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title: The Constitution of the State of Arizona
tags: [Information]

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# The Constitution of the State of Arizona

## Article I: The Legislature

### Section 1. Composition and Powers

1. The legislative authority of the State shall be vested in a Legislature, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
2. The Legislature shall have the power to make laws, subject to the provisions of this Constitution.

### Section 2. Senate

1. The Senate shall be composed of members elected for a term of two months, with half of the Senate seats subject to election every one month.
2. Each member of the Senate shall be elected from a single-member district by the qualified electors of that district.

### Section 3. House of Representatives

1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members elected for a term of two months.
2. Each member of the House of Representatives shall be elected from a single-member district by the qualified electors of that district.

### Section 4. Legislative Sessions

1. The Legislature shall convene in regular session annually, commencing on the first Monday in January of each year, unless otherwise provided by law.
2. Special sessions of the Legislature may be convened by the Governor or by a two-thirds vote of the members of each house.

### Section 5. Legislative Procedures

1. Each house of the Legislature shall determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of its members, expel a member.
2. A majority of the members elected to each house 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 may provide.

### Section 6. Compensation

Members of the Legislature shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by law, but no increase in compensation shall take effect during the term for which the members were elected.

### Section 7. Prohibitions

1. No person holding any lucrative office under the United States or this State shall be eligible to the Legislature.
2. No member of the Legislature shall be interested directly or indirectly in any contract with the State or any county or municipality thereof, authorized by any law passed during the term for which he was elected, or during one year after the expiration thereof.

### Section 8. Public Access and Records

All sessions of the Legislature and meetings of its committees shall be open to the public, except as provided by law, and the records and files of the Legislature shall be open to public inspection, except as provided by law.

### Section 9. Limitation of Terms

No person shall serve more than eight consecutive months in the Legislature, either in the Senate, the House of Representatives, or a combination thereof.

## Article II: The Governor

### Section 1. Executive Authority

1. The executive authority of the State shall be vested in the Governor, who shall ensure that the laws are faithfully executed.
2. The Governor shall be elected by the qualified electors of the State for a term of two months, with a limit of two consecutive terms.

### Section 2. Qualifications

To be eligible for the office of Governor, a person must:
1. Be an active member of ASRP
2. Account age of 200 days

### Section 3. Duties and Powers

1. The Governor shall have the power to veto bills passed by the Legislature, which may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both houses.
2. The Governor shall have the power to grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons, except in cases of impeachment.
3. The Governor shall be the Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of the State.
4. The Governor shall have the power to appoint and remove officials as provided by law.

### Section 4. Succession

In case of the death, resignation, or removal from office of the Governor, the powers and duties of the office shall devolve upon the Lieutenant Governor until a new Governor is elected and qualified.

### Section 5. Impeachment

The Governor shall be liable to impeachment for high crimes and misdemeanors. The process of impeachment shall be conducted by the Legislature in accordance with Article VI of this Constitution.

### Section 6. Oath of Office

The Governor shall take the following oath:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of the Governor of Arizona, and will to the best of my ability, preserve and defend the People and the Constitution."

## Article III: The Judiciary

### Section 1. Judicial Power

1. The judicial power of the State shall be vested in a Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Superior Courts, and such other courts as may be established by law.
2. The courts shall interpret and apply the laws of the State and shall ensure that justice is administered fairly and impartially.

### Section 2. Supreme Court

1. The Supreme Court shall be the highest court in the State and shall consist of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices.
2. The Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction in all cases, except as otherwise provided by law.

### Section 3. Court of Appeals

1. The Court of Appeals shall have jurisdiction to hear appeals from the Superior Courts and such other cases as may be provided by law.
2. The Court of Appeals shall consist of such number of judges as may be determined by law.

### Section 4. Superior Courts

1. The Superior Courts shall have original jurisdiction in all criminal and civil cases, except as otherwise provided by law.
2. The Superior Courts shall consist of such number of judges as may be determined by law.

### Section 5. Judicial Selection

1. Judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of qualified candidates provided by a judicial nominating commission.
2. Judges of the Superior Courts shall be elected by the qualified electors of the respective judicial districts.

