_Amendments_ are to be approved by a majority of the whole of each house of two successive legislatures, and ratified by the people. Also the legislature may submit to the people the question of calling a convention to revise or change the constitution.
The state of Iowa was admitted into the union by an act of congress approved December 28, 1846.
_Electors._ White male citizens, resident in the state six months, and in the county twenty days.
_Legislature._ The two houses are called the _general assembly_. Representatives are elected in their respective districts for two years; their number to be not less than thirty-nine, nor exceed seventy-two. They must be inhabitants of the state one year, and residents of the county or district thirty days. Senators, in number not less than one-third, nor more than one-half of the number of representatives, are elected for four years, one-half every two years. Age, twenty-four years; otherwise qualified as representatives.
Two-thirds majorities of the members present, pass bills vetoed by the governor. Bills not returned within three days also become laws, unless their return is prevented by adjournment.
_Executive._ The governor is elected for four years; must have been a citizen of the United States and a resident of the state, two years; and must be thirty years of age. No lieutenant-governor. In case of vacancy in the office of governor, the office devolves upon the secretary of state until the vacancy is filled.
A secretary of state, an auditor of public accounts, and a treasurer, are elected for two years.
_Judiciary._ A supreme court, district courts, and such inferior courts as the legislature may establish. The supreme court consists of a chief-justice and two associates, elected by joint vote of the two branches, for six years. It has appellate jurisdiction only in all cases of chancery, and constitutes a court for the correction of errors at law. Each district court consists of a judge elected by the voters of the district, for five years, at the township elections. A prosecuting attorney and a clerk of the district court, are elected in each county at the general election, for two years.
_Amendments_ are provided for only by a convention. The legislature may provide for a vote of the people, and if a majority of the votes are in favor of a convention, an election of delegates is to be held within six months.