Maine Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MAINE
2003 ARRANGEMENT
(Arranged by the Chief Justice of

the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and approved by
the Maine State Legislature,
Resolve 2003, chapter 98,
pursuant to the Constitution of Maine,
Article X, Section 6)
PREAMBLE.
Objects of government. We the people of Maine, in order to

establish justice, insure tranquility, provide for our mutual
defense, promote our common welfare, and secure to ourselves and our
posterity the blessings of liberty, acknowledging with grateful
hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in
affording us an opportunity, so favorable to the design; and,
imploring God's aid and direction in its accomplishment, do agree to
form ourselves into a free and independent State, by the style and
title of the State of Maine and do ordain and establish the following
Constitution for the government of the same.
Article I.
Declaration of Rights.
Section 1. Natural rights. All people are born equally free and
independent, and have certain natural, inherent and unalienable
rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and
liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and of
pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness.
Section 2. Power inherent in people. All power is inherent in the

people; all free governments are founded in their authority and
instituted for their benefit; they have therefore an unalienable and
indefeasible right to institute government, and to alter, reform, or
totally change the same, when their safety and happiness require it.
Section 3. Religious freedom; sects equal; religious tests

prohibited; religious teachers. All individuals have a natural and
unalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates
of their own consciences, and no person shall be hurt, molested or
restrained in that person's liberty or estate for worshipping God in
the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of that
person's own conscience, nor for that person's religious professions
or sentiments, provided that that person does not disturb the public
peace, nor obstruct others in their religious worship; -- and all
persons demeaning themselves peaceably, as good members of the
State, shall be equally under the protection of the laws, and no
subordination nor preference of any one sect or denomination to
another shall ever be established by law, nor shall any religious
test be required as a qualification for any office or trust, under
this State; and all religious societies in this State, whether
incorporate or unincorporate, shall at all times have the exclusive
right of electing their public teachers, and contracting with them
for their support and maintenance.
CONSTITUTION OF MAINE - MERGED - (corrected 12/2006)

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Section 4. Freedom of speech and publication; libel; truth given
in evidence; jury determines law and fact. Every citizen may freely
speak, write and publish sentiments on any subject, being
responsible for the abuse of this liberty; no laws shall be passed
regulating or restraining the freedom of the press; and in
prosecutions for any publication respecting the official conduct of
people in public capacity, or the qualifications of those who are
candidates for the suffrages of the people, or where the matter
published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may be
given in evidence, and in all indictments for libels, the jury,
after having received the direction of the court, shall have a right
to determine, at their discretion, the law and the fact.
Section 5. Unreasonable searches prohibited. The people shall be

secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions from all
unreasonable searches and seizures; and no warrant to search any
place, or seize any person or thing, shall issue without a special
designation of the place to be searched, and the person or thing to
be seized, nor without probable cause -- supported by oath or
affirmation.
Section 6. Rights of persons accused. In all criminal

prosecutions, the accused shall have a right to be heard by the
accused and counsel to the accused, or either, at the election of
the accused;
To demand the nature and cause of the accusation, and have a copy
thereof;
To be confronted by the witnesses against the accused;
To have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in favor of the

accused;
To have a speedy, public and impartial trial, and, except in trials

by martial law or impeachment, by a jury of the vicinity. The
accused shall not be compelled to furnish or give evidence against
himself or herself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, property or
privileges, but by judgment of that person's peers or the law of the
land.
Section 6-A. Discrimination against persons prohibited. No person

shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process
of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, nor be
denied the enjoyment of that person's civil rights or be
discriminated against in the exercise thereof.
Section 7. No person to answer to certain crimes but on

indictment; exceptions; juries. No person shall be held to answer
for a capital or infamous crime, unless on a presentment or
indictment of a grand jury, except in cases of impeachment, or in
such cases of offenses, as are usually cognizable by a justice of
the peace, or in cases arising in the army or navy, or in the
militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger. The
Legislature shall provide by law a suitable and impartial mode of
selecting juries, and their usual number and unanimity, in
indictments and convictions, shall be held indispensable.
Section 8. No double jeopardy. No person, for the same offense,

shall be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.

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Section 9. Sanguinary laws, excessive bail, cruel or unusual
punishments prohibited. Sanguinary laws shall not be passed; all
penalties and punishments shall be proportioned to the offense;
excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel nor unusual punishments inflicted.
Section 10. Bailable offenses; habeas corpus. No person before

conviction shall be bailable for any of the crimes which now are, or
have been denominated capital offenses since the adoption of the
Constitution, when the proof is evident or the presumption great,
whatever the punishment of the crimes may be. And the privilege of
the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in
cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.
Section 11. Attainder, ex post facto and contract-impairment laws

prohibited. The Legislature shall pass no bill of attainder, ex
post facto law, nor law impairing the obligation of contracts, and
no attainder shall work corruption of blood nor forfeiture of
estate.
Section 12. Treason; testimony of 2 witnesses. Treason against

this State shall consist only in levying war against it, adhering to
its enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be
convicted of treason unless on the testimony of 2 witnesses to the
same overt act, or confession in open court.
Section 13. Suspension of laws. The laws shall not be suspended

but by the Legislature or its authority.
Section 14. Corporal punishment under military law. No person

shall be subject to corporal punishment under military law, except
such as are employed in the army or navy, or in the militia when in
actual service in time of war or public danger.
Section 15. Right of petition. The people have a right at all

times in an orderly and peaceable manner to assemble to consult upon
the common good, to give instructions to their representatives, and
to request, of either department of the government by petition or
remonstrance, redress of their wrongs and grievances.
Section 16. To keep and bear arms. Every citizen has a right to
keep and bear arms and this right shall never be questioned.
Section 17. Standing armies. No standing army shall be kept up in

time of peace without the consent of the Legislature, and the
military shall, in all cases, and at all times, be in strict
subordination to the civil power.
Section 18. Quartering of soldiers on citizens. No soldier shall

in time of peace be quartered in any house without the consent of
the owner or occupant, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be
prescribed by law.
Section 19. Right of redress for injuries. Every person, for an

injury inflicted on the person or the person's reputation, property
or immunities, shall have remedy by due course of law; and right and
justice shall be administered freely and without sale, completely
and without denial, promptly and without delay.

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Section 20. Trial by jury. In all civil suits, and in all
controversies concerning property, the parties shall have a right to
a trial by jury, except in cases where it has heretofore been
otherwise practiced; the party claiming the right may be heard by
himself or herself and with counsel, or either, at the election of
the party.
Section 21. Private property, when to be taken. Private property

shall not be taken for public uses without just compensation; nor
unless the public exigencies require it.
Section 22. Taxes. No tax or duty shall be imposed without the

consent of the people or of their representatives in the
Legislature.
Section 23. Title of nobility prohibited; tenure of offices. No

title of nobility or hereditary distinction, privilege, honor or
emolument, shall ever be granted or confirmed, nor shall any office
be created, the appointment to which shall be for a longer time than
during good behavior.
Section 24. Other rights not impaired. The enumeration of certain

rights shall not impair nor deny others retained by the people.

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Article II.
Electors.
Section 1. Qualifications of electors; written ballot; military

servicemen; students. Every citizen of the United States of the age
of 18 years and upwards, excepting persons under guardianship for
reasons of mental illness, having his or her residence established
in this State, shall be an elector for Governor, Senators and
Representatives, in the city, town or plantation where his or her
residence has been established, if he or she continues to reside in
this State; and the elections shall be by written ballot. But
persons in the military, naval or marine service of the United
States, or this State, shall not be considered as having obtained
such established residence by being stationed in any garrison,
barrack or military place, in any city, town or plantation; nor
shall the residence of a student at any seminary of learning entitle
the student to the right of suffrage in the city, town or plantation
where such seminary is established. No person, however, shall be
deemed to have lost residence by reason of the person's absence from
the state in the military service of the United States, or of this
State.
Indians. Every Indian, residing on tribal reservations and

otherwise qualified, shall be an elector in all county, state and
national elections.
Section 2. Electors exempt from arrests on election days.

Electors shall, in all cases, except treason, felony or breach of
the peace, be privileged from arrest on the days of election, during
their attendance at, going to, and returning therefrom.
Section 3. Exemption from military duty. No elector shall be

obliged to do duty in the militia on any day of election, except in
time of war or public danger.
Section 4. Time of state election; absentee voting. The election

of Senators and Representatives shall be on the Tuesday following
the first Monday of November biennially forever and the election of
Governor shall be on the Tuesday following the first Monday of
November every 4 years. The Legislature under proper enactment
shall authorize and provide for voting by citizens of the State
absent therefrom in the Armed Forces of the United States or of this
State and for voting by other citizens absent or physically
incapacitated for reasons deemed sufficient.
Section 5. Voting machines. Voting machines, or other mechanical

devices for voting, may be used at all elections under such
regulations as may be prescribed by law, provided, however, the
right of secret voting shall be preserved.

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Article III.
Distribution of Powers.
Section 1. Powers distributed. The powers of this government

shall be divided into 3 distinct departments, the legislative,
executive and judicial.
Section 2. To be kept separate. No person or persons, belonging

to one of these departments, shall exercise any of the powers
properly belonging to either of the others, except in the cases
herein expressly directed or permitted.

