assembly
either by a petition signed by ten per cent of the legal voters of the
state from a majority of the counties, or by the legislative assembly,
if a majority of the members elect vote therefor. When it is necessary
for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety
that a law shall become effective without delay, such necessity and
the facts creating the same shall be stated in one section of the
bill, and if upon aye and no vote in each house two-thirds of all the
members elected to each house shall vote on a separate roll call in
favor of the said law going into instant operation for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health or safety, such law shall
become operative upon approval by the governor.

The filing of a referendum petition against one or more items,
sections or parts of an act shall not delay the remainder of that act
from becoming operative.  Referendum petitions against measures passed
by the legislative assembly shall be filed with the secretary of state
not more than ninety days after the final adjournment of the session
of the legislative assembly which passed the measure on which the
referendum is demanded. The veto power of the governor shall not
extend to measures referred to the people. All elections on measures
referred to the people of the state shall be had at biennial regular
elections, except as provision may be made by law for a special
election or elections. Any measure referred to the people shall take
effect when it is approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon and
not otherwise, and shall be in force from the date of the official
declaration of the vote.

The enacting clause of all the initiative bills shall be, "Be it
enacted by the people of the state of North Dakota." This section
shall not be construed to deprive any member of the legislative
assembly of the right to introduce any measure. The whole number of
votes for secretary of state at the regular election last preceding
the filing of any petition for the initiative or for the referendum
shall be the basis on which the number of legal voters necessary to
sign such petition shall be counted.

Petitions and orders for the initiative and for the referendum shall
be filed with the secretary of state, and in submitting the same to
the people he and all other officers shall be guided by the general
laws and the act submitting this amendment until legislation shall be
specially provided therefor.

This amendment shall be self executing, but legislation may be enacted
to facilitate its operation.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1915/sl1915.pdf#page=429|Amended Nov. 3, 1914]], effective Dec. 3, 1914]

==== ARTICLE XVI. ====

Sec. 202. This Constitution may be amended as follows:

First: Any amendment or amendments to this Constitution may
be proposed in either house of the legislative assembly; and if the
same shall be agreed to by a majority or the members elected to each
of the two houses, such proposed amendments shall be entered on
the journal of the house with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and
referred to the legislative assembly to be chosen at the next general
election, and shall be published, as provided by law, for three
months previous to the time of making such choice, and if the legislative
assembly so next chosen as aforesaid such proposed amendment or
amendments shall be agreed to by a majority of all members
elected to each house, then it shall be the duty of the legislative
assembly to submit such proposed amendment or amendments to
the people in such manner and at such times as the legislative 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 legislative 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 manner
that the electors shall vote for or against each of such amendments
separately.

Second: Any amendment or amendments to this Constitution
may also be proposed by the people by the filing with the Secretary of
State, at least six months previous to a general election, of an
initiative petition containing the signatures of at least twenty-five
per cent of the legal voters in each of not less than one-half of the
counties of the state. When such petition has been properly filed
the proposed amendment or amendments shall be published as the
legislature may provide, for three months previous to the general
election, and shall be placed upon the ballot to be voted upon by the
people at the next general election. Should any such amendment
or amendments proposed by initiative petition and submitted to the
people receive a majority of all the legal votes cast at such general
election, such amendment or amendments shall be referred to the
nest legislative assembly, and should such proposed amendment or
amendments he agreed upon by a majority of all the members
elected to each house, such amendment or amendments shall become
a part of the Constitution of this state. Should any amendment
or amendments proposed by initiative petition and receiving a majority
of all the votes cast at the general election as herein provided,
but failing to receive approval by the following legislative assembly
to which it has been referred, such amendment or amendments shall
again he submitted to the people at the next general election for
their approval or rejection as at the previous general election.
Should such amendment or amendments receive a majority of all
the legal votes cast at such succeeding general election such amendment
or amendments at once become a part of the Constitution of
this state. Any amendment or amendments proposed by initiative
petition and failing of adoption as herein provided, shall not be
again considered until the expiration of six years.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1915/sl1915.pdf#page=431|Amended Nov. 3, 1914]], effective Dec. 3, 1914]

==== ARTICLE XVII. ====

Sec. 216. The following named public institutions are hereby
permanently located as hereinafter provided, each to have so much of
the remaining grant of one hundred and seventy thousand acres of land
made by the United States for "other educational and charitable
institutions," as is allotted by law, viz:

First: A Soldiers' Home, when located, or such other charitable
institution as the legislative assembly may determine at Lisbon; in
the County of Ransom, with a grant of forty thousand acres of land.

Second: The School for the Blind of North Dakota, at Bathgate, in the
County of Pembina, with a grant of thirty thousand acres.

Third: An Industrial School and School for Manual Training, or such
other educational or charitable institution as the legislative
assembly may provide, at the Town of Ellendale, in the County of
Dickey, with a grant of forty thousand acres.

Fourth: A School of Forestry, or such other institution as the
legislative assembly may determine, at the City of Bottineau in the
County of Bottineau.

Fifth: A Scientific School or such other educational or charitable
institution as the legislative assembly may prescribe, at the City of
Wahpeton, County of Richland, with a grant of forty thousand acres.

Sixth: A State Normal School, at the City of Minot in the County of
Ward; provided, that no other institution, of a character similar to
any one of those located by this Article, shall be established or
maintained without a revision of this Constitution.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1915/sl1915.pdf#page=432|Amended Nov. 3, 1914]], effective Dec. 3, 1914]

==== ARTICLE XVIII. ====

Sec. 185. Neither the state, nor any county, city, township,
town, school district or any other political sub-division shall loan or 
give its credit or make donations to or in aid of any individual, 
association or corporation except for necessary support of the poor, 
nor subscribe to or become the owner of the capital stock of any 
association or corporation, nor shall the state engage in any work 
of internal improvement unless authorized by a two-thirds vote of 
the people. Provided, that the state may appropriate money in the 
treasury or to be thereafter raised by taxation for the construction 
or improvement of public highways. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1915/sl1915.pdf#page=433|Amended Nov. 3, 1914]], effective Dec. 3, 1914]

==== ARTICLE XIX. ====

The legislative assembly is hereby authorized and empowered to provide by law
for the erection, purchasing or leasing and operation of one or more terminal
grain elevators in the State of North Dakota, to be maintained and operated in
such manner as the legislative assembly shall prescribe, and provide for
inspection, weighing and grading of all grain received in such elevator or
elevators. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1915/sl1915.pdf#page=433|Amended Nov. 3, 1914]], effective Dec. 3, 1914]

==== ARTICLE XX. ====

Sec. 176. Taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of property, including
franchises within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax, and
shall be levied and collected for public purposes only, but the property of the
United States, and of the state, county and municipal corporations shall be
exempt from taxation; and the legislative assembly shall by a general law exempt
from taxation property used exclusively for school, religious, cemetery,
charitable or other public purposes, and personal property to any amount not
exceeding in value two hundred dollars for each individual liable to taxation;
provided that all taxes and exemptions in force when this amendment is adopted
shall remain in force, in the same manner and to the same extent, until
otherwise provided by statute. 

Sec. 179. All taxable property except as hereinafter in this Section provided,
shall be assessed in the county, city, township, village or district in which it
is situated, in the manner prescribed by law. The property, including franchises
of all railroads operated in this state, and of all express companies, freight
line companies, dining car companies, sleeping car companies, car equipment
companies, or private car line companies, telegraph or telephone companies or
corporations operating in this state and used directly or indirectly in the
carrying of persons, property or messages, shall be assessed by the State Board
of Equalization in a manner prescribed by such state board or commission as may
be provided by law. But should any railroad allow any portion of its railway to
be used for auy purposes other than the operation of a railroad thereon, such
portion of its railway, while so used shall be assessed in a manner provided for
the assessment of other real property. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1915/sl1915.pdf#page=433|Amended Nov. 3, 1914]], effective Dec. 3, 1914]

==== ARTICLE XXI. ====

Sec. 216. The following named public institutions are hereby 
permanently located as hereinafter provided, each to have so much 
of the remaining grant of one hundred and seventy thousand acres 
(170,000) of land made by the United States for "other educational and 
charitable institutions" as is allotted by law, namely:

First: A soldiers' home, when located, or such other charitable 
institutions as the legislative assembly may determine, at Lisbon, in 
the County of Ransom, with a grant of forty thousand (40,000) acres 
of land,

SECOND: A blind asylum, or such other institution as the legislative
assembly may determine, at such place in the County of Pembina
as the qualified electors of said county may determine at an 
election to be held as prescribed by the legislative assembly, with a 
grant of thirty thousand (30,000) acres.

Third: An industrial school and school for manual training 
or such other educational or charitable institution as the legislative 
assembly may provide, at the Town of Ellendale, in the County of 
Dickey, with a grant of forty thousand (40,000) acres.

Fourth: A school of forestry, or such other institution as the 
legislative assembly may determine, at such place in one of the 
Counties of McHenry, Ward, Bottineau or Rolette, as the electors of 
said counties may determine by an election for that purpose, to be 
held as provided by the legislative assembly.

Fifth: A scientific school or such other educational or charitable
institution as the legislative assembly may prescribe, at the 
City of Wahpeton, County of Richland, with a grant of forty thousand
(40,000) acres. 

Sixth: A state normal school at the City of Minot in the County of Ward. 

Seventh: (a) A state normal school at the City of Dickinson, 
in the County of Stark. 

Provided, That no other institution of a character similar to any 
one of those located by this Article shall be established or maintained
without a revision of this Constitution. 

[ [[ https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1917/sl1917.pdf#page=431|Approved Nov. 7, 1916]], effective Dec. 7, 1916 ]

==== ARTICLE XXII. ====

Sec. 216. The following named public institutions are hereby permanently located
as hereinafter provided, each to have so much of the remaining grant of one
hundred and seventy thousand (170,000) acres of land made by the United States
for "other educational and charitable institutions" as is allotted by law,
namely: 

First: A soldiers' home, when located, or such other charitable institution as
the legislative assembly may determine, at Lisbon, in the County of Ransom, with
a grant of forty thousand (40,000) acres of land. 

Second: A blind asylum, or such other institutipn as the legislative assembly
may determine, at such place in the County of Pembina as the qualified electors
of said county may determine, at an election to be held as prescribed by the
legislative assembly, with a grant of thirty thousand: (30,000) acres. 

Third: An industrial school and school for manual training, or such other
educational or charitable Institution as the legislative assembly may provide,
at the Town of Ellendale, in the County of Dickey, with a grant of forty
thousand (40,000) acres. 

