# Ohio Constitution of 1912

The Second (Present) Constitution of the State of Ohio.
(Done in Convention at Cincinnati, March 10, 1851.)
As Amended from Time to Time by the People, and the Constitutional Convention of 1912.
We, the people of the State of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish this constitution.
Article I.
Bill of Rights.
Section 1. All men are, by nature, free and independent, and have certain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and seeking and obtaining happiness and safety.
Sec. 2. All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their equal protection and benefit, and they have the right to alter, reform, or abolish the same, whenever they may deem it necessary; and no special privileges or immunities shall ever be granted, that may not be altered, revoked, or repealed by the General Assembly.
Sec. 3. The people have the right to assemble together, in a peaceable manner, to consult for their common good; to instruct their representatives; and to petition the General Assembly for the redress of grievances.
Sec. 4. The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security; but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be kept up; and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.
Sec. 5. The right of trial by jury shall be inviolate, except that, in civil cases, laws may be passed to authorize the rendering of a verdict by the concurrence of not less than three-fourths of the jury. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 6. There shall be no slavery in this state, nor involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crime.
Sec. 7. All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience. No person shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or maintain any form of worship, against his consent; and no preference shall be given, by law, to any religious society; nor shall any interference with the rights of conscience be permitted. No religious test shall be required, as a qualification for office, nor shall any person be incompetent to be a witness on account of his religious ​belief; but nothing herein shall be construed to dispense with oaths and affirmations. Religion, morality, and knowledge, however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to pass suitable laws to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship, and to encourage schools, and the means of instruction.
Sec. 8. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety require it.
Sec. 9. All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses where the proof is evident, or the presumption great. Excessive bail shall not be required; nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.
Sec. 10. Except in cases of impeachment, cases arising in the army and navy, or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger, and cases involving offenses for which the penalty provided is less than imprisonment in the penitentiary, no person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on presentment or indictment of a grand jury; and the number of persons necessary to constitute such grand jury and the number thereof necessary to concur in finding such indictment shall be determined by law. In any trial, in any court, the party accused shall be allowed to appear and defend in person and with counsel; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him, and to have a copy thereof; to meet the witness face to face, and to have compulsory process to procure the attendance of witnesses in his behalf, and a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the county in which the offense is alleged to have been committed; but provision may be made by law for the taking of the deposition by the accused or by the state, to be used for or against the accused, of any witness whose attendance can not be had at the trial, always securing to the accused means and the opportunity to be present in person and with counsel at the taking of such deposition, and to examine the witness face to face as fully and in the same manner as if in court. No person shall be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness against himself; but his failure to testify may be considered by the court and jury and may be made the subject of comment by counsel. No person shall be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 11. Every citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of the right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech, or of the press. In all criminal prosecutions for libel the truth may be given in evidence to the jury, and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous is true, and was published with good motives, and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted.
Sec. 12. No person shall be transported out of the state, for any offense committed within the same; and no conviction shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture of estate.
Sec. 13. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner; nor in time of war, except in the manner prescribed by law.
Sec. 14. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by ​oath or affirmation, particularly describing the place to be searched and the person and things to be seized.
Sec. 15. No person shall be imprisoned for debt in any civil action, on mesne or final process, unless in cases of fraud.
Sec. 16. All courts shall be open, and every person, for an injury done him in his land, goods, person, or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law, and shall have justice administered without denial or delay. Suits may be brought against the state, in such courts and in such manner, as may be provided by law. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 17. No hereditary emoluments, honors, or privileges, shall ever be granted or conferred by this state.
Sec. 18. No power of suspending laws shall ever be exercised, except by the General Assembly.
Sec. 19. Private property shall ever be held inviolate but subservient to the public welfare. When taken in time of war, or other public exigency, imperatively requiring its immediate seizure or for the purpose of making or repairing roads, which shall be open to the public, without charge, a compensation shall be made to the owner, in money, and in all other cases, where private property shall be taken for public use, a compensation therefor shall first be made in money, or first secured by a deposit of money, and such compensation shall be assessed by a jury, without deduction for benefits to any property of the owner.
Sec. 19a. The amount of damages recoverable by civil action in the courts for death caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of another, shall not be limited by law. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 20. This enumeration of rights shall not be construed to impair or deny others retained by the people; and all powers, not herein delegated, remain with the people.
Article II.
Legislative.
Section 1. The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a general assembly consisting of a senate and house of representatives but the people reserve to themselves the power to propose to the general assembly laws and amendments to the constitution, and to adopt or reject the same at the polls on a referendum vote as hereinafter provided. They also reserve the power to adopt or reject any law, section of any law or any item in any law appropriating money passed by the general assembly, except as hereinafter provided; and independent of the general assembly to propose amendments to the constitution and to adopt or reject the same at the polls. The limitations expressed in the constitution, on the power of the general assembly to enact laws, shall be deemed limitations on the power of the people to enact laws. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec 1a. The first aforestated power reserved by the people is designated the initiative, and the signatures of ten per centum of the electors shall be required upon a petition to propose an amendment to the constitution. When a petition signed by the aforesaid required number of electors, shall have been filed with the secretary of state, and verified as herein provided, proposing an amendment to the constitution, the full text of which shall have been set forth in such petition, the secretary of state shall submit for the approval or rejection ​of the electors, the proposed amendment, in the manner hereinafter provided, at the next succeeding regular or general election in any year occurring subse- . quent to ninety days after the filing of such petition. The initiative petitions, above described, shall have printed across the top thereof: "Amendment to the Constitution Proposed by Initiative Petition to be Submitted Directly to the Electors." (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912. )
Sec. 1b. When at any time, not less than ten days prior to the commencement of any session of the general assembly, there shall have been filed with the secretary of state a petition signed by three per centum of the electors and verified as herein provided, proposing a law, the full text of which shall have been set forth in such petition, the secretary of state shall transmit the same to the general assembly as soon as it convenes. If said proposed law shall be passed by the general assembly, either as petitioned for or in an amended form , it shall be subject to the referendum. If it shall not be passed, or if it shall be passed in an amended form, or if no action shall be taken thereon within four months from the time it is received by the general assembly, it shall be submitted by the secretary of state to the electors for their approval or rejection at the next regular or general election, if such submission shall be demanded by supplementary petition verified as herein provided and signed by not less than three per centum of the electors in addition to those signing the original petition, which supplementary petition must be signed and filed with the secretary of state within ninety days after the proposed law shall have been rejected by the general assembly or after the expiration of such term of four months, if no action has been taken thereon, or after the law as passed by the general assembly shall have been filed by the governor in the office of the secretary of state. The proposed law shall be submitted in the form demanded by such supplementary petition, which form shall be either as first petitioned for or with any amendment or amendments which have been incorporated therein by either branch or by both branches of the general assembly. If a proposed law so submitted is approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, it shall be the law and shall go into effect as herein provided in lieu of any amended form of said law which may have been passed by the general assembly, and such amended law passed by the general assembly shall not go into effect until and unless the law proposed by supplementary petition shall have been rejected by the electors. All such initiative petitions, last above described, shall have printed across the top thereof, in case of proposed laws: "Law Proposed by Initiative Petition First to be Submitted to the General Assembly". Ballots shall be so printed as to permit an affirmative or negative vote upon each measure submitted to the electors. Any proposed law or amendment to the constitution submitted to the electors as provided in section la and section 1b, if approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, shall take effect thirty days after the election at which it was approved and shall be published by the secretary of state. If conflicting proposed laws or conflicting proposed amendments to the constitution shall be approved at the same election by a majority of the total number of votes cast for and against the same, the one receiving the highest number of affirmative votes shall be the law, or in the case of amendments to the constitution shall be the amendment to the constitution. No law proposed by initiative petition and approved by the electors shall be subject to the veto of the governor. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
​Sec. 1c. The second aforestated power reserved by the people is designated the referendum, and the signatures of six per centum of the electors shall be required upon a petition to order the submission to the electors of the state for their approval or rejection, of any law, section of any law or any item in any law appropriating money passed by the general assembly. No law passed by the general assembly shall go into effect until ninety days after it shall have been filed by the governor in the office of the secretary of state, except as herein provided. When a petition, signed by six per centum of the electors of the state and verified as herein provided, shall have been filed with the secretary of state within ninety days after any law shall have been filed by the governor in the office of the secretary of state, ordering that such law, section of such law or any item in such law appropriating money be submitted to the electors of the state for their approval or rejection, the secretary of state shall submit to the electors of the state for their approval or rejection such law, section, or item, in the manner herein provided, at the next succeeding regular or general election in any year occurring subsequent to sixty days after the filing of such petition, and no such law, section or item shall go into effect until and unless approved by a majority of those voting upon the same. If, however, a referendum petition is filed against any such section or item, the remainder of the law shall not thereby be prevented or delayed from going into effect. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 1d. Laws providing for tax levies, appropriations for the current expenses of the state government and state institutions, and emergency laws necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, shall go into immediate effect. Such emergency laws upon a yea and nay vote must receive the vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each branch of the general assembly, and the reasons for such necessity shall be set forth in one section of the law, which section shall be passed only upon yea and nay vote, upon a separate roll call thereon. The laws mentioned in this section shall not be subject to the referendum. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 1e. The powers defined herein as the "initiative" and "referendum" shall not be used to pass a law authorizing any classification of property for the purpose of levying different rates of taxation thereon or of authorizing the levy of any single tax or land or land values or land sites at a higher rate or by a different rule than is or may be applied to improvements thereon or to personal property. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 1f. The initiative and referendum powers are hereby reserved to the people of each municipality on all questions which such municipalities may now or hereafter be authorized by law to control by legislative action; such powers shall be exercised in the manner now or hereafter provided by law. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 1g. Any initiative, supplementary or referendum petition may be presented in separate parts but each part shall contain a full and correct copy of the title, and text of the law, section or item thereof sought to be referred, or the proposed law or proposed amendment to the constitution. Each signer of any initiative, supplementary or referendum petition must be an elector of the state and shall place on such petition after his name the date of signing and his place of residence. A signer residing outside of a municipality shall state the township and county in which he resides . A resident of a municipality shall state in addition to the name of such municipality, the street and number, ​if any, of his residence and the ward and precinct in which the same is located. The names of all signers to such petitions shall be written in ink, each signer for himself. To each part of such petition shall be attached the affidavit of the person soliciting the signatures to the same, which affidavit shall contain a statement of the number of the signers of such part of such petition and shall state that each of the signatures attached to such part was made in the presence of the affiant, that to the best of his knowledge and belief each signature on such part is the genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be, that he believes the persons who have signed it to be electors, that they so signed said petition with knowledge of the contents thereof, that each signer signed the same on the date stated opposite his name; and no other affidavit thereto shall be required. The petition and signatures upon such petitions, so verified, shall be presumed to be in all respects sufficient, unless not later than forty days before the election, it shall be otherwise proved and in such event ten additional days shall be allowed for the filing of additional signatures to such petition. No law or amendment to the constitution submitted to the electors by initiative and supplementary petition and receiving an affirmative majority of the votes cast thereon, shall be held unconstitutional or void on account of the insufficiency of the petitions by which such submission of the same was procured; nor shall the rejection of any law submitted by referendum petition be held invalid for such insufficiency. Upon all initiative, supplementary and referendum petitions provided for in any of the sections of this article, it shall be necessary to file from each of one-half of the counties of the state, petitions bearing the signatures of not less than one-half of the designated percentage of the electors of such county. A true copy of all laws or proposed laws or proposed amendments to the constitution, together with an argument or explanation, or both, for, and also an argument or explanation, or both, against the same, shall be prepared. The person or persons who prepare the argument or explanation, or both, against any law, section or item, submitted to the electors by referendum petition, may be named in such petition and the persons who prepare the argument or explanation, or both, for any proposed law or proposed amendment to the constitution may be named in the petition proposing the same. The person or persons who prepare the argument or explanation, or both, for the law, section or item, submitted to the electors by referendum petition, or against any proposed law submitted by supplementary petition, shall be named by the general assembly, if in session, and if not in session then by the governor. The secretary of state shall cause to be printed the law, or proposed law, or proposed amendment to the constitution, together with the arguments and explanations, not exceeding a total of three hundred words for each, and also the arguments and explanations, not exceeding a total of three hundred words against each, and shall mail, or otherwise distribute, a copy of such law, or proposed law, or proposed amendment to the constitution, together with such arguments and explanations for and against the same to each of the electors of the state, as far as may be reasonably possible. Unless otherwise provided by law, the secretary of state shall cause to be placed upon the ballots, the title of any such law, or proposed law, or proposed amendment to the constitution, to be submitted. He shall also cause the ballots so to be printed as to permit an affirmative or negative vote upon each law, section of law, or item in a law appropriating money, or proposed law or proposed amendment to the constitution. The style of all laws submitted ​by initiative and supplementary petition shall be: "Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Ohio," and of all constitutional amendments: "Be it Resolved by the People of the State of Ohio." The basis upon which the required number of petitioners in any case shall be determined shall be the total number of votes cast for the office of governor at the last preceding election therefor. The foregoing provisions of this section shall be self-executing, except as herein otherwise provided. Laws may be passed to facilitate their operation, but in no way limiting or restricting either such provision or the powers herein reserved. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912. )
Sec. 2. Senators and representatives shall be elected biennially by the electors of the respective counties or districts, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November; their term of office shall commence on the first day of January next thereafter, and continue two years. [As amended October 13, 1885, 82 v. 446.]