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Article IV.
Part First.
House of Representatives.
Section 1. Legislative department; style of acts. The legislative

power shall be vested in 2 distinct branches, a House of
Representatives, and a Senate, each to have a negative on the other,
and both to be styled the Legislature of Maine, but the people
reserve to themselves power to propose laws and to enact or reject
the same at the polls independent of the Legislature, and also
reserve power at their own option to approve or reject at the polls
any Act, bill, resolve or resolution passed by the joint action of
both branches of the Legislature, and the style of their laws and
Acts shall be, "Be it enacted by the people of the State of Maine."
Section 2. Number of Representatives; biennial terms; division of

the State into districts for House of Representatives. The House of
Representatives shall consist of 151 members, to be elected by the
qualified electors, and hold their office 2 years from the day next
preceding the first Wednesday in December following the general
election. The Legislature which convenes in 1983 and every 10th
year thereafter shall cause the State to be divided into districts
for the choice of one Representative for each district. The number
of Representatives shall be divided into the number of inhabitants
of the State exclusive of foreigners not naturalized according to
the latest Federal Decennial Census or a State Census previously
ordered by the Legislature to coincide with the Federal Decennial
Census, to determine a mean population figure for each
Representative District. Each Representative District shall be
formed of contiguous and compact territory and shall cross political
subdivision lines the least number of times necessary to establish
as nearly as practicable equally populated districts. Whenever the
population of a municipality entitles it to more than one district,
all whole districts shall be drawn within municipal boundaries. Any
population remainder within the municipality shall be included in a
district with contiguous territory and shall be kept intact.
Section 3. Submission of reapportionment plan to Clerk of House;

Legislature's action on commission's plan. The apportionment plan
of the commission established under Article IV, Part Third, Section
1-A shall be submitted to the Clerk of the House no later than 120
calendar days after the convening of the Legislature in which
apportionment is required. In the preparation of legislation
implementing the plan, the commission, following a unanimous
decision by commission members, may adjust errors and
inconsistencies in accordance with the standards set forth in this
Constitution, so long as substantive changes are not made. The
Legislature shall enact the submitted plan of the commission or a
plan of its own by a vote of 2/3 of the Members of each House within
30 calendar days after the plan of the commission is submitted.
Such action shall be subject to the Governor's approval as provided
in Article IV, Part Third, Section 2.
In the event that the Legislature shall fail to make an

apportionment within 130 calendar days after convening, the Supreme
Judicial Court shall, within 60 days following the period in which
the Legislature is required to act, but fails to do so, make the
apportionment. In making such apportionment, the Supreme Judicial

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Court shall take into consideration plans and briefs filed by the
public with the court during the first 30 days of the period in
which the court is required to apportion.
The Supreme Judicial Court shall have original jurisdiction to hear

any challenge to an apportionment law enacted by the Legislature, as
registered by any citizen or group thereof. If any challenge is
sustained, the Supreme Judicial Court shall make the apportionment.
Section 4. Qualifications; residency requirement. No person shall

be a member of the House of Representatives, unless the person
shall, at the commencement of the period for which the person is
elected, have been 5 years a citizen of the United States, have
arrived at the age of 21 years, have been a resident in this State
one year; and for the 3 months next preceding the time of this
person's election shall have been, and, during the period for which
elected, shall continue to be a resident in the district which that
person represents.
No person may be a candidate for election as a member of the House

of Representatives unless, at the time of the nomination for
placement on a primary, general or special election ballot, that
person is a resident in the district which the candidate seeks to
represent.
Section 5. Election of Representatives; lists of votes delivered

forthwith; lists of votes examined by Governor; summons of persons
who appear to be elected; lists shall be laid before the House. The
meetings within this State for the choice of Representatives shall
be warned in due course of law by qualified officials of the several
towns and cities 7 days at least before the election, and the
election officials of the various towns and cities shall preside
impartially at such meetings, receive the votes of all the qualified
electors, sort, count and declare them in open meeting; and a list
of the persons voted for shall be formed, with the number of votes
for each person against that person's name. Cities and towns
belonging to any Representative District shall hold their meetings
at the same time in the respective cities and towns; and such
meetings shall be notified, held and regulated, the votes received,
sorted, counted and declared in the same manner. Fair copies of the
lists of votes shall be attested by the municipal officers and the
clerks of the cities and towns and the city and town clerks
respectively shall cause the same to be delivered into the office of
the Secretary of State forthwith. The Governor shall examine the
returned copies of such lists and 7 days before the first Wednesday
of December biennially, shall issue a summons to such persons as
shall appear to have been elected by a plurality of all votes
returned, to attend and take their seats. All such lists shall be
laid before the House of Representatives on the first Wednesday of
December biennially, and they shall finally determine who are
elected.
Section 6. Vacancies. Whenever the seat of a member shall be

vacated by death, resignation, or otherwise the vacancy may be
filled by a new election.
Section 7. To choose own officers. The House of Representatives

shall choose their speaker, clerk and other officers.
Section 8. Power of impeachment. The House of Representatives

shall have the sole power of impeachment.

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Article IV.
Part Second.
Senate.
Section 1. Number of Senators. The Senate shall consist of an odd

number of Senators, not less than 31 nor more than 35, elected at
the same time and for the same term as Representatives by the
qualified electors of the districts into which the State shall be
from time to time divided.
Section 2. Submission of reapportionment plan to Secretary of

Senate; Legislature's action on commission's plan; division of State
into Senatorial Districts; division by Supreme Judicial Court. The
Legislature which shall convene in the year 1983 and every tenth
year thereafter shall cause the State to be divided into districts
for the choice of a Senator from each district, using the same
method as provided in Article IV, Part First, Section 2 for
apportionment of Representative Districts.
The apportionment plan of the commission established under Article

IV, Part Third, Section 1-A shall be submitted to the Secretary of
the Senate no later than 120 calendar days after the convening of
the Legislature in which apportionment is required. In the
preparation of legislation implementing the plan, the commission,
following a unanimous decision by commission members, may adjust
errors and inconsistencies in accordance with the standards set
forth in this Constitution, so long as substantive changes are not
made. The Legislature shall enact the submitted plan of the
commission or a plan of its own by a vote of 2/3 of the Members of
each House, within 30 calendar days after the plan of the commission
is submitted. Such action shall be subject to the Governor's
approval as provided in Article IV, Part Third, Section 2.
In the event that the Legislature shall fail to make an

apportionment within 130 days after convening, the Supreme Judicial
Court shall, within 60 days following the period in which the
Legislature is required to act but fails to do so, make the
apportionment. In making such apportionment, the Supreme Judicial
Court shall take into consideration plans and briefs filed by the
public with the court during the first 30 days of the period in
which the court is required to apportion.
The Supreme Judicial Court shall have original jurisdiction to hear

any challenge to an apportionment law enacted by the Legislature, as
registered by any citizen or group thereof. If any challenge is
sustained, the Supreme Judicial Court shall make the apportionment.
Section 3. Election of Senators; lists of votes delivered

forthwith. The meetings within this State for the election of
Senators shall be notified, held and regulated and the votes
received, sorted, counted, declared and recorded, in the same manner
as those for Representatives. Fair copies of the lists of votes
shall be attested by the clerks of the cities and towns or other
duly authorized officials and sealed up in open meetings and such
officials shall cause said lists to be delivered into the office of
the Secretary of State forthwith.

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Section 4. Lists of votes examined by Governor; summons to persons
who appear to be elected. The Governor shall, as soon as may be,
examine the copies of such lists, and at least 7 days before the
said first Wednesday of December, issue a summons to such persons,
as shall appear to be elected by a plurality of the votes in each
senatorial district, to attend that day and take their seats.
Section 5. Determination of Senators elected; procedure for

filling vacancies. The Senate shall, on said first Wednesday of
December, biennially determine who is elected by a plurality of
votes to be Senator in each district. All vacancies in the Senate
arising from death, resignation, removal from the State or like
causes, and also vacancies, if any, which may occur because of the
failure of any district to elect by a plurality of votes the Senator
to which said district shall be entitled shall be filled by an
immediate election in the unrepresented district. The Governor
shall issue a proclamation therefor and therein fix the time of such
election.
Section 6. Qualifications. The Senators shall be 25 years of age at

the commencement of the term, for which they are elected, and in all
other respects their qualifications shall be the same as those of
the Representatives.
Section 7. To try impeachments; limitation of judgment of

impeachment; party liable to be tried and punished in court. The
Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments, and when
sitting for that purpose shall be on oath or affirmation, and no
person shall be convicted without the concurrence of 2/3 of the
members present. Their judgment, however, shall not extend farther
than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold or enjoy
any office of honor, trust or profit under this State. But the
party, whether convicted or acquitted, shall nevertheless be liable
to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.
Section 8. To choose own officers. The Senate shall choose their

President, Secretary and other officers.

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Article IV.
Part Third.
Legislative Power.
Section 1. To meet annually; power of Legislature to convene

itself at other times; extent of legislative power. The Legislature
shall convene on the first Wednesday of December following the
general election in what shall be designated the first regular
session of the Legislature; and shall further convene on the first
Wednesday after the first Tuesday of January in the subsequent even-
numbered year in what shall be designated the second regular session
of the Legislature; provided, however, that the business of the
second regular session of the Legislature shall be limited to
budgetary matters; legislation in the Governor's call; legislation
of an emergency nature admitted by the Legislature; legislation
referred to committees for study and report by the Legislature in
the first regular session; and legislation presented to the
Legislature by written petition of the electors under the provisions
of Article IV, Part Third, Section 18. The Legislature shall enact
appropriate statutory limits on the length of the first regular
session and of the second regular session. The Legislature may
convene at such other times on the call of the President of the
Senate and Speaker of the House, with the consent of a majority of
the Members of the Legislature of each political party, all Members
of the Legislature having been first polled. The Legislature, with
the exceptions hereinafter stated, shall have full power to make and
establish all reasonable laws and regulations for the defense and
benefit of the people of this State, not repugnant to this
Constitution, nor to that of the United States.
Section 1-A. Legislature to establish Apportionment Commission;

number of quorum; compensation of commission members; commission's
budget; division among political parties. A Legislature which is
required to apportion the districts of the House of Representatives
or the Senate, or both, under Article IV, Part First, Section 2, or
Article IV, Part Second, Section 2, shall establish, within the
first 3 calendar days after the convening of that Legislature, a
commission to develop in accordance with the requirements of this
Constitution, a plan for apportioning the House of Representatives,
the Senate, or both.
The commission shall be composed of 3 members from the political

party holding the largest number of seats in the House of
Representatives, who shall be appointed by the Speaker; 3 members
from the political party holding the majority of the remainder of
the seats in the House of Representatives, who shall be appointed by
the floor leader of that party in the House; 2 members of the party
holding the largest number of seats in the Senate, who shall be
appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 members of the political
party holding the majority of the remainder of the seats in the
Senate, to be appointed by the floor leader of that party in the
Senate; the chairperson of each of the 2 major political parties in
the State or their designated representatives; and 3 members from
the public generally, one to be selected by each group of members of
the commission representing the same political party, and the third
to be selected by the other 2 public members. The Speaker of the

