COMPARING THE CONSTITUTIONS OF OHIO AND THE UNITED STATES
Instructions: How do the constitutions of the State of Ohio and the United States of America compare? This chart
will help you find out. Use reference materials to find the appropriate information. Place it in the spaces provided.
Then compare and contrast your entries to identify similarities and differences.
Areas of Comparison
Constitution of the
State of Ohio (1802)
Constitution of the
State of Ohio (1851)
Constitution of the
United States
Number and Names of
Constitutions
1
1802
1
1851
2 Articles of
Confederation
Constitution
Date Constitution
Adopted
February, 1803
March, 1851
June 21, 1788
Number of Articles
8
Number of Words
18
7
Approximately
6,265
Approximately 27,000
(Today there are nearly
54,000)
Approximately
7,500
Bicameral
Bicameral
Bicameral
Type of Legislators
House of Rep(1 yr term)
House of Rep(2 yr term)
Name and Term of
Head of the Executive
Branch
Name, Size, and Terms
of the Court of Last
Resort
Senate(2 yr term)
Governor (2 yr term, no
more than 6 of every 8
years)
Supreme Court 3
Appointed by
legislature which can
add/delete members
House of Rep(2 yr
term/max 4) Senate(4
yr term/max 2)
Governor (4 yr, max 2
terms)
Senate (6 yr term)
President (4 yr, max of
2 terms or 10 years)
Supreme Court 7
6 yr term, no limit, but
cannot run if over the
age of 70
Supreme Court 9
Term is for life, as long
as they are in good
standing
Yes
Yes, it begins with it
2/3 leg. to recommend
or call convention.
People must approve
3 methods: Initiative,
General Assembly and,
Const. Convention
Yes, it was added after
it was ratified
2 methods:
Legislature
Const. Convention
Type of Legislature
Inclusion of a Bill of
Rights
Process for Amending
Times Amended
Power of Initiative and
Referendum
0
More than 150 times
27
No
Yes, added in 1912
No
Ohio Center for Law-Related Education
Ohio Center for Law-Related Education