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Limited and unlimited constitutional conventions are qualitatively different, and it is arguably unfortunate that they both are called “constitutional conventions” when their democratic functions are so different. \u00a0With a limited convention, the legislature limits the convention’s agenda to issues of its own choosing. \u00a0The result is that the democratic function of the constitutional convention is perverted. \u00a0Of course, even when the legislature doesn\u2019t have a veto on the constitutional convention\u2019s agenda, it often tries to exert as much agenda control as possible.<\/p>\n
A major reason that limited constitutional conventions were popular in Rhode Island is that the convention mechanism for proposing constitutional amendments made it EASIER for the legislature to amend the Constitution. \u00a0With a constitutional amendment proposed by the legislature, a supermajority was required to place it on the ballot for a popular referendum. \u00a0But with a constitutional convention, only a simple majority was required to place it on the ballot.<\/p>\n
In the early 1960s, the current era of the unlimited constitutional convention was ushered in by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Rhode Island’s malapportioned General Assembly violated the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution and would have to be reapportioned based on the democratic principle of one-person, one-vote. \u00a0This opened the way to the \u00a0unlimited constitutional convention of the late 1960s. \u00a0The 1973 constitutional convention was limited but implemented a number of the recommendations of the unlimited constitutional convention from just a few years before.<\/p>\n
I have divided Rhode Island’s conventional convention history into roughly three eras: 1) 1824-1943: Unlimited Conventions, 2) 1944-1963: Limited Conventions, and 3) 1964-Present: Unlimited Conventions. \u00a0 Of course, not too much should be read into such distinctions. \u00a0Even with the unlimited conventions, elites have tried to control their agendas as much as possible and with varying degrees of success.<\/p>\n
1824:<\/strong> 1st Convention Approved – At the January Session, 1824, the General Assembly passed \u201cAn Act\u00a0to authorize the holding a Convention for the purpose of forming a written Constitution of Government\u00a0for this State\u201d. The Convention convened at Newport (June 21 \u2013 July 3, 1824) and drafted a\u00a0Constitution. On October 11, 1824, the Freemen electorate rejected the proposed State Constitution,\u00a01,668 yeas to 3,206 nays.<\/p>\n 1834:<\/strong> 2nd Convention Approved – At the June Session, 1834, the General Assembly passed an Act\u00a0calling for a Convention to be held in Providence on the first Monday in September. This Convention\u00a0adjourned without agreement on a draft Constitution.<\/p>\n 1841:<\/strong> 3rd Convention Approved – On February 6, 1841, the General Assembly approved an Act calling\u00a0for a Constitutional Convention to convene in Providence on November 1, 1841. On February 19,\u00a01842,\u00a0this Convention adopted a Constitution that is referred to as the \u201cLandholder’s Constitution\u201d.\u00a0Between March 21 and March 23, 1842, the electorate voted on this Constitution and rejected it, 8,013\u00a0yeas to 8,689 nays. (By this point in Rhode Island’s history, only 40% of the free white men in the State\u00a0were eligible to vote)<\/p>\n In October of 1841, the Dorrites, a suffrage movement led by Thomas Wilson Dorr, held an extralegal\u00a0Convention and on November 18, approved a \u201cPeople’s Constitution\u201d. During the period from\u00a0December 27 \u2013 December 29, the \u201cPeople’s Constitution\u201d was approved by a vote of 13,944 yeas to 52\u00a0nays. An analysis of the voting shows that 4,960 Freemen voted for approval and 8,984 votes for\u00a0approval were cast by persons ineligible to vote under the Charter government.