The Idaho Constitution Convention drafted the Idaho Constitution in 1889 in preparation for the Idaho Territory to become a U.S. state.
History Background On April 2, 1889, outgoing Territorial Governor Edward A. Stevenson, who had successfully prevented the territory from being absorbed by neighboring territories, issued a proclamation calling for an election to be held on June 3 of that year, to elect 72 delegates to a constitutional convention. On May 11, Stevenson's successor, George L. Shoup, issued a proclamation endorsing the convention, which was scheduled to meet on July 4 in Boise. Idaho, like its fellow statehood-seeking territory, Wyoming, was not the subject of an enabling act, as other statehood-seeking territories usually were before holding a constitutional convention. However, an enabling act for Idaho had been introduced in December 1888 by Oregon Senator John H. Mitchell, and its potential statehood was discussed over the remainder of the 50th Congress.
Proceedings The convention met as scheduled on July 4, 1889. John T. Morgan was elected temporary president while the convention organized and settled membership disputes. The following day, William H. Clagett was elected as permanent president of the convention. On July 8, the standing committees of the convention were assigned, and from then until July 17, the committees proceeded to write the bulk of what would eventually be adopted as the state constitution. From July 18 through August 5, the convention engaged in debate over the particulars of the constitution. On the twenty-eighth day of the convention, August 6, 1889, the constitution was approved by delegates by a vote of 51–0, and 64 of the 72 delegates (of whom one was deceased) proceeded to sign the constitution.
Approval of constitution On November 5, 1889, Idaho Territory voters approved of the new constitution by a margin of 12,398 to 1,773. North Idaho had the strongest returns for adoption, while central and southeast Idaho had the weakest returns for adoption, with southeast Idaho falling in between. On July 3, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed the law admitting Idaho as the 43rd U.S. state.
County Votes for adoption Votes against adoption Approval %Ada1,33144375%Alturas2905185%Bear Lake443953%Bingham71617181%Boise5398087%Cassia1309259%Custer4983394%Elmore7952697%Idaho19913759%Kootenai1,0322498%Latah2,52311796%Lemhi8903097%Logan3807184%Nez Perce11210352%Oneida2789575%Owyhee3883791%Shoshone1,8115197%Washington44217372%Territory total12,3981,77387%
List of delegates Delegate Representing Residence Party Signatory?Boise CountyIdaho CityDyesLogan CountyShoshoneRyesBingham CountyEagle RockDyesLemhi CountySalmonRyesLogan CountyBroadfordRyesAlturas CountyMuldoonRyesAlturas CountyKetchumDyesBingham CountyBlackfootDyesAlturas CountyHaileyRyesShoshone CountyWardnerDyesLatah CountyMoscowDyesLatah CountyMoscowRyesBoise CountyPlacervilleRyesElmore CountyRocky BarDyesLatah CountyKendrickDyesShoshone CountyOsburnRyesAda CountyBoiseDyesAda CountyBoiseDyesCuster CountyClaytonRnoOwyhee CountySilver CityDyesShoshone CountyBurkeRyesAda CountyBoiseRyesKootenai CountyCoeur d'AleneDnoShoshone CountyWallaceRyesCassia CountyShoshoneRyesBingham CountyMcCammonRyesWashington CountyWeiserDyesWashington CountyWeiserRyesOwyhee CountySilver CityRyesKootenai CountyKootenai CountyRnoShoshone CountyMurrayRyesLemhi CountySalmonDyesNez Perce CountyLewistonRyesWashington CountySalubriaDyesShoshone CountyWallaceDyesBingham CountyPocatelloDyesCassia CountyAlbionDyesAda CountyBoiseRyesOneida CountyMalad CityRyesAda CountyCaldwellRyesShoshone CountyMurrayDyesLatah CountyMoscowRyesAlturas CountyKetchumDnoKootenai CountyRathdrumRyesBingham CountyBlackfootRyesAda CountyPayetteRyesBoise CountyPlacervilleDyesIdaho CountyCottonwoodDnoIdaho CountyGrangevilleDyesAda CountyBoiseDnoCuster CountyChallisDyesAlturas CountyKetchumRyesNez Perce CountyLewistonDyesOwyhee CountySilver CityRyesLemhi CountySalmonRyesNez Perce CountyLewistonDyesLatah CountyMoscowRyesCuster CountyBayhorseRnoBingham CountyPocatelloRyesCuster CountyChallisRyesElmore CountyGlenns FerryRyesOneida CountyMalad CityDyesAda CountyCaldwellDyesElmore CountyMountain HomeDyesLatah CountyMoscowRyesBingham CountyEagle RockDyesBear Lake CountyMontpelierRyesAlturas CountyHaileyDyesLogan CountyBellevueRyesAda CountyBoiseRyesLemhi CountySalmonRnoShoshone CountyMurrayDyes
Committees Over the course of the convention, 37 committees were established. The Republican majority controlled most committees, including those that set the framework for the state government.
