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Nevada Constitution

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[The Nevada constitution was framed by a convention of delegates chosen by the people. The convention met at Carson City on July 4, 1864, and adjourned on July 28 of the same year. On the 1st Wednesday of September 1864, the constitution was approved by the vote of the people of the Territory of Nevada, and on October 31, 1864, President Lincoln proclaimed that the State of Nevada was admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original states.

The literal text of the original, signed copy of the constitution filed in the office of the secretary of state has been retained, unless it has been repealed or superseded by amendment. Where the original text has been amended or where a new provision has been added to the original constitution, the source of the amendment or addition is indicated in the source note immediately following the text of the amended or new section. Leadlines for sections have been supplied by the Legislative Counsel of the State of Nevada.]

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[Preliminary Action.]

Ordinance.

Preamble.

Article. 1. Declaration of Rights.

2. Right of Suffrage.

3. Distribution of Powers.

4. Legislative Department.

5. Executive Department.

6. Judicial Department.

7. Impeachment and Removal From Office.

8. Municipal and Other Corporations.

9. Finance and State Debt.

10. Taxation.

11. Education.

12. Militia.

13. Public Institutions.

14. Boundary.

15. Miscellaneous Provisions.

16. Amendments.

17. Schedule.

XVIII. [Right of Suffrage.] Repealed in 1992.

19. Initiative and Referendum.

[Election Ordinance.]

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[PRELIMINARY ACTION.]

Whereas,

The Act of Congress Approved March Twenty First A.D. Eighteen Hundred and Sixty Four "To enable the People of the Territory of Nevada to form a Constitution and State Government and for the admission of such State into the Union on an equal footing with the Original States," requires that the Members of the Convention for framing said Constitution shall, after Organization, on behalf of the people of said Territory, adopt the Constitution of the United States.-Therefore, Be it Resolved,

That the Members of this Convention, elected by the Authority of the aforesaid enabling Act of Congress, Assembled in Carson City the Capital of said Territory of Nevada, and immediately subsequent to its Organization, do adopt, on behalf of the people of said Territory the Constitution of the United States[.]

ORDINANCE

Slavery prohibited; freedom of religious worship; disclaimer of public lands. [Effective until the date Congress consents to amendment or a legal determination is made that such consent is not necessary.] In obedience to the requirements of an act of the Congress of the United States, approved March twenty-first, A.D. eighteen hundred and sixty-four, to enable the people of Nevada to form a constitution and state government, this convention, elected and convened in obedience to said enabling act, do ordain as follows, and this ordinance shall be irrevocable, without the consent of the United States and the people of the State of Nevada:

First. That there shall be in this state neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the punishment for crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

Second. That perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured, and no inhabitant of said state shall ever be molested, in person or property, on account of his or her mode of religious worship.

Third. That the people inhabiting said territory do agree and declare, that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within said territory, and that the same shall be and remain at the sole and entire disposition of the United States; and that lands belonging to citizens of the United States, residing without the said state, shall never be taxed higher than the land belonging to the residents thereof; and that no taxes shall be imposed by said state on lands or property therein belonging to, or which may hereafter be purchased by, the United States, unless otherwise provided by the congress of the United States.

Slavery prohibited; freedom of religious worship; taxation of certain property. [Effective on the date Congress consents to amendment or a legal determination is made that such consent is not necessary.] In obedience to the requirements of an act of the Congress of the United States, approved March twenty-first, A.D. eighteen hundred and sixty-four, to enable the people of Nevada to form a constitution and state government, this convention, elected and convened in obedience to said enabling act, do ordain as follows, and this ordinance shall be irrevocable, without the consent of the United States and the people of the State of Nevada:

First. That there shall be in this state neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the punishment for crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

Third. That the people inhabiting said territory do agree and declare, that lands belonging to citizens of the United States, residing without the said state, shall never be taxed higher than the land belonging to the residents thereof; and that no taxes shall be imposed by said state on lands or property therein belonging to, or which may hereafter be purchased by, the United States, unless otherwise provided by the Congress of the United States.

[Amended in 1956 and 1996. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1953 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1955 legislature; approved and ratified by the people at the 1956 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1953, p. 718; Statutes of Nevada 1955, p. 926. The second amendment was proposed and passed by the 1993 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1995 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1996 general election, effective on the date Congress consents to amendment or a legal determination is made that such consent is not necessary. See: Statutes of Nevada 1993, p. 3136; Statutes of Nevada 1995, p. 2917.]

PREAMBLE.

We the people of the State of Nevada Grateful to Almighty God for our freedom in order to secure its blessings, insure domestic tranquility, and form a more perfect Government, do establish this Constitution.

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ARTICLE. 1.

Declaration of Rights.

Sec. 1. Inalienable rights.

2. Purpose of government; paramount allegiance to United States.

3. Trial by jury; waiver in civil cases.

4. Liberty of conscience.

5. Suspension of habeas corpus.

6. Excessive bail and fines; cruel or unusual punishments; detention of witnesses.

7. Bail; exception for capital offenses and certain murders.

8. Rights of accused in criminal prosecutions; jeopardy; rights of victims of crime; due process of law; eminent domain.

9. Liberty of speech and the press.

10. Right to assemble and to petition.

11. Right to keep and bear arms; civil power supreme.

12. Quartering soldier in private house.

13. Representation apportioned according to population.

14. Exemption of property from execution; imprisonment for debt.

15. Bill of attainder; ex post facto law; obligation of contract.

16. Rights of foreigners. [Repealed in 1924.]

17. Slavery and involuntary servitude prohibited.

18. Unreasonable seizure and search; issuance of warrants.

19. Treason.

20. Rights retained by people.

21. Limitation on recognition of marriage.

Section. 1. Inalienable rights. All men are by Nature free and equal and have certain inalienable rights among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty; Acquiring, Possessing and Protecting property and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness[.]

Sec: 2. Purpose of government; paramount allegiance to United States. All political power is inherent in the people[.] Government is instituted for the protection, security and benefit of the people; and they have the right to alter or reform the same whenever the public good may require it. But the Paramount Allegiance of every citizen is due to the Federal Government in the exercise of all its Constitutional powers as the same have been or may be defined by the Supreme Court of the United States; and no power exists in the people of this or any other State of the Federal Union to dissolve their connection therewith or perform any act tending to impair[,] subvert, or resist the Supreme Authority of the government of the United States. The Constitution of the United States confers full power on the Federal Government to maintain and Perpetuate its existance [existence], and whensoever any portion of the States, or people thereof attempt to secede from the Federal Union, or forcibly resist the Execution of its laws, the Federal Government may, by warrant of the Constitution, employ armed force in compelling obedience to its Authority.

Sec: 3. Trial by jury; waiver in civil cases. The right of trial by Jury shall be secured to all and remain inviolate forever; but a Jury trial may be waived by the parties in all civil cases in the manner to be prescribed by law; and in civil cases, if three fourths of the Jurors agree upon a verdict it shall stand and have the same force and effect as a verdict by the whole Jury, Provided, the Legislature by a law passed by a two thirds vote of all the members elected to each branch thereof may require a unanimous verdict notwithstanding this Provision.

Sec: 4. Liberty of conscience. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship without discrimination or preference shall forever be allowed in this State, and no person shall be rendered incompetent to be a witness on account of his opinions on matters of his religious belief, but the liberty of consciene [conscience] hereby secured, shall not be so construed, as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace, or safety of this State.

Sec: 5. Suspension of habeas corpus. The privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus, shall not be suspended unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require its suspension.

Sec: 6. Excessive bail and fines; cruel or unusual punishments; detention of witnesses. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor shall cruel or unusual punishments be inflicted, nor shall witnesses be unreasonably detained.

Sec. 7. Bail; exception for capital offenses and certain murders. All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties; unless for Capital Offenses or murders punishable by life imprisonment without possibility of parole when the proof is evident or the presumption great.

[Amended in 1980. Proposed and passed by the 1977 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1979 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1980 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1977, p. 1697; Statutes of Nevada 1979, p. 1941.]

Sec. 8. Rights of accused in criminal prosecutions; jeopardy; rights of victims of crime; due process of law; eminent domain.

1. No person shall be tried for a capital or other infamous crime (except in cases of impeachment, and in cases of the militia when in actual service and the land and naval forces in time of war, or which this state may keep, with the consent of congress, in time of peace, and in cases of petit larceny, under the regulation of the legislature) except on presentment or indictment of the grand jury, or upon information duly filed by a district attorney, or attorney-general of the state, and in any trial, in any court whatever, the party accused shall be allowed to appear and defend in person, and with counsel, as in civil actions. No person shall be subject to be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense; nor shall he be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness against himself.

2. The legislature shall provide by law for the rights of victims of crime, personally or through a representative, to be:

(a) Informed, upon written request, of the status or disposition of a criminal proceeding at any stage of the proceeding;

(b) Present at all public hearings involving the critical stages of a criminal proceeding; and

3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, no person may maintain an action against the state or any public officer or employee for damages or injunctive, declaratory or other legal or equitable relief on behalf of a victim of a crime as a result of a violation of any statute enacted by the legislature pursuant to subsection 2. No such violation authorizes setting aside a conviction or sentence or continuing or postponing a criminal proceeding.