Sec. 3. Senators and representatives shall have resided in their respective counties, or districts, one year next preceding their election, unless they shall have been absent on the public business of the United States, or of this state.
Sec. 4. No person holding office under the authority of the United States, or any lucrative office under the authority of this state, shall be eligible to, or have a seat in, the General Assembly; but this provision shall not extend to township officers, justices of the peace, notaries public, or officers of the militia.
Sec. 5. No person hereafter convicted of an embezzlement of the public funds shall hold any office in this state; nor shall any person, holding public money for disbursement, or otherwise, have a seat in the General Assembly until he shall have accounted for, and paid such money into the treasury.
Sec. 6. Each house shall be judge of the election, returns and qualifications of its own members; a majority of all the members elected to each house shall be a quorum to do business; but a less number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties, as shall be prescribed by law.
Sec. 7. The mode of organizing the house of representatives at the commencement of each regular session, shall be prescribed by law.
Sec. 8. Each house, except as otherwise provided in this constitution, shall choose its own officers, may determine its own rules of proceeding, punish its members for disorderly conduct; and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member, but not the second time for the same cause; and shall have all powers, necessary to provide for its safety and the undisturbed transaction of its business, and to obtain, through committees or otherwise, information affecting legislative action under consideration or in contemplation, or with reference to any alleged breach of its privileges or misconduct of its members, and to that end to enforce the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and the production of books and papers. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 9. Each house shall keep a correct journal of its proceedings, which shall be published. At the desire of any two members, the yeas and nays shall be entered upon the journal; and, on the passage of every bill, in either house, the vote shall be taken by yeas and nays, and entered upon the journal; and no law shall be passed in either house without the concurrence of a majority of all the members elected thereto.
​Sec. 10. Any member of either house shall have the right to protest against any act, or resolution thereof; and such protest, and the reasons therefor, shall, without alteration, commitment, or delay, be entered upon the journal.
Sec. 11. All vacancies which may happen in either house shall, for the unexpired term, be filled by election, as shall be directed by law.
Sec. 12. Senators and representatives, during the session of the General Assembly, and in going to and returning from the same, shall be privileged from arrest, in all cases, except treason, felony or breach of the peace; and for any speech, or debate, in either house, they shall not be questioned elsewhere.
Sec. 13. The proceedings of both houses shall be public, except in cases which, in the opinion of two-thirds of those present, require secrecy.
Sec. 14. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than two days, Sundays excluded; nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be in session.
Sec. 15. Bills may originate in either house; but may be altered, amended or rejected in the other.
Sec. 16. Every bill shall be fully and distinctly read on three different days, unless in case of urgency three-fourths of the house in which it shall be pending, shall dispense with the rule. No bill shall contain more than one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title, and no law shall be revived, or amended unless the new act contains the entire act revived, or the section or sections amended, and the section or sections so amended shall be repealed. Every bill passed by the general assembly shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the governor for his approval. If he approves, he shall sign it and thereupon it shall become a law and be filed with the secretary of state. If he does not approve it, he shall return it with his objections in writing, to the house in which it originated, which shall enter the objections at large upon its journal, and may then reconsider the vote on its passage. If three-fifths of the members elected to that house vote to repass the bill, it shall be sent, with the objections of the governor, to the other house, which may also reconsider the vote on its passage. If three-fifths of the members elected to that house vote to repass it, it shall become a law notwithstanding the objections of the governor, except that in no case shall a bill be repassed by a smaller vote than is required by the constitution on its original passage. In all such cases the vote of each house shall be determined by yeas and nays and the names of the members voting for and against the bill shall be entered upon the journal. If a bill shall not be returned by the governor within ten days, Sundays excepted, after being presented to him, it shall become a law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the general assembly by adjournment prevents its return; in which case, it shall become a law unless, within ten days after such adjournment, it shall be filed by him, with his objections in writing, in the office of the secretary of state. The governor may disapprove any item or items in any bill making an appropriation of money and the item or items, so disapproved, shall be void, unless repassed in the manner herein prescribed for the repassage of a bill. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 17. The presiding officer of each house shall sign, publicly in the presence of the house over which he presides, while the same is in session and capable of transacting business, all bills, and joint resolutions passed by the General Assembly.
​Sec. 18. The style of the laws of this state shall be, "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio."
Sec. 19. No senator or representative shall, during the term for which he shall have been elected, or for one year thereafter, be appointed to any civil office under this state, which shall be created or the emoluments of which shall have been increased, during the term for which he shall have been elected.
Sec. 20. The General Assembly, in cases not provided for in this constitution, shall fix the term of office and the compensation of all officers; but no change therein shall effect the salary of any officer during his existing term, unless the office be abolished.
Sec. 21. The General Assembly shall determine, by law, before what authority, and in what manner, the trial of contested elections shall be conducted.
Sec. 22. No money shall be drawn from the treasury, except in pursuance of a specific appropriation, made by law; and no appropriation shall be made for a longer period than two years.
Sec. 23. The house of representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment, but a majority of the members elected must concur therein. Impeachments shall be tried by the Senate; and the senators, when sitting for that purpose, shall be upon oath or affirmation to do justice according to law and evidence. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the senators.
Sec. 24. The governor, judges, and all state officers, may be impeached for any misdemeanor in office; but judgment shall not extend further than removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office, under the authority of this state. The party impeached, whether convicted or not, shall be liable to indictment, trial and judgment, according to law.
Sec. 25. All regular sessions of the General Assembly shall commence on the first Monday of January, biennially. The first session, under this constitution, shall commence on the first Monday of January, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
Sec. 26. All laws, of a general nature, shall have a uniform operation throughout the state; nor, shall any act, except such as relates to public schools, be passed, to take effect upon the approval of any other authority than the General Assembly, except, as otherwise provided in this constitution.
Sec. 27. The election and appointment of all officers, and the filling of all vacancies, not otherwise provided for by this constitution, or the constitution of the United States, shall be made in such manner as may be directed by law; but no appointing power shall be exercised by the General Assembly, except as prescribed in this constitution, and in the election of the United States senators; and in these cases the vote shall be taken "viva voce."
Sec. 28. The General Assembly shall have no power to pass retroactive laws, or laws impairing the obligation of contracts; but may, by general laws, authorize courts to carry into effect, upon such terms as shall be just and equitable, the manifest intention of parties, and officers, by curing omissions, defects, and errors, in instruments and proceedings, arising out of their want of conformity with the laws of this state.
Sec. 29. No extra compensation shall be made to any officer, public agent, or contractor, after the service shall have been rendered, or the contract entered into; nor shall any money be paid, on any claim, the subject matter of which ​shall not have been provided for by pre-existing law, unless such compensation, or claim, be allowed by two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the General Assembly.
Sec. 30. No new county shall contain less than four hundred square miles of territory, nor shall any county be reduced below that amount; and all laws creating new counties, changing county lines, or removing county seats, shall, before taking effect, be submitted to the electors of the several counties to be affected thereby, at the next general election after the passage thereof, and be adopted by a majority of all the electors voting at such election, in each of said counties; but any county now or hereafter containing one hundred thousand inhabitants, may be divided, whenever a majority of the voters residing in each of the proposed divisions shall approve of the law passed for that purpose; but no town or city within the same shall be divided, nor shall either of the divisions contain less than twenty thousand inhabitants.