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House shall be responsible for organizing the commission and shall
be chairperson pro tempore thereof until a permanent chairperson is
selected by the commission members from among their own number. No
action may be taken without a quorum of 8 being present. The
commission shall hold public hearings on any plan for apportionment
prior to submitting such plan to the Legislature.
Public members of the commission shall receive the same rate of per
diem that is paid to Legislators for every day's attendance at
special sessions of the Legislature as defined by law. All members
of the commission shall be reimbursed for actual travel expenses
incurred in carrying out the business of the commission. The
Legislature which is required to apportion shall establish a budget
for the apportioning commission within the state budget document in
the fiscal year previous to the fiscal year during which the
apportioning commission is required to convene and shall appropriate
sufficient funds for the commission to satisfactorily perform its
duties and responsibilities. The budget shall include sufficient
funds to compensate the chairperson of the commission and the
chairperson's staff. The remainder of the appropriation shall be
made available equally among the political parties represented on
the commission to provide travel expenses, incidental expenses and
compensation for commission members and for partisan staff and
operations.
Section 2. Bills to be signed by the Governor; proceedings, in

case the Governor disapproves; allowing the Governor 10 days to act
on legislation. Every bill or resolution, having the force of law,
to which the concurrence of both Houses may be necessary, except on
a question of adjournment, which shall have passed both Houses,
shall be presented to the Governor, and if the Governor approves,
the Governor shall sign it; if not, the Governor shall return it
with objections to the House in which it shall have originated,
which shall enter the objections at large on its journals, and
proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration, 2/3 of
that House shall agree to pass it, it shall be sent together with
the objections, to the other House, by which it shall be
reconsidered, and, if approved by 2/3 of that House, it shall have
the same effect as if it had been signed by the Governor; but in all
such cases, the votes of both Houses shall be taken by yeas and
nays, and the names of the persons, voting for and against the bill
or resolution, shall be entered on the journals of both Houses
respectively. If the bill or resolution shall not be returned by
the Governor within 10 days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have
been presented to the Governor, it shall have the same force and
effect as if the Governor had signed it unless the Legislature by
their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall have
such force and effect, unless returned within 3 days after the next
meeting of the same Legislature which enacted the bill or
resolution; if there is no such next meeting of the Legislature
which enacted the bill or resolution, the bill or resolution shall
not be a law.
Section 2-A. Line-item veto of dollar amounts appearing in

appropriation or allocation sections of legislative documents. The
Governor has power to disapprove any dollar amount appearing in an
appropriation section or allocation section, or both, of an enacted
legislative document. Unless the Governor exercises the line-item
veto power authorized in this section no later than one day after
receiving for signature the enacted legislation, the powers of the
Governor as set out in section 2 apply to the entire enacted

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legislation. For any disapproved dollar amount, the Governor shall
replace the dollar amount with one that does not result in an
increase in an appropriation or allocation or a decrease in a
deappropriation or deallocation. When disapproving a dollar amount
pursuant to this section, the Governor may not propose an increase
in an appropriation or allocation elsewhere in the legislative
document. The Governor shall specify the distinct dollar amounts
that are revised, and the part or parts of the legislative document
not specifically revised become law. The dollar amounts in an
appropriation or allocation that have been disapproved become law as
revised by the Governor, unless passed over the Governor's veto by
the Legislature as the dollar amounts originally appeared in the
enacted bill as presented to the Governor; except that,
notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution for dollar
amounts vetoed pursuant to this section, a majority of all the
elected members in each House is sufficient to override the veto,
and each dollar amount vetoed must be voted on separately to
override the veto. Except as provided in this section, the Governor
may not disapprove, omit or modify any language allocated to the
statutes or appearing in an unallocated section of law.
Section 3. Each House the judge of its elections; majority, a

quorum. Each House shall be the judge of the elections and
qualifications of its own members, and a majority shall constitute a
quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to
day, and may compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner
and under such penalties as each House shall provide.
Section 4. May punish and expel members. Each House may determine
the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly
behavior, and, with the concurrence of 2/3, expel a member, but not
a 2nd time for the same cause.
Section 5. Shall keep a journal; yeas and nays. Each House shall
keep a journal, and from time to time publish its proceedings,
except such parts as in their judgment may require secrecy; and the
yeas and nays of the members of either House on any question, shall,
at the desire of 1/5 of those present, be entered on the journals.
Section 6. May punish for contempt. Each House, during its

session, may punish by imprisonment any person, not a member, for
disrespectful or disorderly behavior in its presence, for
obstructing any of its proceedings, threatening, assaulting or
abusing any of its members for anything said, done, or doing in
either House; provided, that no imprisonment shall extend beyond the
period of the same session.
Section 7. Compensation; traveling expenses. The Senators and

Representatives shall receive such compensation, as shall be
established by law; but no law increasing their compensation shall
take effect during the existence of the Legislature, which enacted
it. The expenses of the members of the House of Representatives in
traveling to the Legislature, and returning therefrom, once in each
week of each session and no more, shall be paid by the State out of
the public treasury to every member, who shall seasonably attend, in
the judgment of the House, and does not depart therefrom without
leave.
Section 8. Members exempt from arrest; freedom of debate. The

Senators and Representatives shall, in all cases except treason,

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felony or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during
their attendance at, going to, and returning from each session of
the Legislature, and no member shall be liable to answer for
anything spoken in debate in either House, in any court or place
elsewhere.
Section 9. Either House may originate bills; revenue bills.

Bills, orders or resolutions, may originate in either House, and may
be altered, amended or rejected in the other; but all bills for
raising a revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives,
but the Senate may propose amendments as in other cases; provided,
that they shall not, under color of amendment, introduce any new
matter, which does not relate to raising a revenue.
Section 10. Members not to be appointed to certain offices. No

Senator or Representative shall, during the term for which the
Senator or Representative shall have been elected, be appointed to
any civil office of profit under this State, which requires the
approval of the Legislature for appointment or which shall have been
created, or the emoluments of which increased during such term,
except such offices as may be filled by elections by the people.
Section 11. Persons disqualified to be members. No member of

Congress, nor person holding any office under the United States
(post officers excepted) nor office of profit under this State,
justices of the peace, notaries public, coroners and officers of the
militia excepted, shall have a seat in either House while a member
of Congress, or continuing in such office.
Section 12. Adjournments. Neither House shall during the session,

without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than 2 days, nor
to any other place than that in which the Houses shall be sitting.
Section 13. Special legislation. The Legislature shall, from time

to time, provide, as far as practicable, by general laws, for all
matters usually appertaining to special or private legislation.
Section 14. Corporations, formed under general laws. Corporations

shall be formed under general laws, and shall not be created by
special Acts of the Legislature, except for municipal purposes, and
in cases where the objects of the corporation cannot otherwise be
attained; and, however formed, they shall forever be subject to the
general laws of the State.
Section 15. Constitutional conventions. The Legislature shall, by a

2/3 concurrent vote of both branches, have the power to call
constitutional conventions, for the purpose of amending this
Constitution.
Section 16. Acts become effective in 90 days after recess;

exception; emergency bill defined. No Act or joint resolution of
the Legislature, except such orders or resolutions as pertain solely
to facilitating the performance of the business of the Legislature,
of either branch, or of any committee or officer thereof, or
appropriate money therefor or for the payment of salaries fixed by
law, shall take effect until 90 days after the recess of the session
of the Legislature in which it was passed, unless in case of
emergency, which with the facts constituting the emergency shall be
expressed in the preamble of the Act, the Legislature shall, by a
vote of 2/3 of all the members elected to each House, otherwise

page 14
direct. An emergency bill shall include only such measures as are
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace,
health or safety; and shall not include (1) an infringement of the
right of home rule for municipalities, (2) a franchise or a license
to a corporation or an individual to extend longer than one year, or
(3) provision for the sale or purchase or renting for more than 5
years of real estate.
Section 17. Proceedings for people's veto.
1. Petition procedure; petition for people's veto. Upon written

petition of electors, the number of which shall not be less than 10%
of the total vote for Governor cast in the last gubernatorial
election preceding the filing of such petition, and addressed to the
Governor and filed in the office of the Secretary of State by the
hour of 5:00 p.m., on or before the 90th day after the recess of the
Legislature, or if such 90th day is a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal
holiday, by the hour of 5:00 p.m., on the preceding day which is not
a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday, requesting that one or
more Acts, bills, resolves or resolutions, or part or parts thereof,
passed by the Legislature but not then in effect by reason of the
provisions of the preceding section, be referred to the people, such
Acts, bills, resolves, or resolutions or part or parts thereof as
are specified in such petition shall not take effect until 30 days
after the Governor shall have announced by public proclamation that
the same have been ratified by a majority of the electors voting
thereon at a statewide or general election.
2. Effect of referendum. The effect of any Act, bill, resolve or

resolution or part or parts thereof as are specified in such
petition shall be suspended upon the filing of such petition. If it
is later finally determined, in accordance with any procedure
enacted by the Legislature pursuant to the Constitution, that such
petition was invalid, such Act, bill, resolve or resolution or part
or parts thereof shall then take effect upon the day following such
final determination.
3. Referral to electors; proclamation by Governor. As soon as it

appears that the effect of any Act, bill, resolve, or resolution or
part or parts thereof has been suspended by petition in manner
aforesaid, the Governor by public proclamation shall give notice
thereof and of the time when such measure is to be voted on by the
people, which shall be at the next statewide or general election,
whichever comes first, not less than 60 days after such
proclamation. If the Governor fails to order such measure to be
submitted to the people at the next statewide or general election,
the Secretary of State shall, by proclamation, order such measure to
be submitted to the people at such an election and such order shall
be sufficient to enable the people to vote.
Section 18. Direct initiative of legislation.
1. Petition procedure. The electors may propose to the