4. A person may maintain an action to compel a public officer or employee to carry out any duty required by the legislature pursuant to subsection 2.

5. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.

6. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation having been first made, or secured, except in cases of war, riot, fire, or great public peril, in which case compensation shall be afterward made.

[Amended in 1912 and 1996. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1909 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1911 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1912 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1909, p. 346; Statutes of Nevada 1911, p. 454. The second amendment was proposed and passed by the 1993 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1995 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1996 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1993, p. 3065; Statutes of Nevada 1995, p. 2880.]

Sec: 9. Liberty of speech and the press. Every citizen may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects being responsible for the abuse of that right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all criminal prosecutions and civil actions for libels, 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 or exonerated.

Sec: 10. Right to assemble and to petition. The people shall have the right freely to assemble together to consult for the common good, to instruct their representatives and to petition the Legislature for redress of Grievances.

Sec. 11. Right to keep and bear arms; civil power supreme.

1. Every citizen has the right to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes.

2. The military shall be subordinate to the civil power; No standing army shall be maintained by this State in time of peace, and in time of War, no appropriation for a standing army shall be for a longer time than two years.

[Amended in 1982. Proposed and passed by the 1979 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1981 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1982 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1979, p. 1986; Statutes of Nevada 1981, p. 2083.]

Sec: 12. Quartering soldier in private house. 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 to be prescribed by law.

Sec: 13. Representation apportioned according to population. Representation shall be apportioned according to population.

Sec: 14. Exemption of property from execution; imprisonment for debt. The privilege of the debtor to enjoy the necessary comforts of life shall be recognized by wholesome laws, exempting a reasonable amount of property from seizure or sale for payment of any debts or liabilities hereafter contracted; And there shall be no imprisonment for debt, except in cases of fraud, libel, or slander, and no person shall be imprisioned [imprisoned] for a Militia fine in time of Peace.

Sec: 15. Bill of attainder; ex post facto law; obligation of contract. No bill of attainder, ex-post-facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts shall ever be passed.

Sec: 16. Rights of foreigners. [Repealed in 1924.]

[Sec. 16 of the original constitution was repealed by vote of the people at the 1924 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1921, p. 416; Statutes of Nevada 1923, p. 407. The original section read: "Foreigners who are, or who may hereafter become Bona-fide residents of this State, shall enjoy the same rights, in respect to the possession, enjoyment and inheritance of property, as native born citizens."]

Sec: 17. Slavery and involuntary servitude prohibited. Neither Slavery nor involuntary servitude unless for the punishment of crimes shall ever be tolerated in this State.

Sec. 18. Unreasonable seizure and search; issuance of warrants. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable seizures and searches shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue but on probable cause, supported by Oath or Affirmation, particularly describing the place or places to be searched, and the person or persons, and thing or things to be seized.

Sec: 19. Treason. Treason against the State shall consist only in levying war against it, adhering to its enemies or giving them Aid and Comfort. And no person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

Sec: 20. Rights retained by people. This enumeration of rights shall not be construed to impair or deny others retained by the people.

Sec: 21. Limitation on recognition of marriage. Only a marriage between a male and female person shall be recognized and given effect in this state.

[Added in 2002. Proposed by initiative petition and approved and ratified by the people at the 2000 and 2002 general elections.]

ARTICLE. 2.

Right of Suffrage.

Sec. 1. Right to vote; qualifications of elector; qualifications of nonelector to vote for President and Vice President of United States. [Effective through November 24, 2008, and after that date unless the proposed amendment is agreed to and passed by the 2007 Legislature and approved and ratified by the voters at the 2008 General Election.]

1. Right to vote; qualifications of elector; qualifications of nonelector to vote for President and Vice President of United States. [Effective November 25, 2008, if the proposed amendment is agreed to and passed by the 2007 Legislature and approved and ratified by the voters at the 2008 General Election.]

2. When residence not gained or lost.

3. Armed Forces personnel. [Repealed in 1972.]

4. Privilege of qualified electors on general election day.

5. Voting by ballot; voting in elections by legislature.

6. Registration of electors; test of electoral qualifications.

7. Poll tax: Levy and purpose. [Repealed in 1966.]

8. Qualifications of voters on adoption or rejection of constitution.

9. Recall of public officers: Procedure and limitations.

10. Limitation on contributions to campaign.

Section 1. Right to vote; qualifications of elector; qualifications of nonelector to vote for President and Vice President of United States. [Effective through November 24, 2008, and after that date unless the proposed amendment is agreed to and passed by the 2007 Legislature and approved and ratified by the voters at the 2008 General Election.] All citizens of the United States (not laboring under the disabilities named in this constitution) of the age of eighteen years and upwards, who shall have actually, and not constructively, resided in the state six months, and in the district or county thirty days next preceding any election, shall be entitled to vote for all officers that now or hereafter may be elected by the people, and upon all questions submitted to the electors at such election; provided, that no person who has been or may be convicted of treason or felony in any state or territory of the United States, unless restored to civil rights, and no person who has been adjudicated mentally incompetent, unless restored to legal capacity, shall be entitled to the privilege of an elector. There shall be no denial of the elective franchise at any election on account of sex. The legislature may provide by law the conditions under which a citizen of the United States who does not have the status of an elector in another state and who does not meet the residence requirements of this section may vote in this state for President and Vice President of the United States.

[Amended in 1880, 1886, 1914, 1970 and 1971. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1877 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1879 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1880 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1877, p. 213; Statutes of Nevada 1879, p. 149. The second amendment was approved and ratified by the people at the 1886 General Election, but no entry of the proposed amendment had been made upon the journal of either house of the Legislature, and such omission was fatal to the adoption of the amendment. See: State ex rel. Stevenson v. Tufly, 19 Nev. 391 (1887). The third amendment was proposed and passed by the 1911 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1913 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1914 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1911, p. 457; Statutes of Nevada 1913, p. 581. The fourth amendment was proposed and passed by the 1967 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1969 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1970 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1967, p. 1827; Statutes of Nevada 1969, p. 1657. The fifth amendment was proposed and passed by the 1969 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1971 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at a special election held on June 8, 1971. See: Statutes of Nevada 1969, p. 1685; Statutes of Nevada 1971, p. 2263. The sixth amendment was proposed and passed by the 2001 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 2003 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 2004 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 2001, p. 3469; Statutes of Nevada 2003, p. 3726.]

Section 1. Right to vote; qualifications of elector; qualifications of nonelector to vote for President and Vice President of United States. [Effective November 25, 2008, if the proposed amendment is agreed to and passed by the 2007 Legislature and approved and ratified by the voters at the 2008 General Election.] All citizens of the United States (not laboring under the disabilities named in this Constitution) of the age of eighteen years and upwards, who shall have actually, and not constructively, resided in the State and in the district or county thirty days next preceding any election, shall be entitled to vote for all officers that now or hereafter may be elected by the people, and upon all questions submitted to the electors at such election; provided, that no person who has been or may be convicted of treason or felony in any state or territory of the United States, unless restored to civil rights, and no person who has been adjudicated mentally incompetent, unless restored to legal capacity, shall be entitled to the privilege of an elector. There shall be no denial of the elective franchise at any election on account of sex. The Legislature may provide by law the conditions under which a citizen of the United States who does not have the status of an elector in another state and who does not meet the residence requirements of this section may vote in this State for President and Vice President of the United States.

Sec. 2. When residence not gained or lost. For the purpose of voting, no person shall be deemed to have gained or lost a residence solely by reason of his presence or absence while employed in the service of the United States, nor while engaged in the navigation of the waters of the United States or of the high seas; nor while a student of any institution of learning; nor while kept at any charitable institution or medical facility at public expense; nor while confined in any public prison.

[Amended in 1972. Proposed and passed by the 1969 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1971 legislature; approved and ratified by the people at the 1972 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1969, p. 1695; Statutes of Nevada 1971, p. 2240.]

Section 3. Armed Forces personnel. [Repealed in 1972.]

[Amended in 1956. Proposed and passed by the 1953 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1955 legislature; approved and ratified by the people at the 1956 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1953, p. 732; Statutes of Nevada 1955, p. 952. Repealed in 1972. Repealer proposed and passed by the 1969 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1971 legislature; approved and ratified by the people at the 1972 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1969, p. 1695; Statutes of Nevada 1971, p. 2240. The section as amended in 1956 and repealed in 1972 read: "The right of suffrage shall be enjoyed by all persons, otherwise entitled to the same, who may be in the military or naval service of the United States; provided, the votes so cast shall be made to apply to the county and township of which said voters were bona fide residents at the time of their entry into such service; and provided further, that the payment of a poll tax shall not be required as a condition to the right of voting. Provision shall be made by law, regulating the manner of voting, holding elections, and making returns of such elections, wherein other provisions are not contained in this constitution."]

