Each block on this histogram represents a change—e.g., a substantive change, repeal & replace, or renumbering—to an individual section rather than an amendment. Some amendments result in multiple changes, resulting in multiple blocks being attributed to one amendment. When a block or blocks are marked red in a specific year, that means that a new constitution went into effect that year.
The Constitution’s provisions are organized into articles, and each article is split into sections. Here, you can view an outline of the Constitution, see the Constitution’s full text as it stood on any date since ratification, and compare any amended provision of the Constitution to its earlier version.
Explore by Year
View the constitution’s amendments by year of adoption and historical context for significant amendments.
The Alaska Constitution & Its Amendments
Alaska is the second youngest state in the Union. The Alaska Constitution was ratified by Alaskan voters in 1956 but did not become operative until 1959 when Alaska was formally admitted to the Union. The document was drafted by 55 delegates gathered at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. As of 2024, the Alaska Constitution has been amended just 28 times.
Amendments to the Alaska Constitution may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of each house of the legislature, then ratified by voters by a simple majority. The legislature, with voter approval, may also call a constitutional convention, which is given “plenary power” to amend, revise, and substitute a new constitution for the existing constitution. Although voters cannot propose amendments using the initiative process, voters can use the initiative process to call a convention.
Alaska is one of five states where a recurring ballot measure automatically gives voters a chance to call for a convention every ten years. These procedures, outlined in detail under Article XIII, Section 3, mandate that the lieutenant governor place a referendum question on the ballot at least once in ten years if a constitutional convention has not been held within the prior decade. If a majority of voters agree, the lieutenant governor is instructed to issue a call for the convention. To date, Alaska has not had a constitutional convention. In 1970, the proposition to call a convention picked up a narrow majority of 439 votes; however, the election results were invalidated after the Alaska Supreme Court held that the wording of the proposition introduced a “significant bias” toward an affirmative vote. A new vote was held at the next general election, where the referendum was defeated. The most recent convention referendum, held in 2022, was rejected by over 70% of voters.
Alaska State Capitol. Kevin Lam.
Additional Resources Access links to commonly referenced sources in Alaska constitutional research.
Access links to commonly referenced sources in Alaska constitutional research.