Constitution of Colorado
| National Republican Constitution of the Republic of Colorado | |
|---|---|
 Front cover | |
| Overview | |
| Jurisdiction |  Republic of Colorado |
| Created | 8 November 2023 |
| Presented | 16 February 2024 |
| Ratified | 17 February 2024 |
| Date effective | 17 February 2024 |
| System | Unitary presidential republic |
| Government structure | |
| Branches | Five (executive, legislative, judiciary, constitutional, electoral) |
| Chambers | Unicameral |
| Executive | President |
| Judiciary | Supreme Court |
| Federalism | No |
| History | |
| Amendments | 1 |
| Last amended | 13 September 2024 |
| Author(s) | Friedrich von Colorado and Johann von Colorado |
| Signatories | 6 of the 8 Constitutional Assembly delegates |
| Supersedes | Royal Constitution |
The Constitution of Colorado, officially known as the National Republican Constitution of the Republic of Colorado, is the supreme law of the Republic. It replaced the Royal Constitution, the nation's first constitution, on 17 February 2024. Initially drafted between 8 November 2023 and its presentation to the Constitutional Assembly on 16 February 2024, the original Republican Constitution contained 128 articles across six titles. Between June and September 2024, the constitution underwent a near-complete rewrite, resulting in a document with 129 articles spread over eight parts. The revised constitution's first part outlines the state's fundamental principles, rights, and foundations, while the second part defines the structure of the government. The remaining parts cover the state's electoral process (Part III), legislative process (Part VII), amendment procedures (Part VI), and the three fundamental charters of Colorado (Part V).
The rewriting process was primarily led by Friedrich von Colorado and was conducted during the Constitutional Convention held from June to September 2024. Delegates at the convention included incumbent government ministers and select members of the public. Initially, the convention was tasked with addressing issues related to the status of the Colorado Party and the electoral system, which had proven inadequate. However, the delegates quickly expanded their focus, debating whether to draft a new constitution or revise the existing one. Under Friedrich von Colorado's leadership, the convention ultimately decided to revise the current constitution.
On 13 September 2024, the Constitutional Convention adopted the draft of the rewritten constitution, which came into effect on 20 September 2024.
History
Royal Constitution
The Royal Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Colorado was the first constitution of Colorado. It was drafted between 27 March and 5 April 2024, presented to the Legislative Assembly, and ratified on 5 April 2024. The Royal Constitution took effect on 24 April 2022 and remained in force until 29 October 2023, when it was repealed following the 2023 Coloradan institutional referendum, which resulted in the establishment of the Republic of Colorado.
While the Royal Constitution legally defined the Grand Duchy of Colorado as a constitutional monarchy, the extensive powers granted to the Grand Duke effectively made Colorado a semi-constitutional monarchy. The Legislative Assembly held limited authority and functioned primarily as an advisory body rather than as a legislative entity
Republican Constitution
The Republican Constitution of the Republic of Colorado is the second constitution of Colorado. Drafting for the constitution began on 8 November 2023 and lasted until 16 February 2024 when it was presented to the Constitutional Assembly. The Republican Constitution was ratified and took effect the following day.
The Republican Constitution cemented the transition of the Grand Duchy of Colorado into the Republic of Colorado, and established an elected executive and legislature. The Republican Constitution also established the Colorado Party as the ruling and sole legal party.
Revisions
Following the March 2024 parliamentary and presidential elections, the newly-elected government of Friedrich von Colorado promised to amend the constitution to make changes to the electoral system, establish an electoral court, and permit the creation of other political parties under the National Republican Front.
Divisions
The Coloradan Constitution has four major division types; Parts, Titles, Chapters and Articles, though these need not be present all the time. For example, the Eighth and final Part is divided into Titles and Chapters but not into Articles. The scheme of the Constitution is the following:
- Preamble
- First Part General Provisions (Art. 1 to 82)
- First Title Fundamental Foundations
- First Chapter The Republic
- Second Chapter Sovereignty
- Third Chapter Nationality
- Fourth Chapter Citizenship
- Second Title Fundamental Principles
- Fifth Chapter National Ideology
- Sixth Chapter National Republican Front
- Seventh Chapter Colorado Party
- Eighth Chapter Status of Religion
- Ninth Chapter Recognition of Select Religions
- Tenth Chapter Prohibition of Select Religions
- Third Title Fundamental Rights
- Eleventh Chapter Extension of Rights
- Twelfth Chapter Personal Rights
- Thirteenth Chapter Cultural Rights
- Fourteenth Chapter Economic Rights
- Fifteenth Chapter Political Rights
- First Title Fundamental Foundations
- Second Part Government of the Republic (Art. 83 to 101)
- Fourth Title Executive Branch
- Sixteenth Chapter President of the Republic
- Seventeenth Chapter Council of the Republic
- Fifth Title Legislative Branch
- Eighteenth Chapter President of the General Assembly
- Nineteenth Chapter General Assembly
- Sixth Title Judicial Branch
- Twentieth Chapter Chairman of the Supreme Court
- Twenty-first Chapter Supreme Court
- Seventh Title Constitutional Court
- Twenty-second Chapter Chairman of the Constitutional Court
- Twenty-third Chapter Constitutional Court
- Fourth Title Executive Branch