Legislature for its consideration any bill, resolve or resolution,
including bills to amend or repeal emergency legislation but not an
amendment of the State Constitution, by written petition addressed
to the Legislature or to either branch thereof and filed in the
office of the Secretary of State by the hour of 5:00 p.m., on or
before the 50th day after the date of convening of the Legislature
in first regular session or on or before the 25th day after the date

page 15
of convening of the Legislature in second regular session, except
that the written petition may not be filed in the office of the
Secretary of State later than 18 months after the date the petition
form was furnished or approved by the Secretary of State. If the
applicable deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday,
the period runs until the hour of 5:00 p.m., of the next day which
is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. (CR 2005, c. 2 (amd).)
2. Referral to electors unless enacted by the Legislature without

change; number of signatures necessary on direct initiative
petitions; dating signatures on petitions; competing measures. For
any measure thus proposed by electors, the number of signatures
shall not be less than 10% of the total vote for Governor cast in
the last gubernatorial election preceding the filing of such
petition. The date each signature was made shall be written next to
the signature on the petition. A signature is not valid if it is
dated more than one year prior to the date that the petition was
filed in the office of the Secretary of State. The measure thus
proposed, unless enacted without change by the Legislature at the
session at which it is presented, shall be submitted to the electors
together with any amended form, substitute, or recommendation of the
Legislature, and in such manner that the people can choose between
the competing measures or reject both. When there are competing
bills and neither receives a majority of the votes given for or
against both, the one receiving the most votes shall at the next
statewide election to be held not less than 60 days after the first
vote thereon be submitted by itself if it receives more than 1/3 of
the votes given for and against both. If the measure initiated is
enacted by the Legislature without change, it shall not go to a
referendum vote unless in pursuance of a demand made in accordance
with the preceding section. The Legislature may order a special
election on any measure that is subject to a vote of the people.
(CR 2005, c. 2 (amd).)
3. Timing of elections; proclamation by Governor. The Governor

shall, by proclamation, order any measure proposed to the
Legislature as herein provided, and not enacted by the Legislature
without change, referred to the people at an election to be held in
November of the year in which the petition is filed. If the
Governor fails to order a measure proposed to the Legislature and
not enacted without change to be submitted to the people at such an
election by proclamation within 10 days after the recess of the
Legislature to which the measure was proposed, the Secretary of
State shall, by proclamation, order such measure to be submitted to
the people at an election as requested, and such order shall be
sufficient to enable the people to vote.
(CR 2005, c. 2 (amd).)
Section 19. Effective date of measures approved by people; veto

power limited. Any measure referred to the people and approved by a
majority of the votes given thereon shall, unless a later date is
specified in said measure, take effect and become a law in 30 days
after the Governor has made public proclamation of the result of the
vote on said measure, which the Governor shall do within 10 days
after the vote thereon has been canvassed and determined; provided,
however, that any such measure which entails expenditure in an
amount in excess of available and unappropriated state funds shall
remain inoperative until 45 days after the next convening of the
Legislature in regular session, unless the measure provides for
raising new revenues adequate for its operation. The veto power of
the Governor shall not extend to any measure approved by vote of the

page 16
people, and any measure initiated by the people and passed by the
Legislature without change, if vetoed by the Governor and if the
veto is sustained by the Legislature shall be referred to the people
to be voted on at the next general election. The Legislature may
enact measures expressly conditioned upon the people's ratification
by a referendum vote.
Section 20. Meaning of words "electors," "people," "recess of

Legislature," "statewide election," "measure," "circulator," and
"written petition"; written petitions for people's veto; written
petitions for direct initiative. As used in any of the 3 preceding
sections or in this section the words "electors" and "people" mean
the electors of the State qualified to vote for Governor; "recess of
the Legislature" means the adjournment without day of a session of
the Legislature; "statewide election" means any election held
throughout the State on a particular day; "measure" means an Act,
bill, resolve or resolution proposed by the people, or 2 or more
such, or part or parts of such, as the case may be; "circulator"
means a person who solicits signatures for written petitions, and
who must be a resident of this State and whose name must appear on
the voting list of the city, town or plantation of the circulator's
residence as qualified to vote for Governor; "written petition"
means one or more petitions written or printed, or partly written
and partly printed, with the original signatures of the petitioners
attached, verified as to the authenticity of the signatures by the
oath of the circulator that all of the signatures to the petition
were made in the presence of the circulator and that to the best of
the circulator's knowledge and belief each signature is the
signature of the person whose name it purports to be, and
accompanied by the certificate of the official authorized by law to
maintain the voting list or to certify signatures on petitions for
voters on the voting list of the city, town or plantation in which
the petitioners reside that their names appear on the voting list of
the city, town or plantation of the official as qualified to vote
for Governor. The oath of the circulator must be sworn to in the
presence of a person authorized by law to administer oaths. Written
petitions for a people's veto pursuant to Article IV, Part Third,
Section 17 must be submitted to the appropriate officials of cities,
towns or plantations, or state election officials as authorized by
law, or state election officials as authorized by law, for
determination of whether the petitioners are qualified voters by the
hour of 5:00 p.m., on the 5th day before the petition must be filed
in the office of the Secretary of State, or, if such 5th day is a
Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday, by 5:00 p.m., on the next day
which is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday. Written
petitions for a direct initiative pursuant to Article IV, Part
Third, Section 18 must be submitted to the appropriate officials of
cities, towns or plantations, or state election officials as
authorized by law, for determination of whether the petitioners are
qualified voters by the hour of 5:00 p.m., on the 10th day before
the petition must be filed in the office of the Secretary of State,
or, if such 10th day is a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday, by
5:00 p.m., on the next day which is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a
legal holiday. Such officials must complete the certification of
only those petitions submitted by these deadlines and must return
them to the circulators or their agents within 2 days for a petition
for a people's veto and within 5 days for a petition for a direct
initiative, Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays excepted, of the
date on which such petitions were submitted to them. Signatures on
petitions not submitted to the appropriate local or state officials
by these deadlines may not be certified. The petition shall set

page 17
forth the full text of the measure requested or proposed. Petition
forms shall be furnished or approved by the Secretary of State upon
written application signed and notarized and submitted to the office
of the Secretary of State by a resident of this State whose name
must appear on the voting list of the city, town or plantation of
that resident as qualified to vote for Governor. The full text of a
measure submitted to a vote of the people under the provisions of
the Constitution need not be printed on the official ballots, but,
until otherwise provided by the Legislature, the Secretary of State
shall prepare the ballots in such form as to present the question or
questions concisely and intelligibly.
(CR 2005, c. 2 (amd).)
Section 21. City council of any city may establish direct

initiative and people's veto. The city council of any city may
establish the direct initiative and people's veto for the electors
of such city in regard to its municipal affairs, provided that the
ordinance establishing and providing the method of exercising such
direct initiative and people's veto shall not take effect until
ratified by vote of a majority of the electors of said city, voting
thereon at a municipal election. Provided, however, that the
Legislature may at any time provide a uniform method for the
exercise of the initiative and referendum in municipal affairs.
Section 22. Election officers and officials, how governed. Until

the Legislature shall enact further laws not inconsistent with the
Constitution for applying the people's veto and direct initiative,
the election officers and other officials shall be governed by the
provisions of this Constitution and of the general law, supplemented
by such reasonable action as may be necessary to render the
preceding sections self executing. The Legislature may enact laws
not inconsistent with the Constitution to establish procedures for
determination of the validity of written petitions. Such laws shall
include provision for judicial review of any determination, to be
completed within 100 days from the date of filing of a written
petition in the office of the Secretary of State.
Section 23. Municipalities reimbursed annually. The Legislature

shall annually reimburse each municipality from state tax sources
for not less than 50% of the property tax revenue loss suffered by
that municipality during the previous calendar year because of the
statutory property tax exemptions or credits enacted after April 1,
1978. The Legislature shall enact appropriate legislation to carry
out the intent of this section.
This section shall allow, but not require, reimbursement for

statutory property tax exemptions or credits for unextracted
minerals.

page 18
Article V.
Part First.
Executive Power.
Section 1. Governor. The supreme executive power of this State

shall be vested in a Governor.
Section 2. Term of office; reelection eligibility. The Governor

shall be elected by the qualified electors, and shall hold the
office for 4 years from the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday
of January next following the election and until the successor to
the Governor has been duly elected and qualified. The person who
has served 2 consecutive popular elective 4-year terms of office as
Governor shall be ineligible to succeed himself or herself.
Section 3. Election; votes to be returned to Secretary of State;

