1972 Montana Constitutional Convention
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The 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention, colloquially known as the Con-Con, took place in Helena, Montana, at the state capitol from January 17 until March 11, 1972. 100 delegates, including 58 Democrats, 36 Republicans, and 6 Independents, represented the state of Montana with the goal of creating a new state constitution. The constitution proposed by the convention was signed by all 100 delegates on March 24, 1972, before being sent to the voters for ratification. In June 1972, Montanans agreed to ratify the new document by a margin of 2,532 votes (50.55% of the vote was in favor).
Election of delegates
In 1967, Montana's legislature called on the legislative council to determine if the 1889 constitution, which had been in effect since the time of statehood, was adequately serving the needs of the people. Two years later, in 1969, the council recommended the creation of a constitutional revision commission. The legislature agreed to create one the same year.[1][2][3] The newly-formed constitutional revision commission decided that a constitutional convention would be the best way to fix the issues of the 1889 constitution;[1] In a referendum, on November 3, 1970, Montana voters agreed to allowing the state legislature to call a convention with 64.76% of the vote.[4] In 1971, Montana's legislature passed the needed legislation to call for a convention.[5]
Primary election
For the September 14, 1971, primary election for becoming a delegate at the convention, 515 citizens filed.[6] Montana elected officials were prohibited from running, as the Montana Supreme Court had ruled in 1971 that becoming a delegate while already holding office would be the equivalent of holding two separate offices at the same time.[7] Of the individuals who filed, 247 were Democrats, 232 were Republicans, 32 were Independents, and 4 were from the New Reform Party.[6] In the September 1971 primary election, 148 Democrats and 132 Republicans were eliminated, leaving 99 Democrats, 100 Republicans, and the Independent and New Reform candidates on the ballot for the general election.[6]
General election
On November 2, 1971, the general election was held, with 58 Democrats, 36 Republicans, and 6 Independents being elected for the 100 delegate positions. Of the 100, 19 were women, which was described as "a remarkable leap forward" by the news magazine Missoula Current, because at the time, in 1971, only 2 of the state's 156 legislators were women.[6] Of those elected, 24 were lawyers, 20 were farmers and ranchers, 17 were business owners, 13 were housewives, five were clergymen, four were media employees, one was a beekeeper, and one was a retired FBI agent.[7]
