Schedule

Abstract

This chapter discusses the “Schedule” of the Colorado Constitution. Transition to statehood required that territorial institutions and law be retained until expressly replaced. At the end of the original constitution, twenty-two sections under the heading of Schedule detailed how the transition should work. Although almost entirely obsolete, none has been repealed. Schedule Section 1 was invoked by enterprising defense lawyers in efforts to get their clients off on a technicality. At least one succeeded. Section 20, requiring that presidential electors “be chosen by direct vote of the people,” could be read as obsolete or as a continuing constitutional rule. It is the only section with possible relevance to a current dispute.