Fourth: A school of forestry, or such other institution as the legislative
assembly may determine, at such place in one of the Counties of McHenry, Ward,
Bottineau and Rolette, as the electors of the said counties may determine by an
election for that purpose, to be held as provided by the legislative assembly. 

Fifth: A scientific school, or such other educational or charitable institution
as the legislative assembly may prescribe, at the City of Wahpeton, County of
Richland, with a grant of forty thousand (40,000) acres.

Sixth: A state normal school at the City of Minot in the County of Ward. 

Seventh: (b) A state hospital for the insane at such place within this state as
shall be selected by the legislative assembly, provided, that no other
institution of a character similar to any one of those located by this Article
shall be established or maintained without a revision of this Constitution. 

[ [[ https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1917/sl1917.pdf#page=432|Approved Nov. 7, 1916]], effective Dec. 7, 1916 ]

==== ARTICLE XXIII. ====

Sec. 135. In all elections for directors or managers of a corporation,
each member or shareholder may cast the whole number of
his votes for one candidate, or distribute them upon two or more 
candidates, as he may prefer, provided, any co-operative corporation
may adopt by-laws limiting the voting power of its stockholders.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=514|Approved Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

==== ARTICLE XXIV. ====

The legislative assembly may by law provide for the levy of a tax upon
such lands as may be provided by law of the state for the purpose of
creating a fund to insure the owners of growing crops against losses
by hail; provided, that such tax shall not affect the tax of four
mills levied by the Constitution. The Legislative Assembly may
classify such lands of the state as may be provided by law, and divide
the State into districts on such basis as shall seem just and
necessary, and may vary the tax rates in such districts in accordance
with the risk, In order to secure an equitable distribution of the
burden of such tax among the owners of such land as may be provided by
law. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=514|Approved Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

==== ARTICLE XXV. ====

Sec. 89. The Supreme Court shall consist of five judges, a majority of
whom shall be necessary to form a quorum or pronounce a decision, but
one or more of said, judges may adjourn the court from day to day or
to a day certain, provided, however, that in no case shall any
legislative enactment or law of the State of North Dakota be declared
unconstitutional unless at least four of the judges shall so decide.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=515|Approved Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

==== ARTICLE XXVI. ====

Sec. 25 (in Article 2 as Amended by Article 15 of Amendment).  The
legislative power of this state shall be vested in a legislature
consisting of a senate and a house of representatives. The people,
however, reserve the power, first, to propose measures and to enact or
reject the same at the polls; second, to approve or reject at the
polls any measure or any item, section, part or parts of any measure
enacted by the legislature.

The first power reserved is the initiative. Ten thousand electors at
large may propose any measure by initiative petition. Every such
petition shall contain the full text of the measure and shall be filed
with the Secretary of State not less than ninety days before the
election at which it is to be voted upon. 

The second power reserved is the referendum. Seven thousand electors
at large may, by referendum petition, suspend the operation of any
measure enacted by the legislature, except an emergency measure. But
the filing of a referendum petition against one or more items,
sections or parts of any measure, shall not prevent the remainder from
going into effect. Such petition shall be filed with the Secretary of
State not later than ninety days after the adjournment of the session
of the legislature at which such measure was enacted. 

Each measure initiated by or referred to the electors, shall be
submitted by its ballot title, which shall be placed upon the ballot
by the Secretary of State and shall be voted upon at any state-wide
election designated in the petition, or at a special election called
by the Governor. The result of the vote upon any measure shall be
canvassed and declared by the board of canvassers. 

Any measure, except an emergency measure, submitted to the electors of
the state, shall become a law when approved by a majority of the votes
cast thereon. And such law shall go into effect on the 30th day after
the election, unless otherwise specified in the measure. 

If a referendum petition is filed against an emergency petition such
measure shall be a law until voted upon by the electors. And if it is
then rejected by a majority of the votes cast thereon, it shall he
thereby repealed. Any such measure shall be submitted to the electors
at a special election if so ordered by the Governor, or if the
referendum petition filed against it shall be signed by thirty
thousand electors at large. Such special election shall be called by
the Governor, and shall be held not less than one hundred nor more
than one hundred thirty days after the adjournment of the session of
the legislature.

The Secretary of State shall pass upon each petition, and if he finds
it insufficient, he shall notify the "Committee for the Petitioners"
and allow twenty days for correction or amendment. All decisions of
the Secretary of State in regard to any such petition shall be subject
to review by the Supreme Court. But if the sufficiency of such
petition is being reveiwed at the time the ballot is prepared, the
Secretary of State shall place the measure on the ballot and no
subsequent decision shall invalidate such measure if it is at such
election approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon.  If
procedlngs are brought against any petition upon any ground, the
burden of proof shall be upon the party attacking it. 

No law shall be enacted limiting the number of copies of a petition
which may be circulated. Such copies shall become part of the original
petition when filed or attached thereto. Nor shall any law be enacted
prohibiting any person from giving or receiving compensation for
circulating the petitions, nor in any manner interfering with the
freedom in securing signatures to petitions. 

Each petition shall have printed thereon a ballot title, which shall
fairly represent the subject matter of the measure, and the names of
at least five electors who shall, constitute the "committee for the
petitioners" and who shall represent and act for the petitioners. 

All measures submitted to the electors shall be published by the state
as follows: "The Secretary of State shall cause to be printed and
mailed to each elector a publicity pamphlet, containing a copy of each
measure together with its ballot title, to be submitted at any
election. Any citizen, or the officers of any organization, may submit
to the Secretary of State for publication in such pamphlet, arguments
concerning any measure therein, upon first subscribing their names and
addresses thereto and paying the fee therefor, which, until otherwise
fixed by the legislature, shall be the sum of two hundred dollars per
page." 

The enacting clause of all measures initiated by the electors shall
be: "Be it enacted by the people of the State of North Da­ kota." In
submitting measures to the electors, the Secretary of State and all
other officials shall be guided by the election laws until additional
legislation shall be provided. 

If conflicting measures initiated by or referred to the electors shall
be approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon, the one receiving
the highest number of affirmative votes shall become the law. 

The word "measure" as used herein shall include any law or amendment
thereto, resolution, legislative proposal or enactment of any
character. 

The veto power of the Governor shall not extend to the measures
initiated by or referred to the electors. No measure enacted or
approved by a vote of the electors shall be repealed or amended by the
legislature, except upon a yea and nay vote upon roll call of
two-thirds of all the members elected to each house. 

This section shall be self executing and all of its provisions shall
be treated as mandatory. Laws may be enacted to facilitate its
operation, but no laws shall be enacted to hamper, restrict or impair
the exercise of the rights herein reserved to the'people.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=515|Approved Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

==== ARTICLE XXVII. ====

Sec. 67. No act of the legislative assembly shall take effect until
July first after the close of the session, unless the legislature by a
vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting, in each house,
shall declare it an emergency measure, which declaration shall be set
forth in the act, provided, however, that no act granting a franchise
or special privilege, or act creating any vested right or interest
other than in the state, shall be declared an emergency measure. An
emergency measure shall take effect and be in force from and after its
passage and approval by the Governor. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=518|Approved Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

==== ARTICLE XXVIII. ====

Sec. 202. Any amendment or amendments to the constitution of the state
may be proposed in either house of the legislature, and if the same
shall be agreed to upon roll call by a majority of the members elected
to each house, it shall be submitted to the electors and if a majority
of the votes cast thereon are affirmative, such amendment shall be a
part of this constitution. 

Amendments to the constitution of the state may also be proposed by an
initiative petition of the electors; such petition shall be signed by
twenty thousand electors at large and shall be filed with the
Secretary of State at least one hundred twenty days prior to the
election at which they are to be voted upon, and any amendment, or
amendments so proposed, shall be submitted to the electors and become
a part of the constitution, if a majority of the votes cast thereon
are affirmative. All provisions of the constitution relating to the
submission and adoption of measures by initiative petition, and on
referendum petition shall apply to the submission and adoption of
amendments to the constitution of the state. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=518|Approved Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

==== ARTICLE XXIX. ====

Sec. 176. Taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of property;
including franchises within the territorial limits of the authority
levying the tax. The legislature may by law exempt any or all classes
of personal property from taxation and within the meaning of this
section, fixtures, buildings and improvements of every character,
whatsoever, upon land shall be deemed personal property. The property
of the United States and of the state, county and municipal
corporations and property used exclusively for school, religious,
cemetery, charitable or other public purposes shall be exempt from
taxation.  Except as restricted by this Article, the legislature may
provide for raising revenue and fixing the situs of all property for
the purpose of taxation.  Provided that all taxes and exemptions in
force when this amendment is adopted shall remain in force until
otherwise provided by statute.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=519|Approved Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

==== ARTICLE XXX. ====

Sec. 177. The legislature may by law provide for the levy and
collection of an acreage tax on lands within the state in addition to
the limitations specified in Section 174 in Article 11 of the
Constitution. The proceeds of such tax shall be used to indemnify the
owners of growing crops against damages by hail, provided that lands
used exclusively for public roads, rights of way of common carriers,
mining, manufacturing or pasturage may be exempt from such tax.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=519|Approved Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

==== ARTICLE XXXI. ====

Sec. 182. The state may issue or guarantee the payment of bonds,
provided that all bonds in excess of two million dollars shall be
secured by first mortgages upon real estate in amounts not to exceed
one-half of its value; or upon real and personal property of
state-owned utilities, enterprises or industries, in amounts not
exceeding its value, and, provided further, that the state shall not
issue or guarantee bonds upon property of state-owned utilities,
enterprises or industries in excess of ten million dollars. 

No future indebtedness shall be incurred by the state unless evidenced
by a bond issue, which shall be authorized by law for certain
purposes, to be clearly defined. Every law authorizing a bond issue
shall provide for levying an annual tax, or make other provision,
sufficient to pay the interest semi-annually, and the principal within
thirty years from the passage of such law, and shall specially
appropriate the proceeds of such tax, or of such other provisions, to
the payment of said principal and interest, and such appropriation
shall not be repealed nor the tax or other provisions discontinued
until such debt, both principal and interest, shall have been paid. No
debt in excess of the limit named herein shall be incurred except for
the purpose of repelling invasion, suppressing insurrection, defending
the state in time of war or to provide for the public defense in case
of threatened hostilities.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=519|Approved Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

==== ARTICLE XXXII. ====

Sec. 185. The state, any county or city may make internal improvements
and may engage in any industry, enterprise or business not prohibited
by Article 20 of the Constitution, but neither the state nor any
political subdivision thereof shall otherwise loan or give its credit
or make donations to or in aid of any individual, association or
corporation except for reasonable support of the poor, nor subscribe
to or become the owner of capital stock in any association or
corporation. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1919/sl1919.pdf#page=520|Approved Nov. 5, 1918]], effective Dec. 5, 1918 ]

==== ARTICLE XXXIII. ====

The qualified electors of the state or of any county, or of any
congressional, judicial or legislative district may petition for the
recall of any elective congressional, state, county, judicial or
legislative officer by filing a petition with the officer with whom
the petition for nomination to such office in the primary election is
filed, demanding the recall of such officer. Such petition shall be
signed by at least thirty per cent of the qualified electors who voted
at the preceding election for the office of governor in the state,
county or district from which such officer is to be recalled. The
officer with whom such petition is filed shall call a special election
to be held not less than forty or more than forty-five days from the
filing of such petition.