<\/p>\n 1842:<\/strong> 4th Convention Approved – In June of 1842, the General Assembly, bowing to increasing unrest,\u00a0met in Newport and passed an Act calling for a Constitutional Convention. In August, delegates are\u00a0elected. In September, the Convention delegates meet and draft a Constitution. This Constitution,\u00a0after voting conducted on November 21 \u2013 23, is approved by a vote of 7,032 yeas to 59 nays and\u00a0goes into effect on May 2, 1843.<\/p>\n 1853:<\/strong> General Assembly proposal to hold a Constitutional Convention is rejected by a vote of 3,778\u00a0yeas to 7,618 nays on June 28, 1853.<\/p>\n 1882:<\/strong> Voters reject another call for a Constitutional Convention.<\/p>\n 1883:<\/strong> The Rhode Island Supreme Court issues an advisory opinion (In Re Constitutional Convention,\u00a019 RI 649), stating the the Rhode Island Constitution cannot be amended by a Constitutional\u00a0Convention.<\/p>\n 1883 \u2013 1934:<\/strong> The Constitution is amended by separate amendments put to a vote of the electorate.<\/p>\n 1936:<\/strong> At a special election held on March 10, voters reject a proposal for a Constitutional Convention,\u00a088,401 yeas to 100,488 nays.<\/p>\n 1944:<\/strong> 5th Convention Approved – On March 14, the voters approve holding a Limited Constitutional\u00a0<\/strong>Convention<\/strong> by a vote of 15,683 yeas to 524 nays. The Convention meets on March 28 at Rhode Island\u00a0College in Providence, for the purpose of drafting an amendment relating to voting rights for\u00a0members of the armed forces and merchant marine. Amendment subsequently approved by the\u00a0voters on April 11, 1944 by a vote of 7122 yeas to 119 nays.<\/p>\n 1951:<\/strong> 6th Convention Approved – On May 25, the voters approve the holding of a Limited\u00a0<\/strong>Constitutional Convention<\/strong> by a vote of 16,737 yeas to 4,183 nays. The Convention meets from June 1 \u2013\u00a03, 1951 and approves the following proposals to be considered by the voters at a special election on\u00a0June 28, 1951. Six of the eight ballot questions are approved by the voters.<\/p>\n (1) Poll Tax Repeal (Approved \u2013 41,120 yeas to 15,075 nays)<\/p>\n (2) General Assembly Pay Raise (Rejected \u2013 18,979 yeas to 36,998 nays)<\/p>\n (3) Home Rule for Cities and Towns (Approved \u2013 48,638 yeas to 7,999 nays)<\/p>\n (4) Permanent Registration of Voters (Approved \u2013 48,314 yeas to 8,612 nays)<\/p>\n (5) Veterans’ Exemption (Approved \u2013 44,754 yeas to 10,936 nays)<\/p>\n (6) Increasing Borrowing Power of the State (Approved \u2013 30,874 yeas to 24,438 nays)<\/p>\n (7) Life Tenure for Supreme and Superior Court Judges (Rejected \u2013 26,937 yeas to 28,949 nays)<\/p>\n (8) Off-street Parking (Approved \u2013 39,291 yeas to 16,844 nays)<\/p>\n 1955:<\/strong> 7th Convention Approved \u2013 On June 9, 1955, the voters approve the holding of a Limited\u00a0<\/strong>Constitutional Convention<\/strong> by a vote of 17,847 yeas to 14,060 nays. The Convention is held on June 20,\u00a01955. Three amendments are approved for submission to the voters at a special election on July 12,\u00a01955.<\/p>\n (1) General Assembly Pay Raise (Rejected \u2013 15,385 yeas to 29,451 nays)<\/p>\n (2) Life Tenure for Supreme and Superior Court Judges (Rejected \u2013 13,126 yeas to 31,220 nays)<\/p>\n (3) Redevelopment for Off-street Parking (Approved \u2013 29,383 yeas to 14,968 nays)<\/p>\n 1958:<\/strong> 8th Convention Approved \u2013 A Limited Constitutional Convention<\/strong> is approved by the voters on\u00a0January 22, 1958, 12,476 yeas to 1903 nays. The Convention meets on January 31 and February 7,\u00a01958, and approves two questions for submission to the voters at a special election held on February\u00a027, 1958.<\/p>\n (1) Voting by Absentee and Disabled Voters (Approved \u2013 17,973 yeas to 1,592 nays)<\/p>\n (2) Repeal Biennial Census of Registered Voters (Approved \u2013 16,087 yeas to 2,564 nays)<\/p>\n 1964 \u2013 1969:<\/strong> 9th Convention Approved – Convention authorized by Public Law 1963, Chapter 211,\u00a0approved June 12, 1963: \u201cAn Act Inviting the People to Assemble, by Their Delegates, in Special\u00a0Convention for the Purpose of Revising, Altering, or Amending the Constitution, of Framing a\u00a0New Constitution.