Sec: 4. Privilege of qualified electors on general election day. During the day on which any General Election shall be held in this State no qualified elector shall be arrested by virtue of any civil process.

Sec: 5. Voting by ballot; voting in elections by legislature. All elections by the people shall be by ballot, and all elections by the Legislature, or by either branch thereof shall be "Viva-Voce".

Sec: 6. Registration of electors; test of electoral qualifications. Provision shall be made by law for the registration of the names of the Electors within the counties of which they may be residents and for the ascertainment by proper proofs of the persons who shall be entitled to the right of suffrage, as hereby established, to preserve the purity of elections, and to regulate the manner of holding and making returns of the same; and the Legislature shall have power to prescribe by law any other or further rules or oaths, as may be deemed necessary, as a test of electoral qualification.

Section 7. Poll tax: Levy and purpose. [Repealed in 1966.]

[Amended in 1910. Proposed and passed by the 1907 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1909 legislature; approved and ratified by the people at the 1910 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1907, p. 450; Statutes of Nevada 1909, p. 344. Repealed in 1966. Repealer proposed and passed by the 1963 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1965 legislature; approved and ratified by the people at the 1966 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1963, p. 1421; Statutes of Nevada 1965, p. 1495. The section as amended in 1910 and repealed in 1966 read: "The Legislature shall provide by law for the payment of an annual poll tax of not less than two, nor exceeding four, dollars from each male resident in the State between the ages of twenty-one and sixty years (uncivilized American Indians excepted) to be expended for the maintenance and betterment of the public roads."]

Sec: 8. Qualifications of voters on adoption or rejection of constitution. All persons qualified by law to vote for representatives to the General Assembly of the Territory of Nevada, on the twenty first day of March A.D. Eighteen hundred and sixty four and all other persons who may be lawful voters in said Territory on the first Wednesday of September next following, shall be entitled to vote directly upon the question of adopting or rejecting this Constitution.

Sec. 9. Recall of public officers: Procedure and limitations. Every public officer in the State of Nevada is subject, as herein provided, to recall from office by the registered voters of the state, or of the county, district, or municipality which he represents. For this purpose, not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the number who actually voted in the state or in the county, district, or municipality which he represents, at the election in which he was elected, shall file their petition, in the manner herein provided, demanding his recall by the people. They shall set forth in said petition, in not exceeding two hundred (200) words, the reasons why said recall is demanded. If he shall offer his resignation, it shall be accepted and take effect on the day it is offered, and the vacancy thereby caused shall be filled in the manner provided by law. If he shall not resign within five (5) days after the petition is filed, a special election shall be ordered to be held within thirty (30) days after the issuance of the call therefor, in the state, or county, district, or municipality electing said officer, to determine whether the people will recall said officer. On the ballot at said election shall be printed verbatim as set forth in the recall petition, the reasons for demanding the recall of said officer, and in not more than two hundred (200) words, the officer's justification of his course in office. He shall continue to perform the duties of his office until the result of said election shall be finally declared. Other candidates for the office may be nominated to be voted for at said special election. The candidate who shall receive highest number of votes at said special election shall be deemed elected for the remainder of the term, whether it be the person against whom the recall petition was filed, or another. The recall petition shall be filed with the officer with whom the petition for nomination to such office shall be filed, and the same officer shall order the special election when it is required. No such petition shall be circulated or filed against any officer until he has actually held his office six (6) months, save and except that it may be filed against a senator or assemblyman in the legislature at any time after ten (10) days from the beginning of the first session after his election. After one such petition and special election, no further recall petition shall be filed against the same officer during the term for which he was elected, unless such further petitioners shall pay into the public treasury from which the expenses of said special election have been paid, the whole amount paid out of said public treasury as expenses for the preceding special election. Such additional legislation as may aid the operation of this section shall be provided by law.

[Added in 1912, amended in 1970 and 1996. The addition was proposed and passed by the 1909 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1911 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1912 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1909, p. 345; Statutes of Nevada 1911, p. 448. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1967 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1969 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1970 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1967, p. 1782; Statutes of Nevada 1969, p. 1663. The second amendment was proposed and passed by the 1993 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1995 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1996 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1993, p. 3135; Statutes of Nevada 1995, p. 2887.]

Sec. 10. Limitation on contributions to campaign.

1. As used in this Section, "contribution" includes the value of services provided in kind for which money would otherwise be paid, such as paid polling and resulting data, paid direct mail, paid solicitation by telephone, any paid campaign paraphernalia printed or otherwise produced, and the use of paid personnel to assist in a campaign.

2. The Legislature shall provide by law for the limitation of the total contribution by any natural or artificial person to the campaign of any person for election to any office, except a federal office, to $5,000 for the primary and $5,000 for the general election, and to the approval or rejection of any question by the registered voters to $5,000, whether the office sought or the question submitted is local or for the State as a whole. The Legislature shall further provide for the punishment of the contributor, the candidate, and any other knowing party to a violation of the limit, as a felony.

[Added in 1996. Proposed by initiative petition and approved and ratified by the people at the 1994 and 1996 General Elections.]

ARTICLE. 3.

Distribution of Powers.

Sec. 1. Three separate departments; separation of powers; legislative review of administrative regulations.

Section 1. Three separate departments; separation of powers; legislative review of administrative regulations.

1. The powers of the Government of the State of Nevada shall be divided into three separate departments,-the Legislative,-the Executive and the Judicial; and no persons charged with the exercise of powers properly belonging to one of these departments shall exercise any functions, appertaining to either of the others, except in the cases expressly directed or permitted in this constitution.

2. If the legislature authorizes the adoption of regulations by an executive agency which bind persons outside the agency, the legislature may provide by law for:

(a) The review of these regulations by a legislative agency before their effective date to determine initially whether each is within the statutory authority for its adoption;

(b) The suspension by a legislative agency of any such regulation which appears to exceed that authority, until it is reviewed by a legislative body composed of members of the Senate and Assembly which is authorized to act on behalf of both houses of the legislature; and

(c) The nullification of any such regulation by a majority vote of that legislative body, whether or not the regulation was suspended.

[Amended in 1996. Proposed and passed by the 1993 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1995 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1996 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1993, p. 3082; Statutes of Nevada 1995, p. 2972.]

ARTICLE. 4.

Legislative Department

Sec. 1. Legislative power vested in senate and assembly.

2. Biennial sessions of Legislature: Commencement; limitation on duration; void actions; submission of proposed executive budget. [Effective through November 27, 2006, and after that date unless the proposed amendment is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.]

2. Biennial sessions of Legislature: Commencement; limitation on duration; void actions; submission of proposed executive budget. [Effective November 28, 2006, if the proposed amendment is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.]

2A. Special sessions of Legislature: Commencement upon petition of members; permissible bills; limitation on duration; void actions. [Effective November 28, 2006, if the proposed addition is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.]

3. Members of assembly: Election and term of office; eligibility for office.

4. Senators: Election and term of office; eligibility for office.

5. Number of senators and assemblymen; apportionment.

6. Power of houses to judge qualifications, elections and returns of members; selection of officers; rules of proceedings; punishment of members.

7. Punishment of nonmember.

8. Senators and assemblymen ineligible for certain offices.

9. Federal officers ineligible for state office; exceptions.

10. Embezzler of public money ineligible for office; disqualification for bribery.

11. Privilege of members: Freedom from arrest on civil process.

12. Vacancy.

13. Quorum; compelling attendance.

14. Journal.

15. Open sessions and meetings; adjournment for more than 3 days or to another place.

16. Bills may originate in either house; amendment.

17. Act to embrace one subject only; title; amendment.

18. Reading of bill; voting on final passage; number of members necessary to pass bill or joint resolution; signatures; referral of certain measures to voters; consent calendar.

19. Manner of drawing money from treasury.

20. Certain local and special laws prohibited.

21. General laws to have uniform application.

22. Suit against state.

23. Enacting clause; law to be enacted by bill.

24. Lotteries.

25. Uniform county and township government.

26. Boards of county commissioners: Election and duties.

27. Disqualification of jurors; elections.

28. Compensation of legislative officers and employees; increase or decrease of compensation.

29. Duration of regular and special sessions. [Repealed in 1958.]

30. Homesteads: Exemption from forced sale; joint consent required for alienation; recording of declaration.

31. Property of married persons.

32. County officers: Power of legislature; election, duties and compensation; duties of county clerks.

33. Compensation of members of Legislature; payment for postage, stationery and other expenses; additional allowances for officers. [Effective through November 27, 2006, and after that date unless either of the proposed amendments is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.]

33. Compensation of members of Legislature; payment for postage, stationery and other expenses; additional allowances for officers. [Effective November 28, 2006, if the amendment proposed by Assembly Joint Resolution No. 13 of the 72nd Session is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election, and the amendment proposed by Senate Joint Resolution No. 11 of the 72nd Session does not become effective.]

33. Compensation of members of Legislature; allowances for postage, stationery and other expenses. [Effective November 28, 2006, if the amendment proposed by Senate Joint Resolution No. 11 of the 72nd Session is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election, and the amendment proposed by Assembly Joint Resolution No. 13 of the 72nd Session does not become effective.]

