Opinion ID: 2087707
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Equal Burden Clause

Text: The Rhode Island Constitution provides in article 1, section 2, that the burdens of the state ought to be fairly distributed among its citizens. The plaintiffs have contended that this provision is violated by the legislation in question. This argument must be rejected because the Equal Burden Clause adds nothing to the requirements of the Equal Protection Clause. This section is advisory and not mandatory. It is addressed to the General Assembly for the purpose of advice and does not clothe the courts with the power of enforcing restraint on the lawmaking power. See, e.g., Opinion to the Governor, 88 R.I. 202, 145 A.2d 87 (1958) (art. 1, sec. 2, is advisory and is not a constitutional restraint upon legislative power of the General Assembly); Crafts v. Ray, 22 R.I. 179, 46 A. 1043 (1900) (same); Cleveland v. Tripp, 13 R.I. 50 (1880) (same); In re Dorrance-Street, 4 R.I. 230 (1856) (same). It has been held that the standard of review in respect to this provision is substantially identical to the determination of whether challenged legislation meets the requirements of the Equal Protection Clause. City of Warwick v. Almacs, Inc., 442 A.2d 1265, 1270 (R.I.1982). Consequently no separate analysis is required to determine that legislation meeting the standards of the Equal Protection Clause also cannot be in violation of this advisory admonition.