The officer against whom such petition has been filed shall continue
to perform the duties of his office until the result of such special
election shall hnve been officially declared.  Other candidates for
such office may he nominated in the manner as is provided by law in
primary elections. The candidate who shall receive the highest number
of votes shall be deemed elected for the remainder of the term. The
name of the candidate against whom the recall petition is filed shall
go on the ticket unless he resigns within ten days after the filing of
the petition. After one such petition and special election, no further
recall petition shall be filed against the same officer during the
term for which he was elected.  This article shall be self executing
and all of its provisions shall be treated as mandatory.  Laws may be
enacted to facilitate its operation, but no law shall be enacted to
hamper, restrict or impair the right of recall. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=268|Adopted Mar. 16, 1920]], effective Apr. 15, 1920]

==== ARTICLE XXXIV. ====

Sec. 161. The legislative assembly shall have authority to provide by
law for the leasing of lands granted to the state for educational and
charitable purposes; but no such law shall authorize the leasing of
said lands for a longer period than five years. Said lands shall only
be leased for pasturage and meadow purposes and at a public auction
after notice as heretofore provided in case of sale; provided, that
all of said school lands now under cultivation may be leased, at the
discretion and under the control of the Board of University and School
Lands, for other than pasturage and meadow purposes until sold. All
rents shall be paid in advance. 

Provided, further, that coal lands may also be leased for agricultural
cultivation upon such terms and conditions and for such a period, not
exceeding five years, as the legislature may provide. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=268|Adopted Mar. 16, 1920]], effective Apr. 15, 1920]

==== ARTICLE XXXV. ====

Section 183. The debt of any county, township, city, town, school
district or any other political subdivision, shall never exceed the
per centum upon the assessed value of the taxable property therein;
provided that any incorporated city may, by a two-thirds vote,
increase such indebtedness three per centum on such assessed value
beyond said five per centum limit, and a school district, by a
majority vote may increase such indebtedness five per cent on such
assessed value beyond said five per centum limit; provided also that
any county or city by a majority vote may issue bonds upon any revenue
producing utility owned by such county or city, or for the purchasing
or acquiring the same or building or establishment thereof, in amounts
not exceeding the physical value of such utility, industry or
enterprise.

In estimating the indebtedness which a city, county, township, school
district or any other political subdivision may incur, the entire
amount, exclusive of the bonds upon said revenue producing utilities,
whether contracted prior or subsequent to the adoption of this
constitution, shall be included; provided further that any
incorporated city may become indebted in any amount not exceeding four
per centum of such assessed value without regard to the existing
indebtedness of such city for the purpose of constructing or
purchasing waterworks for furnishing a supply of water to the
inhabitants of such city, or for the purpose of constructing sewers,
and for no other purpose whatever. All bonds and obligations in excess
of the amount of indebtedness permitted by this constitution, given by
any city, county, township, town, school district, or any other
political subdivision shall be void. 

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=268|Adopted Mar. 16, 1920]], effective Apr. 15, 1920]

==== ARTICLE XXXVI. ====

Every qualified elector who shall have resided in the state one year,
and in the county ninety days, and in the precinct thirty days next
preceding any election, shall be entitled to vote at such election;
provided, that where a qualified elector moves from one precinct to
another within the same county, he shall be entitled to vote in the
precinct from which he moved, until he establishes his residence in
the precinct to which he moved.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=268|Adopted Mar. 16, 1920]], effective Apr. 15, 1920]

==== ARTICLE XXXVII. ====

Section 121.  Every person of the age of twenty-one years or upwards,
belonging to either of the following classes who shall have resided in
the state one year and in the county ninety days and in the precinct
thirty days next preceding any election shall be a qualified elector
at such election.  First, citizens of the United States; second,
civilized persons of Indian descent who have severed their tribal
relation two years next preceding such election.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=270|Approved Nov. 2, 1920]], effective Dec. 2, 1920 ]

==== ARTICLE XXXVIII. ====

Sec. 215. The following public institutions of the State are
permanently located at the places hereinafter named, each to have the
lands specifically granted to it by the United States in the Act of
Congress approved February 22, 1889, to be disposed of and used in
such manner as the Legislative Assembly may prescribe subject to the
limitations provided in the article on school and public lands
contained in this Constitution.

First: The seat of government at the City of Bismarck in the County of
Burleigh. 

Second: The State University and the School of Mines at the city of
Grand Forks, in the County of Grand Forks.

Third: The Agricultural  College at the City of Fargo, in the County
of Cass.

Fourth: A State Normal School at the city of Valley City, in the
County of Barnes, and the Legislative Assembly, in apportioning the
grant of eighty thousand acres of land for normal schools made in the
act of Congress referred to shall grant to the said Normal School at
Valley City, as aforementioned, fifty thousand (50,000) acres, and
said lands are hereby appropriated to said institution for that
purpose.

Fifth: The School for the Deaf and Dumb of North Dakota at the City of
Devils Lake, in the County of Ramsey.

Sixth: A State Training School at the City of Mandan, in the County of
Morton.

Seventh: A State Normal School at the City of Mayville, in the County
of Traill, and the Legislative Assembly in apportioning the grant of
lands made by Congress in the act aforesaid for State Normal Schools
shall assign thirty thousand (30,000) acres to the institution hereby
located at Mayville, and said lands are hereby appropriated for said
purpose.

Eighth: A State Hospital for the Insane at the City of Jamestown, in
the County of Stutsman.  And the Legislative Assembly shall
appropriate twenty thousand acres of the grant of lands made by the
Act of Congress aforesaid for other educational and charitable
institutions to the benefit and for the endowment of said institution,
and there shall be located at or near the City of Grafton, in the
County of Walsh, an institution for the Feeble Minded, on the grounds
purchased by the Secretary of the Interior for a Penitentiary
building.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=270|Approved Nov. 2, 1920]], effective Dec. 2, 1920 ]

==== ARTICLE XXXIX. ====

Sec. 162. The moneys of the permanent school fund and other
educational funds shall be invested only in bonds of school
corporations or of counties, or of townships, or of municipalities
within the state, bonds issued for the construction of drains under
authority of law within the state, bonds of the United States, bonds
of the State of North Dakota, or on first mortgages on farm lands in
this state, not exceeding in amount one-half of the actual value of
any sub-division on which the same may be loaned, such value to be
determined by the board of appraisal of school lands.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=271|Approved Nov. 2, 1920]], effective Dec. 2, 1920 ]

==== ARTICLE XL. ====

Every qualified elector, who shall have resided in the state one year,
in the county 90 days and in the precinct 30 days next preceding any
election, shall be entitled to vote at such election. Provided that
where a qualified elector moves from one precinct to another within
the state he shall be entitled to vote in the precinct from which he
moves until he establishes his residence in the precinct to which he
moves.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1921/sl1921.pdf#page=268|S.B. 57, 1921]], [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1923/sl1923.pdf#page=566|Approved Jun. 28, 1922]], effective Jul. 28, 1922 ]

==== ARTICLE XLI. ====

Sec. 173. At the First general election held after the adoption of
this Constitution, and every two years thereafter, there shall be
elected in each organized county in the State, a register of deeds,
county auditor, treasurer, sheriff, state's attorney, county judge and
a clerk of the district court, who shall be electors in the county in
which they are elected and who shall hold their office until their
successors are elected and qualified; provided in counties having six
thousand population or less the county judge shall also be the clerk
of the district court. The legislative assembly shall provide by law
for such other county, township and district ofiicers as may be deemed
necessary, and shall prescribe the duties and compensation of all
county, township and district officers. The sheriff and treas- urer of
any county shall not hold their respective offices for more than four
years in succession.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1925/sl1925.pdf#page=341|Approved Mar. 18, 1924]], effective Apr. 17, 1924 ]

==== ARTICLE XLII. ====

Sec. 182. The State may issue or guarantee the payment of bonds,
provided that all bonds in excess of two million dollars shall be
secured by first mortgage upon real estate in amounts not to exceed
one-half of its value; or upon real and personal property of state
owned utilities, enterprises or industries, in amounts not exceeding
its value, and provided further, that the state shall not issue or
guarantee bonds upon property of state owned utilities, enterprises or
industries in excess of ten million dollars.

No further indebtedness shall be incurred by the state unless
evidenced by a bond-issue, which shall be authorized by law for
certain purposes, to be clearly defined. Every law authorizing a bond
issue shall provide for levying an annual tax, or make other
provision, sufficient to pay the interest semi-annually, and the
principal within thirty years from the date of the issue of such
bonds, and shall specially appropriate the proceeds of such tax, or of
such other provisions to the payment of said principal and interest,
and such appropriation shall not be repealed nor the tax or other
provisions discontinued until such debt, both principal and interest,
shall have been paid. No debt in excess of the limit named herein
shall be incurred except for the purpose of repelling invasion,
suppressing insurrection, defending the state in time of war or to
provide for the public defense in case of threatened hostilities.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1925/sl1925.pdf#page=341|Approved Mar. 18, 1924]], effective Apr. 17, 1924 ]

==== ARTICLE XLIII. ====

Sec. 82. There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the State
at the times and places of choosing members of the legislative
assembly, a secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of
public instruction, commissioner of insurance, three commissioners of
railroads, one attorney general and one commissioner of agriculture
and labor, who shall have attained the age of twenty- five years,
shall be citizens of the United States, and shall have the
qualifications of state electors. They shall severally hold their
offices at the seat of government, and, with the exception of the
commissioners of railroads, for the term of two years and until their
successors are elected and duly qualified, but no person shall be
eligible to the office of treasurer for more than two consecutive
terms.  Of the commissioners of railroads elected at the general
election in 1926, the one having held his office for the longest time
shall serve for six years; the one having held his office the next
longest time shall serve for four years, and the one having held this
office the shortest time, shall serve for two years, provided,
however, if two or more such commissioners shall have held such office
an equal or no length of time, the one having the highest vote shall
serve for the longer term; thereafter one commissioner of railroads
shall be elected every two years, and shall hold his office for a term
of six years and until his successor is elected and qualified.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1927/sl1927.pdf#page=567|Approved Jun. 30, 1926]], effective Jul. 30, 1926 ]

