We, the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for the preservation of the American Union and the existence of our civil, political and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those blessings to us and our posterity, do, for the more certain security thereof and for the better government of this State, ordain and establish this Constitution.[12][13]

Article I – Declaration of Rights

Each of the 37 sections of Article I outline a separate recognized right. Many of the sections give more depth to the rights covered by the United States Bill of Rights. The state constitution also secures additional rights: for example, the right to a public education and to open courts. Also of note, this section specifically denies the state the ability to secede from the United States and declares that each citizen of this State owes paramount allegiance to the Constitution and government of the United States. Section 38, added in 2018, is the newest addition to this article. This section declares the right to hunt and fish.[13]

Article II – Legislative

Article II declares that all legislative powers in North Carolina are given to the General Assembly. The General Assembly consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives, with 50 and 120 members, respectively. Guidelines for the formation of voting districts and qualification for office are also covered. Each house has a term of two years. This article also gives the governor the power to veto public bills, defined as bills affecting more than 15 counties, in most circumstances. Veto power was denied the governor until 1996 when the constitution was amended.[13] North Carolina was the last state to extend this power to its governor.[14]

Article III – Executive

The governor is vested with all executive authority in Article III. The duties of the governor are defined as is the process of succession, should the governor die or become incapacitated. Holders of the governor office are limited to two consecutive terms. The

Constitution of North Carolina

Constitution of North Carolina

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American state constitution

The Constitution of the State of North Carolina governs the structure and function of the state government of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states; it is the highest legal document for the state and subjugates North Carolina law. (Like all U.S. state constitutions, it is still subject to federal judicial review.)

Seal of North Carolina 1776. Now an alternate seal.

The first North Carolina Constitution was created in 1776 after the American Declaration of Independence. Since the first state constitution, there have been two major revisions and many amendments. The current form was ratified in 1971 and has 14 articles.

The three constitutions North Carolina has had are:

• 1776: as the first constitution of the independent state. The Declaration of Rights was ratified the preceding day.
• 1868: Framed in accordance with the Reconstruction Acts after North Carolina was readmitted into the Union. It was a major reorganization and modification of the original into fourteen articles. It also introduced townships which each county was required to create, the only southern state to do so.
• 1971: Minor consolidation of the 1868 constitution and subsequent amendments.[ citation needed]