33. Compensation of members of Legislature; allowances for postage, stationery and other expenses. [Effective November 28, 2006, if the amendments proposed by Assembly Joint Resolution No. 13 and Senate Joint Resolution No. 11 of the 72nd Session are both approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.]

34. Election of United States Senators. [Repealed in 2004.]

35. Bills to be presented to governor; approval; disapproval and reconsideration by legislature; failure of governor to return bill.

[36.] Abolishment of county; approval of voters in county.

37. Continuity of government in case of enemy attack; succession to public offices; legislative quorum requirements; relocation of seat of government.

37[A]. Consolidation of city and county containing seat of government into one municipal government; separate taxing districts.

38. Use of plant of genus Cannabis for medical purposes.

Section. 1. Legislative power vested in senate and assembly. The Legislative authority of this State shall be vested in a Senate and Assembly which shall be designated "The Legislature of the State of Nevada" and the sessions of such Legislature shall be held at the seat of government of the State.

Sec. 2. Biennial sessions of Legislature: Commencement; limitation on duration; void actions; submission of proposed executive budget. [Effective through November 27, 2006, and after that date unless the proposed amendment is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.]

1. The sessions of the Legislature shall be biennial, and shall commence on the 1st Monday of February following the election of members of the Assembly, unless the Governor of the State shall, in the interim, convene the Legislature by proclamation.

2. The Legislature shall adjourn sine die each regular session not later than midnight Pacific standard time 120 calendar days following its commencement. Any legislative action taken after midnight Pacific standard time on the 120th calendar day is void, unless the legislative action is conducted during a special session convened by the Governor.

3. The Governor shall submit the proposed executive budget to the Legislature not later than 14 calendar days before the commencement of each regular session.

[Amended in 1889, 1958, 1960 and 1998. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1885 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1887 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at a special election held February 11, 1889. See: Statutes of Nevada 1885, p. 151; Statutes of Nevada 1887, p. 165. The second amendment was proposed and passed by the 1955 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1957 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1958 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1955, p. 946; Statutes of Nevada 1957, p. 793. The third amendment was proposed by initiative petition and approved and ratified by the people at the 1960 General Election. The fourth amendment was proposed and passed by the 1995 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1997 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1998 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1995, p. 2971; Statutes of Nevada 1997, p. 3725.]

Sec. 2. Biennial sessions of Legislature: Commencement; limitation on duration; void actions; submission of proposed executive budget. [Effective November 28, 2006, if the proposed amendment is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.]

1. The sessions of the Legislature shall be biennial, and shall commence on the 1st Monday of February following the election of members of the Assembly, unless the Governor of the State or the members of the Legislature shall, in the interim, convene the Legislature by proclamation or petition.

3. The Governor shall submit the proposed executive budget to the Legislature not later than 14 calendar days before the commencement of each regular session.

Sec. 2A. Special sessions of Legislature: Commencement upon petition of members; permissible bills; limitation on duration; void actions. [Effective November 28, 2006, if the proposed addition is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.]

1. The Legislature may be convened, on extraordinary occasions, upon petition signed by two-thirds of the members of each House of the Legislature. A petition must specify the business to be transacted during the special session, indicate a date on or before which the Legislature is to convene and be transmitted to the Secretary of State. Upon receipt of one or more substantially similar petitions signed, in the aggregate, by the required number of members, calling for a special session, the Secretary of State shall notify all members of the Legislature and the Governor that a special session will be convened pursuant to this section.

2. No bills, except those related to the business specified in the petition and those necessary to provide for the expenses of the session, may be introduced at a special session convened pursuant to this section.

3. A special session convened pursuant to this section takes precedence over a special session called by the Governor pursuant to Section 9 of Article 5 of this Constitution, unless otherwise provided in the petition calling for the special session.

4. The Legislature may provide by law for the procedure for convening a special session pursuant to this section.

5. The Legislature shall adjourn sine die a special session convened pursuant to this section not later than midnight of the 20th calendar day of that session. Any legislative action taken after midnight on the 20th calendar day is void.

(Proposed addition passed by the 2003 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 2005 Legislature; effective November 28, 2006, if approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election. See Statutes of Nevada 2003, p. 3732; Statutes of Nevada 2005, p. 2999.)

Sec. 3. Members of assembly: Election and term of office; eligibility for office.

1. The members of the Assembly shall be chosen biennially by the qualified electors of their respective districts, on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November and their term of Office shall be two years from the day next after their election.

2. No person may be elected or appointed as a member of the Assembly who has served in that Office, or at the expiration of his current term if he is so serving will have served, 12 years or more, from any district of this State.

[Amended in 1996. Proposed by initiative petition and approved and ratified by the people at the 1994 and 1996 General Elections.]

Sec. 4. Senators: Election and term of office; eligibility for office.

1. Senators shall be chosen at the same time and places as members of the Assembly by the qualified electors of their respective districts, and their term of Office shall be four years from the day next after their election.

2. No person may be elected or appointed as a Senator who has served in that Office, or at the expiration of his current term if he is so serving will have served, 12 years or more, from any district of this State.

[Amended in 1996. Proposed by initiative petition and approved and ratified by the people at the 1994 and 1996 General Elections.]

Sec. 5. Number of senators and assemblymen; apportionment. Senators and members of the assembly shall be duly qualified electors in the respective counties and districts which they represent, and the number of senators shall not be less than one-third nor more than one-half of that of the members of the assembly.

It shall be the mandatory duty of the legislature at its first session after the taking of the decennial census of the United States in the year 1950, and after each subsequent decennial census, to fix by law the number of senators and assemblymen, and apportion them among the several counties of the state, or among legislative districts which may be established by law, according to the number of inhabitants in them, respectively.

[Amended in 1950 and 1970. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1947 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1949 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1950 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1947, p. 881; Statutes of Nevada 1949, p. 685. The second amendment was proposed and passed by the 1967 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1969 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1970 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1967, p. 1797; Statutes of Nevada 1969, p. 1723.]

Sec: 6. Power of houses to judge qualifications, elections and returns of members; selection of officers; rules of proceedings; punishment of members. Each House shall judge of the qualifications, elections and returns of its own members, choose its own officers (except the President of the Senate), determine the rules of its proceedings and may punish its members for disorderly conduct, and with the concurrence of two thirds of all the members elected, expel a member.

Sec: 7. Punishment of nonmember. Either House, during the session, may punish, by imprisonment, any person not a member, who shall have been guilty of disrespect to the House by disorderly or contemptuous behavior in its presence; but such imprisonment shall not extend beyond the final adjournment of the session.

Sec: 8. Senators and assemblymen ineligible for certain offices. No Senator or member of Assembly shall, during the term for which he shall have been elected, nor for one year thereafter be appointed to any civil office of profit under this State which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which shall have been increased during such term, except such office as may be filled by elections by the people.

Sec: 9. Federal officers ineligible for state office; exceptions. No person holding any lucrative office under the Government of the United States or any other power, shall be eligible to any civil office of Profit under this State; Provided, that Post-Masters whose compensation does not exceed Five Hundred dollars per annum, or commissioners of deeds, shall not be deemed as holding a lucrative office.

Sec: 10. Embezzler of public money ineligible for office; disqualification for bribery. Any person who shall be convicted of the embezzlement, or defalcation of the public funds of this State or who may be convicted of having given or offered a bribe to procure his election or appointment to office, or received a bribe to aid in the procurement of office for any other person, shall be disqualified from holding any office of profit or trust in this State; and the Legislature shall, as soon as practicable, provide by law for the punishment of such defalcation, bribery, or embezzlement as a felony.

Sec: 11. Privilege of members: Freedom from arrest on civil process. Members of the Legislature shall be privileged from arrest on civil process during the session of the Legislature, and for fifteen days next before the commencement of each session.

Sec. 12. Vacancy. In case of the death or resignation of any member of the legislature, either senator or assemblyman, the county commissioners of the county from which such member was elected shall appoint a person of the same political party as the party which elected such senator or assemblyman to fill such vacancy; provided, that this section shall apply only in cases where no biennial election or any regular election at which county officers are to [be] elected takes place between the time of such death or resignation and the next succeeding session of the legislature.

[Amended in 1922 and 1944. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1919 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1921 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1922 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1919, p. 478; Statutes of Nevada 1921, p. 412. The second amendment was proposed and passed by the 1941 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1943 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1944 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1941, p. 563; Statutes of Nevada 1943, p. 311.]

Sec: 13. Quorum; compelling attendance. A majority of all the members elected to each House shall constitute a quorum to transact business, but a smaller number may adjourn, from day to day and may compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each house may prescribe[.]

Sec: 14. Journal. Each House shall keep a journal of its own proceedings which shall be published and the yeas and nays of the members of either house on any question shall at the desire of any three members present, be entered on the journal.

Sec. 15. Open sessions and meetings; adjournment for more than 3 days or to another place. The doors of each House shall be kept open during its session, and neither shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days nor to any other place than that in which they may be holding their sessions. The meetings of all legislative committees must be open to the public, except meetings held to consider the character, alleged misconduct, professional competence, or physical or mental health of a person.

