Editing Constitution of Vermont (section)

==Council of Censors==
"In order that the freedom of this Commonwealth may be preserved inviolate"<ref name=cv1777>{{cite web|title=1777 Constitution, Section XLIV|url=https://www.sec.state.vt.us/archives-records/state-archives/government-history/vermont-constitutions/1777-constitution.aspx|publisher=[[State of Vermont]]|access-date=2014-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228110403/https://www.sec.state.vt.us/archives-records/state-archives/government-history/vermont-constitutions/1777-constitution.aspx|archive-date=2019-12-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> the 1777 constitution established a '''Council of Censors'''. This body consisted of thirteen elected members, chosen every seven years, but not from the Council or General Assembly. They were to check that "the legislative and executive branches of government have performed their duty as guardians of the people".<ref name=cv1777/> They also had the power to call a convention, if needed, to amend the constitution.<ref name=cv1777/> This council had been based on a similar element of the [[Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776]].<ref name=gillies>{{cite book|editor1-last=Gillies|editor1-first=Paul|title=Records of the Council of Censors of the State of Vermont|date=1991|url=https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/46721/Council_of_Censors.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/46721/Council_of_Censors.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Anchor|1786Convention}}
In 1786, the constitution was amended with language proposed by the 1785 Council of Censors, their first meeting, and adopted by the 1786 Constitutional Convention. The section on the Council of Censors remained generally unchanged, with only an added clarification of scope.<ref name=gillies/><ref>{{cite web|title=1786 Constitution, Section XL|url=https://www.sec.state.vt.us/archives-records/state-archives/government-history/vermont-constitutions/1786-constitution.aspx|publisher=[[State of Vermont]]|access-date=2014-07-29|archive-date=2019-04-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425172504/https://www.sec.state.vt.us/archives-records/state-archives/government-history/vermont-constitutions/1786-constitution.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Anchor|1793Convention}}
In 1793, the constitution was amended with language proposed by the 1792 Council of Censors and adopted by the 1793 Constitutional Convention. The Council now had the "power to send for persons, papers, and records".<ref>{{cite web|title=1793 Constitution, Section 43|url=https://www.sec.state.vt.us/archives-records/state-archives/government-history/vermont-constitutions/1793-constitution.aspx|publisher=[[State of Vermont]]|access-date=2014-07-29|archive-date=2014-07-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718004642/https://www.sec.state.vt.us/archives-records/state-archives/government-history/vermont-constitutions/1793-constitution.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Anchor|1870Convention}}
In 1870, the constitution was amended with language proposed by the 1869 Council of Censors, their last meeting, and adopted by the 1870 Constitutional Convention. The Council of Censors was abolished and replaced by a new procedure to amend the constitution.<ref name=gillies/>