Sec. 31. The members and officers of the General Assembly shall receive a fixed compensation, to be prescribed by law, and no other allowance or perquisite, either in the payment of postage or otherwise; and no change in their compensation shall take effect during their term of office.
Sec. 32. The General Assembly shall grant no divorce, nor exercise any judicial power not herein expressly conferred.
Sec. 33. Laws may be passed to secure to mechanics, artisans, laborers, sub-contractors and material men, their just dues by direct lien upon the property, upon which they have bestowed labor or for which they have furnished material. No other provision of the constitution shall impair or limit this power. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 34. Laws may be passed fixing and regulating the hours of labor, establishing a minimum wage, and providing for the comfort, health, safety and general welfare of all employes; and no other provision of the constitution shall impair or limit this power. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 35. For the purpose of providing compensation to workmen and their dependents, for death, injuries or occupational diseases, occasioned in the course of such workmen's employment, laws may be passed establishing a state fund to be created by compulsory contribution thereto by employers, and administered by the state, determining the terms and conditions upon which payment shall be made therefrom, and taking away any or all rights of action or defenses from employees and employers; but no right of action shall be taken away from any employe when the injury, disease or death arises from failure of the employer to comply with any lawful requirement for the protection of the lives, health and safety of employes. Laws may be passed establishing a board which may be empowered to classify all occupations, according to their degree of hazard, to fix rates of contribution to such fund according to such classification, and to collect, administer and distribute such fund, and to determine all rights of claimants thereto. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 36. Laws may be passed to encourage forestry, and to that end areas devoted exclusively to forestry may be exempted, in whole or in part, from taxation. Laws may also be passed to provide for converting into forest reserves such lands or parts of lands as have been or may be forfeited to the state, and to authorize the acquiring of other lands for that purpose; also, to provide for the conservation of the natural resources of the state, including streams, lakes, ​submerged and swamp lands and the development and regulation of water power and the formation of drainage and conservation districts; and to provide for the regulation of methods of mining, weighing, measuring and marketing coal, oil, gas and all other minerals . (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 37. Except in cases of extraordinary emergencies, not to exceed eight hours shall constitute a day's work, and not to exceed forty-eight hours a week's work, for workmen engaged on any public work carried on or aided by the state, or any political sub-division thereof, whether done by contract, or otherwise. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 38. Laws shall be passed providing for the prompt removal from office, upon complaint and hearing, of all officers, including state officers, judges and members of the general assembly, for any misconduct involving moral turpitude or for other cause provided by law; and this method of removal shall be in addition to impeachment or other method of removal authorized by the constitution. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 39. Laws may be passed for the regulation of the use of expert witnesses and expert testimony in criminal trials and proceedings. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 40. Laws may be passed providing for a system of registering, transferring, insuring and guaranteeing land titles by the state or by the counties thereof, and for settling and determining adverse or other claims to and interests in, lands the titles to which are so registered, insured or guaranteed, and for the creation and collection of guaranty funds by fees to be assessed against lands, the titles to which are registered; and judicial powers with right of appeal may by law be conferred upon records or other officers in matters arising under the operation of such system. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 41. Laws shall be passed providing for the occupation and employment of prisoners sentenced to the several penal institutions and reformatories in the state; and no person in any such penal institution or reformatory while under sentence thereto, shall be required or allowed to work at any trade, industry or occupation, wherein or whereby his work, or the product or profit of his work, shall be sold, farmed out, contracted or given away; and goods made by persons under sentence to any penal institution or reformatory without the State of Ohio, and such goods made within the State of Ohio, excepting those disposed of to the state or any political sub-division thereof or to any public institution owned, managed or controlled by the state or any political sub-division thereof, shall not be sold within this state unless the same are conspicuously marked "prison made." Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the passage of laws providing that convicts may work for, and that the products of their labor may be disposed of to, the state or any political sub-division thereof, or for or to any public institution owned or managed and controlled by the state or any political sub-division thereof. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Article III.
Executive.
Section 1. The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state, and an attorney general, who shall be elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in ​November, by the electors of the state, and at the places for voting for members of the General Assembly. [As amended October 13 , 1885; 82 v. 446.]
Sec. 2. The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, and attorney general shall hold their offices for two years; and the auditor for four years. Their terms of office shall commence on the second Monday of January next after their election, and continue until their successors are elected and qualified.
Sec. 3. The returns of every election for the officers named in the foregoing section shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of government, by the returning officers, directed to the president of the senate, who, during the first week of the session, shall open and publish them, and declare the result, in the presence of a majority of the members of each house of the General Assembly. The person having the highest number of votes shall be declared duly elected; but if any two or more shall be highest, and equal in votes, for the same office, one of them shall be chosen by the joint vote of both houses.
Sec. 4. Should there be no session of the General Assembly in January next after an election for any of the officers aforesaid, the returns of such election shall be made to the secretary of state and opened and the result declared by the governor, in such manner as may be provided by law.
Sec. 5. The supreme executive power of this state shall be vested in the governor.
Sec. 6. He may require information, in writing, from the officers in the executive department, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and shall see that the laws are faithfully executed .
Sec. 7. He shall communicate at every session by message, to the General Assembly, the condition of the state, and recommend such measures as he shall deem expedient.
Sec. 8. The governor on extraordinary occasions may convene the general assembly by proclamation and shall state in the proclamation the purpose for which such special session is called, and no other business shall be transacted at such special session except that named in the proclamation, or in a subsequent public proclamation or message to the general assembly issued by the governor during the special session, but the general assembly may provide for the expenses of the session and other matter incidental thereto. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 9. In case of a disagreement between the two houses, in respect to the time of adjournment, he shall have power to adjourn the General Assembly to such time as he may think proper, but not beyond the regular meetings thereof.
Sec. 10. He shall be commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces of the state, except when they shall be called into the service of the United States.
Sec. 11. He shall have power, after conviction, to grant reprieves, commutations and pardons, for all crimes and offenses, except treason and cases of impeachment, upon such conditions as he may think proper; subject, however, to such regulations, as to the manner of applying for pardons, as may be prescribed by law. Upon conviction for treason, he may suspend the execution of sentence, and report the case to the General Assembly, at its next meeting, when the General Assembly shall either pardon, commute the sentence, direct its execution, or grant a further reprieve. He shall communicate to the General Assembly, at every regular session, each case of reprieve, commutation, or pardon granted, ​stating the name and crime of the convict, the sentence, its date, and the date of the commutation, pardon, or reprieve, with his reason therefor.
Sec. 12. There shall be a seal of the state, which shall be kept by the governor, and used by him officially; and shall be called "The Great Seal of the State of Ohio."
Sec. 13. All grants and commissions shall be issued in the name and by the authority of the state of Ohio; sealed with the great seal; signed by the governor, and countersigned by the secretary of state.
Sec. 14. No member of congress, or other person holding office under the authority of this state, or of the United States, shall execute the office of the governor, except as herein provided.
Sec. 15. In case of the death, impeachment, resignation, removal or other disability of the governor, the powers and duties of the office, for the residue of the term, or until he shall be acquitted, or the disability removed, shall devolve upon the lieutenant governor.
Sec. 16. The lieutenant governor shall be president of the senate, but shall vote only when the senate is equally divided; and in case of his absence, or impeachment, or when he shall exercise the office of governor, the senate shall choose a president pro tempore.
Sec. 17. If the lieutenant governor, while executing the office of governor, shall be impeached, displaced, resign or die, or otherwise become incapable of performing the duties of the office, the president of the senate shall act as governor until the vacancy is filled, or the disability removed; and if the president of the senate, for any of the above causes, shall be rendered incapable of performing the duties pertaining to the office of governor, the same shall devolve upon the speaker of the house of representatives.
Sec. 18. Should the office of auditor, treasurer, secretary, or attorney general become vacant, for any of the causes specified in the fifteenth section of this article, the governor shall fill the vacancy until the disability is removed, or a successor elected and qualified. Every such vacancy shall be filled by election, at the first general election that occurs more than thirty days after it shall have happened; and the person chosen shall hold the office for the full term fixed in the second section of this article.
Sec. 19. The officers mentioned in this article shall, at stated times receive for their services, a compensation to be established by law which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the period for which they have been elected.
Sec. 20. The officers of the executive department, and of the public state institutions shall, at least five days preceding each regular session of the General Assembly, severally report to the governor, who shall transmit such reports, with his message, to the General Assembly.
Article IV.
Judicial.
Section 1. The judicial power of the state is vested in a supreme court, courts of appeals, courts of common pleas, courts of probate, and such other courts inferior to the courts of appeals as may from time to time be established by law. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
​Sec. 2. The supreme court shall, until otherwise provided by law, consist of a chief justice and six judges, and the judges now in office in that court shall continue therein until the end of the terms for which they were respectively elected, unless they are removed, die or resign. A majority of the supreme court shall be necessary to constitute a quorum or to pronounce a decision, except as hereinafter provided. It shall have original jurisdiction in quo warranto, mandamus, habeas corpus, prohibition and procedendo, and appellate jurisdiction in all cases involving questions under the constitution of the United States or of this state, in cases of felony on leave first obtained, and in cases which originated in the courts of appeals, and such revisory jurisdiction of the proceedings of administrative officers as may be conferred by law. It shall hold at least one term in each year at the seat of government, and such other terms, there or elsewhere, as may be provided by law. The judges of the supreme court shall be elected by the electors of the state at large for such term, not less than six years, as may be prescribed by law, and they shall be elected, and their official term shall begin, at such time as may now or hereafter be fixed by law. Whenever the judges of the supreme court shall be equally divided in opinion as to the merits of any case before them and are unable for that reason to agree upon a judgment, that fact shall be entered upon the record and such entry shall be held to constitute an affirmance of the judgment of the court below. No law shall be held unconstitutional and void by the supreme court without the concurrence of at least all but one of the judges, except in the affirmance of a judgment of the court of appeals declaring a law unconstitutional and void. In cases of public or great general interest the supreme court may, within such limitation of time as may be prescribed by law, direct any court of appeals to certify its record to the supreme court, and may review, and affirm, modify or reverse the judgment of the court of appeals. All cases pending in the supreme court at the time of the adoption of this amendment by the people, shall proceed to judgment in the manner provided by existing law. No law shall be passed or rule made whereby any person shall be prevented from invoking the original jurisdiction of the supreme court. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 3. One resident judge of the court of common pleas, and such additional resident judge or judges as may be provided by law, shall be elected in each county of the state by the electors of such county; and as many courts or sessions of the court of common pleas as are necessary, may be held at the same time in any county. Any judge of the court of common pleas may temporarily preside and hold court in any county; and until the general assembly shall make adequate provision therefor, the chief justice of the supreme court of the state shall pass upon the disqualification or disability of any judge of the court of common pleas, and he may assign any judge to any county to hold court therein . (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 4. The jurisdiction of the courts of common pleas, and of the judges thereof, shall be fixed by law.
