State constitution
Constitution of Connecticut
Data from CT Secretary of the State
Full 14-article structure with condensed section text. Article First (Declaration of Rights) is close to the section headings; the long Article Fourth (Executive) shows principal sections. The 30-plus Articles of Amendment are summarized in a final entry rather than listed one-by-one. Read the complete, verbatim constitution at the source link.
Article Pr. Preamble
§ — Preamble
The people of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good providence of God, and seeking to preserve liberty and promote the common welfare, ordain and establish this Constitution.
Article First Declaration of Rights
§ 1 Equality; no exclusive emoluments
All persons when they form a social compact are equal in rights, and no one is entitled to exclusive public emoluments or privileges from the community.
§ 2 Political power in the people
All political power is inherent in the people, and they have at all times an undeniable right to alter their form of government as they may think expedient.
§ 3 Religious liberty
The exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination, is free to all in the State.
§ 4 Freedom of speech and press
Every citizen may freely speak, write, and publish sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.
§ 5 No law abridging speech or press
No law shall ever be passed to curtail or restrain the liberty of speech or of the press.
§ 6 Truth as a defense; jury in libel
In prosecutions for libel, the truth may be given in evidence, and the jury has the right to determine the law and the facts under the court's direction.
§ 7 Searches and seizures
The people are secure from unreasonable searches and seizures; warrants require probable cause supported by oath and must describe the place and persons or things.
§ 8 Rights of the accused; victims' rights
In criminal prosecutions the accused has the right to counsel, to be informed of the charge, to confront witnesses, to compulsory process, to a speedy public trial by an impartial jury, and against self-incrimination and deprivation of liberty without due process; crime victims are afforded enumerated rights.
§ 9 No unlawful arrest or detention
No person shall be arrested, detained, or punished except in cases clearly warranted by law.
§ 10 Courts open; redress
All courts shall be open, and every person, for an injury done to them in person, property, or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law and right and justice administered without sale, denial, or delay.
§ 11 Eminent domain
Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.
§ 12 Habeas corpus
The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless the public safety requires it in case of rebellion or invasion.
§ 13 No legislative attainder
No person shall be attainted of treason or felony by the legislature.
§ 14 Right to assemble and petition
The citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble for the common good and to apply to those in power for redress of grievances by petition or remonstrance.
§ 15 Right to bear arms
Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State.
§ 16 Military subordinate to civil power
The military shall in all cases be held in strict subordination to the civil power.
§ 17 Quartering of soldiers
No soldier shall in peacetime be quartered in any house without the owner's consent, nor in war except as prescribed by law.
§ 18 No hereditary distinctions
No hereditary emoluments, privileges, or honors shall ever be granted or conferred in the State.
§ 19 Trial by jury
The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, with the number of jurors and the procedure fixed by law.
§ 20 Equal protection; no discrimination
No person shall be denied the equal protection of the law nor subjected to segregation or discrimination in the exercise of civil or political rights because of religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, or physical or mental disability.
Article Second Of the Distribution of Powers
§ 1 Separation of powers
The powers of government are divided into three distinct departments — legislative, executive, and judicial — each confided to a separate branch, with limited exceptions permitting delegation of regulatory authority.
Article Third Of the Legislative Department
§ 1 Legislative power
The legislative power of the State is vested in a General Assembly consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
§ 2 Sessions
The General Assembly convenes in regular annual session and may meet in special session as provided.
§ 3 The Senate
The Senate consists of not fewer than thirty and not more than fifty members elected from single-member districts.
§ 4 The House of Representatives
The House consists of not fewer than 125 and not more than 225 members elected from single-member districts, as nearly equal in population as practicable.
§ 5 Apportionment; districting
Assembly and Senate districts are established consistent with federal constitutional standards and reapportioned after each decennial census.
§ 6 Reapportionment process
Reapportionment is carried out by the General Assembly and, failing timely action, by a commission and ultimately the Supreme Court.
§ 7 Terms of members
Senators and Representatives are elected for two-year terms.
