Citizenship: A Manual for Voters

by Emma Guy Cromwell

In the preamble of the Constitution of the United States we find the general purpose for which government is instituted:

"We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

The Constitution of the United States is our fundamental law and no state constitution can conflict with our Federal Constitution.

There are now forty-eight states in the United States with forty-eight constitutions framed upon the Federal Constitution. Each state has its own constitution, which in no way conflicts with the Federal Constitution.

The first Constitution of Kentucky was adopted April 3, 1792, at a convention that met in Danville, and later on June 1st, 1792, Kentucky was admitted into the union as a state.

Our government is conducted according to our National and State Constitutions.

In every constitution there is a provision for making a change. These changes are called amendments. An amendment is a law passed by the General Assembly and adopted by a majority of the voters.

An amendment to the Kentucky Constitution requires a three-fifths vote of the members in both houses of the legislature to pass, and then it is submitted by the General Assembly to the voters of the State, which requires a majority of the voters to be adopted.

The legislature cannot repeal an amendment to the Constitution, or pass laws contrary to its provision. The session of nineteen and twenty in Kentucky passed two amendments pertaining to school matters. One provides for the appointment of the Superintendent of Public Instruction by the Governor, and the other amendment provides: "That the General Assembly have the power to distribute the school funds."

At the next general election we will vote on these two amendments. If the majority of the voters vote yes, this change will be made, and the General Assembly will have the power to distribute the school funds and the Governor will appoint the Superintendent of Public Instruction.