The West Virginia Constitution
Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia, in and through the provisions of this Constitution, reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God and seek diligently to promote, preserve and perpetuate good government in the state of West Virginia for the common welfare, freedom and security of ourselves and our posterity.
Section 1
The state
Section 2
Powers of government in citizens
Section 3
Requisites of citizenship
Section 4
Equal representation
Section 5
Provisions regarding property
Section 6
Treason, what constitutes--Penalty
Section 7
“Montani Semper Liberi”--State seal
Section 8
Writs, commissions, official bonds--Indictments
Section 1
Bill of rights
Section 2
Magistrates servants of people
Section 3
Rights reserved to people
Section 4
Writ of habeas corpus
Section 5
Excessive bail not required
Section 6
Unreasonable searches and seizures prohibited
Section 7
Freedom of speech and press guaranteed
Section 8
Relating to civil suits for libel
Section 9
Private property, how taken
Section 10
Safeguards for life, liberty and property
Section 11
Political tests condemned
Section 12
Military subordinate to civil power
Section 13
Last Amended
1974
Right of jury trial
Section 14
Trials of crimes--Provisions in interest of accused
Section 15
Religious freedom guaranteed
Section 15a
Last Amended
1984
Voluntary contemplation, meditation or prayer in schools
Section 16
Right of public assembly held inviolate
Section 17
Courts open to all--Justice administered speedily
Section 18
Conviction not to work corruption of blood or forfeiture
Section 19
Hereditary emoluments, etc., provided against
Section 20
Preservation of free government
Section 21
Last Amended
1956
Jury service for women
Section 22
Last Amended
1986
Right to keep and bear arms
Section 1
Last Amended
1994
Election and officers
Section 2
Mode of voting by ballot
Section 3
Voter not subject to arrest on civil process
Section 4
Persons entitled to hold office--Age requirements
Section 5
Oath or affirmation to support the constitution
Section 6
Provision for removal of officials
Section 7
Last Amended
1884
General elections, when held--Terms of officials
Section 8
Further provisions regarding state's officers and agents
Section 9
Impeachment of officials
Section 10
Fighting of duels prohibited
Section 11
Safeguards for ballots
Section 12
Last Amended
1902
Registration laws provided for
Section 1
The Legislature
Section 2
Composition of Senate and House of Delegates
Section 3
Senators and delegates--Terms of office
Section 4
Division of state into senatorial districts
Section 5
Senatorial districts designated
Section 6
Provision for delegate representation
Section 7
After census, delegate apportionment
Section 8
Designation of delegate districts
Section 9
Further apportionments
Section 10
Arrangement of senatorial and delegate districts
Section 11
Additional territory may be admitted into state
Section 12
Senators and delegates required to be residents of districts
Section 13
Last Amended
1970
Eligibility to seat in Legislature
Section 14
Bribery conviction forfeits eligibility
Section 15
Senators and delegates not to hold civil office for profit
Section 16
Oath of senators and delegates
Section 17
Members of Legislature privileged from civil arrest
Section 18
Last Amended
1970
Time and place of assembly of Legislature
Section 19
Convening of Legislature by governor
Section 20
Seat of government
Section 21
Provisions for assembling of Legislature other than at the seat of government
Section 22
Last Amended
1970
Length of legislative session
Section 23
Concerning adjournment
Section 24
Last Amended
1970
Rules governing legislative proceedings
Section 25
Authority to punish members
Section 26
Provisions for undisturbed transaction of business
Section 27
Accounting for state moneys
Section 28
Origination of bills
Section 29
Requirement for reading of bills
Section 30
Acts to embrace but one object--Time of effect
Section 31
How bills may be amended
Section 32
“Majority” defined
Section 33
Last Amended
1970
Compensation and expenses of members
Section 34
Distribution of laws and journals provided for--Contracts for printing
Section 35
Last Amended
1936
State not to be made defendant in any court
Section 36
Last Amended
1984
Lotteries; bingo; raffles; county option
Section 37
Terms of office not to be extended after election
Section 38
Salaries of officials cannot be increased during official terms
Section 39
Local laws not to be passed in enumerated cases
Section 39(a)
Last Amended
1936
Home rule for municipalities
Section 40
Limiting powers of court or judge
Section 41
Each house to keep journal of proceedings
Section 42
Appropriation bills to be specific
Section 43
Board or court of registration of voters prohibited
Section 44
Election of legislative, county and municipal officers
Section 45
Bribery and attempt to bribe--Punishment
Section 46
Last Amended
1934
Manufacture and sale of liquor
Section 47
Incorporation of religious denominations prohibited
Section 48
Last Amended
1973
Homestead exemption
Section 49
Property of married woman
Section 50
Plan of proportional representation
Section 51
Last Amended
2018
Budget and supplementary appropriation bills
Section 52
Last Amended
1942
Revenues applicable to roads
Section 53
Last Amended
1946
Forestry amendment
Section 54
Last Amended
1960
Continuity of government amendment
Section 55
Last Amended
1996
Revenues and properties applicable to fish and wildlife conservation
Section 56
Last Amended
1996
Revenues applicable to nongame wildlife resources in the state
Section 57
Last Amended
2018
No constitutional right to abortion
Section 1
Last Amended
1958
Executive department
Section 2
Last Amended
1958
Election
