Constitution of Delaware

The Constitution of the State of Delaware of 1897 is the fourth and current governing document for Delaware state government and has been in effect since June 10 of that year.

Executive
The Governor is the executive officer of the State, and is chosen by the qualified electors of the State, once every four years, at the general election. The term of the Governor is for four years, from the third Tuesday in January following the election. A person may be elected Governor only twice. The Governor must be thirty years old, a citizen and inhabitant of the United States for twelve years before the day of the election, and for the last six years of that time an inhabitant of Delaware.

The Governor is commander-in-chief of the state armed forces including the militia and, with the consent of the State Senate, appoint the Secretary of State to serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

Legislation approved by the General Assembly is submitted to the Governor for approval. In the event approval is not given, the legislation is returned to the General Assembly, reconsidered, and may become law without the Governor's approval only if three-fifths of each House of the General Assembly approve it.

Members of the Delaware Constitutional Convention of 1897. The Convention convened in December 1896 and adjourned June 4, 1897.


 * John Biggs, President, Democrat from New Castle County
 * Edward G. Bradford
 * Martin B. Burris
 * William A. Cannon
 * Paris T. Carlisle, Jr.
 * Wilson T. Cavender
 * David S. Clark
 * J. Wilkins Cooch
 * Ezekiel W. Cooper
 * Robert W. Dasey
 * Joshua A. Ellegood
 * Charles B. Evans
 * James B. Gilchrist
 * Robert G. Harman
 * Edward D. Hearne
 * John W. Hering
 * Andrew J. Horsey
 * Andrew L. Johnson
 * Woodburn Martin
 * Elias N. Moore
 * George H. Murray
 * William P. Orr, Jr.
 * Nathan Pratt
 * Charles F. Richards
 * Lowder L. Sapp
 * William Saulsbury
 * William T. Smithers
 * William C. Spruance, Republican from New Castle County
 * Isaac K. Wright

Amendment procedure
The Delaware Constitution is unusual in that the legislature has authority to amend it without a referendum. Article XVI, Section 1, of the Delaware Constitution provides that

The people are notified of the proposed amendment through the newspaper publications and may make their views known, and give effect to their desires, by voting for or against those legislators who are seeking to amend the constitution.