\u201d Placed on the ballot at the general election held November 3, 1963, question\u00a0approved by the voters, 158,241 yeas to 70,975 nays. Convention with 100 delegates convened at the\u00a0Veterans\u2019 Memorial Auditorium in Providence, December 8, 1964 with Dennis J. Roberts chosen as\u00a0chairman and August P. LaFrance serving as permanent secretary. The convention with twelve\u00a0committees met for a period of four years, approving a revised Constitution on December 4, 1967.\u00a0Brought before the electorate at a special election held April 16, 1968, proposed Constitution\u00a0overwhelmingly rejected by a vote of 69,110 yeas to 17,615 nays. The Convention officially\u00a0adjourned on February 17, 1969.<\/p>\n 1973:<\/strong> 10th Convention Approved \u2013 The calling of a Limited Constitutional Convention<\/strong> is approved by\u00a0the voters on August 7, 1973 by a vote of 21,302 yeas to 21,210 nays. The Convention meets during the\u00a0period from September 4 \u2013 October 4, 1973. Nine ballot questions are submitted to the voters at a\u00a0special election held on November 6, 1973.<\/p>\n (1) Suffrage (Approved \u2013 72,065 yeas to 30,258 nays)<\/p>\n (2) Qualifications for Office (Approved \u2013 77,884 yeas to 24,720 nays)<\/p>\n (3) Grand Jury (Approved \u2013 60,400 yeas to 35,808 nays)<\/p>\n (4) Lotteries (Approved \u2013 83,757 yeas to 25,840 nays)<\/p>\n (5) Amending the Constitution<\/strong> (Approved \u2013 56,072 yeas to 34,953 nays). \u00a0Question 5 amended the Constitution to require that a ballot question calling for a convention\u00a0to amend or revise the Rhode Island Constitution be placed on the ballot at least every ten (10)\u00a0years. If the General Assembly fails to place the question on the ballot at some time during any\u00a0period of ten years, then the Secretary of State must place the question on the ballot at the next\u00a0general election after the expiration of the ten-year period. Question 5 also added the\u00a0requirement that the General Assembly, prior to the electorate voting on the holding of a\u00a0Constitutional Convention, create a bi-partisan preparatory commission to assemble information\u00a0on constitutional questions for the electors. The Governor is authorized to create the\u00a0commission if the General Assembly fails to act. (See 1994 entry).<\/p>\n (6) Four Year Terms for General Officers (Rejected \u2013 52,332 yeas to 55,998 nays)<\/p>\n (7) General Assembly Pay Increase (Rejected \u2013 50,310 yeas to 51,050 nays)<\/p>\n (8) Industrial Building Authority (Approved \u2013 77,152 yeas to 26,186 nays)<\/p>\n (9) Recreational Building Authority (Approved \u2013 69,007 yeas to 28,344 nays)<\/p>\n 1983:<\/strong> The General Assembly passes Resolution 255, creating a Bi-partisan Preparatory Commission\u00a0to assemble information for a Constitutional Convention and placing the Constitutional Convention\u00a0Question on the Ballot for November 6, 1984.<\/p>\n 1984:<\/strong> The Bi-partisan Preparatory Commission issues its report on July 5, 1984. The Commission\u00a0recommended that a Constitutional Convention be called to study the following issues: (1) Four Year\u00a0Terms for General Officers; (2) Governor and Lt. Governor Running as a Team; (3) Line-item\u00a0Veto Power for the Governor; (4) Four Year Terms for General Assembly; (5) Legislative\u00a0Compensation; (6) Size of the General Assembly; (7) Length of General Assembly Sessions; (8)\u00a0Reapportionment of the General Assembly; (9) Equal Rights for Women and Handicapped\u00a0Persons; (10) Voter Initiative and Referendum; (11) Manner of Selecting Supreme Court Justices.<\/p>\n 1984:<\/strong> 11th Convention Approved – On November 6, 1984, the voters approve the holding of a\u00a0Constitutional Convention by a vote of 159,801 yeas to 137,096 nays.<\/p>\n 1985:<\/strong> The General Assembly enacts 1985 Chapter 326, calling for the election of delegates to a\u00a0Constitutional Convention and regulating their proceedings. 