Committee Date established Majority party Majority members Minority membersCredentials56% DDemocrats: Crutcher, Poe, Cavanah, Standrod, HaganRepublicans: Heyburn, Savidge, Shoup, AllenCommittee to receive the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs60% RRepublicans: Sweet, Clagett, McConnellDemocrats: Beane, AinslieCommittee to escort the President to the Chair67% DDemocrats: Cavanah, BattenRepublican: MorganCommittee on Committees60% RRepublicans: Heyburn, Allen, HaysDemocrats: Standrod, BattenRules60% RRepublicans: Shoup, Beatty, MorganDemocrats: Reid, MayhewCommittee to wait upon the Chief Justice67% DDemocrats: Ainslie, KingRepublican: McConnellWays and Means50%–50%Republicans: Hasbrouck, Wilson, ShoupDemocrats: Crutcher, Harris, BlakeExecutive Department57% RRepublicans: Gray, Savidge, Allen, HamptonDemocrats: Ainslie, Coston, PoeLegislative Department56% RRepublicans: Morgan, Pinkham, Robbins, Lewis, GliddenDemocrats: Blake, Pefley, Pierce, StullJudiciary53% RRepublicans: Heyburn, Sweet, Beatty, Wilson, Howe, Hampton, Morgan, SavidgeDemocrats: Mayhew, Ainslie, Woods, Reid, Stull (to July 16), Harris, Batten, Hagan (from July 16)Preamble and Bill of Rights50%–50%Republicans: Shoup, Morgan, HammellDemocrats: Standrod, Clark, SteunenbergNames, Boundaries and Organization of Counties60% DDemocrats: Reid, King, JewellRepublicans: Crook, HasbrouckSeat of Government, Public Institutions, Buildings and Grounds57% DDemocrats: Cavanah, Crutcher, Kinport, McMahonRepublicans: Gray, McConnell, MelderEducation, Schools, School and University Lands56% RRepublicans: Shoup, Pinkham, Harkness, Armstrong, McConnellDemocrats: Batten, Chaney, Hogan, BevanElections and Right of Suffrage57% RRepublicans: Beatty, Salisbury, Heyburn, HaysDemocrats: Ainslie, Mayhew, Beane (to July 18), Hagan (from July 18)Revenue and Finance56% RRepublicans: Hays, Sweet, Hasbrouck, Crook, GliddenDemocrats: Blake, Hogan, Lamoreaux, SteunenbergLegislative Apportionment56% R (to July 20)61% R (from July 20)Republicans: Shoup, Underwood, Heyburn, Ballantine (to July 10), Pyeatt, Hendryx (to July 16), Whitton, Brigham (to July 31), Hays, Maxey, Pinkham (from July 10), Melder (from July 16), Sinnott (from July 20), Sweet (from July 31)Democrats: Myer, Kinport, Parker, Stull (to July 16), Poe, Lamoreaux, Standrod, Jewell, Cavanah (from July 16 to July 20)Militia and Military Affairs57% RRepublicans: Hammell, Pyeatt, Campbell, PinkhamDemocrats: Clark, Myer, HoganPublic and Private Corporations56% RRepublicans: Ballantine, Andrews, Savidge, Glidden, PritchardDemocrats: Mayhew, Kinport, Chaney, BevanFederal Relations60% RRepublicans: Sweet, Salisbury, MossDemocrats: Nelson, AndersonMunicipal Corporations56% DDemocrats: Woods, Hagan, Pierce, Pefley, VineyardRepublicans: Beatty, Harkness, Crook, WilsonLabor56% RRepublicans: Armstrong, Sinnott, Howe, Heyburn, RobbinsDemocrats: King, Lamoreaux, McMahon, PefleySchedule56% R (to July 29)56% D (from July 29)Republicans: Gray, Sweet, Howe (to July 29), Savidge, HamptonDemocrats: Woods, Beane (to July 18), Blake, Vineyard, King (from July 18), Reid (from July 29)Manufactures, Agriculture and Irrigation56% DDemocrats: Stull (to July 16), Coston, Jewell, Beane (to July 17), Taylor, Cavanah (from July 16), Anderson (from July 17)Republicans: Allen, McConnell, Harkness, MossMines and Mining56% DDemocrats: Crutcher, Cavanah, Bevan, King, StandrodRepublicans: Glidden, Ballantine, Salisbury, HaysLive Stock60% RRepublicans: Harkness, Underwood, PyeattDemocrats: Myer, PiercePrinting and Binding57% RRepublicans: Allen, Hays, Lemp, SinnottDemocrats: Clark, Parker, SteunenbergRevision and Enrollment56% RRepublicans: Beatty, Hammell (to July 27), Morgan, Shoup, Howe, Sweet (from July 27)Democrats: Hagan, Vineyard, Harris, StandrodSalaries of Public Officers60% DDemocrats: Poe, Coston, ReidRepublicans: Wilson, HasbrouckPublic Indebtedness and Subsidies60% DDemocrats: Hagan, Batten, TaylorRepublicans: McConnell, HarknessCommittee to escort the ladies of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union100% DDemocrats: Pefley, Mayhew, Ainslie—Special Committee on Finance100% RRepublicans: McConnell, Harkness, Lemp—Committee to receive the delegation of Members of Congress50%–50%Republicans: Hays, ClagettDemocrats: Ainslie, ReidEngrossing67% RRepublicans: Hasbrouck, SweetDemocrat: MayhewSpecial Committee on Revision of the Minutes and Proceedings of the Convention67% RRepublicans: Wilson, MossDemocrat: ClarkSelect Committee to draft Article VIII, Section 660% DDemocrats: Ainslie, Reid, MayhewRepublicans: Hays, ClagettAddress to the People50%–50%Republicans: Clagett, Pinkham, Hays, McConnell, ArmstrongDemocrats: Ainslie, Reid, Taylor, Clark, Cavanah
See also Text of the Constitution of the State of Idaho, as approved by the convention in 1889 Text of the Constitution of the State of Idaho, as amended as of 2017
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