Sec. 5. [Repealed October 9, 1883; 80 v. 382.]
Sec. 6. The state shall be divided into appellate districts of compact territory bounded by county lines, in each of which there shall be a court of appeals consisting of three judges, and until altered by law the circuits in which the circuit courts are now held shall constitute the appellate districts aforesaid. The judges of the circuit courts now residing in their respective districts shall ​be the judges of the respective courts of appeals in such districts and perform the duties thereof until the expiration of their respective terms of office. Vacancies caused by the expiration of the terms of office of the judges of the courts of appeals shall be filled by the electors of the respective appellate districts in which such vacancies shall arise. Until otherwise provided by law the term of office of such judges shall be six years. Laws may be passed to prescribe the time and mode of such election and to alter the number of districts or the boundaries thereof, but no such change shall abridge the term of any judge then in office. The court of appeals shall hold at least one term annually in each county in the district and such other terms at a county seat in the district as the judges may determine upon, and the county commissioners of any county in which the court of appeals shall hold sessions shall make proper and convenient provisions for the holding of such court by its judges and officers. Each judge shall be competent to exercise judicial powers in any appellate district of the state. The courts of appeals shall continue the work of the respective circuit courts and all pending cases and proceedings in the circuit courts shall proceed to judgment and be determined by the respective courts of appeals, and the supreme court, as now provided by law, and cases brought into said courts of appeals after the taking effect hereof shall be subject to the provisions hereof, and the circuit court shall be merged into, and their work continued by, the courts of appeals. The courts of appeals shall have original jurisdiction in quo warranto, mandamus, habeas corpus, prohibition and procedendo, and appellate jurisdiction in the trial of chancery cases, and, to review, affirm, modify, or reverse the judgments of the courts of common pleas, superior courts and other courts of record within the district as may be provided by law, and judgments of the courts of appeals shall be final in all cases, except cases involving questions arising under the constitution of the United States or of this state, cases of felony, cases of which it has original jurisdiction, and cases of public or great general interest in which the supreme court may direct any court of appeals to certify its record to that court. No judgment of a court of common pleas, a superior court or other court of record shall be reversed except by the concurrence of all the judges of the court of appeals on the weight of the evidence, and by a majority of such court of appeals upon other questions; and whenever the judges of a court of appeals find that a judgment upon which they have agreed is in conflict with a judgment pronounced upon the same question by any other court of appeals of the state, the judges shall certify the record of the case to the supreme court for review and final determination. The decisions in all cases in the supreme court shall be reported, together with the reasons therefor, and laws may be passed providing for the reporting of cases in the courts of appeals. The chief justice of the supreme court of the state shall determine the disability or disqualification of any judge of the courts of appeals and he may assign any judge of the courts of appeals to any county to hold court. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 7. There shall be established in each county, a probate court, which shall be a court of record, open at all times, and holden by one judge, elected by the electors of the county, who shall hold his office for the term of four years, and shall receive such compensation, payable out of the county treasury, as shall be provided by law. Whenever ten per centum of the number of the ​electors voting for governor at the next preceding election in any county having less than sixty thousand population as determined by the next preceding federal census, shall petition the judge of the court of common pleas of any such county not less than ninety days before any general election for county officers, the judge of the court of common pleas shall submit to the electors of such county the question of combining the probate court with the court of common pleas, and such courts shall be combined and shall be known as the court of common pleas in case a majority of the electors voting upon such question vote in favor of such combination. Notice of such election shall be given in the same manner as for the election of county officers. Elections may be had in the same manner for the separation of such courts, when once combined. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 8. The probate court shall have jurisdiction in probate and testamentary matters, the appointment of administrators and guardians, the settlement of the accounts of executors, adminisrators, and guardians, and such jurisdiction in habeas corpus, the issuing of marriage licenses, and for the sale of land by executors, administrators, and guardians, and such other jurisdiction, in any county or counties, as may be provided by law.
Sec. 9. [Repealed September 3, 1912.]
Sec. 10. All judges, other than those provided for in this constitution, shall be elected, by the electors of the judicial district for which they may be created, but not for a longer term of office than five years.
Sec. 11 . [Repealed October 9, 1883; 80 v. 382.]
Sec. 12. The judges of the courts of common pleas shall, while in office, reside in the county for which they are elected; and their term of office shall be for six years. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 13. In case the office of any judge shall become vacant, before the expiration of the regular term for which he was elected, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the governor, until a successor is elected and qualified; and such successor shall be elected for the unexpired term, at the first annual election that occurs more than thirty days after the vacancy shall have happened.
Sec. 14. The judges of the supreme court, and of the court of common pleas, shall at stated times, receive, for their services, such compensation as may be provided by law; which shall not be diminished, or increased, during their term of office; but they shall receive no fees or perquisites, nor hold any other office of profit or trust, under the authority of this state, or of the United States. All votes for either of them, for any elective office, except a judicial office, under the authority of this state, given by the General Assembly, or the people, shall be void.
Sec. 15. Laws may be passed to increase or diminish the number of judges of the supreme court, to increase beyond one or diminish to one the number of judges of the court of common pleas in any county, and to establish other courts, whenever two-thirds of the members elected to each house shall concur therein; but no such change, addition or diminution shall vacate the office of any judge; and any existing court heretofore created by law shall continue in existence until otherwise provided. (Adopted Sept. 3 , 1912.)
Sec. 16. There shall be elected in each county by the electors thereof one clerk of the court of common pleas, who shall hold his office for the term of three years, and until his successor shall be elected and qualified. He shall, ​by virtue of his office, be clerk of all other courts of record held therein; but, the General Assembly may provide, by law, for the election of a clerk, with a like term of office, for each or any other of the courts of record, and may authorize the judge of the probate court to perform the duties of clerk for his court, under such regulations as may be directed by law. Clerks of courts shall be removable for such cause and in such manner as shall be prescribed by law.
Sec. 17. Judges may be removed from office, by concurrent resolutions of both houses of the General Assembly, if two-thirds of the members, elected to each house, concur therein; but no such removal shall be made, except upon complaint, the substance of which shall be entered on the journal, nor, until the party charged shall have had notice thereof, and an opportunity to be heard.
Sec. 18. The several judges of the supreme court, of the common pleas, and of such other courts as may be created, shall, respectively, have and exercise such power and jurisdiction, at chambers, or otherwise, as may be directed by law.
Sec. 19. The General Assembly may establish courts of conciliation, and prescribe their powers and duties; but such courts shall not render final judgment in any case, except upon submission, by the parties, of the matter in dispute, and their agreement to abide such judgment.
Sec. 20. The style of all process shall be "The State of Ohio;" all prosecutions shall be carried on, in the name, and by the authority, of the State of Ohio; and all indictments shall conclude, "against the peace and dignity of the State of Ohio."
Sec. 22. (21) A commission, which shall consist of five members, shall be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, the members of which shall hold office for the term of three years from and after the first day of February, 1876, to dispose of such part of the business then on the dockets of the supreme court, as shall, by arrangement between said commission and said court, be transferred to such commission; and said commission shall have like jurisdiction and power in respect to such business as are or may be vested in said court; and the members of said commission shall receive a like compensation for the time being with the judges of said court. A majority of the members of said commission shall be necessary to form a quorum or pronounce a decision, and its decision shall be certified, entered, and enforced as the judgments of the supreme court, and at the expiration of the term of said commission, all business undisposed of, shall by it be certified to the supreme court and disposed of as if said commission had never existed. The clerk and reporter of said court shall be the clerk and reporter of said commission, and the commission shall have such other attendants not exceeding in number those provided by law for said court, which attendants said commission may appoint and remove at its pleasure. Any vacancy occurring in said commission, shall be filled by appointment of the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, if the senate be in session, and if the senate be not in session, by the governor, but in such last case, such appointment shall expire at the end of the next session of the General Assembly. The General Assembly may, on application of the supreme court duly entered on the journal of the court and certified, provide by law, whenever two-thirds of such [each] house shall concur therein, from time to time, for the appointment, in like manner, of ​a like commission with like powers, jurisdiction and duties; provided, that the term of any such commission shall not exceed two years, nor shall it be created oftener than once in ten years. [As adopted October 12, 1875; 72 v. 269.]
Article V.
Elective Franchise.
Sec. 1. Every white male citizen of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years, who shall have been a resident of the state one year next preceding the election, and of the county, township, or ward, in which he resides, such time as may be provided by law, shall have the qualifications of an elector, and be entitled to vote at all elections.
Sec. 2. All elections shall be by ballot.
Sec. 3. Electors, during their attendance at elections, and in going to, and returning therefrom, shall be privileged from arrest, in all cases, except treason, felony, and breach of the peace.
Sec. 4. The General Assembly shall have power to exclude from the privilege of voting, or of being eligible to office, any person convicted of bribery, perjury, or other infamous crime.
Sec. 5. No person in the military, naval, or marine service of the United States, shall, by being stationed in any garrison, or military, or naval station, within the state, be considered a resident of this state.
Sec. 6. No idiot, or insane person, shall be entitled to the privileges of an elector.
Sec. 7. All nominations for elective state, district, county and municipal offices shall be made at direct primary elections or by petition as provided by law, and provision shall be made by law for a preferential vote for United States senator; but direct primaries shall not be held for the nomination of township officers or for the officers of municipalities of less than two thousand population, unless petitioned for by a majority of the electors of such township or municipality. All delegates from this state to the national convention of political parties shall be chosen by direct vote of the electors. Each candidate for such delegate shall state his first and second choices for the presidency, which preferences shall be printed upon the primary ballot below the name of such candidate, but the name of no candidate for the presidency shall be so used without his written authority. (Adopted Sept. 3 , 1912.)
Article VI.
Education.
Sec. 1. The principal of all funds, arising from the sale, or other disposition of lands, or other property, granted or entrusted to this state for educational and religious purposes, shall forever be preserved inviolate, and undiminished; and, the income arising therefrom, shall be faithfully applied to the specific objects of the original grants, or appropriations.
