Essay talk:A Constitutional Amendment in Iowa

Fear not the people

When they tried to make an amendment of that sort here in Minnesota, the motion was stopped in the Senate before it could go on the ballot. Iowa is more liberal than Minnesota, or so they say; I venture to predict that a similar occurrence will take place there if such an amendment is proposed (especially should it not only reverse the ruling but also remove gays as a protected class). ListenerX^TalkerX 16:50, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

Yeah, not sure how the Iowa Constitution gets amended. Does it require Congressional approval?--En attendant Godot_{"To-morrow, when I wake, or think I do, what shall I say of to-day?"} 16:51, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

Nice. Looks like Iowa has a two year approval process (approve of the Senate over 2 consecutive years) then goes to the electorate. Why is Colorado so fucking backwards. Here, you need a very small number of signatures (compared to the population at large), 60,000... and then it's on the ballot. No review by the SOS, no review by Congress. we be stupid here in Colorado, and thus have some amazingly stupid amendments to our constitution, including the "no shooting bears" fiasco which resulted in an over population of black bears in Denver. (yes, DENVER, as in on city roof tops. not just mountain towns). Why didn't our framers write a good constitution like Iowa. whaaa....--En attendant Godot_{"To-morrow, when I wake, or think I do, what shall I say of to-day?"} 16:56, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

In MA the amendment after court case died because the legislature kept it tabled until it died. Ugly, but effective. As far as the mentions of Congress above... Congress really has no say in state constitution matters, except in that generally federal law overrides state laws. ħuman 19:21, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

I meant the state congress, sorry. I would say house and senate but if i recall my state govt from like 150 years ago when I was in 8th grade, not all states have House & Senate systems.--En attendant Godot_{"To-morrow, when I wake, or think I do, what shall I say of to-day?"} 21:15, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

Ah, ok, no big deal. Best word to use in that case is "[state] legislature" if it comes up again. I think all 50 states have bicameral legislatures, although the house names vary (like our NH lower house be called the General Assembly, I think). Of course, every one of them have different amendment procedures for their constitutions. And I think they all have constitutions (I think it's a requirement to join the Union?). ħuman 22:03, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

Nebraska has a unicameral legislature. ListenerX^TalkerX 22:09, 6 April 2009 (EDT)

I hear they can still go a long time without water, though. ħuman 22:18, 6 April 2009 (EDT)