The Utah Constitution

Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we, the people of Utah, in order to secure and perpetuate the principles of free government, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION.

Last Amended 2021

Inherent and inalienable rights

All political power inherent in the people

Utah inseparable from the Union

Last Amended 2001

Religious liberty

Habeas corpus

Last Amended 1985

Right to bear arms

Due process of law

Last Amended 1989

Offenses bailable

Excessive bail and fines--Cruel punishments

Last Amended 1997

Trial by jury

Last Amended 2021

Courts open--Redress of injuries

Last Amended 2021

Rights of accused persons

Last Amended 1949

Prosecution by information or indictment--Grand jury

Unreasonable searches forbidden--Issuance of warrant

Freedom of speech and of the press--Libel

No imprisonment for debt--Exception

Elections to be free--Soldiers voting

Attainder--Ex post facto laws--Impairing contracts

Treason defined--Proof

Military subordinate to the civil power

Last Amended 2021

Slavery and involuntary servitude forbidden--Limitation

Private property for public use

Irrevocable franchises forbidden

Uniform operation of laws

Rights retained by people

Provisions mandatory and prohibitory

Fundamental rights

Last Amended 1995

Declaration of the rights of crime victims

Last Amended 2005

Marriage

Last Amended 2021

Right to hunt and fish

State boundaries

The following ordinance shall be irrevocable without the consent of the United States and the people of this State:

[Religious toleration--Polygamy forbidden]

Last Amended 1947

[Right to public domain disclaimed--Taxation of lands--Exemption]

[Territorial debts assumed]

[Free, nonsectarian schools]

Equal political rights

Last Amended 1977

Qualifications to vote

Last Amended 1977

Voters--Immunity from arrest

Last Amended 1977

Voters--Immunity from militia duty

Last Amended 1977

Voters to be citizens of United States

Last Amended 1999

Mentally incompetent persons, convicted felons, and certain criminals ineligible to vote

Last Amended 1977

Property qualification forbidden

Last Amended 2011

Election to be by secret ballot

Last Amended 2001

General and special elections--Terms--Election of local officers

Last Amended 2017

Oath of office

Three departments of government

Last Amended 2001

Power vested in Senate, House, and People

Last Amended 2021

Time and location of annual general sessions--Location of sessions convened by the Governor or Legislature--Sessions convened by the Legislature

Last Amended 1993

Election of House members--Terms

Last Amended 1993

Election of Senators--Terms

Last Amended 2021

Who eligible as legislator

Who ineligible as legislator

Last Amended 2021

Ineligibility of legislator to office created at term for which elected

Legislator, privilege from arrest

Last Amended 1983

Compensation of legislators--Citizens' salary commission

Last Amended 2011

Each house to be judge of election and qualifications of its members--Expulsion--Legislative ethics commission

Majority is quorum--Attendance compelled

Rules--Choosing officers and employees

Last Amended 1931

Vacancies to be filled

Journals--Yeas and nays

Sessions to be public--Adjournments

Last Amended 2021

Duration of sessions

Last Amended 2005

Impeachment by House

Last Amended 2005

Trial of impeachment by Senate

Last Amended 2005

Officers liable for impeachment--Judgment--Prosecution by law

Last Amended 2021

Service of articles of impeachment

Removal of officers

Enacting clause--Passage and amendments of law

Last Amended 1972

Reading of bills--Bills to contain only one subject--Bills passed by majority

Bill to contain only one subject

Tax by reference

Last Amended 1972

Presiding officers to sign bills

Last Amended 1972

Publication of acts--Effective dates of acts

Last Amended 1972

Private laws forbidden

Legislature cannot release certain debts

Last Amended 1972

Games of chance not authorized

Games of chance not authorized

Last Amended 1972

Special privileges forbidden

Special privileges forbidden

Last Amended 2005

Lending public credit and subscribing to stock or bonds forbidden--Exception

Extra compensation to officers and contractors forbidden

Last Amended 1991

Continuity in government

Lending public credit and subscribing to stock or bonds forbidden

Last Amended 1972

Additional compensation of legislators

Continuity in government

Last Amended 1993

Appointment of additional employees--Legal counsel

Last Amended 2021

Legislative auditor appointed

Last Amended 1993

Executive Department officers--Terms, residence, and duties

Last Amended 1993

Election of officers--Governor and Lieutenant Governor elected jointly

Last Amended 1993

Qualifications of officers

Last Amended 1981

Governor commander-in-chief

Last Amended 1993

Executive power vested in Governor--Duties--Legal counsel

Last Amended 2003

Convening of extra sessions of Legislature--Advance public notice

Last Amended 2019

Adjournment of Legislature by Governor

Last Amended 1993

Bills presented to Governor for approval and veto--Items of appropriation--Legislative session to consider vetoed items