Sec. 2. The General Assembly shall make such provisions, by taxation, or otherwise, as, with the income arising from the school trust fund, will secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools throughout the state; but no religious or other sect, or sects, shall ever have any exclusive right to, or control of, any part of the school funds of this state.
​Sec. 3. Provision shall be made by law for the organization, administration and control of the public school system of the state supported by public funds: provided, that each school district embraced wholly or in part within any city shall have the power by referendum vote to determine for itself the number of members and the organization of the district board of education, and provision shall be made by law for the exercise of this power by such school districts. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 4. A superintendent of public instruction to replace the state commissioner of common schools, shall be included as one of the officers of the executive department to be appointed by the governor, for the term of four years, with the powers and duties now exercised by the state commissioner of common schools until otherwise provided by law, and with such other powers as may be provided by law. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Article VII.
Public Institutions.
Sec. 1. Institutions for the benefit of the insane, blind, and deaf and dumb, shall always be fostered and supported by the state; and be subject to such regulations as may be prescribed by the General Assembly.
Sec. 2. The directors of the penitentiary shall be appointed or elected in such manner as the General Assembly may direct; and the trustees of the benevolent, and other state institutions, now elected by the General Assembly, and of such other state institutions, as may be hereafter created, shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate; and upon all nominations made by the governor, the question shall be taken by yeas and nays, and entered upon the journals of the senate.
Sec. 3. The governor shall have power to fill all vacancies that may occur in the offices aforesaid, until the next session of the General Assembly, and, until a successor to his appointee shall be confirmed and qualified.
Article VIII.
Public Debt and Public Works.
Sec. 1. The state may contract debts to supply casual deficits or failures in revenues, or to meet expenses not otherwise provided for; but the aggregate amount of such debts, direct and contingent, whether contracted by virtue of one or more acts of the General Assembly, or at different periods of time, shall never exceed seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars; and the money, arising from the creation of such debts, shall be applied to the purpose for which it was obtained, or to repay the debts so contracted, and to no other purpose whatever.
Sec. 2. In addition to the above limited power, the state may contract debts to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, defend the state in war, or to redeem the present outstanding indebtedness of the state; but the money, arising from the contracting of such debts, shall be applied to the purpose for which it was raised, or to repay such debts, and to no other purpose whatever; and all debts, incurred to redeem the present outstanding indebtedness of the state, shall be so contracted as to be payable by the sinking fund, hereinafter provided for, as the same shall accumulate.
​Sec. 3. Except the debts above specified in sections one and two of this article, no debt whatever shall hereafter be created by or on behalf of the state.
Sec. 4. The credit of the state shall not, in any manner be given or loaned to, or in aid of, any individual association or corporation whatever; nor shall the state ever hereafter become a joint owner, or stockholder, in any company or association in this state, or elsewhere, formed for any purpose whatever.
Sec. 5. The state shall never assume the debts of any county, city, town, or township, or of any corporation whatever, unless such debts shall have been created to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, or defend the state in war.
Sec. 6. No laws shall be passed authorizing any county, city, town or township, by vote of its citizens, or otherwise, to become a stockholder in any joint stock company, corporation, or association whatever; or to raise money for, or to loan its credit to, or in aid of, any such company, corporation, or association; provided, that nothing in this section shall prevent the insuring of public buildings or property in mutual insurance associations or companies. Laws may be passed providing for the regulation of all rates charged or to be charged by any insurance company, corporation or association organized under the laws of this state or doing any insurance business in this state for profit. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 7. The faith of the state being pledged for the payment of its public debt, in order to provide therefor, there shall be created a sinking fund, which shall be sufficient to pay the accruing interest on such debt, and, annually, to reduce the principal thereof, by a sum not less than one hundred thousand dollars, increased yearly, and each and every year, by compounding, at the rate of six per cent. per annum. The said sinking fund shall consist, of the net annual income of the public works and stocks owned by the state, or of any other funds or resources that are, or may be, provided by law, and of such further sum, to be raised by taxation, as may be required for the purposes aforesaid.
Sec. 8. The auditor of state, secretary of state, and attorney general, are hereby created a board of commissioners, to be styled, "The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund."
Sec. 9. The commissioners of the sinking fund shall, immediately preceding each regular session of the General Assembly, make an estimate of the probable amount of the fund, provided for in the seventh section of this article, from all sources except from taxation, and report the same, together with all their proceedings relative to said fund and the public debt, to the governor, who shall transmit the same with his regular message, to the General Assembly; and the General Assembly shall make all necessary provision for raising and disbursing said sinking fund, in pursuance of the provisions of this article.
Sec. 10. It shall be the duty of the said commissioners faithfully to apply said fund, together with all moneys that may be, by the General Assembly, appropriated to that object, to the payment of the interest, as it becomes due, and the redemption of the principal of the public debt of the state, excepting only, the school and trust funds held by the state.
Sec. 11. The said commissioners shall, semi-annually, make a full and detailed report of their proceedings to the governor, who shall immediately, cause the same to be published, and shall also communicate the same to the General Assembly, forthwith, if it be in session, and if not, then at its first session after such report shall be made.
​Sec. 12. So long as this state shall have public works which require superintendence, a superintendent of public works shall be appointed by the governor for the term of one year, with the powers and duties now exercised by the board of public works until otherwise provided by law, and with such other powers as may be provided by law. (Adopted Sept. 3 , 1912.)
Sec. 13. (Repealed Sept. 3, 1912.)
Article IX.
Militia.
Sec. 1. All white male citizens, residents of this state, being eighteen years of age, and under the age of forty-five years, shall be enrolled in the militia, and perform military duty, in such manner, not incompatible with the constitution and laws of the United States, as may be prescribed by law.
Sec. 2. Majors general, brigadiers general, colonels, lieutenant colonels, majors, captains, and subalterns, shall be elected by the persons subject to military duty, in their respective districts.
Sec. 3. The governor shall appoint the adjutant general, quartermaster general, and such other staff officers, as may be provided for by law. Majors general, brigadiers general, colonels, or commandants of regiments, battalions, or squadrons, shall, severally, appoint their staff, and captains shall appoint their non-commissioned officers and musicians.
Sec. 4. The governor shall commission all officers of the line and staff, ranking as such; and shall have power to call forth the militia, to execute the laws of the state, to suppress insurrection, and repel invasion.
Sec. 5. The General Assembly shall provide, by law, for the protection and safekeeping of the public arms.
Article X.
County and Township Organizations.
Sec. 1. The General Assembly shall provide, by law, for the election of such county and township officers as may be necessary.
Sec. 2. County officers shall be elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, by the electors of each county in such manner, and for such term, not exceeding three years, as may be provided by law. [As amended October 13, 1885; 82 v . 446.]
Sec. 3. No person shall be eligible to the office of sheriff, or county treasurer, for more than four years, in any period of six years.
Sec. 4. Township officers shall be elected by the electors of each township, at such time, in such manner, and for such term, not exceeding three years, as may be provided by law; but shall hold their offices until their successors are elected and qualified. [As amended October 13, 1885; 82 v. 449.]
Sec. 5. No money shall be drawn from any county or township treasury, except by authority of law.
Sec. 6. Justices of the peace, and county and township officers, may be removed, in such manner and for such cause, as shall be prescribed by law.
Sec. 7. The commissioners of counties, the trustees of townships, and similar boards, shall have such power of local taxation, for police purposes, as may be prescribed by law.
Article XI.
Apportionment.
Sec. 1. The apportionment of this state for members of the General Assembly shall be made every ten years, after the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, in the following manner: The whole population of the state, as ascertained by the federal census, or in such other mode as the General Assembly may direct, shall be divided by the number "one hundred," and the quotient shall be the ratio of representation in the house of representatives, for ten years next succeeding such apportionment.
Sec. 2. Every county having a population equal to one-half of said ratio, shall be entitled to one representative; every county, containing said ratio, and three-fourths over, shall be entitled to two representatives; every county containing three times said ratio, shall be entitled to three representatives; and so on, requiring after the first two, an entire ratio for each additional representative. Provided, however, that each county shall have one representative. [As amended November 3, 1913.]
Sec. 3. When any county shall have a fraction above the ratio, so large, that being multiplied by five, the result will be equal to one or more ratios, additional representatives shall be apportioned for such ratios, among the several sessions of the decennial period, in the following manner: If there be only one ratio, a representative shall be allotted to the fifth session of the decennial period; if there are two ratios, a representative shall be allotted to the fourth and third sessions, respectively; if three, to the third, second, and first sessions, respectively; if four, to the fourth, third, second, and first sessions respectively.
Sec. 4. Any county, forming with another county or counties, a representative district, during one decennial period, if it have acquired sufficient population at the next decennial period, shall be entitled to a separate representation, if there shall be left, in the district from which it shall have been separated, a population sufficient for a representative; but no such change shall be made, except at the regular decennial period for the apportionment of representatives.
Sec. 5. If, in fixing any subsequent ratio, a county, previously entitled to separate representation, shall have less than the number required by the new ratio for a representative, such county shall be attached to the county adjoining it, having the least number of inhabitants; and the representation of the district, so formed, shall be determined as herein provided.
Sec. 6. The ratio for a senator shall forever, hereafter, be ascertained by dividing the whole population of the state by the number thirty-five.
Sec. 7. The state is hereby divided into thirty-three senatorial districts, as follows: The county of Hamilton shall constitute the first senatorial district; the counties of Butler and Warren, the second; Montgomery and Preble, the third; Clermont and Brown, the fourth; Green, Clinton, and Fayette, the fifth; Ross, and Highland, the sixth; Adams, Pike, Scioto, and Jackson, the seventh; Lawrence, Gallia, Meigs, and Vinton, the eighth; Athens, Hocking, and Fairfield, the ninth; Franklin and Pickaway, the tenth; Clark, Champaign, and Madison, the eleventh; Miami, Darke, and Shelby, the twelfth; Logan, Union, Marion, and Hardin, the thirteenth; Washington and Morgan, the fourteenth; Muskingum, and Perry, the fifteenth; Delaware and Licking, the sixteenth; Knox and ​Morrow, the seventeenth; Coshocton, and Tuscarawas, the eighteenth; Guernsey, and Monroe, the nineteenth; Belmont, and Harrison, the twentieth; Carroll and Stark, the twenty-first; Jefferson and Columbiana, the twenty-second; Trumbull and Mahoning, the twenty-third; Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga, the twenty-fourth; Cuyahoga, the twenty-fifth; Portage and Summit, the twenty-sixth; Medina and Lorain, the twenty-seventh; Wayne and Holmes, the twenty-eighth; Ashland and Richland, the twenty-ninth; Huron, Erie, Sandusky and Ottawa, the thirtieth; Seneca, Crawford and Wyandot, the thirty-first; Mercer, Auglaize, Allen, Van Wert, Paulding, Defiance and Williams, the twenty-second; and Hancock, Wood, Lucas, Fulton, Henry and Putnam, the thirty-third. For the first decennial period, after the adoption of this constitution, each of said districts shall be entitled to one senator, except the first district, which shall be entitled to three senators.