100 delegates, based on the 100\u00a0Representative districts, are elected on November 5, 1985.<\/p>\n 1986:<\/strong> Beginning on January 6, the Constitutional Convention meets. 288 Resolutions proposing\u00a0amendments are introduced. The Convention Committees eventually reduce these resolutions into\u00a0fourteen (14) ballot questions to be decided by the voters on November 4, 1986.<\/p>\n (1) Rewrite of the Present Constitution (Approved \u2013 188,082 yeas to 96,453 nays). \u00a0Question 1 provided for the re-writing of the Constitution to include all of the constitutional\u00a0amendments approved since 1843.<\/p>\n (2) Judicial Selection and Discipline (Rejected \u2013 126,542 yeas to 147,578 nays)<\/p>\n (3) Legislative Pay and Mileage (Rejected \u2013 98,845 yeas to 178,775 nays)<\/p>\n (4) Four-Year Terms and Recall (Rejected \u2013 116,379 yeas to 166,777 nays)<\/p>\n (5) Voter Initiative (Rejected \u2013 129,309 yeas to 139,314 nays)<\/p>\n (6) Ethics in Government (Approved \u2013 143,973 yeas to 125,964 nays)<\/p>\n (7) Budget Powers and Executive Session (Approved \u2013 173,010 yeas to 92,435 nays)<\/p>\n (8) Rights of the People (Approved \u2013 160,137 yeas to 115,730 nays)<\/p>\n (9) Shore Use and Environmental Protection (Approved \u2013 183,021 yeas to 88,046 nays)<\/p>\n (10) Felon Office Holding and Voting (Approved \u2013 164,863 yeas to 101,262 nays)<\/p>\n (11) Libraries (Approved \u2013 182,931 yeas to 87,494 nays)<\/p>\n (12) Bail (Approved \u2013 177,977 yeas to 96,896 nays)<\/p>\n (13) Home Rule (Rejected \u2013 84,757 yeas to 182,002 nays)<\/p>\n (14) Paramount Right to Life \/ Abortion (Rejected \u2013 102,633 yeas to 197,520 nays)<\/p>\n 1994:<\/strong> Secretary of State Barbara Leonard places a Constitutional Convention question on the\u00a0November 8, 1994 Ballot as Question Number 4. Governor Bruce Sundlun issues Executive Order 20\u00a0on November 7, 2004. This Order would have created a Bi-partisan Preparatory Commission to\u00a0Assemble Information on Constitutional Issues. Ballot Question Number 4, calling for a Constitutional\u00a0Convention, is rejected on November 8, 1994 by a vote of 118,545 yeas to 173,693 nays.<\/p>\n 2004:<\/strong> The General Assembly enacts 2004 Resolutions 286 and 287, providing for a Bi-partisan\u00a0Preparatory Commission and placing the Constitutional Convention question on the November 2, 2004\u00a0Ballot. The Bi-partisan Preparatory Commission issues a ten page report on the following constitutional\u00a0issues: (1) Judicial Selection, Performance and Budgetary Control; (2) Voter Initiative; (3)\u00a0Abolish Term Limits for General Officers; (4) Term Limits for Legislators; (5) Bracket Election\u00a0of Governor and Lt. Governor; (6) Constitutional Reapportionment Commission; (7) Voter\u00a0Qualifications \/ Felon Voting Rights; (8) Line-Item Veto for Governor; (9) Full-time General\u00a0Assembly with Term Limits; (10) Make General Assembly Subject to Open Meetings Law; (11)\u00a0Gambling; (12) Define Marriage; (13) Increase Majority Required to Ratify Constitutional\u00a0Amendments; (14) Create General Office of Auditor\/Inspector General; (15) Clarify Certain\u00a0Citizen’s Rights. Ballot Question Number 2, calling for a Constitutional Convention, is rejected on\u00a0November 2, 2004 by a vote of 162,296 yeas to 175,601 nays.<\/p>\n 2013:<\/strong> Senate Bill 107, calling for the creation of a Bi-partisan Preparatory Commission, is introduced\u00a0by Senator Paul Fogarty (D) and is held for further study in the Senate Special Legislation and Veterans\u00a0Affairs Committee.<\/p>\n 2014:<\/strong> Senate Resolution \u00a02537\u00a0\u00a0calling for the creation of a Bi-partisan Preparatory Commission\u00a0passes out of the\u00a0Senate Special Legislation and Veterans\u00a0Affairs Committee on March 5, 2014.<\/p>\n Sources <\/strong><\/span>*Compiled by State Librarian Elliot Andrews, State Librarian Thomas Evans, State Reference Archivist Kenneth Carlson, November 25, 2013, Additions by J.H. Snider on March 6, 2014.