Arizona Constitution | 50 Constitutions

The powers of the government of the state of Arizona shall be divided into three separate departments, the legislative, the executive, and the judicial; and, except as provided in this constitution, such departments shall be separate and distinct, and no one of such departments shall exercise the powers properly belonging to either of the others.

Section 1

Last Amended 2022

Legislative authority; initiative and referendum

Section 2

Penalty for violation of initiative and referendum provisions

Section 1

Last Amended 2000

Senate; house of representatives; members; special session upon petition of members; congressional and legislative boundaries; citizen commissions

Section 2

Qualifications of members of legislature

Section 3

Last Amended 1950

Sessions of legislature; special sessions; limitation of subjects for consideration

Section 4

Disqualification for membership in Legislature

Section 5

Last Amended 1938

Ineligibility of members of legislature to other public offices

Section 6

Privilege from arrest; civil process

Section 7

Freedom of debate

Section 8

Organization; officers; rules of procedure

Section 9

Quorum; compelling attendance; adjournment

Section 10

Journal of proceedings; roll call

Section 11

Disorderly behavior; expulsion of members

Section 12

Last Amended 1972

Procedure on bills; approval or disapproval by governor

Section 13

Subject and title of bills

Section 14

Legislation by reference prohibited

Section 15

Passage of bills by majority; signing of bills

Section 16

Right to protest

Section 17

Last Amended 1953

Extra compensation prohibited; increase or decrease of compensation during term of office

Section 18

Suits against state

Section 19

Local or special laws

Section 20

Appropriation bills

Section 21

Last Amended 1992

Term limits of members of state legislature

Section 22

Last Amended 1996

Juvenile justice; certain chronic and violent juvenile offenders prosecuted as adults; community alternatives for certain juvenile offenders; public proceedings and records

Section 23

Passes and purchase of transportation by public officers; inapplication to national guard

Section 24

Enacting clause of bills; initiative bills

Section 25

Last Amended 1962

Continuity of governmental operations in emergency

Section 1

Term limits on executive department and state officers; term lengths; election; residence and office at seat of government; duties (Version 1)

Section 2

Last Amended 1988

Eligibility to state offices

Section 3

Governor, commander-in-chief of the military forces

Section 4

Governor; powers and duties; special sessions of legislature; message and recommendations

Section 5

Reprieves, commutations and pardons

Section 6

Last Amended 2022

Death, resignation, removal or disability of governor or lieutenant governor; succession to office; impeachment, absence from state or temporary disability

Section 7

Presentation of bills to governor; approval; veto; filing with secretary of state; veto of items in appropriation bills; inapplication of veto power to referred bills

Section 8

Vacancies in office

Section 9

Last Amended 2022

Powers and duties of state officers

Section 10

Last Amended 1992

Canvass of election returns for state officers; certificates of election

Section 11

Last Amended 1992

Commissions

Section 12

Last Amended 1992

Compensation of elective state officers; commission on salaries for elective state officers