Sec. 8. The same rules shall be applied, in apportioning the fractions of senatorial districts, and in annexing districts, which may hereafter have less than three-fourths of a senatorial ratio, as are applied to representative districts.
Sec. 9. Any county forming part of a senatorial district, having acquired a population equal to a full senatorial ratio, shall be made a separate senatorial district, at any regular decennial apportionment, if a full senatorial ratio shall be left in the district from which it shall be taken.
Sec. 10. For the first ten years, after the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, the apportionment of representatives shall be as provided in the schedule, and no change shall ever be made in the principles of representation, as herein established, or, in the senatorial districts, except as above provided. All territory, belonging to a county at the time of any apportionment, shall, as to the right of representation and suffrage, remain an integral part thereof, during the decennial period.
Sec. 11. The governor, auditor, and secretary of state, or any two of them, shall at least six months prior to the October election, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and, at each decennial period thereafter, ascertain and determine the ratio of representation, according to the decennial census, the number of representatives and senators each county or district shall be entitled to elect, and for what years, within the next ensuing ten years, and the governor shall cause the same to be published, in such manner as shall be directed by law.
Judicial Apportionment.
Sec. 12. For judicial purposes, the state shall be apportioned as follows:
The county of Hamilton shall constitute the first district, which shall not be subdivided; and the judges therein, may hold separate courts or separate sittings of the same court, at the same time.
The counties of Butler, Preble and Darke shall constitute the first subdivision; Montgomery, Miami and Champaign, the second; and Warren, Clinton, Greene and Clark, the third subdivision, of the second district; and, together, shall form such district.
The counties of Shelby, Auglaize, Allen, Hardin, Logan, Union, and Marion, shall constitute the first subdivision; Mercer, Van Wert, Putnam, Paulding, Defiance, William, Henry, and Fulton, the second; and Wood, Seneca, Hancock, Wyandot, and Crawford, the third subdivision of the third district; and, together, shall form such district.
​The counties of Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Erie and Huron, shall constitute the first subdivision; Lorain, Medina and Summit, the second; and the county of Cuyahoga, the third subdivision, of the fourth district; and, together, shall form such district.
The counties of Clermont, Brown and Adams, shall constitute the first subdivision; Highland, Ross and Fayette, the second; and Pickaway, Franklin and Madison, the third subdivision, of the fifth district; and, together, shall form such district.
The counties of Licking, Knox, and Delaware, shall constitute the first subdivision; Morrow, Richland, and Ashland, the second; and Wayne, Holmes, and Coshocton, the third subdivision, of the sixth district; and, together, shall form such district.
The counties of Fairfield, Perry, and Hocking, shall constitute the first subdivision; Jackson, Vinton, Pike, Scioto, and Lawrence, the second; and Gallia, Meigs, Athens, and Washington, the third subdivision of the seventh district; and, together, shall form such district.
The counties of Muskingum, and Morgan, shall constitute the first subdivision; Guernsey, Belmont, and Monroe, the second; and Jefferson, Harrison, and Tuscarawas, the third subdivision, of the eighth district; and, together, shall form such district.
The counties of Stark, Carroll, and Columbiana, shall constitute the first subdivision; Trumbull, Portage, and Mahoning, the second; and Geauga, Lake, and Ashtabula, the third subdivision, of the ninth district; and, together, shall form such district.
Sec. 13. The General Assembly shall attach any new counties, that may hereafter be erected, to such districts, or subdivisions thereof, as shall be most convenient.
Article XII.
Finance and Taxation.
Sec. 1. No poll tax shall ever be levied in this state, or service required, which may be commuted in money or other thing of value. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 2. Laws shall be passed, taxing by a uniform rule, all moneys, credits, investments in bonds, stocks, joint stock companies, or otherwise; and also all real and personal property according to its true value in money, excepting all bonds at present outstanding of the state of Ohio or of any city, village, hamlet, county, or township in this state or which have been issued in behalf of the public schools in Ohio and the means of instruction in connection therewith, which bonds so at present outstanding shall be exempt from taxation; but burying grounds, public school houses, houses used exclusively for public worship, institutions used exclusively for charitable purposes, public property used exclusively for any public purpose, and personal property, to an amount not exceeding in value five hundred dollars, for each individual, may, by general laws, be exempted from taxation; but all such laws shall be subject to alteration or repeal; and the value of all property, so exempted, shall, from time to time, be ascertained and published as may be directed by law. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 3. The General Assembly shall provide, by law, for taxing the notes and bills discounted or purchased, moneys loaned, and all other property, effects, ​or dues, of every description, (without deduction), of all banks now existing, or hereafter created, and of all bankers, so that all property employed in banking, shall always bear a burden of taxation, equal to that imposed on the property of individuals.
Sec. 4. The General Assembly shall provide for raising revenue, sufficient to defray the expenses of the state, for each year, and also a sufficient sum to pay the interest on the state debt.
Sec. 5. No tax shall be levied, except in pursuance of law; and every law imposing a tax, shall state, distinctly, the object of the same, to which only, it shall be applied.
Sec. 6. Except as otherwise provided in this constitution the state shall never contract any debt for purposes of internal improvement. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 7. Laws may be passed providing for the taxation of the right to receive, or to succeed to, estates, and such taxation may be uniform or it may be so graduated as to tax at a higher rate the right to receive, or to succeed to, estates of larger value than to estates of smaller value. Such tax may also be levied at different rates upon collateral and direct inheritances, and a portion of each estate not exceeding twenty thousand dollars may be exempt from such taxation. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 8. Laws may be passed providing for the taxation of incomes, and such taxation may be either uniform or graduated, and may be applied to such incomes as may be designated by law; but a part of each annual income not exceeding three thousand dollars may be exempt from such taxation. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 9. Not less than fifty per centum of the income and inheritance taxes that may be collected by the state shall be returned to the city, village or township in which said income and inheritance tax originate. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 10. Laws may be passed providing for exercise and franchise taxes and for the imposition of taxes upon the production of coal, oil, gas and other minerals. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 11. No bonded indebtedness of the state, or any political subdivisions thereof, shall be incurred or renewed, unless, in the legislation under which such indebtedness is incurred or renewed, provision is made for levying and collecting annually by taxation an amount sufficient to pay the interest on said bonds, and to provide a sinking fund for their final redemption at maturity. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Article XIII.
Corporations.
Sec. 1. The General Aseembly shall pass no special act conferring corporate powers.
Sec. 2. Corporations may be formed under general laws; but all such laws may, from time to time, be altered or repealed. Corporations may be classified and there may be conferred upon proper boards, commissions or officers, such supervisory and regulatory powers over their organization, business and issue and sale of stocks and securities, and over the business and sale of the stocks and securities of foreign corporations and joint stock companies in this state, as may be prescribed by law. Laws may be passed regulating the sale and conveyance of ​other personal property, whether owned by a corporation, joint stock company or individual. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 3. Dues from private corporations shall be secured by such means as may be prescribed by law, but in no case shall any stockholder be individually liable otherwise than for the unpaid stock owned by him or her; except that stockholders of corporations authorized to receive money on deposit shall be held individually responsible, equally and ratably, and not one for another, for all contracts, debts, and engagements of such corporations, to the extent of the amount of their stock therein, at the par value thereof, in addition to the amount invested in such shares. No corporation not organized under the laws of this state, or of the United States, or person, partnership or association shall use the word "bank," "banker" or "banking," or words of similar meaning in any foreign language, as a designation or name under which business may be conducted in this state unless such corporation, person, partnership or association shall submit to inspection, examination and regulation as may hereafter be provided by the laws of this state. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 4. The property of corporations, now existing or hereafter created, shall forever be subject to taxation, the same as the property of individuals.
Sec. 5. No right of way shall be appropriated to the use of any corporation, until full compensation therefor be first made in money, or first secured by a deposit of money, to the owner, irrespective of any benefit from any improvement proposed by such corporation; which compensation shall be ascertained by a jury of twelve men, in a court of record, as shall be prescribed by law.
Sec. 6. The General Assembly shall provide for the organization of cities, and incorporated villages, by general laws, and restrict their power of taxation, assessment, borrowing money, contracting debts and loaning their credit, so as to prevent the abuse of such power.
Sec. 7. No act of the General Assembly, authorizing associations with banking powers, shall take effect until it shall be submitted to the people, at the general election next succeeding the passage thereof, and be approved by a majority of all the electors, voting at such election.
Article XIV.
Jurisprudence.
Sec. 1. The General Assembly, at its first session after the adoption of this constitution, shall provide for the appointment of three commissioners, and prescribe their tenure of office, compensation, and the mode of filling vacancies in said commission.
Sec. 2. The said commissioners shall revise, reform, simplify, and abridge the practice, pleadings, forms, and proceedings of the courts of record of this state; and, as far as practicable and expedient, shall provide for the abolition of the distinct forms of action at law, now in use, and for the administration of justice by a uniform mode of proceeding without reference to any distinction between law and equity.
Sec. 3. The proceedings of the commissioners shall, from time to time, be reported to the General Assembly, and be subject to the action of that body.
Article XV.
Miscellaneous.
Sec. 1. Columbus shall be the seat of government, until otherwise directed by law.
Sec. 2. The printing of the laws, journals, bills, legislative documents and papers for each branch of the general assembly, with the printing required for the executive and other departments of state, shall be let, on contract, to the lowest responsible bidder, or done directly by the state in such manner as shall be prescribed by law. All stationery and supplies shall be purchased as may be provided by law. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 3. An accurate and detailed statement of the receipts and expenditures of the public money, the several amounts paid, to whom, and on what account, shall, from time to time, be published, as shall be prescribed by law.
Sec. 4. No person shall be elected or appointed to any office in this state unless possessed of the qualifications of an elector; provided that women who are citizens may be appointed as members of boards of, or to positions in, those departments and institutions established by the state or any political subdivision thereof involving the interests or care of women or children or both. (Adopted Nov. 4, 1913, 103 v. 992.)
