Constitution of the State of Alaska

Adopted by the Constitutional Convention on February 5, 1956
Ratified by the People of Alaska on April 24, 1956
Became Operative with the Formal Proclamation of Statehood January 3, 1959

Admitted to the US Union: January 3, 1959

Table of Contents
Articles and Ordinances
Introduction & Preamble
Article I – Declaration of Rights
Article II – The Legislature
Article III – The Executive
Article IV – The Judiciary
Article V – Suffrage and Elections
Article VI – Legislative Apportionment
Article VII – Health, Education and Welfare
Article VIII – Natural Resources
Article IX – Finance and Taxation
Article X – Local Government
Article XI – Initiative, Referendum, and Recall
Article XII – General Provisions
Article XIII – Amendment and Revision
Article XIV – Apportionment Schedule (repealed)
Article XV – Schedule of Transitional Measures
Ordinance No. 1
Ordinance No. 2
Ordinance No. 3
Amendment Summary

Preamble

We the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land, in order to secure and transmit to succeeding generations our heritage of political, civil, and religious liberty within the Union of States, do ordain and establish this constitution for the State of Alaska.

Article I – Declaration of Rights
§ 1. Inherent Rights
§ 2. Source of Government
§ 3. Civil Rights
§ 4. Freedom of Religion
§ 5. Freedom of Speech
§ 6. Assembly; Petition
§ 7. Due Process
§ 8. Grand Jury
§ 9. Jeopardy and Self-Incrimination
§ 10. Treason
§ 11. Rights of Accused
§ 12. Criminal Administration
§ 13. Habeas Corpus
§ 14. Searches and Seizures
§ 15. Prohibited State Action
§ 16. Civil Suits; Trial by Jury
§ 17. Imprisonment for Debt
§ 18. Eminent Domain
§ 19. Right to Keep and Bear Arms
§ 20. Quartering Soldiers
§ 21. Construction
§ 22. Right of Privacy
§ 23. Resident Preference
§ 24. Rights of Crime Victims
§ 25. Marriage
Article II – The Legislature
§ 1. Legislative Power; Membership
§ 2. Members: Qualifications
§ 3. Election and Terms
§ 4. Vacancies
§ 5. Disqualifications
§ 6. Immunities
§ 7. Salary and Expenses
§ 8. Regular Sessions
§ 9. Special Sessions
§ 10. Adjournment
§ 11. Interim Committees
§ 12. Rules
§ 13. Form of Bills
§ 14. Passage of Bills
§ 15. Veto
§ 16. Action Upon Veto
§ 17. Bills Not Signed
§ 18. Effective Date
§ 19. Local or Special Acts
§ 20. Impeachment
§ 21. Suits Against the State
Article III – The Executive
§ 1. Executive Power
§ 2. Governor: Qualifications
§ 3. Election
§ 4. Term of Office
§ 5. Limit on Tenure
§ 6. Dual Office Holding
§ 7. Lieutenant Governor Duties
§ 8. Election
§ 9. Acting Governor
§ 10. Succession: Failure to Qualify
§ 11. Vacancy
§ 12. Absence
§ 13. Further Succession
§ 14. Title and Authority
§ 15. Compensation
§ 16. Governor’s Authority
§ 17. Convening Legislature
§ 18. Messages to Legislature
§ 19. Military Authority
§ 20. Martial Law
§ 21. Executive Clemency
§ 22. Executive Branch
§ 23. Reorganization
§ 24. Supervision
§ 25. Department Heads
§ 26. Boards and Commissions
§ 27. Recess Appointments
Article IV – The Judiciary
§ 1. Judicial Power and Jurisdiction
§ 2. Supreme Court
§ 3. Superior Court
§ 4. Qualifications of Justices and Judges
§ 5. Nomination and Appointment
§ 6. Approval or Rejection
§ 7. Vacancy
§ 8. Judicial Council
§ 9. Additional Duties
§ 10. Commission on Judicial Conduct
§ 11. Retirement
§ 12. Impeachment
§ 13. Compensation
§ 14. Restrictions
§ 15. Rule-Making Power
§ 16. Court Administration
Article V – Suffrage and Elections
§ 1. Qualified Voters
§ 2. Disqualifications
§ 3. Methods of Voting; Election Contests
§ 4. Voting Precincts; Registration
§ 5. General Elections
Article VI – Legislative Apportionment
§ 1. House Districts
§ 2. Senate Districts
§ 3. Reapportionment of House and Senate
§ 4. Method of Redistricting
§ 5. Combining Districts
§ 6. District Boundaries
§ 7. Modification of Senate Districts
§ 8. Redistricting Board
§ 9. Board Actions
§ 10. Redistricting Plan and Proclamation
§ 11. Enforcement