Secretary of State to lay lists before the Senate and House of
Representatives; provision in case of tie. The meetings for
election of Governor shall be notified, held and regulated and votes
shall be received, sorted, counted and declared and recorded, in the
same manner as those for Senators and Representatives. Copies of
lists of votes shall be sealed and returned to the secretary's
office in the same manner and at the same time as those for
Senators. The Secretary of State for the time being shall, on the
first Wednesday after the first Tuesday of January then next, lay
the lists returned to the secretary's office before the Senate and
House of Representatives to be by them examined, together with the
ballots cast if they so elect, and they shall determine the number
of votes duly cast for the office of Governor, and in case of a
choice by plurality of all of the votes returned they shall declare
and publish the same. If there shall be a tie between the 2 persons
having the largest number of votes for Governor, the House of
Representatives and the Senate meeting in joint session, and each
member of said bodies having a single vote, shall elect one of said
2 persons having so received an equal number of votes and the person
so elected by the Senate and House of Representatives shall be
declared the Governor.
Section 4. Qualifications. The Governor shall, at the

commencement of the Governor's term, be not less than 30 years of
age; a citizen of the United States for at least 15 years, have been
5 years a resident of the State; and at the time of election and
during the term for which elected, be a resident of said State.
Section 5. Disqualifications. No person holding any office or

place under the United States, this State, or any other power, shall
assume the office of Governor, nor shall any such person exercise
the office of Governor except as provided by this Constitution.
Section 6. Compensation. The Governor shall, at stated times,

receive for services a compensation, which shall not be increased or
diminished during the Governor's continuance in office.
Section 7. Commander in chief. The Governor shall be commander in

chief of the army and navy of the State, and of the militia, except
when the same are called into the actual service of the United
States.

page 19
Section 8. To appoint officers. The Governor shall nominate, and,
subject to confirmation as provided herein, appoint all judicial
officers, except judges of probate and justices of the peace if
their manner of selection is otherwise provided for by this
Constitution or by law, and all other civil and military officers
whose appointment is not by this Constitution, or shall not by law
be otherwise provided for.
Procedure for confirmation. The procedure for confirmation shall

be as follows: an appropriate legislative committee comprised of
members of both houses in reasonable proportion to their membership
as provided by law shall recommend confirmation or denial by
majority vote of committee members present and voting. The
committee recommendation shall be reviewed by the Senate and upon
review shall become final action of confirmation or denial unless
the Senate by vote of 2/3 of those members present and voting
overrides the committee recommendation. The Senate vote shall be by
the yeas and nays.
Affirmative vote of 2/3 of members required. All statutes enacted

to carry out the purposes of the second paragraph of this section
shall require the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members of each
House present and voting.
Governor or President of Senate may call Senate into session.

Either the Governor or the President of the Senate shall have the
power to call the Senate into session for the purpose of voting upon
confirmation of appointments.
Nomination by Governor made 7 days prior to appointment of nominee.

Every nomination by the Governor shall be made 7 days at least prior
to appointment of the nominee.
Section 9. To give information and recommend measures. The

Governor shall from time to time give the Legislature information of
the condition of the State, and recommend to their consideration
such measures, as the Governor may judge expedient.
Section 10. May require information of any officer. The Governor

may require information from any military officer, or any officer in
the executive department, upon any subject relating to the duties of
their respective offices.
Section 11. Power to pardon and remit penalties, etc.; conditions.

The Governor shall have power to remit after conviction all
forfeitures and penalties, and to grant reprieves, commutations and
pardons, except in cases of impeachment, upon such conditions, and
with such restrictions and limitations as may be deemed proper,
subject to such regulations as may be provided by law, relative to
the manner of applying for pardons. Such power to grant reprieves,
commutations and pardons shall include offenses of juvenile
delinquency.
Section 12. Shall enforce the laws. The Governor shall take care
that the laws be faithfully executed.
Section 13. Convene the Legislature on extraordinary occasions,

and adjourn it in case of disagreement; may change the place of
meeting. The Governor may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the
Legislature; and in case of disagreement between the 2 Houses with

page 20
respect to the time of adjournment, adjourn them to such time, as
the Governor shall think proper, not beyond the day of the next
regular session; and if, since the last adjournment, the place where
the Legislature were next to convene shall have become dangerous
from an enemy or contagious sickness, may direct the session to be
held at some other convenient place within the State.
Section 14. Vacancy, how supplied. Whenever the office of

Governor shall become vacant because of the death, resignation or
removal of a Governor in office, or any other cause, the President
of the Senate shall assume the office of Governor until another
Governor shall be duly qualified. When the vacancy occurs more than
90 days preceding the date of the primary election for nominating
candidates to be voted for at the biennial election next succeeding,
the President of the Senate shall assume the office of Governor
until the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday of January
following the biennial election. At the biennial election, a
Governor shall be elected to fill the unexpired term created by the
vacancy. When the vacancy occurs less than 90 days preceding the
date of a primary election the President of the Senate shall fill
the unexpired term.
Whenever the offices of Governor and President of the Senate are

vacant at the same time, the Speaker of the House of Representatives
shall assume the office of Governor for the same term and under the
same conditions as the President of the Senate.
Whenever the offices of Governor, President of the Senate and

Speaker of the House of Representatives are vacant at the same time,
the person acting as Secretary of State for the time being shall
exercise the office of Governor and shall forthwith by proclamation
convene the Senate and the House of Representatives which shall fill
respectively the vacancies in the offices of the President of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House, and by joint ballot of the
Senators and Representatives in convention choose a person who shall
assume the office of Governor for the same term and under the same
conditions as the President of the Senate.
Mental or physical disability of the Governor continuously for more

than 6 months. Whenever for 6 months a Governor in office shall
have been continuously unable to discharge the powers and duties of
that office because of mental or physical disability such office
shall be deemed vacant. Such vacancy shall be declared by the
Supreme Judicial Court upon presentment to it of a joint resolution
declaring the ground of the vacancy, adopted by a vote of 2/3 of the
Senators and Representatives in convention, and upon notice, hearing
before the court and a decision by a majority of the court that
ground exists for declaring the office to be vacant.
Section 15. Temporary mental or physical disability of Governor.

Whenever the Governor is unable to discharge the powers and duties
of that office because of mental or physical disability, the
President of the Senate, or if that office is vacant, the Speaker of
the House of Representatives, shall exercise the powers and duties
of the office of Governor until the Governor is again able to
discharge the powers and duties of that office, or until the office
of Governor is declared to be vacant or until another Governor shall
be duly qualified.
Whenever the Governor is unable to discharge the powers and duties

of that office, the Governor may so certify to the Chief Justice of

page 21
the Supreme Judicial Court, in which case and upon notice from the
Chief Justice, the President of the Senate, or if that office is
vacant, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall exercise
the powers and duties of the office of Governor until such time as
the Governor shall certify to the Chief Justice that the Governor is
able to discharge such powers and duties and the Chief Justice shall
so notify the officer who is exercising the powers and duties of the
office of Governor.
When the Secretary of State shall have reason to believe that the
Governor is unable to discharge the duties of that office, the
Secretary of State may so certify to the Supreme Judicial Court,
declaring the reason for such belief. After notice to the Governor,
a hearing before the court and a decision by a majority of the court
that the Governor is unable to discharge the duties of the office of
Governor, the court shall notify the President of the Senate, or if
that office is vacant the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
of such inability and that officer shall exercise the functions,
powers and duties of the office of Governor until such time as the
Secretary of State or the Governor shall certify to the court that
the Governor is able to discharge the duties of the office of
Governor and the court, after notice to the Governor and a hearing
before the court, decides that the Governor is able to discharge the
duties of that office and so notifies the officer who is exercising
the powers and duties of the office of Governor.
Whenever either the President of the Senate or Speaker of the House

of Representatives shall exercise the office of Governor, the
officer shall receive only the compensation of Governor, but the
officer's duties as President or Speaker shall be suspended; and the
Senate or House shall fill the vacancy resulting from such
suspension, until the officer shall cease to exercise the office of
Governor.

page 22
Article V.
Part Second.
Secretary.
Section 1. Election. The Secretary of State shall be chosen

biennially at the first session of the Legislature, by joint ballot
of the Senators and Representatives in convention.
Section 1-A. Succession to the office of Secretary of State. If a

vacancy occurs in the office of the Secretary of State, the first
deputy secretary of state shall act as the Secretary of State until
a Secretary of State is elected by the Legislature during the
current session if in session, or at the next regular or special
session.
Section 2. Records of State; deputies. The records of the State

shall be kept in the office of the secretary, who may appoint
deputies to that office, for whose conduct the secretary shall be
accountable.
Section 3. Attend the Governor, Senate, and House. The Secretary

of State shall attend the Governor, Senate and House of
Representatives, in person or by the deputies of the Secretary of
State as they shall respectively require.
Section 4. Records of executive and legislative departments. The

Secretary of State shall carefully keep and preserve the records of
all the official acts and proceedings of the Governor, Senate and
House of Representatives, and, when required, lay the same before
either branch of the Legislature, and perform such other duties as
are enjoined by this Constitution, or shall be required by law.

page 23
Article V.
Part Third.
Treasurer.
Section 1. Election. The Treasurer shall be chosen biennially, at

the first session of the Legislature, by joint ballot of the
Senators, and Representatives in convention.
Section 1-A. Succession to the office of Treasurer. If a vacancy

occurs in the office of Treasurer of State, the deputy treasurer of
state shall act as the Treasurer of State until a Treasurer of State
is elected by the Legislature during the current session if in
session, or at the next regular or special session.
Section 2. Bond. The Treasurer shall, before entering on the

duties of that office, give bond to the State with sureties, to the
satisfaction of the Legislature, for the faithful discharge of that
trust.
Section 3. Not to engage in trade. The Treasurer shall not,

during the treasurer's continuance in office, engage in any business
of trade or commerce, or as a broker, nor as an agent or factor for
any merchant or trader.
Section 4. No money drawn except upon appropriation or allocation.

