Kansas constitutional amendments that failed

KANSAS (KSNT) – From redefining suffrage and repealing prohibition to overhauling tax systems and increasing legislative pay, Kansas voters and the Kansas Supreme Court have historically rejected a wide range of constitutional amendments over the years.

Working for you, 27 News compiled a list from the Kansas Secretary of State of all the failed amendments to the Kansas Constitution. While most rejections came from voters, two exemptions were ruled invalid by the Kansas Supreme Court.

The amendments rejected by the Kansas Supreme Court regarded a 1951 amendment on tenure limits for sheriffs and county treasurers and a 1970 amendment relating to the executive branch. The Supreme Court found the amendments were improperly submitted.

For over a century, a recurring amendment to the state Constitution has been to increase pay for legislators. In Kansas’ history, seven propositions have been made to change compensation for members of the legislature. Only one proposal to increase lawmaker pay was approved in 1961; the other six proposals were rejected by voters.

According to the Kansas Legislative Research Department, 99 constitutional amendments have been adopted and 34 have been rejected over Kansas’ history, including a proposition that was split into two questions that were both rejected in 1953.

The amendments rejected by voters in Kansas, not including propositions to increase lawmaker pay, from 1861 to the present day include:

1. 1867: Elimination of “male” from elector qualifications.
2. 1867: Elimination of “white” from elector qualifications.
3. 1879: Call for a constitutional convention.
4. 1879: Removal of a clause exempting $200 in personal property from taxation.
5. 1885: Increase in Supreme Court membership.
6. 1889: A proposition to change the limit of legislative sessions to 90 days.
7. 1889: Changes to the number of Supreme Court justices and their terms of office.
8. 1891: Call for a constitutional convention.
9. 1893: A proposition to establish equal suffrage.
10. 1907: Proposition to bar judges from holding other offices.
11. 1913: Amendments to finance and taxation provisions.
12. 1919: Amendments to finance and taxation provisions.
13. 1923: Bond issue for veterans of the wars with Spain, the Philippine insurrection and China relief expedition.
14. 1929: Addition of income tax provision.
15. 1931: Removal of sheriff and treasurer from tenure limits.
16. 1931: Tax limitation provision.
17. 1933: Proposition to repeal a section of the Kansas Constitution and add a new section on alcoholic liquor.
18. 1951: Proposition to amend the tenure limits for sheriffs and county treasurers. The Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the proposition could not be submitted to electors.
19. 1953: Tenure limits for sheriffs and county treasurers.
20. 1955: To amend the taxation system (Article 11, §1).
21. 1970: An amendment relating to intoxicating liquors.
22. 1974: Education amendment relating to the state board of education, the operation, supervision and control of community junior colleges and the state board of regents.
23. 1986: Revise Article 6 relating to education.
24. 1990: Revise Article 6 relating to education.
25. 1999: Relating to the exemption of property used for oil and gas development, exploration and production purposes.
26. 2000: Classification/taxation of aircraft and watercraft.
27. 2021: “Value Them Both” abortion amendment adding a new section, stating that there is no constitutional right to abortion.
28. 2022: A proposition to amend the Kansas Constitution regarding the oversight of the executive branch.

Constitutional amendments in Kansas can be made through a constitutional convention or through proposals by the state legislature. Proposals by the legislature require a two-thirds approval from both houses. Once approved, the proposed changes are then submitted to voters during the next general or special election. Up to five amendments can be submitted in a single election, according to the Kansas Secretary of State website.

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