[Amended in 1994. Proposed and passed by the 1991 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1993 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1994 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1991, p. 2573; Statutes of Nevada 1993, p. 2974.]

Sec: 16. Bills may originate in either house; amendment. Any bill may originate in either House of the Legislature, and all bills passed by one may be amended in the other.

Sec: 17. Act to embrace one subject only; title; amendment. Each law enacted by the Legislature shall embrace but one subject, and matter, properly connected therewith, which subject shall be briefly expressed in the title; and no law shall be revised or amended by reference to its title only; but, in such case, the act as revised or section as amended, shall be re-enacted and published at length.

Sec. 18. Reading of bill; voting on final passage; number of members necessary to pass bill or joint resolution; signatures; referral of certain measures to voters; consent calendar.

1. Every bill, except a bill placed on a consent calendar adopted as provided in subsection 4, must be read by sections on three several days, in each House, unless in case of emergency, two thirds of the House where such bill is pending shall deem it expedient to dispense with this rule. The reading of a bill by sections, on its final passage, shall in no case be dispensed with, and the vote on the final passage of every bill or joint resolution shall be taken by yeas and nays to be entered on the journals of each House. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, a majority of all the members elected to each House is necessary to pass every bill or joint resolution, and all bills or joint resolutions so passed, shall be signed by the presiding officers of the respective Houses and by the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the Assembly.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, an affirmative vote of not fewer than two-thirds of the members elected to each House is necessary to pass a bill or joint resolution which creates, generates, or increases any public revenue in any form, including but not limited to taxes, fees, assessments and rates, or changes in the computation bases for taxes, fees, assessments and rates.

3. A majority of all of the members elected to each House may refer any measure which creates, generates, or increases any revenue in any form to the people of the State at the next general election, and shall become effective and enforced only if it has been approved by a majority of the votes cast on the measure at such election.

4. Each House may provide by rule for the creation of a consent calendar and establish the procedure for the passage of uncontested bills.

[Amended in 1976 and 1996. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1973 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1975 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1976 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1973, p. 1946; Statutes of Nevada 1975, p. 1900. The second amendment was proposed by initiative petition and approved and ratified by the people at the 1994 and 1996 General Elections.]

Section 19. Manner of drawing money from treasury. No money shall be drawn from the treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law.

[Amended in 1954. Proposed and passed by the 1951 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1953 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1954 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1951, p. 584; Statutes of Nevada 1953, p. 717.]

Section 20. Certain local and special laws prohibited. The legislature shall not pass local or special laws in any of the following enumerated cases-that is to say:

Regulating the jurisdiction and duties of justices of the peace and of constables, and fixing their compensation;

For the punishment of crimes and misdemeanors;

Regulating the practice of courts of justice;

Providing for changing the venue in civil and criminal cases;

Granting divorces;

Changing the names of persons;

Vacating roads, town plots, streets, alleys, and public squares;

Summoning and impaneling grand and petit juries, and providing for their compensation;

Regulating county and township business;

Regulating the election of county and township officers;

For the assessment and collection of taxes for state, county, and township purposes;

Providing for opening and conducting elections of state, county, or township officers, and designating the places of voting;

Providing for the sale of real estate belonging to minors or other persons laboring under legal disabilities;

Giving effect to invalid deeds, wills, or other instruments;

Refunding money paid into the state treasury, or into the treasury of any county;

Releasing the indebtedness, liability, or obligation of any corporation, association, or person to the state, or to any county, town, or city of this state; but nothing in this section shall be construed to deny or restrict the power of the legislature to establish and regulate the compensation and fees of county officers, to authorize and empower the boards of county commissioners of the various counties of the state to establish and regulate the compensation and fees of township officers in their respective counties, to establish and regulate the rates of freight, passage, toll, and charges of railroads, tollroads, ditch, flume, and tunnel companies incorporated under the laws of this state or doing business therein.

[Amended in 1889 and 1926. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1885 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1887 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at a special election held February 11, 1889. See: Statutes of Nevada 1885, p. 152; Statutes of Nevada 1887, p. 166. The second amendment was proposed and passed by the 1923 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1925 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1926 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1923, p. 411; Statutes of Nevada 1925, p. 357.]

Sec: 21. General laws to have uniform application. In all cases enumerated in the preceding section, and in all other cases where a general law can be made applicable, all laws shall be general and of uniform operation throughout the State.

Sec: 22. Suit against state. Provision may be made by general law for bringing suit against the State as to all liabilities originating after the adoption of this Constitution[.]

Sec: 23. Enacting clause; law to be enacted by bill. The enacting clause of every law shall be as follows: "The people of the State of Nevada represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows," and no law shall be enacted except by bill.

Sec: 24. Lotteries.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, no lottery may be authorized by this State, nor may lottery tickets be sold.

2. The State and the political subdivisions thereof shall not operate a lottery. The legislature may authorize persons engaged in charitable activities or activities not for profit to operate a lottery in the form of a raffle or drawing on their own behalf. All proceeds of the lottery, less expenses directly related to the operation of the lottery, must be used only to benefit charitable or nonprofit activities in this state. A charitable or nonprofit organization shall not employ or otherwise engage any person to organize or operate its lottery for compensation. The legislature may provide by law for the regulation of such lotteries.

[Amended in 1990. Proposed and passed by the 1987 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1989 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1990 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1987, p. 2468; Statutes of Nevada 1989, p. 2249.]

Sec: 25. Uniform county and township government. The Legislature shall establish a system of County and Township Government which shall be uniform throughout the State.

Sec: 26. Boards of county commissioners: Election and duties. The Legislature shall provide by law, for the election of a Board of County Commissioners in each County, and such County Commissioners shall jointly and individually perform such duties as may be prescribed by law.

Sec: 27. Disqualification of jurors; elections. Laws shall be made to exclude from serving on juries, all persons not qualified electors of this State, and all persons who shall have been convicted of bribery, perjury, foregery [forgery,] larceny or other high crimes, unless restored to civil rights; and laws shall be passed regulating elections, and prohibiting under adequate penalties, all undue influence thereon from power, bribery, tumult, or other improper practice.

Sec: 28. Compensation of legislative officers and employees; increase or decrease of compensation. No money shall be drawn from the State Treasury as salary or compensation to any officer or employee of the Legislature, or either branch thereof, except in cases where such salary or compensation has been fixed by a law in force prior to the election or appointment of such officer or employee; and the salary or compensation so fixed, shall neither be increased nor diminished so as to apply to any officer or employee of the Legislature, or either branch thereof at such Session; Provided, that this restriction shall not apply to the first session of the Legislature.

Sec: 29. Duration of regular and special sessions. [Repealed in 1958.]

[Sec. 29 of Art. 4 of the original constitution was repealed by vote of the people at the 1958 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1955, p. 945; Statutes of Nevada 1957, p. 793. The original section read: "The first regular session of the Legislature under this Constitution may extend to Ninety days, but no subsequent regular session shall exceed sixty days, nor any special session convened by the Governor exceed twenty days."]

Sec: 30. Homesteads: Exemption from forced sale; joint consent required for alienation; recording of declaration. A homestead as provided by law, shall be exempt from forced sale under any process of law, and shall not be alienated without the joint consent of husband and wife when that relation exists; but no property shall be exempt from sale for taxes or for the payment of obligations contracted for the purchase of said premises, or for the erection of improvements thereon; Provided, the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any process of law obtained by virtue of a lien given by the consent of both husband and wife, and laws shall be enacted providing for the recording of such homestead within the County in which the same shall be situated[.]

Sec. 31. Property of married persons. All property, both real and personal, of a married person owned or claimed by such person before marriage, and that acquired afterward by gift, devise or descent, shall be the separate property of such person. The legislature shall more clearly define the rights of married persons in relation to their separate property and other property.

[Amended in 1978. Proposed and passed by the 1975 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1977 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1978 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1975, p. 1917; Statutes of Nevada 1977, p. 1703.]

Sec. 32. County officers: Power of legislature; election, duties and compensation; duties of county clerks. The Legislature shall have power to increase, diminish, consolidate or abolish the following county officers: County Clerks, County Recorders, Auditors, Sheriffs, District Attorneys and Public Administrators. The Legislature shall provide for their election by the people, and fix by law their duties and compensation. County Clerks shall be ex-officio Clerks of the Courts of Record and of the Boards of County Commissioners in and for their respective counties.

[Amended in 1889 and 1972. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1887 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1889 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at a special election held February 11, 1889. See: Statutes of Nevada 1887, p. 161; Statutes of Nevada 1889, p. 151. The second amendment was proposed and passed by the 1969 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1971 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1972 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1969, p. 1723; Statutes of Nevada 1971, p. 2232.]