§ 8 Judge of elections; qualifications
Each house is the final judge of the election qualifications of its own members.
§ 9 Officers; rules; discipline
Each house chooses its officers, determines its rules, and may punish or expel members for disorderly conduct.
§ 10 Quorum
A majority of each house constitutes a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn and compel attendance.
§ 11 Journals; open sessions
Each house keeps a journal of its proceedings, and its sessions are public except where secrecy is required.
§ 12 Privileges of members
Members are privileged from arrest during sessions except for serious crimes and are not questioned elsewhere for words spoken in debate.
§ 13 Passage of bills
Bills are passed by a majority of each house and follow the procedures prescribed by the Constitution and rules.
§ 14 Effective date of laws
Laws take effect on the date fixed by the General Assembly or as otherwise provided.
§ 15 Presentation to the Governor
Every bill passed by both houses is presented to the Governor for approval or veto.
§ 16 Style of laws
The enacting style of laws is prescribed by the Constitution.
§ 17 Emoluments; incompatible office
No member may hold an incompatible office or receive a prohibited emolument during their term.
§ 18 Impeachment power
The House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment, and the Senate the sole power to try impeachments.
Article Fourth Of the Executive Department
§ 1 Executive power; Governor
The supreme executive power of the State is vested in a Governor.
§ 2 Election of Governor
The Governor is elected by the qualified electors at the general election.
§ 3 Term of Governor
The Governor holds office for four years.
§ 4 Qualifications
The Governor must be an elector of the State and at least thirty years of age.
§ 5 Supreme executive authority
The Governor takes care that the laws are faithfully executed.
§ 6 Commander-in-chief
The Governor is captain general and commander-in-chief of the State's military forces except when called into federal service.
§ 8 Message to the Assembly
The Governor communicates to the General Assembly the condition of the State and recommends measures.
§ 9 Convening the Assembly
The Governor may convene the General Assembly in special session on extraordinary occasions.
§ 12 Reprieves and pardons
The Governor may grant reprieves after conviction, except in cases of impeachment, until the end of the next session of the General Assembly.
§ 13 Appointments
The Governor appoints officers whose selection is not otherwise provided for, with the consent of the General Assembly where required.
§ 15 Veto power
The Governor may approve or veto bills, and may veto individual items of appropriation bills; a veto may be overridden by two-thirds of each house.
§ 16 Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor is elected with the Governor, presides over the Senate, and succeeds to the office of Governor upon a vacancy.
§ 17 Other officers of the executive
The Treasurer, Secretary of the State, Comptroller, and Attorney General are elected constitutional officers of the executive department.
§ 18 Treasurer
The Treasurer receives, keeps, and disburses the State's money as directed by law.
§ 19 Secretary of the State
The Secretary of the State keeps the public records and performs the duties prescribed by law.
§ 20 Comptroller
The Comptroller adjusts and settles the public accounts and prescribes the mode of keeping and rendering them.
§ 21 Salaries
The salaries of executive officers are fixed by law and not changed to their disadvantage during their terms as provided.
§ 24 Succession; disability
The line of succession and the procedure for determining gubernatorial disability are established by this article.
Article Fifth Of the Judicial Department
§ 1 Judicial power; courts
The judicial power of the State is vested in a Supreme Court, an Appellate Court, a Superior Court, and such lower courts as the General Assembly may establish.
§ 2 Jurisdiction and rules
The powers and jurisdiction of the courts are defined by law, and the judges adopt rules of procedure.
§ 3 Appointment of judges
Judges are nominated by the Governor from candidates recommended by the Judicial Selection Commission and appointed by the General Assembly.
§ 4 Terms; retirement
Judges hold office for eight-year terms and must retire at the age fixed by the Constitution.
§ 5 Removal and discipline
Judges may be removed by impeachment or, for cause, by the Governor on the address of two-thirds of each house, and are subject to discipline as provided.
