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§ 7. Election on indebtedness. No debt shall be contracted by the State except as herein provided, unless the proposed law for creating such debt shall first be submitted to a direct vote of the electors of the State at some general election; and if such proposed law shall be ratified by a majority of all the votes cast at such general election, then it shall be the duty of the Legislature next after such election to enact such law and create such debt, subject to all the provisions and restrictions provided in the preceding sections of this article.

History: Originally adopted by convention as § 6, July 29, 1859; ratified by electors, October 4, 1859; L. 1861, p. 63; renumbered as § 7, L. 1931, ch. 300, § 2; November 8, 1932.

Revisor's Note:

This section was originally § 6 and was renumbered § 7 by authority of L. 1931, ch. 300, § 2.

Attorney General's Opinions:

State water plan; agreement with federal government for water storage; payment dependent on appropriations. 83-21.

State park and resources authority; contracts with federal government. 83-51.

Finance and taxation; internal improvements; public improvements; debts. 84-13.

Elections; sufficiency of petitions; county-wide initiative; no basis in constitution or statutes. 84-100.

Finance and taxation; internal improvements; development of water resources. 84-102.

Bond elections; suffrage; qualifications of electors. 87-72.

CASE ANNOTATIONS

1. Bond issue for legislative and current expenses held unconstitutional. The State, ex rel., v. School Fund, 4 Kan. 261, 272.

2. State has power to contract debt to pay soldiers' compensation. The State, ex rel., v. Davis, 113 Kan. 4, 6, 213 P. 171.

3. Expense of administering compensation act expense may be paid from original fund. State, ex rel., v. Davis, 114 Kan. 270, 283, 291, 217 P. 905, 915.

4. Section not applicable to internal improvements, such as highways. State, ex rel., v. State Highway Comm., 138 Kan. 913, 917, 918, 919, 921, 28 P.2d 770.

5. State fish and game act for federal loan contravenes section. State, ex rel., v. Atherton, 139 Kan. 197, 202, 203, 212, 30 P.2d 291.

6. State act for federal loan for state highways is constitutional. State, ex rel., v. State Highway Comm., 139 Kan. 391, 392, 395, 32 P.2d 493.

7. Veterans' pension law was enacted by the people of the state acting in their sovereign capacity; if uncertain, it can be made definite by subsequent legislation. Richardson v. Soldiers' Compensation Board, 150 Kan. 343, 346, 92 P.2d 114.

8. State may issue tax anticipation warrants payable solely from excise tax. State, ex rel., v. State Commission of Revenue and Taxation, 163 Kan. 240, 246, 250, 181 P.2d 532.

9. Applies only to debts payable by general property tax; revenue bonds for dormitories at state school; no state debt created. State, ex rel., v. Board of Regents, 167 Kan. 587, 589, 590, 591, 207 P.2d 373.

10. Kansas armory rental revenue bond statute (K.S.A. 48-315 through 48-321) is constitutional; "debts" defined. State, ex rel., v. Kansas Armory Board, 174 Kan. 369, 370, 373, 377, 379, 380, 256 P.2d 143.

11. Kansas turnpike authority act (K.S.A. 68-2001 through 68-2020) does not contravene section. State, ex rel., v. Kansas Turnpike Authority, 176 Kan. 683, 690, 273 P.2d 198.

12. Considered and applied to a home for the elderly. Evangelical Village & Bible Conference, Inc. v. Board of County Comm'rs., 207 Kan. 383, 387, 485 P.2d 343.