Sec: 33. Compensation of members of Legislature; payment for postage, stationery and other expenses; additional allowances for officers. [Effective through November 27, 2006, and after that date unless either of the proposed amendments is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.] The members of the Legislature shall receive for their services, a compensation to be fixed by law and paid out of the public treasury, for not to exceed 60 days during any regular session of the legislature and not to exceed 20 days during any special session convened by the governor; but no increase of such compensation shall take effect during the term for which the members of either house shall have been elected Provided, that an appropriation may be made for the payment of such actual expenses as members of the Legislature may incur for postage, express charges, newspapers and stationery not exceeding the sum of Sixty dollars for any general or special session to each member; and Furthermore Provided, that the Speaker of the Assembly, and Lieutenant Governor, as President of the Senate, shall each, during the time of their actual attendance as such presiding officers receive an additional allowance of two dollars per diem.

Sec. 33. Compensation of members of Legislature; payment for postage, stationery and other expenses; additional allowances for officers. [Effective November 28, 2006, if the amendment proposed by Assembly Joint Resolution No. 13 of the 72nd Session is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election, and the amendment proposed by Senate Joint Resolution No. 11 of the 72nd Session does not become effective.] The members of the Legislature shall receive for their services a compensation to be fixed by law and paid out of the public treasury, for not to exceed 60 days during any regular session of the legislature and not to exceed 20 days during any special session; but no increase of such compensation shall take effect during the term for which the members of either house shall have been elected Provided, that an appropriation may be made for the payment of such actual expenses as members of the Legislature may incur for postage, express charges, newspapers and stationery not exceeding the sum of Sixty dollars for any general or special session to each member; and Furthermore Provided, that the Speaker of the Assembly, and Lieutenant Governor, as President of the Senate, shall each, during the time of their actual attendance as such presiding officers receive an additional allowance of two dollars per diem.

[Amended in 1958. Proposed and passed by the 1955 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1957 Legislature; approved and ratified by the people at the 1958 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1955, p. 946; Statutes of Nevada 1957, p. 794.]-(Proposed amendment passed by the 2003 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 2005 Legislature; effective November 28, 2006, if approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election. See Statutes of Nevada 2003, p. 3733; Statutes of Nevada 2005, p. 3000.)

Sec. 33. Compensation of members of Legislature; allowances for postage, stationery and other expenses. [Effective November 28, 2006, if the amendment proposed by Senate Joint Resolution No. 11 of the 72nd Session is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election, and the amendment proposed by Assembly Joint Resolution No. 13 of the 72nd Session does not become effective.] The members of the Legislature shall receive for their services, a compensation to be fixed by law and paid out of the public treasury, for each day of service during any regular session of the legislature and during any special session convened by the governor; but no increase of such compensation shall take effect during the term for which the members of either house shall have been elected Provided, that an appropriation may be made for the payment of reasonable allowances to members of the Legislature for expenses incurred for postage, express charges, newspapers, telecommunications and stationery during any general or special session.

Sec. 33. Compensation of members of Legislature; allowances for postage, stationery and other expenses. [Effective November 28, 2006, if the amendments proposed by Assembly Joint Resolution No. 13 and Senate Joint Resolution No. 11 of the 72nd Session are both approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.] The members of the Legislature shall receive for their services a compensation to be fixed by law and paid out of the public treasury, for each day of service during any regular session of the legislature and during any special session; but no increase of such compensation shall take effect during the term for which the members of either house shall have been elected Provided, that an appropriation may be made for the payment of reasonable allowances to members of the Legislature for expenses incurred for postage, express charges, newspapers, telecommunications and stationery during any general or special session.

[Amended in 1958. Proposed and passed by the 1955 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1957 Legislature; approved and ratified by the people at the 1958 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1955, p. 946; Statutes of Nevada 1957, p. 794.]-(Proposed amendments passed by the 2003 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 2005 Legislature; effective November 28, 2006, if approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election. See Statutes of Nevada 2003, pp. 3733 and 3752; Statutes of Nevada 2005, pp. 3000 and 3059.)

Sec: 34. Election of United States Senators. [Repealed in 2004.]

[Sec. 34 of the original constitution was repealed by vote of the people at the 2004 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 2001, p. 3470; Statutes of Nevada 2003, p. 3727. The original section read: "In all elections for United States Senators, such elections shall be held in joint convention of both Houses of the Legislature. It shall be the duty of the Legislature which convenes next preceding the expiration of the term of such Senator, to elect his successor. If a vacancy in such Senatorial representation from any cause occur, it shall be the duty of the Legislature then in Session or at the succeeding Session thereof, to supply such vacancy[.] If the Legislature shall at any time as herein provided, fail to unite in a joint convention within twenty days after the commencement of the Session of the Legislature for the election [of] such Senator it shall be the duty of the Governor, by proclamation to convene the two Houses of the Legislature in joint convention, within not less than five days nor exceeding ten days from the publication of his proclamation, and the joint convention when so assembled shall proceed to elect the Senator as herein provided.]

Sec: 35. Bills to be presented to governor; approval; disapproval and reconsideration by legislature; failure of governor to return bill. Every bill which may have passed the Legislature, shall, before it becomes a law be presented to the Governor. If he approve it, he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it with his objections, to the House in which it originated, which House shall cause such objections to be entered upon its journal, and proceed to reconsider it; If after such reconsideration it again pass both Houses by yeas and nays, by a vote of two thirds of the members elected to each House it shall become a law notwithstanding the Governors objections. If any bill shall not be returned within five days after it shall have been presented to him (Sunday excepted) exclusive of the day on which he received it, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Legislature by its final adjournment, prevent such return, in which case it shall be a law, unless the Governor within ten days next after the adjournment (Sundays excepted) shall file such bill with his objections thereto, in the office of the Secretary of State, who shall lay the same before the Legislature at its next Session, in like manner as if it had been returned by the Governor, and if the same shall receive the vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the Legislature, upon a vote taken by yeas and nays to be entered upon the journals of each house, it shall become a law.

[Sec. 36.] Abolishment of county; approval of voters in county. The legislature shall not abolish any county unless the qualified voters of the county affected shall at a general or special election first approve such proposed abolishment by a majority of all the voters voting at such election. The legislature shall provide by law the method of initiating and conducting such election.

[Added in 1940. Proposed and passed by the 1937 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1939 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1940 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1937, p. 564; Statutes of Nevada 1939, p. 360.]

Section 37. Continuity of government in case of enemy attack; succession to public offices; legislative quorum requirements; relocation of seat of government. The legislature, in order to insure continuity of state and local governmental operations in periods of emergency resulting from disasters caused by enemy attack, shall have the power and the immediate duty to provide for immediate and temporary succession to the powers and duties of public offices, of whatever nature and whether filled by election or appointment, the incumbents of which may become unavailable for carrying on the powers and duties of such offices, and to adopt such other measures as may be necessary and proper for insuring the continuity of governmental operations, including changes in quorum requirements in the legislature and the relocation of the seat of government. In the exercise of the powers hereby conferred, the legislature shall conform to the requirements of this constitution except to the extent that in the judgment of the legislature so to do would be impracticable or would admit of undue delay.

[Added in 1964. Proposed and passed by the 1961 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1963 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1964 general election. See Statutes of Nevada 1961, p. 831; Statutes of Nevada 1963, p. 1416.]

Sec. 37[A]. Consolidation of city and county containing seat of government into one municipal government; separate taxing districts. Notwithstanding the general provisions of sections 20, 25, 26, and 36 of this article, the legislature may by law consolidate into one municipal government, with one set of officers, the city designated as the seat of government of this state and the county in which such city is situated. Such consolidated municipality shall be considered as a county for the purpose of representation in the legislature, shall have all the powers conferred upon counties by this constitution or by general law, and shall have such other powers as may be conferred by its charter. Notwithstanding the general provisions of section 1 of article 10, the legislature may create two or more separate taxing districts within such consolidated municipality.

[Added in 1968. Proposed and passed by the 1965 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1967 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1968 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1965, p. 1515; Statutes of Nevada 1967, p. 1797.]

Sec. 38. Use of plant of genus Cannabis for medical purposes.

1. The legislature shall provide by law for:

(a) The use by a patient, upon the advice of his physician, of a plant of the genus Cannabis for the treatment or alleviation of cancer, glaucoma, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; severe, persistent nausea of cachexia resulting from these or other chronic or debilitating medical conditions; epilepsy and other disorders characterized by seizure; multiple sclerosis and other disorders characterized by muscular spasticity; or other conditions approved pursuant to law for such treatment.

(b) Restriction of the medical use of the plant by a minor to require diagnosis and written authorization by a physician, parental consent, and parental control of the acquisition and use of the plant.

(c) Protection of the plant and property related to its use from forfeiture except upon conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere for possession or use not authorized by or pursuant to this section.

(d) A registry of patients, and their attendants, who are authorized to use the plant for a medical purpose, to which law enforcement officers may resort to verify a claim of authorization and which is otherwise confidential.

(e) Authorization of appropriate methods for supply of the plant to patients authorized to use it.

2. This section does not:

(a) Authorize the use or possession of the plant for a purpose other than medical or use for a medical purpose in public.

(b) Require reimbursement by an insurer for medical use of the plant or accommodation of medical use in a place of employment.

[Added in 2000. Proposed by initiative petition and approved and ratified by the people at the 1998 and 2000 general elections.]

