Iowa Constitution Display to be unveiled Feb. 20

Mother Nature again proved her ability to alter human plans. February 12, Secretary of State, Paul Pate planned to host the unveiling of the new custom-built display case. The case will house the original 1857 Constitution. Enhanced UV protection and climate control is designed to preserve Iowa’s founding document for generations to come.

On Feb. 20 at 3:15 p.m., dignitaries will gather in the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda for this important dedication. The new state-of-the-art case will replace the current one, built in the 1980s. Paper preservation is critical and the technology is continually advancing. All Iowans are invited to join the dignitaries in noting the preservation of Iowa’s history.

After the dedication the constitution will be on display in the Secretary of State’s office at the state capitol. The office is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

On Dec. 28, 1846, President James K. Polk signed a law making Iowa the 29th state. Very little known about the signing but almost certainly the signature was without fanfare. It was late at night and one of the last items of the year to pass over President Polk’s desk.

Two constitutions were written before Iowa became a state. The 1844 constitution was rejected by voters. The 1846 constitution established Iowa as a state. Ten years after becoming a state, the 1857 constitution became the current version. It has been amended many times. Until the adoption of the 1846 document Iowa had been governed by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

Iowa’s branches of government are the legislative, executive and judicial. It was modeled after the national government. The latest amendments to the Iowa constitution were passed in 2024. The first of these changes limit voting rights in Iowa to U.S. citizens and the second provides a process for appointing a lieutenant governor.

Those who wish to read Iowa’s Constitution can visit the link in the online version of this article.