==== ARTICLE XLIV. ====

Sec. 179. All taxable property except as hereinafter in this section
provided, shall be assessed in the county, city, township, village or
district in which it is situated, in the manner prescribed by law. The
property, including franchises of all railroads operated in this
state, and of all express companies, freight line companies, dining
car companies, sleeping car companies, car equipment companies, or
private car line companies, telegraph or telephone companies, the
property of any person, firm or corporation used for the purpose of
furnishing electric light, heat or power, or in distributing the same
for public use, and the property of any other corporation, firm or
individual now or hereafter operating in this state, and used directly
or indirectly in the carrying of persons, property or messages, shall
be assessed by the State Board of Equalization in a manner prescribed
by such state board or commission as may be provided by law. But
should any railroad allow any portion of its railway to be used for
any purpose other than the operation of a railroad thereon, such
portion of its railway, while so used shall be assessed in a manner
provided for the assessment of other real property.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1929/sl1929.pdf#page=416|Approved Mar. 20, 1928]], effective Apr. 20, 1928]

==== ARTICLE XLV. ====

Sec. 104. The State shall be divided into not less than six judicial
districts, in each of which there shall be elected at general
elections by the electors thereof one or more judges of the District
Court therein as may be provided by law. The term of office of a Judge
of the District Court hereafter elected shall be six years from the
first Monday in January succeeding his election and he shall hold his
office until his successor is duly qualified. At the general election
in 1932 there shall be elected as many judges as there are judgeships
to be filled in each Judicial District; the candidate receiving the
highest number of votes shall be elected to a term of six years, the
candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall be elected
to a term of four years, and in case three judges are to be elected,
the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall be
elected to a term of two years, and thereafter each judge shall be
elected to a term of six years.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1931/sl1931.pdf#page=593|Approved Jun. 25, 1930]], effective Jul. 25, 1930 ]

==== ARTICLE XLVI. ====

Sec. 90. The judges of the Supreme Court shall be elected by the
qualified electors of the State at general elections. The term of
office shall be ten years and the judges shall hold their offices
until their successors are duly qualified and shall receive such
compensation for their services as may be prescribed by law. Provided
that this section shall not be applicable to the terms of office of
judges of the Supreme Court elected prior to the general election of
the year 1934, at which election three Supreme Court Judges shall be
chosen; and the candidate at said election receiving the highest
number of votes shall be elected for a term of ten years, the
candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall be elected
for a term of eight years and the candidate receiving the next highest
number of votes shall be elected for a term of six years.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1931/sl1931.pdf#page=593|Approved Jun. 25, 1930]], effective Jul. 25, 1930 ]

==== ARTICLE XLVII. ====

That Section 217, Article 20, of the Constitution of the State of
North Dakota, be and the same is hereby repealed.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1933/sl1933.pdf#page=507|Approved Nov. 8, 1932]], effective Dec. 8, 1932]

==== ARTICLE XLVIII. ====

Sec. 173. At the first general election held after the adoption of
this amendment, and every two years thereafter, there shall be elected
in each organized county in the state, a register of deeds, county
auditor, treasurer, sheriff, state's attorney, county judge and a
clerk of the district court, who shall be electors in the county in
which they are elected and who shall hold their office until their
successors are elected and qualified; provided in counties having
fifteen thousand population, or less, the county judge shall also be
the clerk of the district court. Provided further that counties having
a population of 6,000 or less, the register of deeds shall also be
clerk of the district court and county judge. The legislative assembly
shall provide by law for such other county, township and district
officers as may be deemed necessary, and shall prescribe the duties
and compensation of all county, township and district officers. The
sheriff and treasurer of any county shall not hold their respective
offices for more than four years in succession.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1935/sl1935.pdf#page=509|Approved Sep. 22, 1933]], effective Oct. 22, 1933]

==== ARTICLE XLIX. ====

Sec. 63. Every bill shall be read two separate times, but the first
and second readings may not be upon the same day; and the first
reading may be by title of the bill only, unless upon such first
reading, a reading at length is demanded.  The second reading shall be
at length. No legislative day shall be shorter than the natural day.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1935/sl1935.pdf#page=509|Approved Sep. 22, 1933]], effective Oct. 22, 1933]

==== ARTICLE L. ====

Sec. 158. No land shall be sold for less than the appraised value and
in no case be sold for less than ten dollars ($10.00) per acre.  The
purchaser shall pay one-fifth of the price in cash, and the remaining
four-fifths as follows:

One-fifth in five years, one-fifth on or before the expiration of ten
years, one-fifth on or before the expiration of fifteen years, and
one-fifth on or before the expiration of twenty years, with
interest at the rate of not less than three per cent per annum,
payable annually; provided that when payments are made before due they
shall be made at an interest paying date. All sales shall be held at
the county seat of the county in which the land to be sold is
situated, and shall be at public auction and to the highest bidder,
after sixty days advertisement of the same in a newspaper of general
circulation in the vicinity of the land to be sold, and one at the
seat of government. Such lands as shall not have been specially
subdivided shall be offered in tracts of one quarter section, and
those subdivided in the smallest subdivisions. All lands designated
for sale and not sold within two years after appraisal shall be
reappraised before they are sold. No grant or patent for such lands
shall issue until payment is made for the same; provided that the land
contracted to be sold by the State shall be subject to taxation from
the date of contract. In case the taxes assessed against any of said
lands for any year remain unpaid until the first Monday in October of
the following year, then thereupon the contract of sale for such land
shall, if the Board of University and School Lands so determine,
become null and void. Any lands under the provision of Section 158 of
the Constitution of the State of North Dakota that have heretofore
been sold, may be paid for, except as to interest as provided;
provided further, that any school or institutional lands that may be
required for townsite purposes, school house sites, church sites,
cemetery sites, sites for other educational or charitable
institutions, public parks, fair grounds, public highways, railroad
right of way or for other railroad uses and purposes, reservoirs for
the storage of water for irrigation, drain ditches, and lands that may
be required for any of the purposes over which the right of eminent
domain may be exercised under the Constitution and the laws of the
State of North Dakota, may be sold under the provisions of this act,
and shall be paid for, principal and interest, in full in advance at
the time of the sale, or at any time thereafter, and patent issued
therefor, when principal and interest are paid. Any of the said lands,
including lands held in trust for any purpose, may, with the approval
of the Board of University and School Lands, be exchanged for lands of
the United States, as the Legislature may provide, and the lands so
acquired shall be subject to the trust, if any, to which the lands
exchanged therefor were subject, and the State shall reserve all
mineral and water and water power rights in lands so transferred by
the State.

Provided, further, that, when land has been sold on contract as
hereinbefore provided, and the purchases [purchaser] or his heirs or
assigns, has been unable, at least in part by reason of successive
crop failures, to pay for the land purchased within twenty years after
the date of purchase and such contract is in default and subject to
cancellation, the Board of University and School Lands, may, if so
requested by such purchaser or his heirs, or assigns, after declaring
such contract terminated, resell the land described in such contract
to such purchaser, or his heirs or assigns for the amount of the
unpaid principal of the original purchase price plus the amount of
unpaid accrued interest, but in no case shall the resale price be more
than the original sale price, such contract of resale to be upon the
same terms as said original contract excepting that the contract of
resale may provide that the purchaser may pay the first one-fifth of
the resale price in five equal successive annual installments, the
first installment to be paid at the time of execution of the resale
contract, and that such resale contract shall bear interest at the
rate of three per cent per annum payable annually; and provided
further, that this Section shall be deemed self-executing insofar as
provision is made herein for resale of lands sold to the original
purchaser or to his heirs or assigns.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1939/sl1939.pdf#page=510|Approved Jun. 28, 1938]], effective Jul. 28, 1938]

==== ARTICLE LI. ====

The Governor or any officer of this State, or any manager or executive
head, or other person employed either directly or indirectly in any
department, bureau, commission, institution, or industry of this
State, or any member of any State board shall not appoint a member of
the Legislative Assembly to any civil office or employment of any
nature whatsoever, during the term for which said member of the
Legislative Assembly shall have been elected.  No member Of the
Legislative Assembly shall accept any such appointment to civil office
or other employment during the term for which he was elected.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1939/sl1939.pdf#page=511|Approved Jun. 28, 1938]], effective Jul. 28, 1938]

==== ARTICLE LII. ====

Sec. 82. There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the State
at the times and places of choosing members of the Legislative
Assembly, a secretary, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of public
instruction, commissioner of insurance, three commissioners of
railroads, an attorney general, a commissioner of agriculture and
labor, and a tax commissioner, who shall have attained the age of
twenty-five years and shall have the qualifications of state electors.
They shall severally hold their offices at the seat of government for
the term of two years and until their successors are elected and duly
qualified; but no person shall be eligible for the office of treasurer
for more than two consecutive terms; provided, however, the tax
commissioner shall hold his office for the term of four years and
until his successor is elected and duly qualified.

The tax commissioner shall be elected on a no-party ballot and he
shall be nominated and elected in the manner now provided for the
nomination and election Of the superintendent of public instruc- tion.

The first election of the tax commissioner shall not occur until the
year 1940.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1939/sl1939.pdf#page=512|Approved Jun. 28, 1938]], effective Jul. 28, 1938]

==== ARTICLE LIII. ====

Sec. 186. (1.) All public moneys, from whatever source derived, shall
be paid over monthly by the public official, employee, agent,
director, manager, board, bureau, or institution of the State
receiving the same, to the State Treasurer, and deposited by him to
the credit of the State, and shall be paid out and disbursed only
pursuant to appropriation first made by the Legislature; provided,
however, that there is hereby appropriated the necessary funds
required in the financial transactions of the Bank of North Dakota,
and required for the payment of losses, duly approved, payable from
the State Hail Insurance Fund, State Bonding Fund, and State Fire and
Tornado Fund, and required for the payment of compensation to injured
employees or death claims, duly approved, payable from the Workmen's
Compensation Fund, and required for authorized investments made by the
Board of University and School Lands, and required for the financial
operations of the State Mill and Elevator Association, and required
for the payment of interest and principal of bonds and other fixed
obligations of the State, and required for payments required by law to
be paid to beneficiaries of the Teachers' Insurance and Retirement
Fund, and required for refunds made under the provisions of the Retail
Sales Tax Act, and the State Income Tax Law, and the State Gasoline
Tax Law, and the Estate and Succession Tax Law, and the income of any
State institution derived from permanent trust funds, and the funds
allocated under the law to the State Highway Department and the
various counties for the construction, reconstruction, and maintenance
of public roads.

