Alaska’s Constitution: A Citizen’s Guide A Citizen’s Constitution: Alaska’s Alaska’s Constitution A Citizen’s Guide Gordon Harrison Gordon Gordon Harrison Published by: Alaska Legislative Affairs Agency Alaska Legislative Copies available from the Alaska Legislative Information Office, Affairs Agency Room 111 Terry Miller Building, Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182 (907-465-4648), or viewed online at FIFTH EDITION http://akleg.gov/docs/pdf/citizens_guide.pdf PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION This publication first appeared as a booklet in 1982. I wrote it under contract with the Alaska Legislature to provide the public with an overview of the state constitution prior to the general election that year at which voters were asked if there should be a constitutional convention. A second edition, updated and expanded slightly, appeared in 1986. A third edition, updated and expanded substantially, appeared in 1992, prior to the vote on the question of calling a constitutional convention. A fourth edition appeared in 2003. Although there had been only one amendment to the constitution since then, there had been several important judicial decisions on constitutional questions and a number of constitutionally-relevant political developments that warranted a fifth edition in 2012. In the preface to the fourth edition, I lamented the growing length of this publication. My concern was that it might become intimidating to the average citizen of the state, for whom it was originally intended. On the other hand, I wanted it to be useful as a reference for legislators, their staff, and other state employees whose work may require more detail about the constitution than the typical lay person might desire. Fortunately, the fifth edition is not much longer than the last one, even though I have added updates from time to time to include noteworthy constitutional developments. Although Alaska’s Constitution: A Citizen’s Guide is published by the Legislative Affairs Agency, it has no standing as an official publication of state government and carries no endorsement by the legislature. Gordon S. Harrison, Ph.D. January 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 PREAMBLE ......................................................................................................................................... 7 ARTICLE I ........................................................................................................................................... 9 DECLARATION OF RIGHTS ........................................................................................................... 9 Section 1. Inherent Rights .............................................................................................................. 11 Section 2. Source of Government .................................................................................................. 15 Section 3. Civil Rights ................................................................................................................... 16 Section 4. Freedom of Religion ..................................................................................................... 17 Section 5. Freedom of Speech ....................................................................................................... 18 Section 6. Assembly; Petition ........................................................................................................ 20 Section 7. Due Process ................................................................................................................... 20 Section 8. Grand Jury ..................................................................................................................... 21 Section 9. Jeopardy and Self-Incrimination ................................................................................... 22 Section 10. Treason ........................................................................................................................ 23 Section 11. Rights of Accused ....................................................................................................... 24 Section 12. Criminal Administration ............................................................................................. 29 Section 13. Habeas Corpus ............................................................................................................ 31 Section 14. Searches and Seizures ................................................................................................. 31 Section 15. Prohibited State Action ............................................................................................... 32 Section 16. Civil Suits; Trial by Jury ............................................................................................. 34 Section 17. Imprisonment for Debt ................................................................................................ 35 Section 18. Eminent Domain ......................................................................................................... 35 Section 19. Right to Keep and Bear Arms ..................................................................................... 37 Section 20. Quartering Soldiers ..................................................................................................... 37 Section 21. Construction ................................................................................................................ 38 Section 22. Right of Privacy .......................................................................................................... 38 Section 23. Resident Preference .................................................................................................... 41 Section 24. Rights of Crime Victims ............................................................................................. 43 Section 25. Marriage ...................................................................................................................... 44 ARTICLE II ....................................................................................................................................... 45 THE LEGISLATURE ....................................................................................................................... 45 Section 1. Legislative Power; Membership ................................................................................... 46 Section 2. Members’ Qualifications .............................................................................................. 48 Section 3. Election and Terms ....................................................................................................... 49 Section 4. Vacancies ...................................................................................................................... 50 Section 5. Disqualifications ........................................................................................................... 51 Section 6. Immunities .................................................................................................................... 52 Section 7. Salary and Expenses ..................................................................................................... 54 Section 8. Regular Sessions ........................................................................................................... 55 Section 9. Special Sessions............................................................................................................ 57 Section 10. Adjournment ............................................................................................................... 58 Section 11. Interim Committees .................................................................................................... 59 Section 12. Rules ........................................................................................................................... 60 Section 13. Form of Bills............................................................................................................... 62 Section 14. Passage of Bills........................................................................................................... 64 Section 15. Veto ............................................................................................................................ 65 Section 16. Action Upon Veto....................................................................................................... 67 Section 17. Bills Not Signed ......................................................................................................... 69 Section 18. Effective Date ............................................................................................................. 70 Section 19. Local or Special Acts .................................................................................................. 71 Section 20. Impeachment .............................................................................................................. 72 Section 21. Suits Against The State .............................................................................................. 73 ARTICLE III ...................................................................................................................................... 75 THE EXECUTIVE ...........................................................................................................................