Section 1

Last Amended 1960

Judicial power; courts

Section 2

Last Amended 1960

Supreme court; composition; divisions; decisions, transaction of business

Section 3

Last Amended 1974

Supreme court; administrative supervision; chief justice

Section 4

Last Amended 1974

Supreme court; term of office

Section 5

Last Amended 1960

Supreme court; jurisdiction; writs; rules; habeas corpus

Section 6

Last Amended 1960

Supreme court; qualifications of justices

Section 7

Last Amended 1960

Supreme court; clerk and assistants; administrative director and staff

Section 8

Last Amended 1960

Supreme court; publication of opinions

Section 9

Last Amended 1960

Intermediate appellate courts

Section 10

Last Amended 1960

Superior court; number of judges

Section 11

Last Amended 1960

Superior court; presiding judges; duties

Section 12

Last Amended 1992

Superior court; term of office

Section 13

Last Amended 1960

Superior court; composition; salaries; judgments and proceedings; process

Section 14

Last Amended 1972

Superior court; original jurisdiction

Section 15

Last Amended 1996

Jurisdiction and authority in juvenile proceedings

Section 16

Last Amended 1960

Superior court; appellate jurisdiction

Section 17

Last Amended 1960

Superior court; conduct of business; trial juries; jury trial; grand juries

Section 18

Last Amended 1960

Superior court; writs

Section 19

Last Amended 1960

Superior court; service of judge in another county

Section 20

Last Amended 1974

Retirement and service of retired justices and judges

Section 21

Last Amended 1960

Superior court; speedy decisions

Section 22

Last Amended 1972

Superior and other courts; qualifications of judges

Section 23

Last Amended 1960

Superior court; clerk

Section 24

Last Amended 1960

Superior court; court commissioners, masters and referees

Section 25

Last Amended 1960

Style of process; conduct of prosecutions in name of state

Section 26

Last Amended 1960

Oath of office

Section 27

Last Amended 1960

Charge to juries; reversal of causes for technical error

Section 28

Last Amended 1992

Justices and judges; dual office holding; political activity; practice of law

Section 29

Repealed 1970

Repealed

Section 30

Last Amended 1992

Courts of record

Section 31

Last Amended 2004

Judges pro tempore

Section 32

Last Amended 1990

Justices of the peace and inferior courts; jurisdiction, powers and duties; terms of office; salaries

Section 33

Last Amended 1960

Change by legislature in number of justices or judges; reduction of salary during term of office

Section 34

Last Amended 1960

Absence of judicial officer from state

Section 35

Last Amended 1992

Continuance in office; continued existence of offices; application of prior statute and rules

Section 36

Last Amended 1992

Commission on appellate court appointments and terms, appointments and vacancies on commission

Section 37

Last Amended 1992

Judicial vacancies and appointments; initial terms; residence; age

Section 38

Last Amended 1992

Declaration of candidacy; form of judicial ballot, rejection and retention; failure to file declaration

Section 39

Last Amended 1974

Retirement of justices and judges; vacancies

Section 40

Last Amended 1992

Option for counties with less than two hundred fifty thousand persons

Section 41

Last Amended 1992

Superior court divisions; commission on trial court appointments; membership; terms