This constitutional amendment shall not be construed to apply to fees
and moneys received in connection with the licensing and organization
of physicians and surgeons, pharmacists, dentists, osteopaths,
optometrists, embalmers, barbers, lawyers, veterinarians, nurses,
chiropractors, accountants, architects, hairdressers, Chiropodists,
and other similarly organized, licensed trades and professions; and
this constitutional amendment shall not be construed to amend or
repeal existing laws or acts amendatory thereof concerning such fees
and moneys.

(2.) No bills, claims, accounts, or demands against the State or any
county or other political subdivision shall be audited, allowed, or
paid until a full itemized statement in writing shall be filed with
the officer or officers whose duty it may be to audit the same, and
then only upon warrant drawn upon the Treasurer of such funds by the
proper officer or officers.

(3.) This amendment shall become effective on July 1, 1939.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1939/sl1939.pdf#page=512|Approved Jun. 28, 1938]], effective Jul. 28, 1938]

==== ARTICLE LIV. ====

Sec. 1. A board of higher education, to be officially known as the
State Board of Higher Education, is hereby created for the control and
administration of the following state educational institutions,
to-wit:

(1) The State University and School of Mines, at Grand Forks, with
their substations.

(2) The State Agricultural College and Experiment Station, at Fargo,
with their substations.

(3) The School of Science, at Wahpeton.

(4) The State Normal Schools and Teachers Colleges, at Valley City,
Mayville, Minot and Dickinson.

(5) The Normal and Industrial School, at Ellendale.

(6) The School of Forestry, at Bottineau.

(7) And such other State institutions of higher education as may
hereafter be established.

Sec. 2. (a) The State Board of Higher Education shall consist of seven
(7) members, all of whom shall be qualified electors and taxpayers of
the State, and who shall have resided in this State for not less than
five (5) years immediately preceding their appointment, to be
appointed by the Governor, by and with the consent of the Senate, from
a list of names selected as hereinafter provided.  There shall not be
on said board more than one (1) alumnus or former student of any one
of the institutions under the jurisdiction of said State Board of
Higher Education at any one time. No person employed by any
institution under the control of the board shall serve as a member of
said board, nor shall any employee of any such institution be eligible
for membership on the State Board of Higher Education for a period of
two (2) years following the termination of his employment.

On or before the Ist day of February, 1939, the Governor shall
nominate from a list of three names for each position, selected by the
unanimous action of the President of the North Dakota Educational
Association, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the
Superintendent of Public Instruction, and, with the consent of a
majority of the members-elect of the Senate, shall appoint from such
list as such State Board of Higher Education seven (7) members, whose
terms shall commence on the 1st day of July, 1939, one of which terms
shall expire on the 30th day of June, 1940, and one on the 30th day of
June in each of the years 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, and 1946. The
term of office of members appointed to fill vacancies at the
expiration of said terms shall be for seven (7) years, and in the case
of vacancies otherwise arising, appointments shall be made only for
the balance of the term of the members whose places are to be filled.

(b) In the event any nomination made by the Governor is not consented
to and confirmed by the Senate as hereinbefore provided, the Governor
shall again nominate a candidate for such office, selected from a new
list, prepared in the manner hereinbefore provided, which nomination
shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation, and said
proceedings shall be continued until such appointments have been
confirmed by the Senate, or the session of the legislature shall have
adjourned.

(c) When any term expires or a vacancy occurs when the legislature is
not in session, the Governor may appoint from a list selected as
hereinbefore provided, a member who shall serve until the opening of
the next session of the legislature, at which time his appointment
shall be certified to the Senate for confirmation, as above provided;
and if the appointment be not confirmed by the thirtieth legislative
day of such session, his office shall be deemed vacant and the
Governor shall nominate from a list selected as hereinbefore provided,
another candidate for such office and the same proceedings shall be
followed as are above set forth; provided further, that when the
legislature shall be in session at any time within six (6) months
prior to the date of the expiration of the term of any member, the
Governor shall nominate his successor from a list selected as above
set forth, within the first thirty (30) days of such session, and upon
confirmation by the Senate such successor shall take office at the
expiration of the term of the incumbent.  No person who has been
nominated and whose nomination the Senate has failed to confirm, shall
be eligible for an interim appointment.

Sec 3. The members of the State Board of Higher Education may only be
removed by impeachment for the offenses and in the manner and
according to the procedure provided for the removal of the Governor by
impeachment proceedings.

Sec. 4. The appointive members of the State Board of Higher Education
shall receive seven dollars ($7.00) per day and their necessary
expenses for travel while attending meetings, or in the performances
of such special duties as the board may direct; provided, however, no
member shall receive a total compensation, exclusive of expenses, to
exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) in any calendar year; and no
member shall receive total expense money in excess of five hundred
dollars ($500.00) in any calendar year.

Sec. 5. The legislature shall provide adequate funds for the proper
carrying out of the functions and duties of the State Board of Higher
Education.

Sec. 6. (a) The State Board of Higher Education shall hold its first
meeting at the office of the State Board of Administration at
Bismarck, on the 6th day of July, 1939, and shall organize and elect
one of its members as president of such board for a term of one year.
It shall also at said meeting, or as soon thereafter as may be
practicable, elect a competent person as secretary, who shall reside
during his term of office in the City of Bismarck, North Dakota.  Said
secretary shall hold office at the will of the board.  As soon as said
board is established and organized, it shall assume all the powers and
perform all the duties now conferred by law upon the Board of
Administration in connection with the several institutions
hereinbefore mentioned, and the said Board of Administration shall
immediately upon the organization of said State Board of Higher
Education, surrender and transfer to said State Board of Higher
Education all duties, rights, and powers granted to it under the
existing laws of this State concerning the institutions hereinbefore
mentioned, together with all property, deeds, records, reports, and
appurtenances of every kind belonging or appertaining to said
institutions.

(b) The said State Board of Higher Education shall have full authority
over the institutions under its control with the right, among its
other powers, to prescribe, limit, or modify the courses offered at
the several institutions. In furtherance of its powers, the State
Board of Higher Education shall have the power to delegate to its
employees details of the administration of the institutions under its
control. The said State Board of Higher Education shall have full
authority to organize or re-organize within constitutional and
statutory limitations, the work of each institution under its control,
and do each and everything necessary and proper for the efficient and
economic administration of said State educational institutions.

(c) Said board shall prescribe for all of said institutions standard
systems of accounts and records and shall biennially, and within six
(6) months immediately preceding the regular session of the
legislature, make a report to the Governor, covering in detail the
operations of the educational institutions under its control.

(d) It shall be the duty of the heads of the several state
institutions hereinbefore mentioned, to submit the budget requests for
the biennial appropriations for said institutions to said state board
of higher education; and said state board of higher education shall
consider said budgets and shall revise the same as in its judgment
shall be for the best interests of the educational system of the
state; and thereafter the state board of higher education shall
prepare and present to the state budget board and to the legislature a
single unified budget covering the needs of all the institutions under
its control. "Said budget shall be prepared and presented by the board
of administration until the state board of higher education organizes
as provided in section 6 (a)." The appropriations for all of said
institutions shall be contained in one legislative measure. The
budgets and appropriation measures for the agricultural experiment
stations and their substations and the extension division of the North
Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Science may be
separate from those of state educational institutions.

(e) The said State Board of Higher Education shall have the control of
the expenditure of the funds belonging to, and allocated to such
institutions and also those appropriated by the legislature, for the
institutions of higher education in this State; provided, however,
that funds appropriated by the legislature and specifically designated
for any one or more of such institutions, shall not be used for any
other institution.

Sec. 7. (a) The State Board of Higher Education shall, as soon as
practicable, appoint for a term of not to exceed three (3) years, a
State Commissioner of Higher Education, whose principal ofiice shall
be at the State Capitol, in the City of Bismarck. Said Commissioner of
Higher Education shall be responsible to the State Board of Higher
Education and shall be removable by said board for cause.

(b) The State Commissioner of Higher Education shall be a graduate of
some reputable college or university, and why by training and
experience is familiar with the problems peculiar to higher education.

(c) Such Commissioner of Higher Education shall be the chief executive
officer of said State Board of Higher Education, and shall perform
such duties as shall be prescribed by the board.

Sec. 8. This constitutional provision shall be self-executing and
shall become effective without the necessity of legislative action.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1939/sl1939.pdf#page=514|Approved Jun. 28, 1938]], effective Jul. 28, 1938]

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1965/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=1|Amended Jun. 30, 1964]], effective Jul. 30, 1964]


==== ARTICLE LV. ====

Sec. 1 That Section 167 of the Constitution of the State of North
Dakota, is hereby amended and re-enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 167. The Legislative Assembly shall provide by general law for
organizing new counties, locating county seats thereof temporarily,
and changing the county lines; but no new county shall be organized,
nor shall any organized county be so reduced as to include an area of
less than twenty-four congressional townships, and containing a
population of less than five thousand bona fide inhabitants.  And in
the organization of new counties and in changing the lines of
organized counties and boundaries of congressional townships the
natural boundaries shall be observed as nearly as may be.

The Legislative Assembly shall also provide by general law for the
consolidation of counties, and for their dissolution, but no counties
shall be consolidated without a fifty-five per cent vote of those
voting on the question in each county affected, and no county shall be
dissolved without a fifty-five per cent vote of the electors of such
county voting on such question.

Sec. 2. That Section 170 of the Constitution of the State of North
Dakota, is hereby amended and re-enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 170. The Legislative Assembly shall provide by law for optional
forms of government for counties, which forms shall be, in addition to
that form provided by Sections 172 and 173 of the Constitution, and
which forms shall specify the number, functions and manner of
selection of county officers, but no such optional form of government
shall become operative in any county until submitted to the electors
thereof at a special election or a general election, and approved by
fifty-five per cent of those voting thereon. The manner of exercising
the powers herein granted shall be by general laws, but such laws
shall provide that the initiative for the submission of the question
of the adoption of one of the optional forms of county government may
be had either by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the county
legislative body or upon petition of electors of the county equal to
at least fifteen per centum of the total number of voters of the
county who voted for Governor at the last general election.  Among the
optional forms of county government to be provided by the Legislative
Assembly under this provision, at least one form shall provide for a
county manager.

Sec. 3. That Section 171 of the Constitution of the State of North
Dakota be and the same is hereby repealed.

Sec. 4. That Section 172 of the Constitution of the State of North
Dakota is hereby amended and re-enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 172. Until one of the optional forms of county government
provided by the Legislative Assembly under Section I70 of the
Constitution, as amended, be adopted by any county, the fiscal affairs
of said county shall be transacted by a board of county commissioners.
Said board shall consist of not less than three and not more than five
members whose terms of office shall be prescribed by law. Said board
shall hold sessions for the transaction of county business, as shall
be provided by law.

