Constitution of Kansas — Ordinance

Publisher edition notice: The publisher's complete PDF carries a 2026 copyright and identifies its constitution text as updated in 2022. Its separately published Schedule and Resolutions are also included. Later amendments beyond that compilation have not been independently verified.

Ordinance

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF KANSAS

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CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF KANSAS Constitution Text Updated in 2022

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ii Copyright 2026 By The Secretary of State of Kansas For the use and benefit of the State of Kansas Additional copies may be obtained by contacting: Scott Schwab, Secretary of State Office of the Secretary of State 785-296-4564 kssos@ks.gov

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iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Ordinance and Preamble.................................................................................... 1 Bill of Rights .......................................................................................................... 5 Article 1: Executive ............................................................................................11 Article 2: Legislative ..........................................................................................17 Article 3: Judicial ...............................................................................................25 Article 4: Elections .............................................................................................33 Article 5: Suffrage ..............................................................................................37 Article 6: Education ...........................................................................................41 Article 7: Public Institutions and Welfare ......................................................47 Article 8: Militia ...................................................................................................51 Article 9: County and Township Organization ..............................................55 Article 10: Apportionment of the Legislature ...............................................59 Article 11: Finance and Taxation ....................................................................63 Article 12: Corporations....................................................................................71 Article 13: Banks ................................................................................................77 Article 14: Constitutional Amendment and Revision ..................................81 Article 15: Miscellaneous .................................................................................85

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ORDINANCE AND PREAMBLE

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Ordinance and Preamble 3 WHEREAS, The government of the United States is the proprietor of a large portion of the lands included in the limits of the state of Kansas as defined by this consti- tution; and, WHEREAS, The state of Kansas will possess the right to tax said lands for purposes of government, and for other purposes; now, therefore, Be it ordained by the people of Kansas: That the right of the state of Kansas to tax such lands is relinquished forever, and the state of Kansas will not interfere with the title of the United States to such lands, nor with any regulation of congress in relation thereto, nor tax nonresidents higher than residents: Provided always, That the following conditions be agreed to by congress: § 1. School sections. Section numbered sixteen and thirty-six in each township in the state, including In- dian reservations and trust lands, shall be granted to the state for the exclusive use of common schools; and when either of said sections, or any part thereof, has been disposed of, other lands of equal value, as nearly contiguous thereto as possible, shall be substituted therefor. § 2. University lands. That seventy-two sections of land shall be granted to the state for the erection and maintenance of a state university. § 3. Lands for public buildings. That thirty-six sections shall be granted to the state for the erection of public buildings. § 4. Lands for benevolent institutions. That seventy-two sections shall be granted to the state for the erection and mainte- nance of charitable and benevolent institutions. § 5. Salt springs and mines. That all salt springs, not exceeding twelve in number, with six sections of land adja- cent to each, together with all mines, with the lands necessary for their full use, shall be granted to the state for works of public improvement.

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4 Constitution of the State of Kansas § 6. Proceeds to schools. That five percentum of the proceeds of the public lands in Kansas, disposed of after the admission of the state into the union, shall be paid to the state for a fund, the income of which shall be used for the support of common schools. § 7. School lands. That the five hundred thousand acres of land to which the state is entitled under the act of congress entitled “An act to appropriate the proceeds of the sales of public lands and grant preemption rights,” approved September 4th, 1841, shall be granted to the state for the support of common schools. § 8. Selection of lands. That the lands hereinbefore mentioned shall be selected in such manner as may be prescribed by law; such selections to be subject to the approval of the commission- er of the general land office of the United States.