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. Likewise, a section may be amended more than once in an year, but these amendments will only appear as one block on the histogram. 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 Virginia Constitution & Its Amendments
Drafted during the colonies’ bid for independence from Great Britain, Virginia’s first constitution predated both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Virginia’s Declaration of Rights inspired the Declaration of Independence, while the U.S. Constitution borrowed from, and built upon, state constitutions including Virginia’s. In total, Virginia has adopted five constitutions (1776, 1851, 1864, 1870, 1902) and made significant revisions to those constitutions three times (1830, 1928, 1971).*
Before adoption of the 1870 Constitution, there was no formal method of constitutional amendment or revision. Nonetheless, the legislature devised methods of updating the constitution through conventions, legislation, and referendums. Since 1870, the Virginia Constitution has provided two mechanisms for constitutional change: legislatively referred amendments and constitutional conventions. Legislatively referred amendments must be passed at two legislative sessions, separated by a general election, and then approved by a majority of Virginians voting on the amendment. The method for calling a constitutional convention has changed multiple times since 1870, but the current process requires a two-thirds vote in both houses of the legislature and majority voter approval of any proposals adopted by the convention.
* Although Virginia is frequently said to have seven constitutions, two of the documents included in that count (1830 and 1928) were presented to voters as an amendment (and in the case of the 1928 amendments, as two separate amendments) to an earlier constitution rather than as a new constitution.
State Capitol of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Ron Cogswell.
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