Section 42

Last Amended 1992

Retention evaluation of justices and judges

Section 1

Last Amended 1988

Composition; appointment; term; vacancies

Section 2

Last Amended 1988

Disqualification of judge

Section 3

Last Amended 1988

Suspension or removal of judge

Section 4

Last Amended 1988

Retirement of judge

Section 5

Last Amended 1988

Definitions and rules implementing article

Section 6

Last Amended 1970

Article self-executing

Section 1

Method of voting; secrecy

Section 2

Last Amended 2000

Qualifications of voters; disqualification

Section 3

Last Amended 2000

Voting residence of federal employees and certain others

Section 4

Privilege of electors from arrest

Section 5

Military duty on day of election

Section 6

Residence of military personnel stationed within state

Section 7

Last Amended 1992

Highest number of votes received as determinative of person elected

Section 8

Qualifications for voters at school elections

Section 9

Advisory vote

Section 10

Last Amended 1998

Direct primary election law

Section 11

General elections; date

Section 12

Registration and other laws

Section 13

Last Amended 1930

Submission of questions upon bond issues or special assessments

Section 14

Fee for placing candidate’s name on ballot

Section 15

Last Amended 1972

Qualifications for public office

Section 16

Campaign contributions and expenditures; publicity

Section 17

Last Amended 1926

Vacancy in Congress

Section 18

Last Amended 1992

Term limits on ballot appearances in congressional elections

Section 1

Last Amended 1912

Officers subject to recall; petitioners

Section 2

Recall petitions; contents; filing; signatures; oath

Section 3

Last Amended 1974

Resignation of officer; special election

Section 4

Last Amended 1992

Special election; candidates; results; qualification of successor

Section 5

Recall petitions; restrictions and conditions

Section 6

Application of general election laws; implementary legislation

Section 1

Power of impeachment in house of representatives; trial by senate

Section 2

Conviction; grounds for impeachment; judgment; liability to trial

Section 1

Last Amended 2000

Surrender of power of taxation; uniformity of taxes

Section 2

Last Amended 2022

Property subject to taxation; exemptions

Section 2.1

Repealed 2022

Repealed

Section 2.2

Repealed 2022

Repealed

Section 2.3

Repealed 2022

Repealed

Section 3

Annual tax; purposes; amount; tax laws; payment of taxes into state treasury

Section 4

Fiscal year; annual statement of receipts and expenditures; deficit

Section 5

Power of state to contract debts; purposes; limit; restrictions

Section 6

Last Amended 2018

Local assessments and taxes

Section 7

Last Amended 1998

Gift or loan of credit; subsidies; stock ownership; joint ownership

Section 8

Last Amended 2006

Local debt limits; assent of taxpayers

Section 8.1

Last Amended 1980

Unified school district debt limit

Section 9

Statement of tax and objects

Section 10

Aid of church, private or sectarian school, or public service corporation

Section 11

Last Amended 1974

Taxing procedure; license tax on registered vehicles

Section 12

Authority to provide for levy and collection of license and other taxes

Section 12.1

Last Amended 2010

Temporary taxes; repeal from and after May 31, 2013

Section 13

Last Amended 1994

Inventory, materials and products of manufacturers; production livestock and animals; tax exemption

Section 14

Last Amended 1970

Use and distribution of vehicle, user, and gasoline and diesel tax receipts

Section 15

Last Amended 1964

License tax on aircraft

Section 16

Last Amended 1966

Exemption of watercraft from ad valorem property taxes

Section 17

Last Amended 1980

Economic estimates commission; appropriation limitation; powers and duties of commission

Section 18

Last Amended 2012

Residential ad valorem tax limits; limit on increase in values; definitions

Section 19

Last Amended 2006

Limitation on annual increases in local ad valorem tax levies; exceptions

Section 20

Last Amended 1992

Expenditure limitation; adjustments; reporting

Section 21

Last Amended 2002

Expenditure limitations for school districts and community college districts

Section 22

Last Amended 1992

Vote required to increase state revenues; application; exceptions

Section 23

Last Amended 2004

Expenditures required by initiative or referendum; funding source

Section 24

Last Amended 2008

Prohibition of new real property sale or transfer taxes

Section 25

Last Amended 2018

Prohibition of new or increased taxes on services

Section 1

Acceptance and holding of lands by state in trust

Section 2

Unauthorized disposition of land or proceeds as breach of trust

Section 3

Last Amended 2006

Mortgage or other encumbrance; sale or lease at public auction

Section 4

Sale or other disposal; appraisal; minimum price; credit; passing of title

Section 5

Minimum price; relinquishment of lands to United States

Section 6

Lands reserved by United States for development of water power

Section 7

Last Amended 2016

Establishment of permanent funds; segregation, investment and distribution of monies; exception; resolution of litigation

Section 8

Conformity of contracts with enabling act

Section 9

Sale or lease; conditions; limitations; lease prior to adoption of constitution

Section 10

Last Amended 1918

Laws for sale or lease of state lands; protection of residents and lessees

Section 11

Last Amended 1918

Maximum acreage allowed single purchaser

Section 12

Last Amended 2012

Land exchanges; purposes; notice; hearings; submission to the voters

Section 1

Last Amended 2000

Public school system; education of pupils who are hearing and vision impaired

Section 2

Conduct and supervision of school system

Section 3

Last Amended 2014

State board of education; composition; powers and duties; compensation

Section 4

State superintendent of public instruction; board membership; powers and duties

Section 5

Last Amended 1976

Regents of university and other governing boards; appointments by governor; membership of governor on board of regents