Sec. 5. No person who shall hereafter fight a duel, assist in the same as second, or send, accept, or knowingly carry, a challenge therefor, shall hold any office in this state.
Sec. 6. Lotteries, and the sale of lottery tickets, for any purpose whatever, shall forever be prohibited in this state.
Sec. 7. Every person chosen or appointed to any office under this state, before entering upon the discharge of its duties, shall take an oath or affirmation, to support the Constitution of the United States, and of this state, and also an oath of office.
Sec. 8. There may be established, in the secretary of state's office, a bureau of statistics, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law.
Sec. 9. License to traffic in intoxicating liquors shall be granted in this state, and license laws operative throughout the state shall be passed with such restrictions and regulations as may be provided by law, and municipal corporations shall be authorized by general laws to provide for the limitation of the number of saloons. Laws shall not be passed authorizing more than one saloon in each township or municipality of less than five hundred population, or more than one saloon for each five hundred population in other townships and municipalities. Where the traffic is or may be prohibited under laws applying to counties, municipalities, townships, residence districts, or other districts now prescribed by law, the traffic shall not be licensed in any such local subdivision while any prohibitory law is operative therein, and nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to repeal, modify or suspend any such prohibitory laws, or any regulatory laws now in force or hereafter enacted, or to prevent the future enactment, modification or repeal of any prohibitory or regulatory laws. License to traffic in intoxicating liquors shall not be granted to any person who at the time of making application therefor is not a citizen of the United States and of good moral character. License shall not be granted to any applicant who is in any way interested in the business conducted at any other place where intoxicating liquors are sold or kept for sale ​as a beverage nor shall such license be granted unless the applicant or applicants are the only persons in any way pecuniarily interested in the business for which the license is sought and no other person shall be in any way interested therein during the continuance of the license; if such interest of such person shall appear, the license shall be deemed revoked. If any licensee is more than once convicted for a violation of the laws in force to regulate the traffic in intoxicating liquors, his license shall be deemed revoked, and no license shall thereafter be granted to him. License to traffic in intoxicating liquors shall not be granted unless the place of traffic under such license shall be located in the county in which the person or persons reside whose duty it is to grant such license, or in a county adjoining thereto. The word "saloon" as used in this section is defined to be a place where intoxicating liquors are sold, or kept for sale, as a beverage in quantities less than one gallon. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 9a. No law shall be passed or be in effect prohibiting the sale, furnishing or giving away of intoxcating liquors operative in a subdivision of the state upon the option of the electors thereof, or upon any other contingency, which has force within a territory larger than a municipal corporation or a township outside of municipal corporations therein. All laws in contravention of the foregoing are hereby repealed.
Nor shall any law hereafter be passed prohibiting the sale, furnishing or giving away of intoxicating liquors throughout the state at large. (Adopted Nov. 3, 1914.)
Sec. 10. Appointments and promotions in the civil service of the state, the several counties, and cities, shall be made according to merit and fitness, to be ascertained, as far as practicable, by competitive examinations. Laws shall be passed providing for the enforcement of this provision. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Article XVI.
Amendments.
Sec. 1. Either branch of the general assembly may propose amendments to this constitution; and, if the same shall be agreed to by three-fifths of the members elected to each house, such proposed amendments shall be entered on the journals, with the yeas and nays, and shall be submitted to the electors, for their approval or rejection, on a separate ballot without party designation of any kind, at either a special or a general election as the general assembly may prescribe. Such proposed amendments shall be published once a week for five consecutive weeks preceding such election, in at least one newspaper in each county of the state, where a newspaper is published. If the majority of the electors voting on the same shall adopt such amendments the same shall become a part of the constitution. When more than one amendment shall be submitted at the same time, they shall be so submitted as to enable the electors to vote on each amendment, separately. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 2. Whenever two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the general assembly shall think it necessary to call a convention, to revise, amend, or change this constitution, they shall recommend to the electors to vote on a separate ballot without party designation of any kind at the next election for members to the general assembly, for or against a convention; and if a majority of all the electors, voting for and against the calling of a convention, shall have voted ​for a convention, the general assembly shall, at their next session, provide, by law, for calling the same. Candidates for members of the constitutional convention shall be nominated by nominating petitions only and shall be voted for upon one independent and separate ballot without any emblem or party designation whatever. The convention shall consist of as many members as the house of representatives, who shall be chosen as provided by law, and shall meet within three months after their election, for the purpose, aforesaid. (Adopted, Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 3. At the general election to be held in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty-two, and in each twentieth year thereafter, the question: "Shall there be a convention to revise, alter, or amend the constitution," shall be submitted to the electors of the state; and in case a majority of the electors, voting for and against the calling of a convention, shall decide in favor of a convention, the general assembly, at its next session, shall provide, by law, for the election of delegates, and the assembling of such convention, as is provided in the preceding section; but no amendment of this constitution, agreed upon by any convention assembled in pursuance of this article, shall take effect, until the same shall have been submitted to the electors of the state, and adopted by a majority of those voting thereon. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Article XVII.
Sec. 1. Elections for state and county officers shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the even numbered years; and all elections for all other elective officers shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the odd numbered years.
Sec. 2. The term of office of the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer of state shalt be two years, and that of the auditor of state shall be four years. The term of office of the judges of the supreme court and circuit courts shall be such even number of years not less than six (6) years as may be prescribed by the General Assembly; that of the judges of the common pleas court six (6) years, and of the judges of the probate court, four (4) years, and that of other judges shall be such even number of years, not exceeding six (6) years as may be prescribed by the General Assembly. The term of office of justices of the peace, shall be such even number of years not exceeding four (4) years as may be prescribed by the General Assembly. The term of office of the members of the board of public works shall be such even number of years not exceeding six (6) years as may be so prescribed; and the term of office of all elective county, township, municipal and school officers shall be such even number of years not exceeding four (4) years as may be so prescribed.
And the General Assembly shall have power to so extend existing terms of office as to effect the purpose of section 1 of this article.
Any vacancy which shall occur in any elective state office other than that of a member of the General Assembly or of governor, shall be filled by appointment by the governor until the disability is removed or a successor elected and qualified. Every such vacancy shall be filled by election at the first general election for the office which is vacant, that occurs more than thirty (30) days after the vacancy shall have occurred. The person elected shall fill the office ​for the unexpired term. All vacancies in other elective offices shall be filled for the unexpired term in such manner as may be prescribed by law.
Sec. 3. Every elective officer holding office when this amendment is adopted shall continue to hold such office for the full term for which he was elected and until his successor shall be elected and qualified, as provided by law. [As adopted November 7, 1905.]
Article XVIII.
Municipal Corporations.
Sec. 1. Municipal corporations are hereby classified into cities and villages. All such corporations having a population of five thousand or over shall be cities; all others shall be villages. The method of transition from one class to the other shall be regulated by law. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 2. General laws shall be passed to provide for the incorporation and government of cities and villages; and additional laws may also be passed for the government of municipalities adopting the same; but no such additional law shall become operative in any municipality until it shall have been submitted to the electors thereof, and affirmed by a majority of those voting thereon, under regulations to be established by law. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 3. Municipalities shall have authority to exercise all powers of local self-government and to adopt and enforce within their limits such local police, sanitary and other similar regulations, as are not in conflict with general laws. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 4. Any municipality may acquire, construct, own, lease and operate within or without its corporate limits, any public utility the product or service of which is or is to be supplied to the municipality or its inhabitants, and may contract with others for any such product or service. The acquisition of any such public utility may be by condemnation or otherwise, and a municipality may acquire thereby the use of, or full title to, the property and franchise of any company or person supplying to the municipality or its inhabitants the service or product of any such utility. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 5. Any municipality proceeding to acquire, construct, own, lease or operate a public utility, or to contract with any person or company therefor, shall act by ordinance and no such ordinance shall take effect until after thirty days from its passage. If within said thirty days a petition signed by ten per centum of the electors of the municipality shall be filed with the executive authority thereof demanding a referendum on such ordinance it shall not take effect until submitted to the electors and approved by a majority of those voting thereon. The submission of any such question shall be governed by all the provisions of section 8 of this article as to the submission of the question of choosing a charter commission. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 6. Any municipality, owning or operating a public utility for the purpose of supplying the service or product thereof to the municipality or its inhabitants, may also sell and deliver to others any transportation service of such utility and the surplus product of any other utility in an amount not exceeding in either case fifty per centum of the total service or product supplied by such utility within the municipality. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
​Sec. 7. Any municipality may frame and adopt or amend a charter for its government and may, subject to the provisions of section 3 of this article, exercise thereunder all powers of local self-government. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 8. The legislative authority of any city or village may by a two-thirds vote of its members, and upon petition of ten per centum of the electors shall forthwith, provide by ordinance for the submission to the electors, of the question, "Shall a commission be chosen to frame a charter." The ordinance providing for the submission of such question shall require that it be submitted to the electors at the next regular municipal election if one shall occur not less than sixty nor more than one hundred and twenty days after its passage; otherwise it shall provide for the submission of the question at a special election to be called and held within the time aforesaid. The ballot containing such question shall bear no party designation, and provision shall be made thereon for the election from the municipality at large of fifteen electors who shall constitute a commission to frame a charter; provided that a majority of the electors voting on such question shall have voted in the affirmative. Any charter so framed shall be submitted to the electors of the municipality at an election to be held at a time fixed by the charter commission and within one year from the date of its election, provision for which shall be made by the legislative authority of the municipality in so far as not prescribed by general law. Not less than thirty days prior to such election the clerk of the municipality shall mail a copy of the proposed charter to each elector whose name appears upon the poll or registration books of the last regular or general election held therein. If such proposed charter is approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon it shall become the charter of such municipality at the time fixed therein. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 9. Amendments to any charter framed and adopted as herein provided may be submitted to the electors of a municipality by a two-thirds vote of the legislative authority thereof, and, upon petitions signed by ten per centum of the electors of the municipality setting forth any such proposed amendment, shall be submitted by such legislative authority. The submission of proposed amendments to the electors shall be governed by the requirements of section 8 as to the submission of the question of choosing a charter commission; and copies of proposed amendments shall be mailed to the electors as hereinbefore provided for copies of a proposed charter. If any such amendment is approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, it shall become a part of the charter of the municipality. A copy of said charter or any amendment thereto shall be certified to the secretary of state within thirty days after adoption by a referendum vote. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 10. A municipality appropriating or otherwise acquiring property for public use may in furtherance of such public use appropriate or acquire an excess over that actually to be occupied by the improvement, and may sell such excess with such restrictions as shall be appropriate to preserve the improvement made. Bonds may be issued to supply the funds in whole or in part to pay for the excess property so appropriated or otherwise acquired, but said bonds shall be a lien only against the property so acquired for the improvement and excess, and they shall not be a liability of the municipality nor be included in any limitation of the bonded indebtedness of such municipality prescribed by law. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
​Sec. 11. Any municipality appropriating private property for a public improvement may provide money therefore in part by assessments upon benefited property not in excess of the special benefits conferred upon such property by the improvements. Said assessments, however, upon all the abutting, adjacent, and other property in the district benefited shall in no case be levied for more than fifty per centum of the cost of such appropriation. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 12. Any municipality which acquires, constructs or extends any public utility and desires to raise money for such purposes may issue mortgage bonds therefor beyond the general limit of bonded indebtedness prescribed by law; provided that such mortgage bonds issued beyond the general limit of bonded indebtedness prescribed by law shall not impose any liability upon such municipality but shall be secured only upon the property and revenues of such public utility, including a franchise stating the terms upon which, in case of foreclosure, the purchaser may operate the same, which franchise shall in no case extend for a longer period than twenty years from the date of the sale of such utility and franchise on foreclosure. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 13. Laws may be passed to limit the power of municipalities to levy taxes and incur debts for local purposes, and may require reports from municipalities as to their financial condition and transactions, in such form as may be provided by law, and may provide for the examination of the vouchers, books and accounts of all municipal authorities, or of public undertakings conducted by such authorities. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Sec. 14. All elections and submissions of questions provided for in this article shall be conducted by the election authorities prescribed by general law. The percentage of electors required to sign any petition provided for herein shall be based upon the total vote cast at the last preceding general municipal election. (Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.)