Governor may fill certain vacancies

Last Amended 2015

Governor's appointive power--Governor to appoint to fill vacancy in other state offices--Vacancy in the office of the Lieutenant Governor

Last Amended 2009

Vacancy in office of Governor--Determination of disability

Last Amended 1993

Board of Pardons and Parole--Appointment--Powers and procedures--Governor's powers and duties--Legislature's powers

Board of Examiners

Insane asylum commissioners

Last Amended 1993

Duties of Lieutenant Governor

Reform school commissioners

Last Amended 1993

Duties of State Auditor and State Treasurer

Duties of Secretary of State

Last Amended 1981

Duties of Attorney General

Duties of Auditor

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Duties of Attorney General

Last Amended 1993

Compensation of state and local officers

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Last Amended 1981

Grants and commissions

Compensation of state officers

Last Amended 1981

The Great Seal

Grants and commissions

Last Amended 1981

United States' officials ineligible to hold state office

The Great Seal

United States' officials ineligible to hold state office--Governor not eligible for senate

Continuity of government in periods of emergency

Last Amended 1985

Judicial powers--Courts

Supreme Court, how constituted--Terms

Last Amended 1985

Supreme Court--Chief justice--Declaring law unconstitutional--Justice unable to participate

Supreme Court--Qualifications of judges

Last Amended 1985

Jurisdiction of Supreme Court

Supreme Court--Jurisdiction--Terms

Last Amended 1985

Rulemaking power of Supreme Court--Judges pro tempore--Regulation of practice of law

District courts, how constituted--Terms--Jurisdiction--Judges pro tempore

Last Amended 1985

Jurisdiction of district court and other courts--Right of appeal

Legislature may change districts

Last Amended 1985

Number of judges of district court and other courts--Divisions

Jurisdiction of district courts

Last Amended 1985

Qualifications of justices and judges

Justices of the peace--Jurisdiction, etc.

Last Amended 1993

Vacancies--Nominating commissions--Senate approval

Appeals from district court: record, etc.--From justices; courts

Last Amended 1985

Judicial retention elections

County attorneys--Election, term, etc.

Last Amended 1985

Restrictions on justices and judges

Removal of judges from office

Last Amended 1985

Judges of courts not of record

Judges' salaries to remain fixed

Last Amended 1993

Judicial Council--Chief justice as administrative officer--Legal counsel

Disqualification of judges

Last Amended 1985

Judicial Conduct Commission

Clerks of courts--Reporter

Last Amended 1985

Compensation of justices and judges

Judges shall not appoint relatives to office

Last Amended 1985

Mandatory retirement

Judicial districts, how constituted

Last Amended 1985

Public prosecutors

Courts of record

Style of process: "The State of Utah"

But one form of civil action

Salary of judges

Judges to be conservators of peace

Judges to report defects in laws

Publication of decisions

Effect of extending judges' terms

Decisions of Supreme Court to be in writing

Court to prepare syllabus

Judge forfeits office by absence

Mandatory retirement

Election of congressman

Last Amended 2009

Dividing the state into districts

Decennial census to be taken

Last Amended 1989

Number of members of legislature

Number of members of legislature

Senatorial districts, how formed

Last Amended 1987

Free nonsectarian schools

Last Amended 1987

Defining what shall constitute the public school system

State School Fund and Uniform School Fund--Establishment and Use

Last Amended 1987

State Board of Education

Last Amended 1987

Control of higher education by statute--Rights and immunities confirmed

Proceeds of land grants constitute permanent funds

Last Amended 2017

State School Fund and Uniform School Fund--Establishment and Use--Debt guaranty

Separate control of city schools

School funds guaranteed by state

Last Amended 1987

Proceeds of land grants constitute permanent funds

State Board of Education

Last Amended 1987

No religious or partisan tests in schools

Text books

Last Amended 1987

Public aid to church schools forbidden

Institutions for deaf, dumb, and blind--Property--Fund

Metric system

No religious or partisan tests in schools

Public aid to church schools forbidden

Last Amended 2001

Counties recognized as legal subdivisions--Powers of counties

Last Amended 2001

Moving a county seat

Last Amended 2003

Changing county lines

Last Amended 2001

Optional forms of county government

Last Amended 2001

Cities and towns not to be created by special laws--Legislature to provide for the incorporation, organization, dissolution, and classification of cities and towns--Charter cities

Last Amended 2021

Municipal water rights and sources of water supply

Last Amended 2001

Cities and towns--Powers

Last Amended 2001

Special service districts

Last Amended 2001

Political subdivisions of the State or other governmental entitites in addition to counties, cities, towns, school districts, and special service districts

Last Amended 2001

Consent of local authorities necessary for use of streets

Last Amended 1993

Corporations formation

Existing corporations to accept constitution

Legislature not to extend or validate franchises

Last Amended 1993

Suits

Corporate stock--Issuance, increase, etc.