- Third Part Elections and Referenda (Art. 102 to 112)
- Eighth Title Electoral Court
- Twenty-fourth Chapter Chairman of the Electoral Court
- Twenty-fifth Chapter Electoral Court
- Ninth Title Elections in the Republic
- Twenty-sixth Chapter President
- Twenty-seventh Chapter General Assembly
- Tenth Title Referenda in the Republic
- Twenty-eighth Chapter General Referenda
- Twenty-ninth Chapter Constitutional Referenda
- Thirtieth Chapter Commission on Referenda in the Republic
- Eighth Title Electoral Court
- Fourth Part International Relations (Art. 113 and 114)
- Eleventh Title Relations with States
- Thirty-first Chapter Presidential Commission on State Relations
- Twelfth Title Association with Organisations
- Thirty-second Chapter Presidential Commission on International Organisations
- Eleventh Title Relations with States
- Fifth Part Charters of the Republic (Art. 115 to 118)
- Thirteenth Title Charters
- Thirty-third Chapter Charter of Accountability
- Thirty-fourth Chapter Charter of Transparency
- Thirty-fifth Chapter Charter of Equality
- Fourteenth Title Additional Charters
- Thirty-sixth Chapter Presidential Commission on State Charters
- Thirteenth Title Charters
- Sixth Part Constitution of the Republic (Art. 119 to 123)
- Fifteenth Title National Republican Constitution
- Thirty-seventh Chapter Alternative Names
- Thirty-eighth Chapter Jurisdiction and Authority of the National Republican Constitution
- Thirty-ninth Chapter Amending the National Republican Constitution
- Sixteenth Title Recognition of Prior Constitutions
- Fortieth Chapter Royal Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Colorado
- Forty-first Chapter Republican Constitution of the Republic of Colorado
- Fifteenth Title National Republican Constitution
- Seventh Part Laws of the Republic (Art. 124 to 129)
- Seventeenth Title Legislative Process
- Forty-second Chapter Legislative Process
- Forty-third Chapter Presidential Veto
- Forty-fourth Chapter Veto Override
- Seventeenth Title Legislative Process
- Eighth Part Constitutional Convention
- Eighteenth Title Signatories
- Forty-fifth Chapter Government Ministers
- Forty-sixth Chapter Convention Delegates
- Eighteenth Title Signatories
Preamble
The Preamble of the Coloradan Constitution states that the Republic of Colorado is "guided by the unwavering commitment to self-determination, democracy, and the principles of a free and equitable society," and that "the constitution, born from the collective will and aspirations of the people of Colorado, shall guide the nation as a beacon of democracy, equality, and self-determination."
Declarations, rights and guarantees
The Constitution establishes fundamental rights and guarantees for all citizens; the inviolability of the right of life, liberty, equality, security and property.
Declarations
Declarations state the basis that hold the nation's politics and define it as an independent entity, for example, Article 1 states that the government is representative, republican and unitary.
Guarantees
They are institutional methods to protect the exercise of fundamental rights. They are so important that it is possible to say that a right can be held as long as it has a guarantee to protect it. Most of the guarantees found in the Constitution are in Chapter XI.
Rights
The Coloradan Constitution's rights are divided in four groups: personal, cultural, economic and political.
- Personal rights are related to the people as individuals. Some examples are: right to live, have honour, have a name, make associations and to express opinions.
- Cultural rights are related to the national groups in the Republic of Colorado. Some examples are: the protection of families and children, and the rights to know, to learn and to teach.
- Economic rights protect men in relation to their goods. Some examples are: to own, to sell, to hire, and to build legal industries.
- Political rights allow people to take part in the government, by themselves or by electing representatives. Some examples are: the right to choose and be chosen for the government, and to make or join a political party.
In Colorado, freedom is one of the most important rights.
Form of government
According to the Constitution, Colorado is a representative unitary republic. Additionally, the Constitution establishes Colorado as a nation-state as the Coloradan identity is given extensive recognition throughout the Constitution.
Divisions of government powers
The Constitution mandates a loose separation of government powers, into five branches (Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Constitutional, and Electoral).
Executive
The Executive Branch is formed by the President of Colorado, who is both head of state, as well as chief executive and head of government, and the State Council of Colorado.
Legislative
Constitutionally, the supreme state authority and legislature of Colorado is the General Assembly.
The General Assembly is elected every 6 months. The amount of members that can be elected to the General Assembly is not fixed, and can be anywhere from 5 to 9 members.
The president of the General Assembly is the presiding officer and chief administrative officer of the General Assembly.
Judicial
The Supreme Court of the Republic of Colorado is the sole civil and criminal court in the Republic of Colorado. The Supreme Court consists of three members: its chief justice and two associate justices.
Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Colorado is the sole appellate and constitutional court in the Republic of Colorado. The Constitutional Court consists of three members: its chief justice and two associate justices.
Electoral Court
The Electoral Court of the Republic of Colorado is the sole electoral court in the Republic of Colorado. The Electoral Court consists of three members: its chief justice and two associate justices.
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