ARTICLE. 5.

Executive Department.

Sec. 1. Supreme executive power vested in Governor.

2. Election and term of Governor.

3. Eligibility; qualifications; number of terms.

4. Returns of general election transmitted to Secretary of State; canvass by Supreme Court; declaration of election.

5. Governor is Commander in Chief of state military forces.

6. Transaction of executive business; reports of executive officers.

7. Responsibility for execution of laws.

8. Vacancies filled by Governor.

9. Special sessions of Legislature; business at special session. [Effective through November 27, 2006, and after that date unless the proposed amendment is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.]

9. Special sessions of Legislature: Commencement by proclamation of Governor; permissible bills; limitation on duration; void actions. [Effective November 28, 2006, if the proposed amendment is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.]

10. Governor's message.

11. Adjournment of Legislature by Governor.

12. Person holding federal office ineligible for Office of Governor.

13. Pardons, reprieves and commutations of sentence; remission of fines and forfeitures.

14. Remission of fines and forfeitures; commutations and pardons; suspension of sentence; probation.

15. The Great Seal.

16. Grants and commissions: Signatures and seal.

17. Election, term, qualifications and duties of Lieutenant Governor; President of Senate; President Pro-tempore of Senate to act as Governor in certain circumstances.

18. Vacancy in Office of Governor; duties to devolve upon Lieutenant Governor.

19. Other state officers: Election and term of office; eligibility for office.

20. Secretary of State: Duties.

21. Board of State Prison Commissioners; Board of Examiners; examination of claims.

22. Duties of certain state officers.

Section. 1. Supreme executive power vested in governor. The supreme executive power of this State, shall be vested in a Chief Magistrate who shall be Governor of the State of Nevada.

Sec: 2. Election and term of governor. The Governor shall be elected by the qualified electors at the time and places of voting for members of the Legislature, and shall hold his office for Four Years from the time of his installation, and until his successor shall be qualified.

Sec. 3. Eligibility; qualifications; number of terms. No person shall be eligible to the Office of Governor, who is not a qualified elector, and who, at the time of such election, has not attained the age of twenty five years; and who shall not have been a citizen resident of this State for two years next preceding the election; nor shall any person be elected to the Office of Governor more than twice; and no person who has held the Office of Governor, or acted as Governor for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected Governor shall be elected to the Office of Governor more than once.

[Amended in 1970. Proposed and passed by the 1967 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1969 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1970 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1967, p. 1794; Statutes of Nevada 1969, p. 1668.]

Section 4. Returns of general election transmitted to secretary of state; canvass by supreme court; declaration of election. The returns of every election for United States senator and member of Congress, district and state officers, and for and against any questions submitted to the electors of the State of Nevada, voted for at the general election, shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of government, directed to the secretary of state, and the chief justice of the supreme court, and the associate justices, or a majority thereof, shall meet at the office of the secretary of state, on a day to be fixed by law, and open and canvass the election returns for United States senator and member of Congress, district and state officers, and for and against any questions submitted to the electors of the State of Nevada, and forthwith declare the result and publish the names of the persons elected and the results of the vote cast upon any question submitted to the electors of the State of Nevada. The persons having the highest number of votes for the respective offices shall be declared elected, but in case any two or more have an equal and the highest number of votes for the same office, the legislature shall, by joint vote of both houses, elect one of said persons to fill said office.

[Amended in 1940. Proposed and passed by the 1937 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1939 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1940 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1937, p. 553; Statutes of Nevada 1939, p. 361.]

Sec: 5. Governor is commander in chief of state military forces. The Governor shall be Commander in Chief of the Military forces of this State except when they shall be called into the service of the United States.

Sec: 6. Transaction of executive business; reports of executive officers. He shall transact all executive business with the Officers of the Government Civil and Military; and may require information in writing, from the Officers of the Executive Department, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective Offices.

Sec: 7. Responsibility for execution of laws. He shall see that the laws are faithfully executed.

Sec: 8. Vacancies filled by governor. When any Office shall, from any cause become vacant and no mode is provided by the Constitution and laws for filling such vacancy, the Governor shall have the power to fill such vacancy by granting a commission which shall expire at the next election and qualification of the person elected to such Office.

Sec: 9. Special sessions of Legislature; business at special session. [Effective through November 27, 2006, and after that date unless the proposed amendment is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.] The Governor may on extraordinary occasions, convene the Legislature by Proclamation and shall state to both houses when organized, the purpose for which they have been convened, and the Legislature shall transact no legislative business, except that for which they were specially convened, or such other legislative business as the Governor may call to the attention of the Legislature while in Session.

Sec. 9. Special sessions of Legislature: Commencement by proclamation of Governor; permissible bills; limitation on duration; void actions. [Effective November 28, 2006, if the proposed amendment is approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election.]

1. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2A of Article 4 of this Constitution, the Governor may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the Legislature by Proclamation and shall state to both houses, when organized, the purpose for which they have been convened.

2. No bills, except those related to the purpose for which the Legislature has been specially convened and those necessary to provide for the expenses of the session, may be introduced at a special session convened pursuant to this section.

3. The Legislature shall adjourn sine die a special session convened pursuant to this section not later than midnight of the 20th calendar day of that session. Any legislative action taken after midnight on the 20th calendar day is void.

(Proposed amendment passed by the 2003 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 2005 Legislature; effective November 28, 2006, if approved and ratified by the voters at the 2006 General Election. See Statutes of Nevada 2003, p. 3733; Statutes of Nevada 2005, p. 3001.)

Sec: 10. Governor's message. He shall communicate by Message to the Legislature at every regular Session the condition of the State and recommend such measures as he may deem expedient[.]

Sec: 11. Adjournment of legislature by governor. In case of a disagreement between the two Houses with respect to the time of adjournment, the Governor shall have power to adjourn the Legislature to such time as he may think proper; Provided, it be not beyond the time fixed for the meeting of the next Legislature.

Sec: 12. Person holding federal office ineligible for office of governor. No person shall, while holding any office under the United States Government hold the office of Governor, except as herein expressly provided.

Sec: 13. Pardons, reprieves and commutations of sentence; remission of fines and forfeitures. The Governor shall have the power to suspend the collection of fines and forfeitures and grant reprieves for a period not exceeding sixty days dating from the time of conviction, for all offenses, except in cases of impeachment. Upon conviction for treason he shall have power to suspend the execution of the sentence until the case shall be reported to the Legislature at its next meeting, when the Legislature shall either pardon, direct the execution of the sentence, or grant a further reprieve. And if the Legislature should fail or refuse to make final disposition of such case, the sentence shall be enforced at such time and place as the Governor by his order may direct. The Governor shall communicate to the Legislature, at the beginning of every session, every case of fine or forfeiture remitted, or reprieve, pardon, or commutation granted, stating the name of the convict, the crime of which he was convicted, the Sentence, its date, and the date of the remission, commutation, pardon or reprieve.

Sec. 14. Remission of fines and forfeitures; commutations and pardons; suspension of sentence; probation.

1. The governor, justices of the supreme court, and attorney general, or a major part of them, of whom the governor shall be one, may, upon such conditions and with such limitations and restrictions as they may think proper, remit fines and forfeitures, commute punishments, except as provided in subsection 2, and grant pardons, after convictions, in all cases, except treason and impeachments, subject to such regulations as may be provided by law relative to the manner of applying for pardons.

2. Except as may be provided by law, a sentence of death or a sentence of life imprisonment without possibility of parole may not be commuted to a sentence which would allow parole.

3. The legislature is authorized to pass laws conferring upon the district courts authority to suspend the execution of sentences, fix the conditions for, and to grant probation, and within the minimum and maximum periods authorized by law, fix the sentence to be served by the person convicted of crime in said courts.

[Amended in 1950 and 1982. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1947 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1949 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1950 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1947, p. 875; Statutes of Nevada 1949, p. 684. The second amendment was proposed and passed by the 1979 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1981 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1982 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1979, p. 2005; Statutes of Nevada 1981, p. 2097.]

Sec: 15. The Great Seal. There shall be a Seal of this State, which shall be kept by the Governor and used by him Officially, and shall be called "The Great Seal of the State of Nevada."

Sec: 16. Grants and commissions: Signatures and seal. All grants and commissions shall be in the name and by the authority of the State of Nevada, sealed with the Great Seal of the State, signed by the Governor and counter-signed by the Secretary of State.

Sec: 17. Election, term, qualifications and duties of Lieutenant Governor; President of Senate; President Pro-tempore of Senate to act as Governor in certain circumstances. A Lieutenant Governor shall be elected at the same time and places and in the same manner as the Governor and his term of Office, and his eligibility, shall also be the same. He shall be President of the Senate, but shall only have a casting vote therein. If during a Vacancy of the office of Governor, the Lieutenant Governor shall be impeached, displaced, resign, die, or become incapable of performing the duties of the office, or be absent from the State, the President pro-tempore of the Senate shall act as Governor until the vacancy be filled or the disability cease.

