Wyoming Constitution

---

The Constitution of the State of Wyoming was adopted in Convention at Cheyenne, Wyoming on September 30, 1889, and ratified by the people of Wyoming on November 5, 1889.
________________________________________________________________________ 

The Wyoming Constitution is the foundation of Wyoming’s laws and is our State’s most essential document - preserving our liberty and justice in Wyoming. It was a proclamation of how this newest State, Wyoming, would responsibly protect the values of a rugged frontier when admitted as the 44th State of the Union on July 10th, 1890.

In 1869, Wyoming was only known as a territory, a new one at that. Dreams of statehood began in 1888, but despite petitions to Congress, legislation at the national level failed to garner the necessary support. Regardless, in a lesson of true determination and perseverance, prominent citizens of the territory decided they would move forward. On September 30th, 1889, a draft constitution was finalized and on November 5th it was ratified by the people of the Wyoming Territory. The Wyoming Constitution was ratified by the U.S. Congress on July 10th, 1890.

Unique among state constitutions, 1889 saw the citizen delegates to the Wyoming Constitutional Convention make the brave and pioneering declaration that women had the right to vote and hold office. This action forged Wyoming’s place in history as the Equality State. A half-century later, the U.S. Constitution followed Wyoming and granted those same rights through the 19th Amendment.

Edward A. Buchanan 

Secretary of State 

Written April 2018