The Oregon Constitution is easier to amend than its Federal counterpart. Amending the U.S. Constitution requires a two-thirds vote in Congress and ratification by three fourths of the states. Oregon only requires a simple majority to vote in favor of an amendment once it has been referred to the voters either by a simple majority of the legislature or through an initiative petition. In the case of a petition, signatures of 8% of the number of voters participating in the last governor's election are required to get it on the ballot, a third higher than the 6% required for a change in statute. See: List of Oregon ballot measures
The right to free speech in Oregon is broader than that enjoyed at the federal level. Article I, Section 8 reads;
No law shall be passed restraining the free expression of opinion, or restricting the right to speak, write, or print freely on any subject whatever; but every person shall be responsible for the abuse of this right.
The Oregon Supreme Court has cited this right against parts of Oregon's disorderly conduct statute, against content-based restrictions on billboards and murals, and against laws restricting the sale of pornography.
Article I
Article I of the state's constitution is a bill of rights for its citizens. As of 2003, it addresses the following topics:
Restrictions on rights of certain persons (repealed 1926)
Liquor prohibition (adopted 1914, repealed 1933); Prohibition of importation of liquors (adopted 1916, repealed 1933); Capital punishment (adopted 1914, repealed 1920)
Penalty for murder in first degree (adopted 1920, repealed 1964)
Laws abrogated by amendment abolishing death penalty revived (adopted 1920, repealed 1964)
Sale of liquor by individual glass (adopted 1952)
Penalty for aggravated murder (adopted 1984)
Work and training for corrections institution inmates; work programs; limitations; duties of corrections director (adopted 1994; amended 1997, 1999)
Rights of victim in criminal prosecutions and juvenile court delinquency proceedings (adopted 1999)
Rights of victim and public to protection from accused person during criminal proceedings; denial of pretrial release (adopted 1999)
Term of imprisonment imposed by court to be fully served; exceptions (adopted 1999)
Person convicted of certain crimes not eligible to serve as juror on grand jury or trial jury in criminal case (adopted 1999)
Other articles
II Suffrage and Elections
III Distribution of Powers
IV Legislative Department
Section 1 Legislative power; initiative and referendum.
"(2)(a) The people reserve to themselves the initiative power, which is to propose laws and amendments to the Constitution and enact or reject them at an election independently of the Legislative Assembly." (See initiative.)