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rhode Island Constitutional Convention referendums can be divided into roughly two historical periods: 1) 1824-1943: the unlimited but malapportioned constitutional convention, which mimicked the malapportioned General Assembly, 2) 1944-1963: the limited constitutional convention, and 3) 1964-present: the unlimited constitutional convention. The era of the unlimited constitutional convention was ushered in by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Rhode Island's malapportioned General Assembly violated the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution and would have to be reapportioned based on the democratic principle of one-person, one-vote. \u00a0The 1973 constitutional convention was limited but implemented a number of the recommendations of the unlimited constitutional convention that met in the late 1960s. Limited and unlimited constitutional conventions are qualitatively different, and it is arguably unfortunate that they both are called \"constitutional conventions\" when their democratic functions are so different. \u00a0With a limited convention, the legislature limits the convention's agenda to issues of its own choosing. \u00a0The result is that the democratic function of the constitutional convention is perverted. \u00a0 Of course, even when there is a full convention, the legislature often tries to exert as much control as possible over the agenda. A major reason that limited constitutional conventions have been popular in Rhode Island is that the convention mechanism for proposing constitutional amendments made it EASIER for the legislature to amend the Constitution. \u00a0With a constitutional amendment proposed by the legislature, a supermajority was required to place it on the ballot for a popular referendum. \u00a0But with a constitutional convention, only a simple majority was required to place it on the ballot.<\/p> 1824:<\/strong> 1st Convention Approved - At the January Session, 1824, the General Assembly passed \u201cAn Act\u00a0to authorize the holding a Convention for the purpose of forming a written Constitution of Government\u00a0for this State\u201d. The Convention convened at Newport (June 21 \u2013 July 3, 1824) and drafted a\u00a0Constitution. On October 11, 1824, the Freemen electorate rejected the proposed State Constitution,\u00a01,668 yeas to 3,206 nays. 1834:<\/strong> 2nd Convention Approved - At the June Session, 1834, the General Assembly passed an Act\u00a0calling for a Convention to be held in Providence on the first Monday in September. This Convention\u00a0adjourned without agreement on a draft Constitution. 1841:<\/strong> 3rd Convention Approved - On February 6, 1841, the General Assembly approved an Act calling\u00a0for a Constitutional Convention to convene in Providence on November 1, 1841. On February 19,\u00a01842,\u00a0this Convention adopted a Constitution that is referred to as the \u201cLandholder's Constitution\u201d.\u00a0Between March 21 and March 23, 1842, the electorate voted on this Constitution and rejected it, 8,013\u00a0yeas to 8,689 nays. (By this point in Rhode Island's history, only 40% of the free white men in the State\u00a0were eligible to vote) In October of 1841, the Dorrites, a suffrage movement led by Thomas Wilson Dorr, held an extralegal\u00a0Convention and on November 18, approved a \u201cPeople's Constitution\u201d. During the period from\u00a0December 27 \u2013 December 29, the \u201cPeople's Constitution\u201d was approved by a vote of 13,944 yeas to 52\u00a0nays. An analysis of the voting shows that 4,960 Freemen voted for approval and 8,984 votes for\u00a0approval were cast by persons ineligible to vote under the Charter government. 1842:<\/strong> 4th Convention Approved - In June of 1842, the General Assembly, bowing to increasing unrest,\u00a0met in Newport and passed an Act calling for a Constitutional Convention. In August, delegates are\u00a0elected. In September, the Convention delegates meet and draft a Constitution. This Constitution,\u00a0after voting conducted on November 21 \u2013 23, is approved by a vote of 7,032 yeas to 59 nays and\u00a0goes into effect on May 2, 1843. 