No money shall be drawn from the treasury, except in consequence of
appropriations or allocations authorized by law.
Section 5. Bonding regulations; prohibiting use of proceeds from

sale of bonds to fund current expenditures. The Legislature shall
enact general law prohibiting the use of proceeds from the sale of
bonds to fund current expenditures and shall provide by
appropriation for the payment of interest upon and installments of
principal of all bonded debt created on behalf of the State as the
same shall become due and payable. If at any time the Legislature
shall fail to make any such appropriation, the Treasurer of State
shall set apart from the first General Fund revenues thereafter
received a sum sufficient to pay such interest or installments of
principal and shall so apply the moneys thus set apart. The
Treasurer of State may be required to set apart and apply such
revenues at the suit of any holder of such bonds. The prohibition
on use of proceeds from the sale of bonds to fund current
expenditures shall only apply to those bonds authorized on or after
July 1, 1977.

page 24
Article VI.
Judicial Power.
Section 1. Courts. The judicial power of this State shall be
vested in a Supreme Judicial Court, and such other courts as the
Legislature shall from time to time establish.
Section 2. Compensation. The Justices of the Supreme Judicial

Court and the Judges of other courts shall, at stated times receive
a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their
continuance in office; but they shall receive no other fee or reward
for their services as Justices or Judges.
Section 3. To give opinion when required by Governor or either

Branch of the Legislature. The Justices of the Supreme Judicial
Court shall be obliged to give their opinion upon important
questions of law, and upon solemn occasions, when required by the
Governor, Senate or House of Representatives.
Section 4. Tenure of judicial officers; 6-month holdover period.

All judicial officers appointed by the Governor shall hold their
offices for the term of 7 years from the time of their respective
appointments (unless sooner removed by impeachment or by address of
both branches of the Legislature to the executive, provided further
that justices of the peace may be removed from office in such manner
as the Legislature may provide); provided, however, that a judicial
officer whose term of office has expired or who has reached
mandatory retirement age, as provided by statute, may continue to
hold office until the expiration of an additional period not to
exceed 6 months or until the successor to the judicial officer is
appointed, whichever occurs first in time.
Section 5. Limitation on holding other office. No Justice of the

Supreme Judicial Court or any other court shall hold office under
the United States or any other state, nor under this State, except
as justice of the peace or as member of the Judicial Council.
Section 6. Judges and registers of probate, election and tenure;

vacancies. Judges and registers of probate shall be elected by the
people of their respective counties, by a plurality of the votes
given in, at the biennial election on the Tuesday following the
first Monday of November, and shall hold their offices for 4 years,
commencing on the first day of January next after their election.
Vacancies occurring in said offices by death, resignation or
otherwise, shall be filled by election in manner aforesaid at the
November election, next after their occurrence; and in the meantime,
the Governor may fill said vacancies by appointment, and the persons
so appointed shall hold their offices until the first day of January
next after the election aforesaid.
Note: Section 6 of Article VI has been repealed by Amendment which

by virtue of Chapter 77 of the Resolves of the One Hundred and Third
Legislature, 1967 "shall become effective at such time as the
Legislature by proper enactment shall establish a different Probate
Court system with full-time judges."

page 25
Article VII.
Military.
Section 1. Officers, how appointed. All commissioned officers of

the militia shall be appointed and commissioned by the Governor,
from such persons as are qualified by law to hold such offices.
Section 2. Qualifications and selection. The Legislature shall,

by law, designate the qualifications necessary for holding a
commission in the militia and shall prescribe the mode of selection
of officers for the several grades.
Section 3. Adjutant General. The Adjutant General shall be

appointed by the Governor. But the Adjutant General shall also
perform the duties of quartermaster general and paymaster general
until otherwise directed by law.
Section 4. Standard of organization, armament and discipline. The

organization, armament and discipline of the militia and of the
military and naval units thereof shall be the same as that which is
now or may hereafter be prescribed by the laws and regulations of
the United States; and it shall be the duty of the Governor to issue
from time to time such orders and regulations and to adopt such
other means of administration, as shall maintain the prescribed
standard of organization, armament and discipline; and such orders,
regulations and means adopted shall have the full force and effect
of the law.
Section 5. Persons exempt from military duty. Persons of the

denominations of Quakers and Shakers, Justices of the Supreme
Judicial Court, Ministers of the Gospel and persons exempted by the
laws of the United States may be exempted from military duty, but no
other able-bodied person of the age of 18 and under the age of 45
years, excepting officers of the militia who have been honorably
discharged, shall be so exempted.

page 26
Article VIII.
Part First.
Education.
Section 1. Legislature shall require towns to support public

schools; duty of Legislature. A general diffusion of the advantages
of education being essential to the preservation of the rights and
liberties of the people; to promote this important object, the
Legislature are authorized, and it shall be their duty to require,
the several towns to make suitable provision, at their own expense,
for the support and maintenance of public schools; and it shall
further be their duty to encourage and suitably endow, from time to
time, as the circumstances of the people may authorize, all
academies, colleges and seminaries of learning within the State;
provided, that no donation, grant or endowment shall at any time be
made by the Legislature to any literary institution now established,
or which may hereafter be established, unless, at the time of making
such endowment, the Legislature of the State shall have the right to
grant any further powers to alter, limit or restrain any of the
powers vested in any such literary institution, as shall be judged
necessary to promote the best interests thereof.
Section 2. Authority to pledge the credit of the State and to

issue bonds for loans to Maine students in higher education and
their parents. For the purpose of assisting the youth of Maine to
achieve the required levels of learning and to develop their
intellectual and mental capacities, the Legislature, by proper
enactment, may authorize the credit of the State to be loaned to
secure funds for loans to Maine students attending institutions of
higher education, wherever situated, and to parents of these
students. Funds shall be obtained by the issuance of state bonds,
when authorized by the Governor, but the amount of bonds issued and
outstanding shall not at one time exceed in the aggregate
$4,000,000. Funds loaned shall be on such terms and conditions as
the Legislature shall authorize.

page 27
Article VIII.
Part Second.
Municipal Home Rule.
Section 1. Power of municipalities to amend their charters. The

inhabitants of any municipality shall have the power to alter and
amend their charters on all matters, not prohibited by Constitution
or general law, which are local and municipal in character. The
Legislature shall prescribe the procedure by which the municipality
may so act.
Section 2. Construction of buildings for industrial use. For the

purposes of fostering, encouraging and assisting the physical
location, settlement and resettlement of industrial and
manufacturing enterprises within the physical boundaries of any
municipality, the registered voters of that municipality may, by
majority vote, authorize the issuance of notes or bonds in the name
of the municipality for the purpose of purchasing land and interests
therein or constructing buildings for industrial use, to be leased
or sold by the municipality to any responsible industrial firm or
corporation.

page 28
Article IX.
General Provisions.
Section 1. Oaths and subscriptions. Every person elected or
appointed to either of the places or offices provided in this
Constitution, and every person elected, appointed, or commissioned
to any judicial, executive, military or other office under this
State, shall, before entering on the discharge of the duties of that
place or office, take and subscribe the following oath or
affirmation: "I, do swear, that I will support the
Constitution of the United States and of this State, so long as I
shall continue a citizen thereof. So help me God."
"I do swear, that I will faithfully discharge, to the best

of my abilities, the duties incumbent on me as
according to the Constitution and laws of the State. So help me
God."
Alternative affirmation. Provided, that an affirmation in the

above forms may be substituted, when the person shall be
conscientiously scrupulous of taking and subscribing an oath.
Administration of oaths to Governor, Senators, Representatives, and

other officers. The oaths or affirmations shall be taken and
subscribed by the Governor before the presiding officer of the
Senate, in the presence of both Houses of the Legislature, and by
the Senators and Representatives before the Governor, and by the
residue of said officers before such persons as shall be prescribed
by the Legislature; and whenever the Governor shall not be able to
attend during the session of the Legislature to take and subscribe
said oaths or affirmations, such oaths or affirmations may be taken
and subscribed in the recess of the Legislature before any Justice
of the Supreme Judicial Court and provided further that, if the
Governor shall be unable to appear and administer the oath to the
Senators and Representatives, such oaths shall be administered by
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court or in the absence of
the Chief Justice, by the senior Associate Justice of said Supreme
Judicial Court present at the State Capitol on the first day of the
term for which said Senators and Representatives shall have been
elected.
Section 2. Offices incompatible with each other; election to

Congress disqualifies. No person holding the office of Justice of
the Supreme Judicial Court, or of any inferior court, Attorney
General, district attorney, Treasurer of the State, Adjutant
General, judge of probate, register of probate, register of deeds,
sheriffs or their deputies, clerks of the judicial courts, shall be
a member of the Legislature; and any person holding either of the
foregoing offices, elected to, and accepting a seat in the Congress
of the United States, shall thereby vacate said office; and no
person shall be capable of holding or exercising at the same time
within this State, more than one of the offices before mentioned.
Section 3. Commissions. All commissions shall be in the name of the

State, signed by the Governor, attested by the Secretary or a deputy
of the Secretary and have the seal of the State thereto affixed.
Section 4. Elections on the first Wednesday after first Tuesday of

January may be adjourned from day to day. In case the elections,

page 29
required by this Constitution on the first Wednesday after the first
Tuesday of January biennially, by the 2 Houses of the Legislature,
shall not be completed on that day, the same may be adjourned from
day to day, until completed, in the following order: The vacancies
in the Senate shall first be filled; and the Governor shall then be
elected, if there be no choice by the people.
Section 5. Removal by impeachment or address. Every person

holding any civil office under this State, may be removed by
impeachment, for misdemeanor in office; and every person holding any
office, may be removed by the Governor on the address of both
branches of the Legislature. But before such address shall pass
either House, the causes of removal shall be stated and entered on
the journal of the House in which it originated, and a copy thereof
served on the person in office, that the person may be admitted to a
hearing in that person's own defense.
Section 6. Tenure of office. The tenure of all offices, which are

not or shall not be otherwise provided for, shall be during the
pleasure of the Governor.
Section 7. Valuation. While the public expenses shall be assessed

on estates, a general valuation shall be taken at least once in 10
years.
Section 8. Taxation. All taxes upon real and personal estate,

assessed by authority of this State, shall be apportioned and
assessed equally according to the just value thereof.
1. Intangible property. The Legislature shall have power to levy

a tax upon intangible personal property at such rate as it deems
wise and equitable without regard to the rate applied to other
classes of property.
2. Assessment of certain lands based on current use; penalty on

change to higher use. The Legislature shall have power to provide
for the assessment of the following types of real estate whenever
situated in accordance with a valuation based upon the current use
thereof and in accordance with such conditions as the Legislature
may enact:
A. Farms and agricultural lands, timberlands and woodlands;
B. Open space lands which are used for recreation or the

enjoyment of scenic natural beauty; (CR 2005, c. 1 (amd).)
C. Lands used for game management or wildlife sanctuaries; and