Sec: 18. Vacancy in office of governor; duties to devolve upon lieutenant governor. In case of the impeachment of the Governor, or his removal from Office, death, inability to discharge the duties of the said Office, resignation or absence from the State, the powers and duties of the Office shall devolve upon the Lieutenant Governor for the residue of the term, or until the disability shall cease. But when the Governor shall with the consent of the Legislature be out of the State, in time of War, and at the head of any military force thereof, he shall continue Commander in Chief of the military forces of the State.

Sec. 19. Other state officers: Election and term of office; eligibility for office.

1. A Secretary of State, a Treasurer, a Controller, and an Attorney General, shall be elected at the same time and places, and in the same manner as the Governor. The term of office of each shall be the same as is prescribed for the Governor.

2. Any elector shall be eligible to any of these offices, but no person may be elected to any of them more than twice, or more than once if he has previously held the office by election or appointment.

[Amended in 1954 and 1996. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1951 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1953 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1954 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1951, p. 581; Statutes of Nevada 1953, p. 715. The second amendment was proposed by initiative petition and approved and ratified by the people at the 1994 and 1996 General Elections.]

Sec: 20. Secretary of State: Duties. The Secretary of State shall keep a true record of the Official Acts of the Legislative and Executive Departments of the Government, and shall when required, lay the same and all matters relative thereto, before either branch of the Legislature.

Sec: 21. Board of state prison commissioners; board of examiners; examination of claims. The Governor, Secretary of State and Attorney General shall constitute a Board of State Prison Commissioners, which Board shall have such supervision of all matters connected with the State Prison as may be provided by law. They shall also constitute a Board of Examiners, with power to examine all claims against the State (except salaries or compensation of Officers fixed by law) and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law, and no claim against the State (except salaries or compensation of Officers fixed by law) shall be passed upon by the Legislature without having been considered and acted upon by said "Board of Examiners."

Section 22. Duties of certain state officers. The Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Controller, Attorney General, and Superintendent of public instruction shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law.

ARTICLE. 6.

Judicial Department.

Sec. 1. Judicial power vested in court system.

2. Supreme court: Composition; staggered terms of justices; holding of court by panels of justices and full court.

3. Justices of supreme court: Election; terms; chief justice.

4. Jurisdiction of supreme court; appointment of district judge to sit for disabled or disqualified justice.

5. Judicial districts; election and terms of district judges.

6. District Courts: Jurisdiction; referees; family court.

7. Terms of Court.

8. Number, qualifications, terms of office and jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace; appeals; Courts of Record.

9. Municipal courts.

10. Fees or perquisites of judicial officers.

11. Justices and judges ineligible for other offices.

12. Judge not to charge jury respecting matters of fact; statement of testimony and declaration of law.

13. Style of process.

14. One form of civil action.

15. Compensation of Justices and Judges.

16. Special fee in civil action for compensation of judges.

17. Absence of judicial officer from state; vacation of office.

18. Territorial judicial officers not superseded until election and qualification of successors.

19. Administration of court system by chief justice.

20. Filling of vacancies occurring before expiration of term of office in supreme court or among district judges; commission on judicial selection.

21. Commission on judicial discipline; code of judicial conduct.

Section 1. Judicial power vested in court system. The Judicial power of this State shall be vested in a court system, comprising a Supreme Court, District Courts, and Justices of the Peace. The Legislature may also establish, as part of the system, Courts for municipal purposes only in incorporated cities and towns.

[Amended in 1976. Proposed and passed by the 1973 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1975 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1976 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1973, p. 1960; Statutes of Nevada 1975, p. 1934.]

Sec. 2. Supreme court: Composition; staggered terms of justices; holding of court by panels of justices and full court.

1. The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice and two or more associate justices, as may be provided by law. In increasing or diminishing the number of associate justices, the Legislature shall provide for the arrangement of their terms so that an equal number of terms, as nearly as may be, expire every 2 years.

2. The Legislature may provide by law:

(a) If the Court consists of more than five justices, for the hearing and decision of cases by panels of no fewer than three justices, the resolution by the full Court of any conflicts between decisions so rendered, and the kinds of cases which must be heard by the full Court.

(b) For the places of holding court by panels of justices if established, and by the full Court.

Sec: 3. Justices of supreme court: Election; terms; chief justice. The Justices of the Supreme Court, shall be elected by the qualified electors of the State at the general election, and shall hold office for the term of Six Years from and including the first Monday of January next succeeding their election; Provided, that there shall be elected, at the first election under this Constitution, Three Justices of the Supreme Court who shall hold Office from and including the first Monday of December AD. Eighteen hundred and Sixty four, and continue in Office thereafter, Two, Four and Six Years respectively, from and including the first Monday of January next suceeding [succeeding] their election. They shall meet as soon as practicable after their election and qualification, and at their first meeting shall determine by lot, the term of Office each shall fill, and the Justice drawing the shortest term shall be Chief Justice, and after the expiration of his term, the one having the next shortest term shall be Chief Justice, after which the Senior Justice in Commission shall be Chief Justice; and in case the commission of any two or more of said Justices shall bear the same date, they shall determine by lot, who shall be Chief Justice.

Sec. 4. Jurisdiction of supreme court; appointment of district judge to sit for disabled or disqualified justice. The supreme court shall have appellate jurisdiction in all civil cases arising in district courts, and also on questions of law alone in all criminal cases in which the offense charged is within the original jurisdiction of the district courts. The court shall also have power to issue writs of mandamus, certiorari, prohibition, quo warranto, and habeas corpus and also all writs necessary or proper to the complete exercise of its appellate jurisdiction. Each of the justices shall have power to issue writs of habeas corpus to any part of the state, upon petition by, or on behalf of, any person held in actual custody, and may make such writs returnable, before himself or the supreme court, or before any district court in the state or before any judge of said courts.

In case of the disability or disqualification, for any cause, of the chief justice or one of the associate justices of the supreme court, or any two of them, the governor is authorized and empowered to designate any district judge or judges to sit in the place or places of such disqualified or disabled justice or justices, and said judge or judges so designated shall receive their actual expense of travel and otherwise while sitting in the supreme court.

[Amended in 1920, 1976 and 1978. The first amendment was proposed and passed by the 1917 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1919 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1920 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1917, p. 491; Statutes of Nevada 1919, p. 485. The second amendment was proposed and passed by the 1973 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1975 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1976 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1973, p. 1953; Statutes of Nevada 1975, p. 1981. The third amendment was proposed and passed by the 1975 Legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1977 Legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1978 General Election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1975, p. 1951; Statutes of Nevada 1977, p. 1690.]

Sec. 5. Judicial districts; election and terms of district judges. The state is hereby divided into Nine Judicial Districts of which the county of Storey shall constitute the First; The county of Ormsby the Second; the county of Lyon the Third; The county of Washoe the Fourth; The counties of Nye and Churchill the Fifth; The county of Humboldt the Sixth; The county of Lander the Seventh; The county of Douglas the Eighth; and the county of Esmeralda the Ninth. The county of Roop shall be attached to the county of Washoe for judicial purposes until otherwise provided by law. The Legislature may, however, provide by law for an alteration in the boundaries or divisions of the Districts herein prescribed, and also for increasing or diminishing the number of the Judicial Districts and Judges therein. But no such change shall take effect, except in case of a vacancy, or the expiration of the term of an incumbent of the Office. At the first general election under this Constitution there shall be elected in each of the respective Districts (except as in this Section hereafter otherwise provided) One District Judge, who shall hold Office from and including the first Monday of December AD. Eighteen hundred and Sixty four and until the first Monday of January in the year Eighteen hundred and Sixty seven. After the said first election, there shall be elected at the General election which immediately precedes the expiration of the term of his predecessor, One District Judge in each of the respective Judicial Districts (except in the First District as in this Section hereinafter provided.) The District Judges shall be elected by the qualified electors of their respective districts, and shall hold office for the term of 6 years (excepting those elected at said first election) from and including the first Monday of January, next succeeding their election and qualification; Provided, that the First Judicial District shall be entitled to, and shall have Three District Judges, who shall possess co-extensive and concurrent jurisdiction, and who shall be elected at the same times, in the same manner, and shall hold office for the like terms as herein prescribed, in relation to the Judges in other Judicial Districts, any one of said Judges may preside on the empanneling [empaneling] of Grand Juries and the presentment and trial on indictments, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by law.

[Amended in 1976. Proposed and passed by the 1973 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1975 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1976 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1973, p. 1955; Statutes of Nevada 1975, p. 1932.]

Sec. 6. District Courts: Jurisdiction; referees; family court.

1. The District Courts in the several Judicial Districts of this State have original jurisdiction in all cases excluded by law from the original jurisdiction of justices' courts. They also have final appellate jurisdiction in cases arising in Justices Courts and such other inferior tribunals as may be established by law. The Dis

US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

Nevada Constitution

[PRELIMINARY ACTION.]

ORDINANCE

PREAMBLE.

ARTICLE. 1.

ARTICLE. 2.

ARTICLE. 3.

ARTICLE. 4.

ARTICLE. 5.

ARTICLE. 6.