Section 6

Admission of students of both sexes to state educational institutions; tuition; common school system

Section 7

Sectarian instruction; religious or political test or qualification

Section 8

Last Amended 1998

Permanent state school fund; source; apportionment of state funds

Section 9

County school fund; size of fund; free schools

Section 10

Source of revenue for maintenance of state educational institutions

Section 11

Last Amended 2016

Schools; inflation adjustments; exceptions; definitions

Section 1

Counties as bodies politic and corporate

Section 2

Counties of territory as counties of state

Section 3

Last Amended 1964

County officers; election; term of office

Section 4

County officers; duties, powers, and qualifications; salaries

Section 5

Last Amended 1992

Charter committee; charter preparation; approval

Section 6

Last Amended 1992

Amendment of charter

Section 7

Last Amended 1992

County charter provisions

Section 8

Last Amended 1992

Government and other powers

Section 9

Last Amended 1992

Self-executing provision

Section 1

Incorporation and organization; classification

Section 2

Last Amended 2018

Charter; preparation and proposal by board of freeholders; ratification and approval; amendment

Section 3

Election of board of freeholders

Section 4

Franchises; approval of electors; term

Section 5

Right of municipal corporation to engage in business or enterprise

Section 6

Franchises; restrictions

Section 7

Last Amended 1940

Irrigation and other districts as political subdivisions

Section 1

“Corporation” defined; right to sue and suability

Section 2

Formation under general laws; change of laws; regulation

Section 3

Existing charters

Section 4

Restriction to business authorized by charter or law

Section 5

Foreign corporations; transaction of business

Section 6

Stocks; bonds

Section 7

Lease or alienation of franchise

Section 8

Filing of articles of incorporation; place of business; agent for service of process; venue

Section 9

Eminent domain; taking corporate property and franchises for public use

Section 10

Elections for directors or managers

Section 11

Last Amended 1956

Liability of stockholders

Section 12

Officers of banking institutions; individual responsibility

Section 13

Want of legal organization as a defense

Section 14

Legislative power to impose conditions

Section 15

Monopolies and trusts

Section 16

Records, books, and files; visitorial and inquisitorial powers of state

Section 17

Last Amended 1969

Fees; reports; licensing of foreign corporations

Section 18

Contributions to influence elections or official action

Section 19

Penalties for violation of article

Section 1

Last Amended 2000

Term limits on corporation commission; composition; election; office vacancies; qualifications

Section 2

Last Amended 1980

“Public service corporations” defined

Section 3

Power of commission as to classifications, rates and charges, rules, contracts, and accounts; local regulation

Section 4

Power to inspect and investigate

Section 5

Last Amended 1976

Power to issue certificates of incorporation and licenses

Section 6

Enlargement of powers by legislature; rules and regulations

Section 7

Connecting and intersecting lines of transportation and communications corporations

Section 8

Transportation by connecting carriers

Section 9

Transmission of messages by connecting carriers

Section 10

Last Amended 1980

Railways as public highways; other corporations as common carriers

Section 11

Movable property as personal property; liability of property to attachment, execution and sale