Sec. 5. That Section 173 of the Constitution of the State of North
Dakota, as amended, is hereby amended and re-enacted to read as
follows:

Sec. 173. At the first general election after the adoption of this
amendment, and every two years thereafter, there shall be elected in
each county organized under the provisions of Section 172 of the
Constitution, a register of deeds, county auditor, treasurer, sheriff,
state's attorney, county judge and a clerk of the district court, who
shall be electors in the county in which they are elected and who
shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified;
provided in counties having fifteen thousand population or less, the
county judge shall also be clerk of the district court; provided
further that in counties having a population of 6,000 or less, the
register of deeds shall also be clerk of the district court and county
judge. The sheriff and treasurer of any county shall not hold their
respective offices for more than four years in succession.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1941/sl1941.pdf#page=602|Approved Jun. 25, 1940]], effective Jul. 25, 1940 ]

==== ARTICLE LVI. ====

Sec. 1. Revenue from gasoline and other motor fuel excise and license
taxation, motor vehicle registration and license taxes, after
deduction of cost of administration and collection authorized by
legislative appropriation only, and statutory refunds, shall be
appropriated and used solely for construction, reconstruction, repair
and maintenance of public highways, and the payment of obligations
incurred in the construction, reconstruction, repair and maintenance
of public highways.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1941/sl1941.pdf#page=604|Approved Jun. 25, 1940]], effective Jul. 25, 1940 ]

==== ARTICLE LVII. ====

Sec. 82. There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the state
at the times and places of choosing members of the legislative
assembly, a secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of
public instruction, commissioner of insurance, three public service
commissioners, an attorney general, a commissioner of agriculture and
labor, and a tax commissioner, who shall have attained the age of
twenty-five years and shall have the qualifications of state electors.
They shall severally hold their offices at the seat of government for
the term of two years and until their successors are elected and duly
qualified; but no person shall be eligible for the office of treasurer
for more than two consecutive terms; provided, however, the tax
commissioner shall hold his office for the term of four years and
until his successor is elected and duly qualified; and provided,
further, that the public service commissioners shall severally hold
their offices for the term of six years and until their successors are
elected and duly qualified.

The tax commissioner shall be elected on a no-party ballot and he
shall be nominated and elected in the manner now provided for the
nomination and election of the superintendent of public instruction.
The first election of a tax commissioner shall not occur until the
year 1940.

At the general election in 1940 there shall be chosen two public
service commissioners to fill the two terms expiring on the first
Monday in January, 1941. The candidate at said election receiving the
highest number of votes shall be elected for a term of six years, and
the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall be
elected for a term of four years. Thereafter there shall be chosen one
such public service commissioner every two years.

The board of railroad commissioners shall hereafter be known as the
public service commission and the members of the board of railroad
commissioners as public service commissioners and the powers and
duties now or hereafter granted to and conferred upon the board of
railroad commissioners are hereby transferred to the public service
commission.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1941/sl1941.pdf#page=604|Approved Jun. 25, 1940]], effective Jul. 25, 1940 ]

==== ARTICLE LVIII. ====

That Section 158 of Article 9 of the Constitution of the State of North Dakota,
as amended by Article 13 of the Amendments thereof, as further amended by
Article 50 of the amendments thereof, is hereby amended and re-enacted to read
as follows:

Sec. 158. No original grant school or institutional land shall he
sold for less than the fair market value thereof, and in no case for
less than ten dollars ($10.00) per acre. provided that when lands
have been sold on contract and the contract has been cancelled, such
lands may be resold without reappraisement by the board of appraisal.
The purchaser shall pay twenty (20) per cent of the purchase
price at the time the contract is executed; thereafter annual
payments shall be made of not less than six (6) per cent of the
original purchase price. An amount equal to not less than three (3)
per cent per annum of the unpaid principal shall be credited to interest
and the balance shall be applied as payment on principal as
credit on purchase price. The purchaser may pay all or any installment
or installments not yet due to any interest paying date. If the
purchaser so desires, he may pay the entire balance due on his
contract with interest to date of payment at any time and he will
then be entitled to proper conveyance.

All sales shall be held at the county seat of the county in which
the land to be sold is situated, and shall be at public auction and to
the highest bidder, and notice of such sale shall be published once
each week for a period of three weeks prior to the day of sale in
a legal newspaper published nearest the land and in the newspaper
designated for the publication of the official proceedings and legal
notices within the county in which said land is situated.

No grant or patent for such lands shall issue until payment is
made for the same; provided that the land contracted to be sold by
the State shall be subject to taxation from the date of the contract.
In case the taxes assessed against any of said lands for any year
remain unpaid until the first Monday in October of the following
year, the contract of sale for such land shall, if the Board of University
and School Lands so determine, by it, be declared null and void.
No contract of sale heretofore made under the provisions of said
Section 158 of the Constitution as then providing shall be affected by
this amendment, except prepayment of principal may be made as
herein provided.

Any of said lands that may be required for townsite purposes,
school house sites, church sites, cemetery sites, sites for other educational
or charitable institutions, public parks, air plane landing
fields, fair grounds, public highways, railroad right-of-way, or other
railroad uses and purposes, reservoirs for the storage of water for
irrigation, irrigation canals, and ditches, drainage ditches, or for any
of the purposes for which private lands may be taken under the right
of eminent domain under the Constitution and Laws of this state,
may be sold under the provisions of this Article, and shall be paid
for in full at the time of sale, or at any time thereafter as herein
provided. Any of said lands and any other lands controlled by the
Board of University and School Lands, may, with the approval of
said Board, be exchanged for lands of the United States, the State
of North Dakota or any county or municipality thereof as the Legislature
may provide, and the lands so acquired shall be subject to
the trust to which the lands exchanged therefor were subject, and
the State shall reserve all mineral and water power rights in lands
so transferred.

When any of said lands have been heretofore or may be hereafter
sold on contract, and the purchaser or his heirs or assigns is unable
to pay in full for the land purchased within twenty years after the
date of purchase and such contract is in default and subject to being
declared null and void as by law provided, the Board of University
and School Lands may, after declaring such contract null and void,
resell the land described in such contract to such purchaser, his
heirs or assigns, for the amount of the unpaid principal, together
with interest thereon reckoned to the date of such resale at the rate
of not less than three (3%) per cent, but in no case shall the resale
price he more than the original sale price; such contract of resale
shall be upon the terms herein provided, provided this seetion shall
be deemed self-executing insofar as the provisions for resale herein
made are concerned.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1945/sl1945.pdf#page=432|Approved Jun. 27, 1944]], effective Jul. 27, 1944]

==== ARTICLE LIX. ====

The legislative assembly of the state of North Dakota is hereby
authorized and empowered to provide by legislation for the issuance,
sale, and delivery of the bonds of the state of North Dakota in the
principal amount of not to exceed $27,000,000.00, the proceeds thereof
to be used in the payment of adjusted compensation to North Dakota
veterans of World War II on the basis of term of service, and under
such terms and conditions as the legislative assembly may prescribe.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1949/sl1949.pdf#page=527|Approved Jun. 29, 1948]], effective Jul. 29, 1948]

==== ARTICLE LX. ====

Sec. 1. Upon the adoption of this amendment to the constitution of the state of
North Dakota there shall be annually levied by the state of North Dakota one
mill upon all of the taxable property within the state of North Dakota which,
when collected, shall be covered into the state treasury of the state of North
Dakota and placed to the credit of the North Dakota State Medical Center at the
University of North Dakota; said fund shall be expended as the legislature shall
direct for the development and maintenance necessary to the efficient operation
of the said North Dakota State Medical Center.

Sec. 2. This amendment shall be self-executing, but legislation may be enacted
to facilitate its operation.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1949/sl1949.pdf#page=528|Approved Nov. 2, 1948]], effective Dec. 2, 1948]

==== ARTICLE LXI. ====

Sec. 162. The moneys of the permanent school fund and other
educational funds shall be invested only in bonds of school
corporations or of counties, or of townships, or of municipalities
within the state, bonds issued for the construction of drains under
authority of law within the state, bonds of the United States, bonds
of the state of North Dakota, or on first mortgages on farm lands in
this state to the extent such mortgages are guaranteed or insured by
the United States or any instrumentality thereof, or if not so
guaranteed or insured, not exceeding in amount one-half of the actual
value of any subdivision on which the same may be loaned such value to
be determined by the board of appraisal of school lands.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1953/sl1953.pdf#page=606|Approved Jun. 24, 1952]], effective Jul. 24, 1952]

==== ARTICLE LXII. ====

Sec. 173. At the first general election after the adoption of this
amendment, and every two years thereafter, there shall be elected in
each county, organized under the provisions of section 172 of the
constitution of the state of North Dakota, a register of deeds, county
auditor, treasurer, sheriff, state's attorney, county judge and a
clerk of the district court, who shall be electors in the county in
which they are elected and who shall hold office until their
successors are elected and qualified; provided in counties having
fifteen thousand population or less, the county judge shall also be
clerk of the district court; provided further that in counties having
a population of six thousand or less, the register of deeds shall also
be clerk of the district court and county judge. The treasurer of any
county shall not hold his or her respective office for more than four
years in succession. The legislative assembly shall enact appropriate
legislation to make this amendment effective at their first session
after its adoption.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1953/sl1953.pdf#page=606|Approved Jun. 24, 1952]], effective Jul. 24, 1952]

==== ARTICLE LXIII. ====

Sec. 216. Second: The blind asylum shall be known as the North Dakota
school for the blind and may be removed from the county of Pembina to
such other location as may be determined by the board of
administration to be in the best interests of the students of such
institution and the state of North Dakota.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1953/sl1953.pdf#page=607|Approved Jun. 24, 1952]], effective Jul. 24, 1952]

==== ARTICLE LXIV. ====

Sec. 138. No corporation shall issue stock or bonds except for money,
labor done, or money or property actually received; and all fictitious
increase of stock or indebtedness shall be void. The stock and
indebtedness of corporations shall not be increased except in
pursuance of general law, nor without the consent of the persons
holding the larger amount in value of the stock first obtained.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1955/sl1955.pdf#page=646|Approved Jun. 29, 1954]], effective Jul. 29, 1954]

==== ARTICLE LXV. ====

Sec. 1. The legislative assembly of the state of North Dakota is
hereby authorized and empowered to provide by legislation for the
issuance, sale and delivery of the bonds of the state of North Dakota
in the principal amount not to exceed $9,000,000.00, the proceeds
thereof to be used in payment of adjusted compensation to North Dakota
veterans of the Korean conflict who served in the armed forces of the
United States or any of its allies during the period from June 25,
1950 to July 27, 1953 on the basis of terms of service, and under such
terms and conditions as the legislative assembly may prescribe.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1957/pdf/CAA.pdf|Approved Jun. 26, 1956]], effective Jul. 26, 1956]