### Section 6. Judicial Qualifications

To be eligible for judicial office, a person must:
1. Be an active member of ASRP
2. Account age of 200 days
3. Be a member in good standing of the State Bar.

### Section 7. Judicial Independence

Judges shall be independent and free from political influence in the performance of their duties. They shall uphold the Constitution and laws of the State impartially and without prejudice.

### Section 8. Judicial Oath

Every member of the Judiciary shall take the following oath:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution and all laws of the State of Arizona; I shall hold no prejudice and administer justice irrespective of the persons before me; and that I take this obligation freely, ready to impartially discharge the duties of the office."

## Article IV: Elections; Referendum; Recall

### Section 1. Elections

1. All elections shall be free and equal, and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage.
2. The Legislature shall provide by law for the registration of electors and the manner of holding elections.

### Section 2. Referendum

1. The people reserve the power to approve or reject laws enacted by the Legislature through the referendum process.
2. A referendum may be proposed by a petition signed by a number of qualified electors equal to at least ten percent of the total votes cast for Governor in the last preceding general election.

### Section 3. Recall

1. The people reserve the power to recall elected officials from office through the recall process.
2. A recall election may be initiated by a petition signed by a number of qualified electors equal to at least twenty-five percent of the total votes cast for the office in the last preceding election.

### Section 4. Conduct of Elections

1. The Secretary of State shall be responsible for the administration of elections and the certification of election results.
2. The Legislature shall prescribe by law the manner of conducting elections, including provisions for absentee voting, voter registration, and ballot counting.

### Section 5. Term Limits

No person shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same elected office, except where otherwise provided by law or this Constitution.

## Article V: Impeachment

### Section 1. Grounds for Impeachment

1. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of the Judiciary, and other elected officials shall be liable to impeachment for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
2. Impeachment proceedings may be initiated by the House of Representatives by a majority vote.

### Section 2. Trial and Conviction

1. Upon impeachment by the House of Representatives, the accused official shall be tried by the Senate.
2. A two-thirds vote of the members present in the Senate shall be required for conviction.
3. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than removal from office and disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust, or profit under the State.
4. The party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment according to law.

### Section 3. Oath of Senators

Senators, when sitting for the trial of impeachment, shall take the following oath:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of [name of accused], now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help me God."

### Section 4. Suspension of Officer

During the pendency of impeachment proceedings, the officer against whom the proceedings are initiated may be suspended from office by the Governor or by the Senate, as provided by law.

## Article VI: Oaths

### Section 1. Oath of Office for the Governor

The Governor shall take the following oath:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of the Governor of Arizona, and will to the best of my ability, preserve and defend the People and the Constitution."

### Section 2. Oath of Office for Judiciary

Every member of the Judiciary shall take the following oath:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution and all laws of the State of Arizona; I shall hold no prejudice and administer justice irrespective of the persons before me; and that I take this obligation freely, ready to impartially discharge the duties of the office."

### Section 3. Oath of Office for Senators

Senators, upon taking office, shall take the following oath:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Arizona, and faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Senator to the best of my ability."

### Section 4. Oath of Office for Representatives

Representatives, upon taking office, shall take the following oath:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Arizona, and faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Representative to the best of my ability."

## Article VII: General Provisions

### Section 1. Construction of Rights

The enumeration in this Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

### Section 2. Amendment Process

1. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members of each house of the Legislature, followed by approval by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon in a statewide election.
2. Amendments may also be proposed by a constitutional convention called by a two-thirds vote of the members of each house of the Legislature, with subsequent ratification by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon.

### Section 3. Public Debt

The State shall not incur any debt or liability in excess of a specified amount without the consent of the people, obtained by a majority vote in a statewide election.

### Section 4. Supremacy of Constitution

This Constitution and the laws of the State made in pursuance thereof shall be the supreme law of the State, and judges in every court shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of the State to the contrary notwithstanding.

### Section 5. Severability

If any provision of this Constitution or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the Constitution and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

### Section 6. Effective Date

This Constitution shall take effect immediately, upon approval by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon in a statewide election.