“ All offenses committed against the laws of the Territory of Washington, before the change from a territorial to a state government, and which shall not be prosecuted before such change, may be prosecuted in the name and by the authority of the State of Washington, with like effect as though such change had not taken place; and all penalties incurred shall remain the same as if this Constitution had not been adopted. ”
Summary
The Washington State Constitution, a foundational legal document, establishes the structure of state governance and outlines key principles for legislation and public administration. It addresses the roles of the legislature, governor, and other officials, alongside procedures for amendments and electoral processes. Central themes include the protection of property rights, the organization of legislative districts, and the continuation of territorial laws.
The text also details mechanisms for convening constitutional conventions and sets qualifications for public office, emphasizing structured governance and civic participation. Its provisions reflect a balance between state authority and individual rights, providing a legal framework for Washington's political systems.
Quotes from Washington State Constitution ()
“ No private property shall be taken or damaged for public or private use without just compensation having first been made, or paid into court for the owner, and no right of way shall be appropriated to the use of any corporation other than municipal, until full compensation therefor be first made in money, or ascertained and paid into the court for the owner, irrespective of any benefit from any improvement proposed by such corporation, which compensation shall be ascertained by a jury, unless a jury be waived as in other civil cases in courts of record, in the manner prescribed by law. ”
“ Whenever two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the legislature shall deem it necessary to call a convention to revise or amend this Constitution, they shall recommend to the electors to vote at the next general election, for or against a convention, and if a majority of all the electors voting at said election shall have voted for a convention, the legislature shall at the next session, provide by law for calling the same ”