Article VII – Health, Education and Welfare
§ 1. Public Education
§ 2. State University
§ 3. Board of Regents
§ 4. Public Health
§ 5. Public Welfare
Article VIII – Natural Resources
§ 1. Statement of Policy
§ 2. General Authority
§ 3. Common Use
§ 4. Sustained Yield
§ 5. Facilities and Improvements
§ 6. State Public Domain
§ 7. Special Purpose Sites
§ 8. Leases
§ 9. Sales and Grants
§ 10. Public Notice
§ 11. Mineral Rights
§ 12. Mineral Leases and Permits
§ 13. Water Rights
§ 14. Access to Navigable Waters
§ 15. No Exclusive Right of Fishery
§ 16. Protection of Rights
§ 17. Uniform Application
§ 18. Private Ways of Necessity
Article IX – Finance and Taxation
§ 1. Taxing Power
§ 2. Nondiscrimination
§ 3. Assessment Standards
§ 4. Exemptions
§ 5. Interests in Government Property
§ 6. Public Purpose
§ 7. Dedicated Funds
§ 8. State Debt
§ 9. Local Debts
§ 10. Interim Borrowing
§ 11. Exceptions
§ 12. Budget
§ 13. Expenditures
§ 14. Legislative Post-Audit
§ 15. Alaska Permanent Fund
§ 16. Appropriation Limit
§ 17. Budget Reserve Fund
Article X – Local Government
§ 1. Purpose and Construction
§ 2. Local Government Powers
§ 3. Boroughs
§ 4. Assembly
§ 5. Service Areas
§ 6. Unorganized Boroughs
§ 7. Cities
§ 8. Council
§ 9. Charters
§ 10. Extended Home Rule
§ 11. Home Rule Powers
§ 12. Boundaries
§ 13. Agreements; Transfer of Powers
§ 14. Local Government Agency
§ 15. Special Service Districts
Article XI – Initiative, Referendum, and Recall
§ 1. Initiative and Referendum
§ 2. Application
§ 3. Petition
§ 4. Initiative Election
§ 5. Referendum Election
§ 6. Enactment
§ 7. Restrictions
§ 8. Recall
Article XII – General Provisions
§ 1. State Boundaries
§ 2. Intergovernmental Relations
§ 3. Office of Profit
§ 4. Disqualification for Disloyalty
§ 5. Oath of Office
§ 6. Merit System
§ 7. Retirement Systems
§ 8. Residual Power
§ 9. Provisions Self-Executing
§ 10. Interpretation
§ 11. Law-Making Power
§ 12. Disclaimer and Agreement
§ 13. Consent to Act of Admission
§ 14. Approval of Federal Amendment to Statehood Act Affecting an Interest of the State under that Act
Article XIII – Amendment and Revision
§ 1. Amendments
§ 2. Convention
§ 3. Call by Referendum
§ 4. Powers
Article XIV – Apportionment Schedule (repealed)
Apportionment Schedule
Article XV – Schedule of Transitional Measures
§ 1. Continuance of Laws
§ 2. Saving of Existing Rights and Liabilities
§ 3. Local Government
§ 4. Continuance of Office
§ 5. Corresponding Qualifications
§ 6. Governor to Proclaim Election
§ 7. First State Elections
§ 8. United States Senators and Representative
§ 9. Terms of First Governor and Lieutenant Governor
§ 10. Election of First Senators
§ 11. Terms of First State Legislators
§ 12. Election Returns
§ 13. Assumption of Office
§ 14. First Session of Legislature
§ 15. First Legislators: Office Holding
§ 16. First Judicial Council
§ 17. Transfer of Court Jurisdiction
§ 18. Territorial Assets and Liabilities
§ 19. First Reapportionment
§ 20. State Capital
§ 21. Seal
§ 22. Flag
§ 23. Special Voting Provision
§ 24. Ordinances
§ 25. Effective Date
§ 26. Appropriations for Relocation of the Capital
§ 27. Reconsideration of Amendment Limiting Increases in Appropriations
§ 28. Application of Amendment
§ 29. Applicability of Amendments Providing for Redistricting of the Legislature

Ordinance No. 1
Section 1. Election
Section 2. Ballot
Section 3. Canvass
Section 4. Acceptance and Approval
Section 5. Submission of Constitution
Ordinance No. 2
Section 1. Statement of Purpose
Section 2. Ballot
Section 3. Approval
Section 4. Election of Senators and Representative
Section 5. Terms
Section 6. Qualifications
Section 7. Other Office Holding
Section 8. Election Procedure
Section 9. Independent Candidates
Section 10. Party Nominations
Section 11. Certification
Section 12. Ballot Form; Who Elected
Section 13. Duties and Emoluments
Section 14. Convention Assistance
Section 15. Alternate Effective Dates
Ordinance No. 3
Section 1. Ballot
Section 2. Effect of Referendum