1853:<\/strong> General Assembly proposal to hold a Constitutional Convention is rejected by a vote of 3,778\u00a0yeas to 7,618 nays on June 28, 1853. 1882:<\/strong> Voters reject another call for a Constitutional Convention. 1883:<\/strong> The Rhode Island Supreme Court issues an advisory opinion (In Re Constitutional Convention,\u00a019 RI 649), stating the the Rhode Island Constitution cannot be amended by a Constitutional\u00a0Convention. 1883 \u2013 1934:<\/strong> The Constitution is amended by separate amendments put to a vote of the electorate. 1936:<\/strong> At a special election held on March 10, voters reject a proposal for a Constitutional Convention,\u00a088,401 yeas to 100,488 nays.<\/p> 1944:<\/strong> 5th Convention Approved - On March 14, the voters approve holding a Limited Constitutional\u00a0<\/strong>Convention<\/strong> by a vote of 15,683 yeas to 524 nays. The Convention meets on March 28 at Rhode Island\u00a0College in Providence, for the purpose of drafting an amendment relating to voting rights for\u00a0members of the armed forces and merchant marine. Amendment subsequently approved by the\u00a0voters on April 11, 1944 by a vote of 7122 yeas to 119 nays. 1951:<\/strong> 6th Convention Approved - On May 25, the voters approve the holding of a Limited\u00a0<\/strong>Constitutional Convention<\/strong> by a vote of 16,737 yeas to 4,183 nays. The Convention meets from June 1 \u2013\u00a03, 1951 and approves the following proposals to be considered by the voters at a special election on\u00a0June 28, 1951. Six of the eight ballot questions are approved by the voters.<\/p> (1) Poll Tax Repeal (Approved \u2013 41,120 yeas to 15,075 nays)<\/p> (2) General Assembly Pay Raise (Rejected \u2013 18,979 yeas to 36,998 nays)<\/p> (3) Home Rule for Cities and Towns (Approved \u2013 48,638 yeas to 7,999 nays)<\/p> (4) Permanent Registration of Voters (Approved \u2013 48,314 yeas to 8,612 nays)<\/p> (5) Veterans' Exemption (Approved \u2013 44,754 yeas to 10,936 nays)<\/p> (6) Increasing Borrowing Power of the State (Approved \u2013 30,874 yeas to 24,438 nays)<\/p> (7) Life Tenure for Supreme and Superior Court Judges (Rejected \u2013 26,937 yeas to 28,949 nays)<\/p> (8) Off-street Parking (Approved \u2013 39,291 yeas to 16,844 nays)<\/p> 1955:<\/strong> 7th Convention Approved \u2013 On June 9, 1955, the voters approve the holding of a Limited\u00a0<\/strong>Constitutional Convention<\/strong> by a vote of 17,847 yeas to 14,060 nays. The Convention is held on June 20,\u00a01955. Three amendments are approved for submission to the voters at a special election on July 12,\u00a01955.<\/p> (1) General Assembly Pay Raise (Rejected \u2013 15,385 yeas to 29,451 nays)<\/p> (2) Life Tenure for Supreme and Superior Court Judges (Rejected \u2013 13,126 yeas to 31,220 nays)<\/p> (3) Redevelopment for Off-street Parking (Approved \u2013 29,383 yeas to 14,968 nays)<\/p> 1958:<\/strong> 8th Convention Approved \u2013 A Limited Constitutional Convention<\/strong> is approved by the voters on\u00a0January 22, 1958, 12,476 yeas to 1903 nays. The Convention meets on January 31 and February 7,\u00a01958, and approves two questions for submission to the voters at a special election held on February\u00a027, 1958.<\/p> (1) Voting by Absentee and Disabled Voters (Approved \u2013 17,973 yeas to 1,592 nays)<\/p> (2) Repeal Biennial Census of Registered Voters (Approved \u2013 16,087 yeas to 2,564 nays)<\/p> 1964 \u2013 1969:<\/strong> 9th Convention Approved - Convention authorized by Public Law 1963, Chapter 211,\u00a0approved June 12, 1963: \u201cAn Act Inviting the People to Assemble, by Their Delegates, in Special\u00a0Convention for the Purpose of Revising, Altering, or Amending the Constitution, of Framing a\u00a0New Constitution.\u201d Placed on the ballot at the general election held November 3, 1963, question\u00a0approved by the voters, 158,241 yeas to 70,975 nays. Convention with 100 delegates convened at the\u00a0Veterans\u2019 Memorial Auditorium in Providence, December 8, 1964 with Dennis J. Roberts chosen as\u00a0chairman and August P. LaFrance serving as permanent secretary. The convention with twelve\u00a0committees met for a period of four years, approving a revised Constitution on December 4, 1967.