Section 3
Last Amended
1902
Certification of election returns--Contests
Section 4
Last Amended
1970
Eligibility
Section 5
Chief executive--Powers
Section 6
Governor's message
Section 7
Extraordinary legislative sessions
Section 8
Governor to nominate certain officers
Section 9
Recess vacancies--How filled
Section 10
Governor's power of removal
Section 11
Executive may remit fines and forfeitures
Section 12
Governor commander-in-chief of military forces
Section 13
Official bond of state officers
Section 14
Last Amended
1970
Governor's Approval or Disapproval of Bills Passed by the Legislature
Section 15
Governor's approval or disapproval of bills making appropriations of money
Section 16
Vacancy in governorship, how filled
Section 17
Last Amended
1958
Vacancies in other executive departments
Section 18
Executive heads to make reports
Section 19
Last Amended
1902
Salaries of Officials
Section 1
Last Amended
1974
Judicial power
Section 2
Supreme court of appeals
Section 3
Supreme court of appeals; jurisdiction and powers; officers and employees; terms
Section 4
Writ of error, supersedeas and appeal; scope and form of decisions
Section 5
Circuit Courts
Section 6
Circuit court; jurisdiction, authority and power
Section 7
General provisions relating to justices, judges and magistrates
Section 8
Censure, temporary suspension and retirement of justices, judges and magistrates; removal
Section 9
Clerks of circuit courts
Section 10
Magistrate courts
Section 11
Municipal courts
Section 12
Issuance and execution of writs, warrants and process; admission to bail
Section 13
Parts of existing law effective
Section 14
Pending causes; transfer of causes; records
Section 15
Offices phased out; effective date of article; certain provisions to be operable at time specified; effect of article on certain provisions of constitution
Section 16
Last Amended
2000
Family Courts
Section 1
County organization
Section 2
Constables, coroners and overseers of the poor
Section 3
Last Amended
1973
Sheriffs
Section 4
Malfeasance and misfeasance in office
Section 5
Commissioning of officers not otherwise provided for
Section 6
Compensation--Deputies
Section 7
Conservators of the peace
Section 8
Formation of new counties
Section 9
Last Amended
1974
County commissions
Section 10
Last Amended
1974
Terms of office of county commissioners
Section 11
Last Amended
1974
Powers of county commissions
Section 12
Last Amended
1974
Clerk of county commission
Section 13
Last Amended
1974
Reformation of county commissions
Section 1
Last Amended
1932
Taxation and finance
Section 1a
Last Amended
1984
Exemptions from and Additional Adjustments to Ad Valorem Property Taxation
Section 1b
Last Amended
1982
Property Tax Limitation and Homestead Exemption Amendment of 1982
Section 1c
Last Amended
1986
Exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain personal property of inventory and warehouse goods, with phase in to full exemption over five-year period
Section 2
Repealed
1970
Repealed
Section 3
Receipts and expenditures of public moneys
Section 4
Limitation on contracting of state debt
Section 5
Power of taxation
Section 6
Last Amended
1997
Credit of state not to be granted in certain cases
Section 6a
Last Amended
1972
Appropriations and taxation for the benefit of counties, municipalities or other political subdivisions of the state
Section 7
Duties of county authorities in assessing taxes
Section 8
Last Amended
1950
Bonded indebtedness of counties, etc.
Section 8a
Last Amended
2002
Issuance of bonds or other obligations payable from property taxes on increases in value due to economic development or redevelopment projects in counties and municipalities
Section 9
Municipal taxes to be uniform
Section 10
Last Amended
1982
School levy and bond amendment
Section 11
Last Amended
2002
County and municipal excess levy amendment
Section 12
Last Amended
2014
Nonprofit youth organization revenue exemption
Section 1
Corporations
Section 2
Corporate liability for indebtedness
Section 3
Exclusive privileges prohibited
Section 4
Last Amended
1958
Rights of stockholders
Section 5
Street railroads
Section 6
Last Amended
1938
Banks
Section 7
Railroads
Section 8
Rolling stock considered personal property
Section 9
Railroads--public highways
Section 10
Stations to be established
Section 11
Competing lines--Legislative permission
Section 12
Right of eminent domain
Section 1
Education
Section 2
Last Amended
1958
Supervision of free schools
Section 3
County superintendents
Section 4
Existing permanent and invested school fund
Section 5
Last Amended
1970
Support of free schools
Section 6
Last Amended
1986
School districts
Section 7
Levies for school purposes
Section 8
Repealed
1994
Repealed
Section 9
Certain acts prohibited
Section 10
Creation of independent free school districts
Section 11
Appropriation for state normal schools
Section 12
Legislature to foster general school improvements
Last Amended
1902
The Judicial Amendment
Last Amended
1902
The Irreducible School Fund Amendment
Last Amended
1920
The Good Roads Amendment of 1920
Last Amended
1928
The Good Roads Amendment of 1928
Last Amended
1948
Fifty Million Dollar Bond Issue For Roads Amendment
Last Amended
1950
Veterans Bonus Amendment
Last Amended
1956
Korean Veterans Bonus Amendment
Last Amended
1964
Better Roads Amendment
Last Amended
1968
Roads Development Amendment
Last Amended
1972
Better School Buildings Amendment
Last Amended
1973
Better Highways Amendment
Last Amended
1973
Vietnam Veterans Bonus Amendment
Last Amended
1984
Qualified Veterans Housing Bonds Amendment
Last Amended
1992
Veterans Bonus Amendment
Last Amended
1994
Infrastructure Improvement Amendment
Last Amended
1996
Safe Roads Amendment of 1996
Last Amended
2004
Veterans Bonus Amendment
Last Amended
2017