==== ARTICLE LXVI. ====

Sec. 14. Private property shall not be taken or damaged for public use
without just compensation having been first made to, or paid into
court for the owner.  No right of way shall be appropriated to the use
of any corporation until full compensation therefor be first made in
money or ascertained and paid into court for the owner, irrespective
of any benefit from any improvement proposed by such corporation,
which compensation shall be ascertained by a jury, unless a jury be
waived, provided however, that when the state or any of its
departments, agencies or political subdivisions seeks to acquire right
of way, it may take possession upon making an offer to purchase and by
depositing the amount of such offer with the clerk of the district
court of the county wherein the right of way is located. The clerk
shall immediately notify the owner of such deposit.  The owner may
thereupon appeal to the court in the manner provided by law, and may
have a jury trial, unless a jury be waived, to determine the damages.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1957/pdf/CAA.pdf#page=2|Approved Jun. 26, 1956]], effective Jul. 26, 1956]

==== ARTICLE LXVII. ====

Section 173 of article 10 of the Constitution of the state of North Dakota,
as amended, is hereby reenacted to read as follows:

Sec. 173. At the first general election after the adoption of this
amendment, and every two years thereafter, there shall be elected in
each county, organized under the provision of section 172 of the
Constitution of the state of North Dakota, a register of deeds, county
auditor, treasurer, sheriff, state's attorney, county judge and a
clerk of the district court, who shall be electors in the county in
which they are elected and who shall hold office until their
successors are elected and qualified; provided in counties having
fifteen thousand population or less, the county judge shall also be
clerk of the district court; provided further that in counties having
a population of six thousand or less the register of deeds shall also
be clerk of the district court and county judge. The legislative
assembly shall enact appropriate legislation to make this amendment
effective at their first session after its adoption.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1957/pdf/CAA.pdf#page=3|Approved Jun. 26, 1956]], effective Jul. 26, 1956]

==== ARTICLE LXVIII. ====

Sec. 203. Second. The people inhabiting this state do agree and
declare that they forever disclaim all right and title to the
unappropriated public lands lying within the boundaries thereof, and
to all lands lying within said limits owned or held by any Indian or
Indian tribes, and that until the title thereto shall have been
extinguished by the United States, the same shall be and remain
subject to the disposition of the United States, and that said Indian
lands shall remain under the absolute jurisdiction and control of the
Congress of the United States, provided, however, that the Legislative
Assembly of the state of North Dakota may, upon such terms and
conditions as it shall adopt, provide for the acceptance of such
jurisdiction as may be delegated to the state by act of Congress; that
the lands belonging to citizens of the United States residing without
this state shall never be taxed at a higher rate than the lands
belonging to residents of this state; that no taxes shall be imposed
by this state on lands or property therein, belonging to, or which may
hereafter be purchased by the United States or reserved for its use.
But nothing in this article shall preclude this state from taxing as
other lands are taxed, any lands owned or held by any Indian who has
severed his tribal relations, and has obtained from the United States
or from any person, a title thereto, by patent or other grant, save
and except such lands as have been or may be granted to any Indian or
Indians under any acts of Congress containing a provision exempting
the lands thus granted from taxation, which last mentioned lands shall
be exempt from taxation so long, and to such an extent, as is, or may
be provided in the act of Congress granting the same.

[[[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1959/pdf/CAA.pdf|Approved Jun. 24, 1958]], effective Jul. 24, 1958]

==== ARTICLE LXIX. ====

Sec. 121. Every person of the age of twenty-one or upwards who is a
citizen of the United States and who shall have resided in the state
one year and in the county ninety days and in the precinct thirty days
next preceding any election shall be a qualified elector at such
election. Provided that where a qualified elector moves from one
precinct to another within the state he shall be entitled to vote in
the precinct from which he moves until he establishes his residence in
the precinct to which he moves.

[[[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1959/pdf/CAA.pdf#page=2|Approved Jun. 24, 1958]], effective Jul. 24, 1958]

==== ARTICLE LXX. ====

Sec. 82. There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the state
at the times and places of choosing members of the legislative
assembly, a secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of
public instruction, commissioner of insurance, three public service
commissioners, an attorney general, a commissioner of agriculture and
labor, and a tax commissioner, who shall have attained the age of
twenty-five years and shall have the qualifications of state electors.
They shall severally hold their offices at the seat of government for
the term of two years and until their successors are elected and duly
qualified; but no person shall be eligible for the office of treasurer
for more than two consecutive terms; provided, however, the tax
commissioner shall hold his office for the term of four years and
until his successor is elected and duly qualified; and provided
further, that the public service commissioners shall severally hold
their offices for the term of six years and until their successors are
elected and duly qualified:

The legislative assembly may by law provide for a department of labor
which, if provided for, shall be separate and distinct from the
department of agriculture, and shall be administered by a public
official who may be either elected or appointed, whichever the
legislative assembly shall declare; and if such a department is
established, the commissioner of agriculture and labor provided for
above shall become the commissioner of agriculture.

The tax commissioner shall be elected on a no-party ballot and he
shall be nominated and elected in the manner now provided for the
nomination and election of the superintendent of public instruction.
The first election of a tax commissioner shall not occur until the
year 1940.

At the general election in 1940 there shall be chosen two public
service commissioners to fill the two terms expiring on the first
Monday in January, 1941. The candidate at said election receiving the
highest number of votes shall be elected for a term of six years, and
the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall be
elected for a term of four years. Thereafter there shall be chosen one
such public service commissioner every two years.

The board of railroad commissioners shall hereafter be known as the
public service commission and the members of the board of railroad
commissioners as public service commissioners and the powers and
duties now or hereafter granted to and conferred upon the board of
railroad commissioners are hereby transferred to the public service
commission.

Sec. 83. The powers and duties of the secretary of state, auditor,
treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, commissioner of
insurance, commissioners of railroads, attorney general and
commissioner of agriculture and labor shall be prescribed by law. In
the event that the legislative assembly shall establish a separate and
distinct department of labor, the powers and duties of the officer
administering such department of labor shall be prescribed by law.

Sec. 84. Salaries of public officers shall be as prescribed by law,
but the salaries of any of the said officers shall not be increased or
diminished during the period for which they shall have been elected,
and all fees and profits arising from any of the said offices shall be
covered into the state treasury.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1961/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=1|Approved Jun. 28, 1960]], effective Jul. 28, 1960]

==== ARTICLE LXXI. ====

Sec. 155. After one year from the assembling of the first legislative
assembly the lands granted to the state from the United States for the
support of the common schools, may be sold upon the following
conditions and no other: No more than one-fourth of all such lands
shall be sold within the first five years after the same become
salable by virtue of this section.  No more than one-half of the
remainder within ten years after the same become salable as aforesaid.
The residue may be sold at any time after the expiration of said ten
years. The legislative assembly shall provide for the sale of all
school lands subject to the provisions of this article. In all sales
of lands subject to the provisions of this article all minerals
therein, including but not limited to oil, gas, coal, cement
materials, sodium sulphate, sand and gravel, road material, building
stone, chemical substances, metallic ores, uranium ores, or colloidal
or other clays, shall be reserved and excepted to the state of North
Dakota, except that leases may be executed for the extraction and sale
of such materials in such manner and upon such terms as the
legislative assembly may provide.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1961/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=3|Approved Jun. 28, 1960]], effective Jul. 28, 1960]

==== ARTICLE LXXII. ====

Sec. 26. The senate shall be composed of forty-nine members.

Sec. 29. Each existing senatorial district as provided by law at the
effective date of this amendment shall permanently constitute a
senatorial district. Each senatorial district shall be represented by
one senator and no more.

Sec. 35. Each senatorial district shall be represented in the House of
Representatives by at least one representative except that any
senatorial district comprised of more than one county shall be
represented in the House of Representatives by at least as many
representatives as there are counties in such senatorial district. In
addition the Legislative Assembly shall, at the first regular session
after each federal decennial census, proceed to apportion the balance
of the members of the House of Representatives to be elected from the
several senatorial districts, within the limits prescribed by this
Constitution, according to the population of the several senatorial
districts.  If any Legislative Assembly whose duty it is to make an
apportionment shall fail to make the same as herein provided it shall
be the duty of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Attorney
General, Secretary of State, and the majority and minority leaders of
the House of Representatives within ninety days after the adjournment
of the legislature to make such apportionment and when so made a
proclamation shall be issued by the Chief Justice announcing such
apportionment which shall have the same force and effect as though
made by the Legislative Assembly.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1961/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=4|Approved Jun. 28, 1960]], effective Jul. 28, 1960]

==== ARTICLE LXXIII. ====

Article LVI.

1. Revenue from gasoline and other motor fuel excise and license
taxation, motor vehicle registration and license taxes, except revenue
from aviation gasoline and unclaimed aviation motor fuel refunds and
other aviation motor fuel excise and license taxation used by
aircraft, after deduction of cost of administration and collection
authorized by legislative appropriation only, and statutory refunds,
shall be appropriated and used solely for construction,
reconstruction, repair and maintenance of public highways, and the
payment of obligations incurred in the construction, reconstruction,
repair and maintenance of public highways.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1961/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=6|Approved Jun. 28, 1960]], effective Jul. 28, 1960]

==== ARTICLE LXXIV. ====

Paragraph third of section 215 of Article XIX of the Constitution of
the state of North Dakota, as amended, is hereby amended and reenacted
to read as follows:

Third: The North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied
Science at the City of Fargo, in the County of Cass.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1961/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=6|Approved Nov. 8, 1960]], effective Dec. 8, 1960]

==== ARTICLE LXXV. ====

The legislative assembly, in order to insure continuity of state and
local governmental operations in periods of emergency resulting from
disaster caused by enemy attack, shall have the power and immediate
duty (1) to provide for prompt and temporary succession to the powers
and duties of public offices, of whatever nature and whether filled by
election or appointment, the incumbents of which may become
unavailable for carrying on the powers and duties of such offices, and
(2) to adopt such other measures as may be necessary and proper for
insuring the continuity of governmental operations including, but not
limited to, waiver of constitutional restrictions upon the place of
transaction of governmental business, upon the calling of sessions of
the legislative assembly, length of sessions, quorum and voting
requirements, subjects of legislation and appropriation bill
requirements, upon eligibility of legislators to hold other offices,
residence requirements for legislators, and upon expenditures, loans
or donations of public moneys. In the exercise of the powers hereby
conferred the legislative assembly shall in all respects conform to
the requirements of this Constitution except to the extent that in the
judgment of the legislative assembly so to do would be impracticable
or would admit of undue delay.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1963/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=1|Approved Jun. 26, 1962]], effective Jul. 26, 1962]

==== ARTICLE LXXVI. ====

Sec. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Constitution, and
for the purpose of promoting the economic growth of the state, the
development of its natural resources, and the prosperity and welfare
of its people, the state may issue bonds and use the proceeds thereof
to make loans to privately or cooperatively owned enterprises to plan,
construct, acquire, equip, improve, and extend facilities for
converting natural resources into power and generating and
transmitting such power, and to acquire real and personal property and
water and mineral rights needed for such facilities.

