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The Connecticut Constitution, 1965-2008:
Legislative History of Amendments

The current constitution was adopted in 1965 and has been amended 30 times. Constitutional amendment is a two-step process: the legislature must first pass a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment by a ¾ majority in each chamber and then submit that resolution to the popular vote for ratification in the next election.

The legislative history information is linked to the Amendment Article and the documents indexed are available at the Law & Legislative Reference Unit, 231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106. Photocopies may be ordered via telephone: 860-757-6590.

Amendment Article	Year & Resolution	Title	Adopted	Constitution Article and Section Number
I	1969 HJR 95	Election of Attorney General	November 1970 499,505 to 91,260	IV, Sect. 1
II, Sect. 1	1969 HJR 26	Minimum age requirements for Senators set at 21	November 1970 471,516 to 130,178	III, Sect. 3
II, Sect. 2	1969 HJR 26	Minimum age for Representatives set at 21	November 1970 471,516 to 130,178	III, Sect. 4
II, Sect. 3	1969 HJR 26	Eligibility for office set at 21	November 1970 471,516 to 130,178	VI, Sect. 10
III	1969 HJR 160	Annual sessions of the General Assembly	November 1970 455,483 to 140,320	III, Sect. 2
IV	1971 HJR 83	Challenges & numbers of jurors	December 22, 1972 381,895 to 156,092	I, Sect. 19
V	1972 HJR 4	Discrimination on account of sex	November 1974 460,711 to 135,427	I, Sect. 20
VI	1972 HJR 9	Method of proposing and approving constitutional amendments	November 1974 398,029 to 116,495	XII
VII	1973 HJR 37	Forfeiture of electoral privileges upon conviction	November 1974 357,179 to 152,665	VI, Sect. 3
VIII, Sect. 1	1973 SJR 22	Justices of the Peace	November 1974 301,707 to 236,692	V, Sect. 5
VIII, Sect. 2	1973 SJR 22	Age limitation of judges. Exception.	November 1974 301,707 to 236,692	V, Sect. 6
IX	1975 HJR 48	Lowers age of electors to 18 and relaxes qualifications	November 1976 545,281 to 119,533	VI, Sect. 1
X	1975 HJR 51	Pre-registration of 17-year-olds to vote.	November 1976 393,819 to 301, 751	VI, Sect. 11
XI	1976 HJR 44	Judicial censure, removal or suspension. Judicial Review Council	November 1976 527, 198 to 133, 860	V
XII	1976 SJR5	Supreme Court to have original jurisdiction for review of Decennial Reapportionment	November 1976 90,950 to 27,373	III, Sect. 6
XIII	1979 HJR 92	Removal to another town [repeal of 6-month residency requirement for voting]	November 1980 441,087 to 225,096	VI, Sect. 9
XIV	1979 SJR 69	Changes to the voter registration period for pre-registering 17-year-olds.	November 1980 370,326 to 326,503	VI, Sect. 11
XV, Sect. 1	1979 HJR 103	Minimum age requirements for Senators lowered to 18	November 1980 357,845 to 320,945	III, Sect. 3
XV, Sect. 2	1979 HJR 103	Minimum age for Representatives lowered to 18	November 1980 357,845 to 320,945	III, Sect. 4
XV, Sect. 3	1979 HJR 103	Eligibility for office lowered to 18	November 1980 357,845 to 320,945	VI, Sect. 10
XVI, Sect. 1	1980 HJR 3	Reapportionment, Congressional and General Assembly districts to be consistent with federal standards	November 1980 414,907 to 203,837	III, Sect. 5
XVI, Sect. 2	1980 HJR 3	Supreme Court review period shortened and timetable extended for Decennial Reapportionment	November 1976 414,907 to 203,837	III, Sect. 6
XVII	1981 HJR 36	Grand Jury for Capital Offenses	November 1982 437,231 to 157,000	I, Sect. 8
XVIII	1981 HJR 64	Delegation of regulatory authority. Disapproval of administrative regulations	November 1982 392,606 to 167,570	II
XIX	1981 HJR 46	Extra compensation to public officers prohibited [midterm raises]	November 1982 322,557 to 241,597	XI, Sect. 2
XX	1981 HJR 95	Creation of Appellate Court	November 1982 387, 116 to 156, 257	V, Sect. 2
XXI	1983 HJR 47	Disability Discrimination	November 1984 637,754 to 180,955	I, Sect. 20
XXII	1984 HJR 3	When to succeed and act as Governor	November 1984 713, 791 to 95, 116	IV, Sect. 18
XXIII	1984 HJR 35	Appointment of State Attorney by a Criminal Justice Commission	November 1984 554, 953 to 208, 631	IV
XXIV	1985 HJR 9	Prohibit the use of the party lever in any state or local election	November 1986 302,899 to 297,827	VI, Sect. 5
XXV	1985 SJR 65	Selection, nomination, appointment and removal of judges	November 1986 396, 555 to 192, 180	V, Sect. 2
XXVII	1991 HJR 22	Admission of electors in absentia	November 1992 708,030 to 260,885	VI, Sect. 8
XXVIII	June 5 Special Session 1991 HJR 205	Spending Cap	November 1992 829, 868 to 195, 630	III, Sect. 18
XXIX	1996 SJR13	Crime victims’ rights	November 1996 656,223 to 179,882	I, Sect. 8
XXX	2000 SJR 15	Election of Sheriffs	November 2000 585, 155 to 307, 275	IV, Sect. 25
XXXI	2008 HJR 21	Registered 17-year-olds permitted to vote in primaries	November 2008 900,491 to 508,396	VI, Sect. 11

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The Connecticut Constitution, 1965-2008: Legislative History of Amendments

The Connecticut Constitution, 1965-2008:
Legislative History of Amendments