DelawareDelaware lawmakers approve wording updates to state constitution
After two legislatures approved it, Delaware's constitution uses names instead of gendered pronouns and gives each section an official heading.
What it does
Across Delaware's constitution, the amendment uses people's names or roles instead of gendered pronouns. It aims to make clear who each rule refers to.
Lawmakers adopted the headings already printed above each section of Delaware's constitution. The headings help people find sections, but courts should not treat them as legal rules.
The amendment fixes numbering, old dates, and references throughout the constitution. It also removes a tax clause that lawmakers say was never meant to be in it.
Argument forNaming people and offices directly could make constitutional rules easier for residents to follow.
Argument againstOfficial headings might lead readers to rely on a short label instead of the full rule, even though headings only help people find sections.
More detail
The amendment uses people's names or roles instead of gendered pronouns. This wording appears across Delaware's constitution. The amendment became part of the constitution when the 153rd General Assembly approved it after the earlier legislature's approval.
Lawmakers adopt the published heading for each section of the constitution. This covers the headings already published with Delaware's constitution. The headings help people find sections. Courts are not meant to use them to decide what the text means.
The amendment updates references and removes a misplaced tax clause. The corrections cover many constitutional sections, including the section on new taxes and license fees. The removed clause concerned taxes or license fees approved but not yet effective when an earlier amendment took effect.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Mar 25Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YESPassed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 19Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 7 On Its MeritsMinor
- Mar 13Assigned to Executive Committee in SenateMinor
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 13Passed By House. Votes: 34 YES 7 ABSENTPassed House
- Jan 29Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 5 On Its MeritsMinor
- Jan 16Introduced and Assigned to Administration Committee in HouseIntroduced
- Mar 25Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YESPassed Senate
Government & Ethics