Ohio Government/Constitution Practice Exam

Who has the authority to propose amendments to the Ohio Constitution?

1. The Ohio Supreme Court

2. The General Assembly or through voter initiative

3. The Governor

4. The Ohio Secretary of State

The correct answer is: The General Assembly or through voter initiative

In Ohio, the authority to propose amendments to the state constitution lies with two primary sources: the General Assembly and through the process of voter initiative. The General Assembly, which is the state legislature, can propose amendments by a three-fifths majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This legislative route ensures that elected representatives can propose changes to the constitution based on their constituents' needs and interests. Additionally, Ohio’s constitution allows for a voter initiative process whereby citizens can collect enough signatures from registered voters to place a constitutional amendment directly on the ballot. This option empowers the electorate to directly influence their governance and amend the constitution without going through the legislative body. The other options do not possess this authority. The Ohio Supreme Court interprets laws and resolves legal disputes but does not propose constitutional amendments. The Governor has influence over legislation but does not have the power to propose amendments directly. The Ohio Secretary of State manages elections and state records but also lacks the authority to propose constitutional changes. Therefore, the correct answer encompasses both the involvement of the General Assembly and the citizen initiative process.