\u00a0Brought before the electorate at a special election held April 16, 1968, proposed Constitution\u00a0overwhelmingly rejected by a vote of 69,110 yeas to 17,615 nays. The Convention officially\u00a0adjourned on February 17, 1969. 1973:<\/strong> 10th Convention Approved \u2013 The calling of a Limited Constitutional Convention is approved by\u00a0the voters on August 7, 1973 by a vote of 21,302 yeas to 21,210 nays. The Convention meets during the\u00a0period from September 4 \u2013 October 4, 1973. Nine ballot questions are submitted to the voters at a\u00a0special election held on November 6, 1973.<\/p> (1) Suffrage (Approved \u2013 72,065 yeas to 30,258 nays)<\/p> (2) Qualifications for Office (Approved \u2013 77,884 yeas to 24,720 nays)<\/p> (3) Grand Jury (Approved \u2013 60,400 yeas to 35,808 nays)<\/p> (4) Lotteries (Approved \u2013 83,757 yeas to 25,840 nays)<\/p> (5) Amending the Constitution<\/strong> (Approved \u2013 56,072 yeas to 34,953 nays). \u00a0Question 5 amended the Constitution to require that a ballot question calling for a convention\u00a0to amend or revise the Rhode Island Constitution be placed on the ballot at least every ten (10)\u00a0years. If the General Assembly fails to place the question on the ballot at some time during any\u00a0period of ten years, then the Secretary of State must place the question on the ballot at the next\u00a0general election after the expiration of the ten-year period. Question 5 also added the\u00a0requirement that the General Assembly, prior to the electorate voting on the holding of a\u00a0Constitutional Convention, create a bi-partisan preparatory commission to assemble information\u00a0on constitutional questions for the electors. The Governor is authorized to create the\u00a0commission if the General Assembly fails to act. (See 1994 entry).<\/p> (6) Four Year Terms for General Officers (Rejected \u2013 52,332 yeas to 55,998 nays)<\/p> (7) General Assembly Pay Increase (Rejected \u2013 50,310 yeas to 51,050 nays)<\/p> (8) Industrial Building Authority (Approved \u2013 77,152 yeas to 26,186 nays)<\/p> (9) Recreational Building Authority (Approved \u2013 69,007 yeas to 28,344 nays)<\/p> 1983:<\/strong> The General Assembly passes Resolution 255, creating a Bi-partisan Preparatory Commission\u00a0to assemble information for a Constitutional Convention and placing the Constitutional Convention\u00a0Question on the Ballot for November 6, 1984. 1984:<\/strong> The Bi-partisan Preparatory Commission issues its report on July 5, 1984. The Commission\u00a0recommended that a Constitutional Convention be called to study the following issues: (1) Four Year\u00a0Terms for General Officers; (2) Governor and Lt. Governor Running as a Team; (3) Line-item\u00a0Veto Power for the Governor; (4) Four Year Terms for General Assembly; (5) Legislative\u00a0Compensation; (6) Size of the General Assembly; (7) Length of General Assembly Sessions; (8)\u00a0Reapportionment of the General Assembly; (9) Equal Rights for Women and Handicapped\u00a0Persons; (10) Voter Initiative and Referendum; (11) Manner of Selecting Supreme Court Justices. 1984:<\/strong> 11th Convention Approved - On November 6, 1984, the voters approve the holding of a\u00a0Constitutional Convention by a vote of 159,801 yeas to 137,096 nays. 1985:<\/strong> The General Assembly enacts 1985 Chapter 326, calling for the election of delegates to a\u00a0Constitutional Convention and regulating their proceedings. 100 delegates, based on the 100\u00a0Representative districts, are elected on November 5, 1985. 1986:<\/strong> Beginning on January 6, the Constitutional Convention meets. 288 Resolutions proposing\u00a0amendments are introduced. The Convention Committees eventually reduce these resolutions into\u00a0fourteen (14) ballot questions to be decided by the voters on November 4, 1986.<\/p> (1) Rewrite of the Present Constitution (Approved \u2013 188,082 yeas to 96,453 nays). \u00a0Question 1 provided for the re-writing of the Constitution to include all of the constitutional\u00a0amendments approved since 1843.