Schedule to Constitution of 1851.
Sec. 1. All laws of this state, in force on the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, not inconsistent with this constitution, shall continue in force, until amended, or repealed.
Sec. 2. The first election for members of the General Assembly, under this constitution, shall be held on the second Tuesday of October, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
Sec. 3. The first election for governor, lieutenant governor, auditor, treasurer, and secretary of state and attorney general, shall be held on the second Tuesday of October, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one. The persons, holding said offices on the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, shall continue therein, until the second Monday of January, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
Sec. 4. The first election for judges of the supreme court, courts of common pleas, and probate courts, and clerks of the court of common pleas, shall be held on the second Tuesday of October, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, and the official term of said judges and clerks, so elected, shall commence on the second Monday of February, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. Judges and clerks of the courts of common pleas and supreme court, ​in office on the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, shall continue in office with their present powers and duties, until the second Monday of February, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. No suit or proceeding pending in any of the courts of this state, shall be affected by the adoption of this constitution.
Sec. 5. The register and receiver of the land office, directors of the penitentiary, directors of the benevolent institutions of the state, the state librarian, and all other officers, not otherwise provided for in this constitution, in office on the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, shall continue in office until their terms expire, respectively, unless the General Assembly shall otherwise provide.
Sec. 6. The superior and commercial courts of Cincinnati, and the superior court of Cleveland, shall remain, until otherwise provided by law, with their present powers and jurisdiction; and the judges and clerks of said courts, in office on the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one shall continue in office, until the expiration of their terms of office, respectively, or, until otherwise provided by law; but neither of said courts shall continue after the second Monday of February, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three; and no suits shall be commenced in said two first mentioned courts, after the second Monday in February, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two; nor in said last mentioned court, after the second Monday in August, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two; and all business in either of said courts, not disposed of within the time limited for their continuance as aforesaid, shall be transferred to the court of common pleas.
Sec. 7. All county and township officers and justices of the peace, in office on the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, shall continue in office until their terms expire, respectively.
Sec. 8. Vacancies in office, occurring after the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, shall be filled, as is now prescribed by law, and until officers are elected or appointed, and qualified, under this constitution.
Sec. 9. This constitution shall take effect on the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
Sec. 10. All officers shall continue in office, until their successors shall be chosen and qualified.
Sec. 11. Suits pending in the supreme court in bank, shall be transferred to the supreme court provided for in this constitution, and be proceeded in according to law.
Sec. 12. The district courts shall, in their respective counties, be the successors of the present supreme court; and all suits, prosecutions, judgments, records, and proceedings, pending and remaining in said supreme court, in the several counties of any district, shall be transferred to the respective district courts of such counties, and be proceeded in, as though no change had been made in said supreme court.
Sec. 13. The said courts of common pleas, shall be the successors of the present courts of common pleas in the several counties, except as to probate jurisdiction; and all suits, prosecutions, proceedings, records and judgments, pending or being in said last mentioned courts, except as aforesaid, shall be transferred ​to the courts of common pleas created by this constitution, and proceeded in, as though the same had been therein instituted.
Sec. 14. The probate courts provided for in this constitution, as to all matters within the jurisdiction conferred upon said courts, shall be the successors, in the several counties, of the present courts of common pleas; and the records, files and papers, business and proceedings, appertaining to said jurisdiction, shall be transferred to said courts of probate, and be there proceeded in, according to law.
Sec. 15. Until otherwise provided by law, elections for judges and clerks shall be held, and the poll-books returned, as is provided for governor, and the abstract therefrom, certified to the secretary of state, shall be by him opened, in the presence of the governor, who shall declare the result, and issue commissions to the persons elected.
Sec. 16. Where two or more counties are joined in a senatorial, representative, or judicial district, the returns of election shall be sent to the county having the largest population.
Sec. 17. The foregoing constitution shall be submitted to the electors of the state, at an election to be held on the third Tuesday of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, in the several election districts of this state. The ballots at such election shall be written or printed as follows: Those in favor of the constitution, "New constitution, Yes;" those against the constitution, "New constitution, No." The polls at said election shall be opened between the hours of eight and ten o'clock A. M., and closed at six o'clock P. M.; and the said election shall be conducted, and the returns thereof made and certified, to the secretary of state, as provided by law for annual elections of state and county officers. Within twenty days after such election, the secretary of state shall open the returns thereof, in the presence of the governor; and, if it shall appear that a majority of all the votes, cast at such election, are in favor of the constitution, the governor shall issue his proclamation, stating that fact, and said constitution shall be the constitution of the state of Ohio, and not otherwise.
Sec. 18. At the time when the votes of the electors shall be taken for the adoption or rejection of this constitution, the additional section, in the words following, to-wit: "No license to traffic in intoxicating liquors shall hereafter be granted in this state; but the General Assembly may, by law, provide against evils resulting therefrom," shall be separately submitted to the electors for adoption or rejection, in form following, to-wit: A separate ballot may be given by every elector and deposited in a separate box. Upon the ballots given for said separate amendment shall be written or printed, or partly written and partly printed, the words: "License to sell intoxicating liquors, Yes;" and upon the ballots giyen against said amendment, in like manner, the words: "License to sell intoxicating liquors, No." If, at the said election, a majority of all the votes given for and against said amendment, shall contain the words: "License to sell intoxicating liquors, No," then the said amendment shall be a separate section of article fifteen of the constitution.
Sec. 19. The apportionment for the house of representatives, during the first decennial period under this constitution, shall be as follows:
The counties of Adams, Allen, Athens, Auglaize, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Crawford, Darke, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Gallia, Geauga, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Lake, Lawrence, Logan, Madison, Marion, ​Meigs, Morrow, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Sandusky, Scioto, Shelby, and Union, shall, severally, be entitled to one representative, in each session of the decennial period.
The counties of Franklin, Licking, Montgomery, and Stark, shall each be entitled to two representatives, in each session of the decennial period. The counties of Ashland, Coshocton, Highland, Huron, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Miami, Portage, Seneca, Summit, and Warren, shall, severally, be entitled to one representative, in each session and one additional representative in the fifth session of the decennial period.
The counties of Ashtabula, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Fairfield, Guernsey, Jefferson, Knox, Monroe, Morgan, Richland, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, and Washington shall, severally, be entitled to one representative, in each session; and two additional representatives, one in the third, and one in the fourth session of the decennial period.
The counties of Belmont, Columbiana, Ross and Wayne, shall, severally, be entitled to one representative, in each session; and three additional representatives, one in the first, one in the second, and one in the third session of the decennial period.
The county of Muskingum shall be entitled to two representatives, in each session; and one additional representative, in the fifth session, of the decennial period.
The county of Cuyahoga shall be entitled to two representatives, in each session; and two additional representatives, one in the third, and one in the fourth session of the decennial period.
The county of Hamilton shall be entitled to seven representatives, in each session; and four additional representatives, one in the first, one in the second, one in the third, and one in the fourth session, of the decennial period.
The following counties, until they shall have acquired a sufficient population to entitle them to elect, separately, under the fourth section of the eleventh article, shall form districts in manner following, to-wit: The counties of Jackson and Vinton, one district; the counties of Lucas and Fulton, one district; the counties of Wyandot and Hardin, one district; the counties of Mercer and Van Wert, one district; the counties of Paulding, Defiance, and Williams, one district; the counties of Putnam and Henry, one district; and the counties of Wood and Ottawa, one district; each of which districts shall be entitled to one representative, in every session of the decennial period.
Done in convention at Cincinnati, the tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, and of the independence of the United States, the seventy-fifth.
Schedule Adopted September 3, 1912.
The several amendments passed and submitted by this convention when adopted at the election shall take effect on the first day of January, 1913, except as otherwise specifically provided by the schedule attached to any of said amendments. All laws then in force, not inconsistent therewith shall continue in force until amended or repealed; provided that all cases pending in the courts on the first day of January, 1913, shall be heard and tried in the same manner and by the same procedure as is now authorized by law. Any provision of the amend​ments passed and submitted by this convention and adopted by the electors, inconsistent with, or in conflict with, any provision of the present constitution, shall be held to prevail.
Schedule to Article IV.
Sections 3, 7, 12 and 15, Adopted Sept. 3, 1912.
If the foregoing amendment shall be adopted by the electors, the judges of the courts of common pleas in office, or elected thereto prior to January first, 1913, shall hold their offices for the term for which they were elected and the additional judges provided for herein, shall be elected at the general election in the year 1914; each county shall continue as a part of its existing common pleas district and sub-division thereof, until one resident judge of the court of common pleas is elected and qualified therein.