Article Sixth Of the Qualifications of Electors
§ 1 Qualifications of electors
Every U.S. citizen at least eighteen years old who is a resident of a Connecticut town and has taken the elector's oath is entitled to vote.
§ 2 Admission of electors
The privileges of an elector are conferred upon meeting the age, citizenship, and residence qualifications and taking the prescribed oath.
§ 3 Disqualification
The General Assembly may by law disqualify persons convicted of certain crimes from voting, subject to restoration of rights.
§ 4 Privilege from arrest
Electors are privileged from arrest while going to, attending, and returning from elections, except for serious crimes.
§ 7 Absentee voting
The General Assembly provides by law for voting by qualified electors who are absent or unable to appear at the polls.
Article Seventh Of Religion
§ — Free exercise; no compelled support
It is the right of every person to worship according to the dictates of their conscience; no one may be compelled to join, support, or attend any religious society against their will, and each religious denomination has equal rights.
Article Eighth Of Education
§ 1 Free public schools
There shall always be free public elementary and secondary schools in the State, and the General Assembly shall implement this principle by appropriate legislation.
§ 2 The University of Connecticut
The charter and franchises of the University of Connecticut are confirmed as a continuation of its historic corporation.
§ 3 School fund
The State's school fund is perpetual, and its income is applied to the support and encouragement of public schools.
Article Ninth Of Impeachments
§ 1 Power of impeachment
The House of Representatives has the sole power of impeaching officers of the State.
§ 2 Trial of impeachments
All impeachments are tried by the Senate, and no person is convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.
§ 3 Officers liable; judgment
The Governor and other executive and judicial officers are liable to impeachment, and judgment extends only to removal and disqualification from office.
Article Tenth Of Home Rule
§ 1 Powers of towns and municipalities
The General Assembly shall by general law delegate powers of local self-government to towns, cities, and boroughs, and may enact special legislation on local matters only under stated conditions.
§ 2 Existing charters and districts
Existing municipal charters, special acts, and districts remain in force until changed under the home-rule provisions.
Article Eleventh General Provisions
§ 1 Oath of office
Members of the General Assembly and officers of the State take an oath to support the U.S. and State Constitutions and to discharge their duties faithfully.
§ 2 Continuity of laws
All laws in force at the adoption of this Constitution and not inconsistent with it remain in force until altered or repealed.
§ 3 Rights and obligations preserved
All prior rights, actions, contracts, and obligations of the State and of individuals continue unaffected by the adoption of this Constitution.
§ 4 Continuity of government in emergency
The General Assembly may provide for the prompt and temporary continuity of governmental operations in emergencies caused by enemy attack.
Article Twelfth Of Amendments to the Constitution
§ 1 Legislative proposal of amendments
Amendments may be proposed in the House of Representatives or Senate; if approved by a majority (and, for amendments not receiving a three-fourths vote, in two successive sessions), they are submitted to the electors, and take effect when approved by a majority voting on them.
Article Thirteenth Of Constitutional Conventions
§ 1 Calling a convention
The General Assembly may submit to the electors the question of calling a convention to amend or revise the Constitution, and must do so periodically as provided.
§ 2 Delegates and procedure
If a convention is approved, delegates are chosen and the convention's proposals are submitted to the electors for ratification.
§ 3 Ratification
Proposals of a convention take effect only when approved by a majority of the electors voting on them.
Article Fourteenth Of the Effective Date of This Constitution
§ 1 Effective date
This Constitution took effect on the date fixed for its adoption, superseding the Constitution of 1818 as amended.
Article Amend. Articles of Amendment
§ — Amendments since 1965
More than thirty Articles of Amendment have been ratified since 1965 and are incorporated into the text above where relevant — among them adding the Attorney General as an elected officer, lowering the voting age to eighteen, adding sex and physical or mental disability to the equal-protection clause, creating the Appellate Court and the Division of Criminal Justice, establishing crime-victims' rights, and imposing constitutional expenditure and spending limits. The full, individually numbered amendments are at the source link.
Full, verbatim text at CT Secretary of the State