<\/p> (2) Judicial Selection and Discipline (Rejected \u2013 126,542 yeas to 147,578 nays)<\/p> (3) Legislative Pay and Mileage (Rejected \u2013 98,845 yeas to 178,775 nays)<\/p> (4) Four-Year Terms and Recall (Rejected \u2013 116,379 yeas to 166,777 nays)<\/p> (5) Voter Initiative (Rejected \u2013 129,309 yeas to 139,314 nays)<\/p> (6) Ethics in Government (Approved \u2013 143,973 yeas to 125,964 nays)<\/p> (7) Budget Powers and Executive Session (Approved \u2013 173,010 yeas to 92,435 nays)<\/p> (8) Rights of the People (Approved \u2013 160,137 yeas to 115,730 nays)<\/p> (9) Shore Use and Environmental Protection (Approved \u2013 183,021 yeas to 88,046 nays)<\/p> (10) Felon Office Holding and Voting (Approved \u2013 164,863 yeas to 101,262 nays)<\/p> (11) Libraries (Approved \u2013 182,931 yeas to 87,494 nays)<\/p> (12) Bail (Approved \u2013 177,977 yeas to 96,896 nays)<\/p> (13) Home Rule (Rejected \u2013 84,757 yeas to 182,002 nays)<\/p> (14) Paramount Right to Life \/ Abortion (Rejected \u2013 102,633 yeas to 197,520 nays)<\/p> 1994:<\/strong> Secretary of State Barbara Leonard places a Constitutional Convention question on the\u00a0November 8, 1994 Ballot as Question Number 4. Governor Bruce Sundlun issues Executive Order 20\u00a0on November 7, 2004. This Order would have created a Bi-partisan Preparatory Commission to\u00a0Assemble Information on Constitutional Issues. Ballot Question Number 4, calling for a Constitutional\u00a0Convention, is rejected on November 8, 1994 by a vote of 118,545 yeas to 173,693 nays.<\/p> 2004:<\/strong> The General Assembly enacts 2004 Resolutions 286 and 287, providing for a Bi-partisan\u00a0Preparatory Commission and placing the Constitutional Convention question on the November 2, 2004\u00a0Ballot. The Bi-partisan Preparatory Commission issues a ten page report on the following constitutional\u00a0issues: (1) Judicial Selection, Performance and Budgetary Control; (2) Voter Initiative; (3)\u00a0Abolish Term Limits for General Officers; (4) Term Limits for Legislators; (5) Bracket Election\u00a0of Governor and Lt. Governor; (6) Constitutional Reapportionment Commission; (7) Voter\u00a0Qualifications \/ Felon Voting Rights; (8) Line-Item Veto for Governor; (9) Full-time General\u00a0Assembly with Term Limits; (10) Make General Assembly Subject to Open Meetings Law; (11)\u00a0Gambling; (12) Define Marriage; (13) Increase Majority Required to Ratify Constitutional\u00a0Amendments; (14) Create General Office of Auditor\/Inspector General; (15) Clarify Certain\u00a0Citizen's Rights. Ballot Question Number 2, calling for a Constitutional Convention, is rejected on\u00a0November 2, 2004 by a vote of 162,296 yeas to 175,601 nays.<\/p> 2013:<\/strong> Senate Bill 107, calling for the creation of a Bi-partisan Preparatory Commission, is introduced\u00a0by Senator Paul Fogarty (D) and is held for further study in the Senate Special Legislation and Veterans\u00a0Affairs Committee.<\/p> 2014:<\/strong> Senate Resolution \u00a02537\u00a0\u00a0calling for the creation of a Bi-partisan Preparatory Commission\u00a0passes out of the\u00a0Senate Special Legislation and Veterans\u00a0Affairs Committee on March 5, 2014.<\/p> SourcesEra #2: 1944-1963, the Limited Convention<\/h3>\n
Era #3: 1964-Present, the Unlimited Convention<\/h3>\n
Introduction<\/h2>
Chronology (thanks to Rhode Island's Secretary of State for this information*)<\/h2>
Era #1: 1824-1943<\/h3>
Era #2: 1944-1963<\/h3>
Era #3: 1964-Present<\/h3>
<\/strong><\/span>*Compiled by State Librarian Elliot Andrews, State Librarian Thomas Evans, State Reference Archivist Kenneth Carlson, November 25, 2013, Additions by J.H. Snider on March 6, 2014.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-158","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/158","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=158"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/158\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":694,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/158\/revisions\/694"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}