(CR 2005, c. 1 (amd).)
D. Waterfront land that is used for or that supports

commercial fishing activities. (CR 2005, c. 1 (new).)
In implementing paragraphs A, B, C and D, the Legislature shall

provide that any change of use higher than those set forth in
paragraphs A, B, C and D, except when the change is occasioned by a
transfer resulting from the exercise or threatened exercise of the
power of eminent domain, shall result in the imposition of a minimum
penalty equal to the tax which would have been imposed over the 5
years preceding that change of use had that real estate been
assessed at its highest and best use, less all taxes paid on that

page 30
real estate over the preceding 5 years, and interest, upon such
reasonable and equitable basis as the Legislature shall determine.
Any statutory or constitutional penalty imposed as a result of a
change of use, whether imposed before or after the approval of this
subsection, shall be determined without regard to the presence of
minerals, provided that, when payment of the penalty is made or
demanded, whichever occurs first, there is in effect a state excise
tax which applies or would apply to the mining of those minerals.
(CR 2005, c. 1 (amd).)
(CR 2005, c. 1 (amd).)
3. School districts. The Legislature shall have power to provide

that taxes, which it may authorize a School Administrative District
or a community school district to levy, may be assessed on real,
personal and intangible property in accordance with any cost-sharing
formula which it may authorize.
4. Watercraft. Beginning with the property tax year 1984, all

watercraft as defined by the Legislature shall be exempt from
taxation as personal property, provided that certain watercraft as
defined by the Legislature shall be subject to an excise tax to be
collected and retained by the municipalities.
5. Historic and scenic preservation. The Legislature shall have

the power to provide that municipalities may reduce taxes on real
property if the property owner agrees to maintain the property in
accordance with criteria adopted by the governing legislative body
of the municipality to maintain the historic integrity of important
structures or to provide scenic view easements of significant
vistas.
Section 9. Power of taxation. The Legislature shall never, in any

manner, suspend or surrender the power of taxation.
Section 10. Tenure of sheriffs. Sheriffs shall be elected by the

people of their respective counties, by a plurality of the votes
given in on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November, and
shall hold their offices for 4 years from the first day of January
next after their election, unless sooner removed as hereinafter
provided.
Removal of sheriffs from office and replacement. Whenever the

Governor upon complaint, due notice and hearing shall find that a
sheriff is not faithfully or efficiently performing any duty imposed
upon the sheriff by law, the Governor may remove such sheriff from
office and appoint another sheriff to serve for the remainder of the
term for which such removed sheriff was elected. All vacancies in
the office of sheriff, other than those caused by removal in the
manner aforesaid shall be filled in the same manner as is provided
in the case of judges and registers of probate.
Section 11. Attorney General. The Attorney General shall be

chosen biennially by joint ballot of the Senators and
Representatives in convention. Vacancy in said office occurring
when the Legislature is not in session, may be filled by appointment
by the Governor, subject to confirmation as required by this
Constitution for Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court.

page 31
Section 12. Voting districts. The Legislature may by law
authorize the dividing of towns into voting districts for all state
and national elections, and prescribe the manner in which the votes
shall be received, counted, and the result of the election declared.
Section 13. Bribery at elections. The Legislature may enact laws

excluding from the right of suffrage, for a term not exceeding 10
years, all persons convicted of bribery at any election, or of
voting at any election, under the influence of a bribe.
Section 14. Authority and procedure for issuance of bonds. The

credit of the State shall not be directly or indirectly loaned in
any case, except as provided in sections 14-A, 14-B, 14-C and 14-D.
The Legislature shall not create any debt or debts, liability or
liabilities, on behalf of the State, which shall singly, or in the
aggregate, with previous debts and liabilities hereafter incurred at
any one time, exceed $2,000,000, except to suppress insurrection, to
repel invasion, or for purposes of war, and except for temporary
loans to be paid out of money raised by taxation during the fiscal
year in which they are made, and except for loans to be repaid
within 12 months with federal transportation funds in amounts not to
exceed 50% of transportation funds appropriated by the Federal
Government in the prior federal fiscal year; and excepting also that
whenever 2/3 of both Houses shall deem it necessary, by proper
enactment ratified by a majority of the electors voting thereon at a
general or special election, the Legislature may authorize the
issuance of bonds on behalf of the State at such times and in such
amounts and for such purposes as approved by such action; but this
shall not be construed to refer to any money that has been, or may
be deposited with this State by the Government of the United States,
or to any fund which the State shall hold in trust for any Indian
tribe. Whenever ratification by the electors is essential to the
validity of bonds to be issued on behalf of the State, the question
submitted to the electors shall be accompanied by a statement
setting forth the total amount of bonds of the State outstanding and
unpaid, the total amount of bonds of the State authorized and
unissued, and the total amount of bonds of the State contemplated to
be issued if the enactment submitted to the electors be ratified.
For any bond authorization requiring ratification of the electors
pursuant to this section, if any bonds have not been issued within 5
years of the date of ratification, then those bonds may not be
issued after that date. Within 2 years after expiration of that 5-
year period, the Legislature may extend, by a majority vote, the 5-
year period for an additional 5 years or may deauthorize the bonds.
If the Legislature fails to take action within those 2 years, the
bond issue shall be considered to be deauthorized and no further
bonds may be issued. For any bond authorization in existence on
November 6, 1984, and for which the 5-year period following
ratification has expired, no further bonds may be issued unless the
Legislature, by November 6, 1986, reauthorizes those bonds by a
majority vote, for an additional 5-year period, failing which all
bonds unissued under those authorizations shall be considered to be
deauthorized. Temporary loans to be paid out of moneys raised by
taxation during any fiscal year shall not exceed in the aggregate
during the fiscal year in question an amount greater than 10% of all
the moneys appropriated, authorized and allocated by the Legislature
from undedicated revenues to the General Fund and dedicated revenues
to the Highway Fund for that fiscal year, exclusive of proceeds or
expenditures from the sale of bonds, or greater than 1% of the total
valuation of the State of Maine, whichever is the lesser.

page 32
Section 14-A. Authority to insure industrial, manufacturing,
fishing, and agricultural mortgage loans. For the purposes of
fostering, encouraging and assisting the physical location,
settlement and resettlement of industrial, manufacturing, fishing,
agricultural and recreational enterprises within the State, the
Legislature by proper enactment may insure the payment of mortgage
loans on real estate and personal property within the State of such
industrial, manufacturing, fishing, agricultural and recreational
enterprises not exceeding in the aggregate $90,000,000 in amount at
any one time and may also appropriate moneys and authorize the
issuance of bonds on behalf of the State at such times and in such
amounts as it may determine to make payments insured as aforesaid.
For the purposes of this section, a documented fishing vessel or a
vessel registered under state law shall be construed as real estate.
Section 14-B. Authority to insure revenue bonds of the Maine

School Building Authority. In order to encourage and assist in the
provision and construction of public school buildings in the State,
the Legislature by proper enactment may insure the payment of
revenue bonds of the Maine School Building Authority on school
projects within the State not exceeding in the aggregate $6,000,000
in amount at any one time and may also appropriate moneys and
authorize the issuance of bonds on behalf of the State at such times
and in such amounts as it may determine to make payments insured as
aforesaid.
Section 14-C. Authority to insure mortgage loans for Indian

housing. For the purpose of fostering and encouraging the
acquisition, construction, repair and remodeling of houses owned or
to be owned by members of the 2 tribes on the several Indian
reservations, the Legislature by proper enactment may insure the
payment of mortgage loans on such houses not exceeding in the
aggregate $1,000,000 in amount at any one time and may also
appropriate moneys and authorize the issuance of bonds on behalf of
the State at such times and in such amounts as it may determine to
make payments insured as aforesaid.
Section 14-D. Authority to insure Maine veterans' mortgage loans,

and to appropriate moneys and issue bonds for the payment of same.
For the purposes of recognizing the services and sacrifices of
Maine's men and women who have served their state and country
through honorable service in the Armed Forces of the United States
in time of war or national emergency; enlarging the opportunities
for employment of Maine's veterans; insuring the preservation and
betterment of the economy of the State of Maine; and stimulating the
flow of private investment funds to Maine's veterans, the
Legislature by proper enactment may insure the payment of any
mortgage loan to resident Maine veterans of the Armed Forces of the
United States, including a business organization owned in whole or
in part by a resident Maine veteran, when such loans are made in
connection with such legitimate purposes and under such terms and
conditions as the Legislature may determine, not exceeding in the
aggregate $4,000,000 in amount at any one time and may also
appropriate moneys and authorize the issuance of bonds on behalf of
the State at such times and in such amounts as it may determine to
make payments insured as aforesaid.
Section 15. Municipal borrowing regulated by Legislature through

general law. The Legislature shall enact general law regulating the
total borrowing capacity of municipal corporations.

page 33
Section 16. Seat of government. Augusta is hereby declared to be
the seat of government of this State.
Section 17. Continuity of Government in case of enemy attack.