Section 12

Charges for service; discrimination; free or reduced rate transportation

Section 13

Reports to commission

Section 14

Value of property of public service corporations

Section 15

Acceptance of constitutional provisions by existing corporations

Section 16

Forfeitures for violations

Section 17

Appeal to courts

Section 18

Repealed 1970

Repealed

Section 19

Power to impose fines

Section 1

Last Amended 2000

Composition of militia

Section 2

Composition and designation of organized militia

Section 3

Conformity to federal regulations

Section 1

Riparian water rights

Section 2

Recognition of existing rights

Section 1

Eight-hour day

Section 2

Last Amended 1972

Child labor

Section 3

Contractual immunity of employer from liability for negligence

Section 4

Fellow servant doctrine

Section 5

Contributory negligence and assumption of risk

Section 6

Last Amended 2012

Recovery of damages for injuries

Section 7

Employer’s liability law

Section 8

Last Amended 1980

Workmen’s compensation law

Section 9

Black lists

Section 10

Last Amended 1960

Employment of aliens

The office of mine inspector is hereby established. The legislature shall enact laws so regulating the operation and equipment of all mines in the state as to provide for the health and safety of workers therein and in connection therewith, and fixing the duties of said office. Upon approval of such laws by the governor, the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall forthwith appoint a mine inspector, who shall serve until his successor shall have been elected at the first general election thereafter and shall qualify. Said successor and all subsequent incumbents of said office shall be elected at general elections, and shall serve for four years. The initial four year term shall be served by the mine inspector elected in the general election held in November, 1994.

The office of mine inspector is hereby established. The legislature, at its first session, shall enact laws so regulating the operation and equipment of all mines in the state as to provide for the health and safety of workers therein and in connection therewith, and fixing the duties of said office. Upon approval of such laws by the governor, the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall forthwith appoint a mine inspector, who shall serve until his successor shall have been elected at the first general election thereafter and shall qualify. Said successor and all subsequent incumbents of said office shall be elected at general elections, and shall serve for a term of two years. No mine inspector shall serve more than four consecutive terms in that office. No mine inspector, after serving the maximum number of terms, which shall include any part of a term served, may serve in the same office until out of office for no less than one full term. This limitation on the number of terms of consecutive service shall apply to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 1993.

Section 1

Toleration of religious sentiment

Section 2

Polygamy

Section 3

Last Amended 1954

Introduction of intoxicating liquors into Indian country

Section 4

Public lands; Indian lands

Section 5

Last Amended 1927

Taxation

Section 6

Territorial debts and liabilities

Section 7

Public school system; suffrage

Section 8

English language

Section 9

Location of state capital

Section 10

Repealed 1927

Repealed

Section 11

Last Amended 1954

Repealed

Section 12

Lands granted to state

Section 13

Ordinance as part of constitution; amendment

Section 1

Last Amended 2022

Introduction in legislature; initiative petition; election

Section 2

Convention

Section 1

Existing rights, actions, suits, proceedings, contracts, claims, or demands; process

Section 2

Territorial laws

Section 3

Debts, fines, penalties, and forfeitures

Section 4

Recognizances; bonds; estate; judgments; choses in action

Section 5

Criminal prosecutions and penal actions; offenses; penalties; actions and suits

Section 6

Territorial, district, county, and precinct officers

Section 7

Causes pending in district courts of territory; records, papers, and property

Section 8

Probate records and proceedings

Section 9

Causes pending in supreme court of territory; records, papers, and property

Section 10

Seals of supreme court, superior courts, municipalities, and county officers

Section 11

Effective date of constitution

Section 12

Election of representative in congress

Section 13

Continuation in office until qualification of successor

Section 14

Initiative

Section 15

Last Amended 2000

Public institutions

Section 16

Confinement of minor offenders

Section 17

Compensation of public officers

Section 18

Last Amended 1980

Nomination of incumbent public officers to other offices

Section 19

Lobbying

Section 20

Design of state seal

Section 21

Enactment of laws to carry constitution into effect

Section 22

Last Amended 1992

Judgments of death

Section 1

Repealed 1932

Repealed

Section 2

Repealed 1932

Repealed

Section 3

Repealed 1932

Repealed

Section 1

Repealed 1932

Repealed

Section 2

Repealed 1932

Repealed

No person shall be denied the opportunity to obtain or retain employment because of non-membership in a labor organization, nor shall the State or any subdivision thereof, or any corporation, individual or association of any kind enter into any agreement, written or oral, which excludes any person from employment or continuation of employment because of non-membership in a labor organization.

Section 1

Last Amended 1962