Constitutional Amendments Publication Commission

This page contains records related to the work of the Constitutional Amendments Publication Commission. The Secretary of State also preserves both the current edition of the State Constitution and all amendments to it.

Constitutional Amendments Publication Commission (CAPC)

The CAPC prepares an explanation of the amendment in simple and commonly used language. The CAPC also prepares the short caption for the amendment that is used on the ballot.

The primary way to amend the Constitution of the State of North Carolina is by a vote of the qualified voters of the State. The General Assembly first passes a law by a three-fifths vote of the members of both the House and Senate. The law puts an amendment to the Constitution on a statewide election ballot on a specified date.

Whenever the General Assembly passes a law that puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot, State law requires a meeting of the Constitutional Amendments Publication Commission (CAPC). State law also creates the CAPC and sets out its duties.

The Secretary of State chairs the Commission.

The Commission has two other members:

The Attorney General of North Carolina
The North Carolina General Assembly’s Legislative Services Officer.

Employees of the Secretary of State staff the Commission.

The CAPC only meets when the General Assembly has put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Meetings of the CAPC are public. Meeting notices are published on our website and included on the Public Meeting Calendar.

The CAPC prepares an explanation of the amendment in simple and commonly used language. The CAPC also prepares the short caption for the amendment that is used on the ballot.

The Secretary of State then distributes the explanation to the local boards of elections, the press and others.

This page includes links to past CAPC actions.