Notwithstanding any general or special provision of this
Constitution, the Legislature, in order to insure continuity of
state and local governmental operations in periods of emergency
resulting from disasters caused by enemy attack, shall have the
power and the immediate duty 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 to adopt such other measures as may be
necessary and proper for insuring the continuity of governmental
operations including but not limited to the financing thereof. In
the exercise of the powers hereby conferred the Legislature shall in
all respects conform to the requirements of this Constitution except
to the extent that in the judgment of the Legislature so to do would
be impracticable or would admit of undue delay.
Section 18. Limitation on use of funds of Maine State Retirement

System. All of the assets, and proceeds or income therefrom, of the
Maine State Retirement System or any successor system and all
contributions and payments made to the system to provide for
retirement and related benefits shall be held, invested or disbursed
as in trust for the exclusive purpose of providing for such benefits
and shall not be encumbered for, or diverted to, other purposes.
Funds appropriated by the Legislature for the Maine State Retirement
System are assets of the system and may not be diverted or
deappropriated by any subsequent action.
Section 18-A. Funding of retirement benefits under the Maine State

Retirement System. Beginning with the fiscal year starting July 1,
1997, the normal cost of all retirement and ancillary benefits
provided to participants under the Maine State Retirement System
must be funded annually on an actuarially sound basis. Unfunded
liabilities may not be created except those resulting from
experience losses. Unfunded liability resulting from experience
losses must be retired over a period not exceeding 10 years.
Section 18-B. Payment of unfunded liabilities of the Maine State

Retirement System. Each fiscal year beginning with the fiscal year
starting July 1, 1997, the Legislature shall appropriate funds that
will retire in 31 years or less the unfunded liabilities of the
Maine State Retirement System that are attributable to state
employees and teachers. The unfunded liabilities referred to in
this section are those determined by the Maine State Retirement
System's actuaries and certified by the Board of Trustees of the
Maine State Retirement System as of June 30, 1996.
Section 19. Limitation on expenditure of motor vehicle and motor

vehicle fuel revenues. All revenues derived from fees, excises and
license taxes relating to registration, operation and use of
vehicles on public highways, and to fuels used for propulsion of
such vehicles shall be expended solely for cost of administration,
statutory refunds and adjustments, payment of debts and liabilities
incurred in construction and reconstruction of highways and bridges,
the cost of construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair of
public highways and bridges under the direction and supervision of a

page 34
state department having jurisdiction over such highways and bridges
and expense for state enforcement of traffic laws and shall not be
diverted for any purpose, provided that these limitations shall not
apply to revenue from an excise tax on motor vehicles imposed in
lieu of personal property tax.
Section 20. Mining Excise Tax Trust Fund. The principal amount of
the Mining Excise Tax Trust Fund or any successor fund may not be
expended unless the expenditure is approved in a separate measure by
a 2/3 vote of all the members elected to each House of the
Legislature and by the Governor.
Section 21. State mandates. For the purpose of more fairly

apportioning the cost of government and providing local property tax
relief, the State may not require a local unit of government to
expand or modify that unit's activities so as to necessitate
additional expenditures from local revenues unless the State
provides annually 90% of the funding for these expenditures from
State funds not previously appropriated to that local unit of
government. Legislation implementing this section or requiring a
specific expenditure as an exception to this requirement may be
enacted upon the vote of 2/3 of all members elected to each House.
This section must be liberally construed.
Section 22. Revenues generated by fisheries and wildlife

management. The amount of funds appropriated in any fiscal year to
the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, or any successor
agency responsible for fisheries and wildlife management, other than
commercial marine fisheries management, may not be less than the
total revenues collected, received or recovered by the Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, or successor agency, from license and
permit fees, fines, the sale, lease or rental of property, penalties
and all other revenue sources pursuant to the laws of the State
administered by the department or successor agency, except that
revenues received from the Federal Government may be allocated as
provided by federal or state law and the Legislature may establish
special funds and deposit revenues collected, received or recovered
by the department or successor agency into those special funds,
provided that the revenues are allocated and expended only for the
purposes of those special funds as provided by law.
Sec. 23. State park land. State park land, public lots or other
real estate held by the State for conservation or recreation
purposes and designated by legislation implementing this section may
not be reduced or its uses substantially altered except on the vote
of 2/3 of all the members elected to each House. The proceeds from
the sale of such land must be used to purchase additional real
estate in the same county for the same purposes.

page 35
Article X.
Additional Provisions.
Section 1. (See Section 7 and Note.)
Section 3. Laws now in force continue until repealed. All laws

now in force in this State, and not repugnant to this Constitution,
shall remain, and be in force, until altered or repealed by the
Legislature, or shall expire by their own limitation.
Section 4. Amendments to Constitution. The Legislature, whenever

2/3 of both Houses shall deem it necessary, may propose amendments
to this Constitution; and when any amendments shall be so agreed
upon, a resolution shall be passed and sent to the selectmen of the
several towns, and the assessors of the several plantations,
empowering and directing them to notify the inhabitants of their
respective towns and plantations, in the manner prescribed by law,
at the next biennial meetings in the month of November, or to meet
in the manner prescribed by law for calling and holding biennial
meetings of said inhabitants for the election of Senators and
Representatives, on the Tuesday following the first Monday of
November following the passage of said resolve, to give in their
votes on the question, whether such amendment shall be made; and if
it shall appear that a majority of the inhabitants voting on the
question are in favor of such amendment, it shall become a part of
this Constitution.
Section 6. Constitution to be arranged by Chief Justice of the

Supreme Judicial Court; Constitution to be enrolled and printed with
laws; supreme law of the State. The Chief Justice of the Supreme
Judicial Court shall arrange the Constitution, as amended, under
appropriate titles and in proper articles, parts and sections,
omitting all sections, clauses and words not in force and making no
other changes in the provisions or language thereof, and shall
submit the same to the Legislature; and such arrangement of the
Constitution shall be made and submitted to the regular session of
the Legislature in 1973 and every 10 years thereafter unless sooner
authorized by the Legislature; and the draft and arrangement, when
approved by the Legislature, shall be enrolled on parchment and
deposited in the office of the Secretary of State; and printed
copies thereof shall be prefixed to the books containing the Revised
Statutes of the State. And the Constitution, with the amendments
made thereto, in accordance with the provisions thereof, shall be
the supreme law of the State.
Section 7. Original sections 1, 2, 5, of art. x not to be printed;

section 5 in full force. Sections 1, 2 and 5, of Article 10 of the
Constitution, shall hereafter be omitted in any printed copies
thereof prefixed to the laws of the State; but this shall not impair
the validity of acts under those sections; and said section 5 shall
remain in full force, as part of the Constitution, according to the
stipulations of said section, with the same effect as if contained
in said printed copies.

page 36
Note: The omitted sections may be found in the text of the
Constitution prefixed to the official publication of the laws passed
by the first Legislature of the State, which convened May 31, 1820,
pages xxiv-xxvii, and pages xxviii-xxxi; in the text of the
Constitution prefixed to the publication of the Laws of Maine,
authorized by Resolve of March 8, 1821, Volume 1, pages 41-50, and
in such text prefixed to the Revised Statutes of 1841, 1857 and
1871.

page 37

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CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MAINE

(Arranged by the Chief Justice of

Objects of government. We the people of Maine, in order to

Section 2. Power inherent in people. All power is inherent in the

Section 3. Religious freedom; sects equal; religious tests

CONSTITUTION OF MAINE - MERGED - (corrected 12/2006)

Section 5. Unreasonable searches prohibited. The people shall be

Section 6. Rights of persons accused. In all criminal

To be confronted by the witnesses against the accused;

To have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in favor of the

To have a speedy, public and impartial trial, and, except in trials

Section 6-A. Discrimination against persons prohibited. No person

Section 7. No person to answer to certain crimes but on

Section 8. No double jeopardy. No person, for the same offense,

CONSTITUTION OF MAINE - MERGED - (corrected 12/2006)

Section 10. Bailable offenses; habeas corpus. No person before

Section 11. Attainder, ex post facto and contract-impairment laws

Section 12. Treason; testimony of 2 witnesses. Treason against

Section 13. Suspension of laws. The laws shall not be suspended

Section 14. Corporal punishment under military law. No person

Section 15. Right of petition. The people have a right at all

Section 17. Standing armies. No standing army shall be kept up in

Section 18. Quartering of soldiers on citizens. No soldier shall

Section 19. Right of redress for injuries. Every person, for an

CONSTITUTION OF MAINE - MERGED - (corrected 12/2006)

Section 21. Private property, when to be taken. Private property

Section 22. Taxes. No tax or duty shall be imposed without the

Section 23. Title of nobility prohibited; tenure of offices. No

Section 24. Other rights not impaired. The enumeration of certain

CONSTITUTION OF MAINE - MERGED - (corrected 12/2006)

Section 1. Qualifications of electors; written ballot; military

Indians. Every Indian, residing on tribal reservations and

Section 2. Electors exempt from arrests on election days.

Section 3. Exemption from military duty. No elector shall be

Section 4. Time of state election; absentee voting. The election

Section 5. Voting machines. Voting machines, or other mechanical

CONSTITUTION OF MAINE - MERGED - (corrected 12/2006)

Section 1. Powers distributed. The powers of this government

Section 2. To be kept separate. No person or persons, belonging

CONSTITUTION OF MAINE - MERGED - (corrected 12/2006)

Section 1. Legislative department; style of acts. The legislative

Section 2. Number of Representatives; biennial terms; division of

Section 3. Submission of reapportionment plan to Clerk of House;

In the event that the Legislature shall fail to make an

CONSTITUTION OF MAINE - MERGED - (corrected 12/2006)

The Supreme Judicial Court shall have original jurisdiction to hear

Section 4. Qualifications; residency requirement. No person shall

No person may be a candidate for election as a member of the House

Section 5. Election of Representatives; lists of votes delivered

Section 6. Vacancies. Whenever the seat of a member shall be

Section 7. To choose own officers. The House of Representatives

Section 8. Power of impeachment. The House of Representatives

CONSTITUTION OF MAINE - MERGED - (corrected 12/2006)

Section 1. Number of Senators. The Senate shall consist of an odd

Section 2. Submission of reapportionment plan to Secretary of

The apportionment plan of the commission established under Article

In the event that the Legislature shall fail to make an

The Supreme Judicial Court shall have original jurisdiction to hear

Section 3. Election of Senators; lists of votes delivered

CONSTITUTION OF MAINE - MERGED - (corrected 12/2006)