Privileges of foreign corporations

Limitation on alienation of franchise

Consent of local authorities necessary for use of streets

Place of business, process agent, etc.

Corporations limited to authorized objects

Franchises may be taken for public use

Last Amended 1993

Common carriers--No discrimination

Competing railroads not to consolidate

Rolling stock considered personal property

Legislature to prescribe maximum rates

Armed bodies not to enter state, when

Employee of corporation ineligible to municipal office, when

Liability of stockholders of banks

Last Amended 1993

Blacklisting forbidden

Last Amended 1993

Free market system as state policy--Restraint of trade and monopolies prohibited

Last Amended 2003

Fiscal year

Tangible property to be taxed--Value ascertained--Exemptions--Remittance or abatement of taxes of poor--Intangible property--Legislature to provide annual tax for state

Last Amended 2003

Property tax

Legislature to provide uniform tax--Exemptions

Last Amended 2019

Property tax exemptions

Taxation of mines

Last Amended 2003

Other taxes

Local authorities to levy local taxes--Sharing tax and revenues by political subdivisions--Debt guaranty

Last Amended 2021

Use and amount of taxes and expenditures

Annual statement

Last Amended 2003

State Tax Commission

Tax rate for state purposes

Last Amended 2003

County boards of equalization

Officer not to make profit out of public moneys

Last Amended 2003

Annual statement

State expenditures to be kept within revenues

All property taxable where situated

Creation of State Tax Commission--Membership--Governor to appoint--Terms--Duties--County boards--Duties

Stamp, income, occupation, license, or franchise tax permissible--Reference to United States laws in imposition of income taxes--Income or intangible property taxes allocated to public education system and higher education system

Revenue from highway user and motor fuel taxes to be used for highway purposes

Tangible personal property tax exemption

Last Amended 1997

Fixing the limit of state indebtedness--Exceptions

Debts for public defense

Last Amended 2003

Certain debt of counties, cities, towns, school districts, and other political subdivisions not to exceed taxes--Exception--Debt may be incurred only for specified purposes

Last Amended 2003

Limit of indebtedness of counties, cities, towns, and school districts--Larger indebtedness may be allowed

Borrowed money to be applied to authorized use

Last Amended 1997

State not to assume county, city, town or school district debts--Exception

Existing indebtedness not impaired

Special service districts

How constituted

Organization and equipment

Rights of labor to be protected

Board of labor

Last Amended 1980

Certain employment and practices to be prohibited

Exchange of blacklists prohibited

Last Amended 1921

Injuries resulting in death--Damages

Eight hours a day's labor on public works--Health and safety laws

Legislature to enforce this article

Last Amended 1934

Minimum wage for women and minors--Comfort and safety laws

Existing rights confirmed

Forests to be preserved

Property of territory becomes property of state

Charitable and penal institutions, how maintained

Seat of government and public institutions permanently located

Last Amended 1999

Land grants accepted on terms of trust

Last Amended 1999

School and institutional trust lands

Public officers to be paid salaries--Exceptions

Legislature to provide fees--Accounting

Last Amended 1989

Homestead exemption

Property rights of married women

Prohibition

Last Amended 1989

Seat of government

Last Amended 2013

State trust fund--Principal to be held in perpetuity--Use of income

Last Amended 2003

Officers may not profit

Last Amended 1971

Amendments: proposal, election

Revision of the Constitution

Submission to electors

Actions, contracts, etc., to continue

Territorial laws continued

Prisoners to be held

Fines, penalties and forfeitures due the territory--Debts of the territory

Recognizances--Judgments--Records--Fines due counties, municipalities and school districts

Criminal prosecutions begun and crimes committed before statehood

Transfer of causes, records, etc.

Seals of courts

Transfer of probate causes to district courts

Officers to hold office until superseded

Election for adoption or rejection of Constitution and for state officers--Voters

Officers to be elected

Contest for district judgeship, how determined

Constitution to be submitted to voters--Ballot

Election of officers not provided for herein

When Constitution in force