Constitution of Virginia - Effective July 1, 1971 with Amendments - January 1, 2017

The Virginia Constitution of 1971 was approved by vote of the people on November 3, 1970, and became effective on July 1, 1971. The 1971 Constitution is the fifth complete revision of Virginia’s fundamental law since 1776--other complete revisions having been effective in 1830, 1851, 1870, and 1902.1 The revision which led to the adoption of the Constitution of 1971 began with the creation of the Commission on Constitutional Revision, authorized by joint resolution at the General Assembly’s 1968 Session and appointed by Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr. The Commission, chaired by former Governor Albertis S. Harrison, Jr., reported to the Governor and the General Assembly in January 1969. The revisions took the form of amendments--one of two ways to change the Virginia Constitution (the other way being by the calling of a constitutional convention).2 The General Assembly, at a special session called in 1969, approved amendments which, with two exceptions,3 were approved for a second time