1. Socrative Partner Question
20 Points
Homework/In-Class Category
Due by the end of class
Room=Dial155
Enter Names
How has the Ohio Constitution changed over time?  Use the following link:  
Compare the Ohio Constitution of 1803 and  A)  Ohio General Assembly  B)  Ohio Governor  C)  Judicial Branch
Other Important Dates for changes to the Ohio Constitution:  1903, 1912, 1956, 1966, and 1992

2. Ohio Constitution Over Time
Objective: I can explain how the Ohio Constitution was drafted in 1851 to address difficulties in governing the state of Ohio.

3. Ohio Constitution of 1803 Creates Ohio General Assembly
Bicameral-House of Representatives & Senate
Senators unlimited 2 year terms
Representatives unlimited 1 year terms
30 members of the House of Representatives
14 members of the Senate
Each county guaranteed certain number of members

4. Ohio Constitution of 1803
General Assembly had to approve all appointments the Governor made
General Assembly selected Ohio’s judges
Governor 2 Year Terms
Governor could not veto
Prohibited Slavery-honoring Northwest Ordinance
All white men could vote-paid taxes or helped build & maintain the state’s roads
Convention failed to extend the right of suffrage to African-American men in the Constitution by a single vote

5. Ohio Constitution of 1851 Both Houses serve 2 year terms
Ohio voters elect judges and many state office holders
# of legislative members fluctuated each session; each county is no longer guaranteed a representative

6. Ohio Constitution of 1851
1803 Constitution required the Ohio Supreme Court to meet once each year in every county in the state—few counties existed in 1803
Over the next 50 years the number counties increased until it was virtually impossible for the Supreme Court to fulfill its obligations under the original constitution.
Dropped this requirement

7. Ohio Constitution of 1851
Gave Ohio voters the right to elect the governor, other high-ranking state officials, and judges
Use to have only two levels of courts within the state, a third level of district courts was added between the Ohio Supreme Court and common pleas courts.
Only adult white men who had resided in the state for at least a one year could vote.
Overwhelming delegates voted against extending suffrage to African-American men and women of all races.

8. Ohio Constitution of 1851
The voters had to approve all constitutional amendments in the future and received the option to call a new constitutional convention every twenty years.
Governor could not veto
Legislature had the power to tax, had to tax all social classes at the same rate and could not implement a lottery or a poll tax.
Legislature also had the power to create new counties with approval of the residents in proposed county-last county created was Noble County-before Constitution took effect

9. Ohio Constitution of 1851
To go into effect, Ohio voters had to approve the constitution.

10. 1903 Ohio voters approved veto power for the governor
Each county guaranteed at least one member of the Ohio House of Representatives
All members of House would be at large positions

11. Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1912
Decided not to create a new constitution
Delegates wrote 41 potential amendments
Proposed amendments presented to the citizens of Ohio in special election on Sept. 3, 1912
Voters approved 33 amendments and rejected 8 others
Reflected Progressive reforms of this era

12. Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1912
Some amendments changed the legal process in the state and reflected rights granted to the accused under the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution
Amendments granted the state the power to pass legislation that regulated working conditions in factories, set an eight-hour day for public works employees, and create a mandatory workmen’s compensation system

13. Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1912
The initiative, the referendum, municipal home rule, and direct primary elections were also approved.
Some amendments passed dealt with education and conservation issues as well.

14. Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1912
Ohio voters did not approve amendments that would have granted women the right to vote, abolish the death penalty, allow the state to regulate outdoor advertising, or provide for the use of voting machines in elections.
There was also an amendment that would have removed the word “white” from the constitution-Ohio voters refused to support this amendment as well.

15. 1956
Ohio voters agreed to extend senator terms from 2 years to 4 years

16. 1966 Federal courts declared apportionment unconstitutional in Ohio
Created a new system of apportionment
99 Ohio House of Representatives
33 Ohio Senators
Districts based on population

17. 1992
State constitutional amendment limited legislators to 8 years [2 terms] in the Ohio Senate and 8 years [4 terms] in the Ohio House.

18. Essay Question How has the Ohio Constitution changed over time?
20 Points
Assessment Category
Due Thursday
How has the Ohio Constitution changed over time?  
Use the following link:  
Use today’s T-Chart and notes