Sec. 2. The state may issue general obligation bonds for this purpose
to an amount which, with all outstanding general obligation bonds,
less the amount of all money on hand and taxes in process of
collection which are appropriated for their payment, will not exceed
five percent of the full and true value of all of the taxable property
in the state, to be ascertained by the last assessment made for state
and county purposes: but nothing herein shall increase or diminish the
limitations established by other provisions of the Constitution on the
amount of bonds therein authorized to be issued.

Sec. 3. The state may also issue revenue bonds for the purpose of
providing part or all of the funds required for any project undertaken
under section 1, payable solely from sums realized from payments of
principal and interest on money loaned for such project, and from
other similar projects if so determined by the legislature, and from
the liquidation of security given for such payments.  Revenue bonds
issued for any project shall not exceed the cost thereof, including
all expenses reasonably incurred to complete and finance the project,
but shall not be subject to any other limitation of amount.

Sec. 4. The full faith and credit of the state shall be pledged for
the prompt and full payment of all bonds issued under section 2. Its
obligation with respect to bonds issued under section 3 shall be
limited to the prompt and full performance of such covenants as the
legislature may authorize to be made respecting the enforcing of the
provisions of underlying loan agreements and the segregation,
accounting, and application of bond proceeds and of loan payments and
other security pledged for the payment of the bonds. All bonds
authorized by sections 1 to 3, inclusive, shall mature within forty
years from their respective dates of issue, but may be refunded at or
before maturity in such manner and for such term and upon such
conditions as the legislature may direct.  Any such bonds may, but
need not be, secured by mortgage upon real or personal property
acquired with the proceeds of the same or any other issue of general
obligation or revenue bonds, or upon other property mortgaged by the
debtor.  Pledges of revenues and mortgages of property securing bonds
of any issue may be prior or subordinate to or on a parity with
pledges and mortgages securing any other issue of general obligation
or revenue bonds, as determined by the legislature from time to time
in conformity with any provisions made for the security of outstanding
bonds.

Sec. 5. The legislature shall pass such laws as are appropriate to
implement this amendment.

Sec. 6. If any section of this amendment, or any part of a section, or
any application thereof to particular circumstances should be held
invalid for any reason, such invalidity shall not affect the validity
of all remaining provisions of this amendment which may be given
effect without that which is declared invalid, as applied to any
circumstances: and for this purpose all sections and parts of sections
and applications thereof are declared to be severable.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1963/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=2|Approved Nov. 6, 1962]], effective Dec. 6, 1962]

==== ARTICLE LXXVII. ====

Sec. 173. There shall be elected in each county, organized under the
provisions of section 172 of the Constitution of the state of North
Dakota, a register of deeds, county auditor, treasurer, sheriff,
state's attorney, county judge and a clerk of the district court, who
shall be electors in the county in which they are elected and who
shall hold their office for a term of four years and until their
successors are elected and qualified; provided in counties having
fifteen thousand population or less, the county judge shall also be
clerk of the district court; provided further that in counties having
population of six thousand or less the register of deeds shall also be
clerk of the district court and county judge. This amendment shall be
construed as applying to the officers elected at the general election
in 1962. This amendment shall be self-executing, but legislation may
be enacted to facilitate its operation.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1963/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=4|Approved Nov. 6, 1962]], effective Dec. 6, 1962]

==== ARTICLE LXXVIII. ====

Subdivision (d) of subsection 6 of Article 54 of the Amendments to the
Constitution of the state of North Dakota is hereby amended and reenacted to
read as follows:

6. (d). It shall be the duty of the heads of the several state institutions
hereinbefore mentioned, to submit the budget requests for the biennial
appropriations for said institutions to said state board of higher education;
and said state board of higher education shall consider said budgets and shall
revise the same as in its judgment shall be for the best interests of the
educational system of the state; and thereafter the state board of higher
education shall prepare and present to the state budget board and to the
legislature a single unified budget covering the needs of all the institutions
under its control. "Said budget shall be prepared and presented by the board of
administration until the state board of higher education organizes as provided
in section 6 (a)." The appropriations for all of said institutions shall be
contained in one legislative measure. The budgets and appropriation measures for
the agricultural experiment stations and their substations and the extension
division of the North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Science
may be separate from those of state educational institutions.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1965/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=1|Approved Jun. 30, 1964]], effective Jul. 30, 1964]

==== ARTICLE LXXIX. ====

Section 113 of the Constitution of the state of North Dakota is hereby amended
and reenacted to read as follows:

Sec. 113. The legislative assembly shall provide by law for the selection or
election and the qualifications of municipal judges in cities, incorporated
towns, and villages, who shall hear, try, and determine cases arising under the
ordinances of said cities, towns and villages, and shall have such other
jurisdiction as the legislative assembly may confer upon them.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1965/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=2|Approved Jun. 30, 1964]], effective Jul. 30, 1964]

==== ARTICLE LXXX. ====

SECTION 71 OF ARTICLE III: The executive power shall be vested in a governor,
who shall reside at the seat of government and shall hold his office for the
term of four years beginning in the year 1965, and until his successor is
elected and duly qualified.

SECTION 82 OF ARTICLE III: There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of
the state at the times and places of choosing members of the legislative
assembly, a secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of public
instruction, commissioner of insurance, an attorney general, a commissioner of
agriculture and labor, and a tax commissioner, who shall have attained the age
of twenty-five years and shall have the qualifications of state electors. They
shall severally hold their offices at the seat of government for the term of
four years beginning with the year 1965, and until their successors are elected
and duly qualified; but no person shall be eligible for the office of treasurer
for more than two consecutive terms. The tax commissioner shall be elected on a
no party ballot and he shall be nominated and elected in the manner now provided
for the nomination and election of the superintendent of public instruction.

The board of railroad commissioners shall hereafter be known as the public
service commission and the members of the board of railroad commissioners as
public service commissioners and the powers and duties now or hereafter granted
to and conferred upon the board of railroad commissioners are hereby transferred
to the public service commission. The public service commissioners shall have
the qualifications of state electors, have attained the age of twenty-five
years, be chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the times and places
of choosing members of the legislative assembly, hold office at the seat of
government and until their successors are elected and duly qualified. As each of
the three public service commissioners now holding office completes his term,
his successor shall be elected for a term of six years.

The legislative assembly may by law provide for a department of labor, which, if
provided for, shall be separate and distinct from the department of agriculture,
and shall be administered by a public official who may be either elected or
appointed, whichever the legislative assembly shall declare; and if such a
department is established the commissioner of agriculture and labor provided for
above shall become the commissioner of agriculture.

SECTION 150 OF ARTICLE VIII: A superintendent of schools for each county shall
be elected every four years beginning in the year 1964, whose qualifications,
duties, powers and compensation shall be fixed by law.

This amendment shall be self executing, but legislation may be enacted to
facilitate its operation.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1965/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=3|Approved Jun. 30, 1964]], effective Jul. 30, 1964]

==== ARTICLE LXXXI. ====

The tenth paragraph of section 25 of the Constitution of the state of North
Dakota as printed in the North Dakota Century Code which reads:

All measures submitted to the electors shall be published by the state as
follows: "The secretary of state shall cause to be printed and mailed to each
elector a publicity pamphlet, containing a copy of each measure together with
its ballot title, to be submitted at any election. Any citizen, or the officers
of any organization, may submit to the secretary of state for publication in
such pamphlet, arguments concerning any measure therein, upon first subscribing
their names and addresses thereto and paying the fee therefor, which, until
otherwise fixed by the legislature, shall be the sum of two hundred dollars per
page."

is hereby repealed.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1965/pdf/CMA.pdf#page=3|Approved Nov. 3, 1964]], effective Dec. 3, 1964]

==== ARTICLE LXXXII. ====

Section 175 of the Constitution of the state of North Dakota is hereby
amended and reenacted to read as follows:

Sec. 175. No tax shall be levied except in pursuance of law, and every
law imposing a tax shall state distinctly the object of the same, to
which only it shall be applied. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any
other provisions of this Constitution, the legislative assembly, in
any law imposing a tax or taxes on, in respect to or measured by
income, may define the income on, in respect to or by which such tax
or taxes are imposed or measured or may define the tax itself by
reference to any provision of the laws of the United States as the
same may be or become effective at any time or from time to time, and
may prescribe exceptions or modifications to any such provision.

[ [[ https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1967/pdf/CAA.pdf|Approved Sep. 6, 1966]], effective Oct. 6, 1966 ]

==== ARTICLE LXXXIII. ====

Section 150 of the Constitution of the state of North Dakota is hereby
amended and reenacted to read as follows:

Sec. 150. A superintendent of schools for each county shall be elected
every four years beginning in the year 1964, whose qualifications,
duties, powers and compensation shall be fixed by law. Provided,
however, a superintendent of schools may be elected by and serve two
or more counties or parts of counties as provided by law.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1967/pdf/CAA.pdf#page=2|Approved Sep. 6, 1966]], effective Oct. 6, 1966 ]

==== ARTICLE LXXXIV. ====

Section 130 of the Constitution of the state of North Dakota is hereby amended
and reenacted to read as follows:

Sec. 130. Except in the case of home rule cities and villages as
provided in this section the legislative assembly shall provide by
general law for the organization of municipal corporations,
restricting their powers as to levying taxes and assessments,
borrowing money, and contracting debts. Money raised by taxation, loan
or assessment for any purpose shall not be diverted to any other
purpose except by authority of law.

The legislative assembly shall provide by law for the establishment of
home rule in cities and villages. It may authorize such cities and
villages to exercise all or a portion of any power or function which
the legislative assembly has power to devolve upon a non-home rule
city or village, not denied to such city or village by its own home
rule charter and which is not denied to all home rule cities and
villages by statute.  The legislative assembly shall not be restricted
in granting of home rule powers to home rule cities and villages by
section 183 of this Constitution.

[ [[https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/sessionlaws/1967/pdf/CAA.pdf#page=2|Approved Nov. 8, 1966]], effective Dec. 8, 1966 ]