Editing Vermont (section)

====State politics====

[[File:Meeting house marlboro vermont 20040911.jpg|thumb|Vermont towns hold a March town meeting for voters to approve the town's budget and decide other matters. [[Marlboro, Vermont|Marlboro]] voters meet in this building.]]

[[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] dominated local Vermont politics from the party's founding in 1854 until the mid-1970s, and at the presidential level until the 1990s. Before the 1960s, rural interests dominated the legislature. As a result, cities, particularly the older sections of Burlington and Winooski, were neglected and fell into decay, and people began to move out to newer suburbs.

A series of [[one man, one vote]] decisions made by the United States Supreme Court in the 1960s required states to redraw their legislative districts to accurately reflect population. As a result, urban areas in Vermont gained political power.

The legislature was redistricted under one-person, one-vote in the 1960s. It passed the Land Use and Development Law ([[Act 250 (Vermont law)|Act 250]]) in 1970, to discourage suburban sprawl and to limit major growth to already developed areas. The law, the first of its kind in the nation, created nine District Environmental Commissions appointed by the [[governor]], who judged land development and subdivision plans that would affect the state's environment and many small communities significantly. As a result of Act 250, Vermont was the last state to get a [[Walmart]] (there are now six Walmarts in the state, as of November 2017, but only three — in Williston, St. Albans, and Derby — were newly built from the ground up). Because of the successful attempts to dilute what is perceived as the original intent of Act 250,<ref>{{cite journal
 | last = DeWeese-Boyd
 | first = Margaret
 | title = Community versus development? Land use and development policy in Vermont as a tool toward community viability
 | journal = Community Development Journal
 | volume = 41
 | issue = 3
 | pages = 334–351
 | date = July 3, 2006
| url = http://www.thecyberhood.net/documents/papers/deweese.pdf
 | doi = 10.1093/cdj/bsi060
 | access-date = December 22, 2013
| archive-date = April 26, 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160426011719/http://www.thecyberhood.net/documents/papers/deweese.pdf
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref> and other development pressures, Vermont has been designated one of America's most "endangered historic places" by the [[National Trust for Historic Preservation]].<ref>{{Cite book|author = Rimer, Sara |title = Vermont Debates Value of Saving a Rural Image|work = The New York Times|date = July 4, 1993}}</ref>

From [[1856 United States presidential election in Vermont|1856]] (the first presidential election after the Republican Party's founding) to [[1988 United States presidential election in Vermont|1988]], Vermont voted Republican in every presidential election except [[1964 United States presidential election in Vermont|1964]], when [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] became the first of his party to carry the state amidst a national landslide. Since [[1992 United States presidential election in Vermont|1992]], Vermont has voted Democratic in every presidential election, marking a massive shift in the state's politics.<ref>Changing Patterns of Voting in the Northern United States: Electoral Realignment, 1952–1996, page 45: "Historian Charles Morrissey has noted that Canadian support for the democratic party{{nbsp}}..." "Table 3.5 Frenchest towns were most Democrat voting towns" Page 50, table 3.6 also shows towns with highest portion of French ancestry have highest portion of Democrat voters; highest portion of English ancestry corresponds with highest portion of Republican voters.</ref><ref>The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History. (Two volume set) edited by Michael Kazin, Rebecca Edwards, Adam Rothman, page 535</ref><ref>Franco-Americans of New England: Dreams and Realities By Yves Roby page 239</ref><ref>Real Democracy: The New England Town Meeting and How It Works By Frank M. Bryan, page 264</ref>

In 1995, the state banned the spreading of manure from December 15 to April 1, to prevent run-off and protect the water. Therefore, farms must have environmentally approved facilities to store manure during this time frame.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Winter manure spreading ban in effect | newspaper=the chronicle | location=Barton, Vermont | page= 21 | date=December 19, 2012 }}</ref>

While the state voted largely Democratic, Republican governor Douglas won all counties but [[Windham County, Vermont|Windham]] in the 2006 election.

A controversy dating from 1999 has been over the adoption of [[civil union]]s, an institution which grants same-sex couples nearly all the rights and privileges of [[marriage]] at the state, but not federal, level. In ''[[Baker v. Vermont]]'' (1999), the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that, under the [[Constitution of Vermont]], the state must either allow [[same-sex marriage]] or provide a "[[separate but equal|separate, but equal]]" status for them. The state legislature chose the second option, by creating the institution of [[civil union]]; the bill was passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor [[Howard Dean]].

In April 2009, the state legislature overrode governor [[Jim Douglas]]'s veto to allow same-sex marriage, becoming the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage through legislation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna30089125 |title=Vermont lawmakers legalize gay marriage—Life—NBC News |work=NBC News |date=April 7, 2009 |access-date=July 31, 2010}}</ref> In September 2009, Vermont became the fourth state in which same-sex couples could marry. The previous three were [[Same-sex marriage in Massachusetts|Massachusetts]], [[Same-sex marriage in Connecticut|Connecticut]], and [[Same-sex marriage in Iowa|Iowa]].

In 2007, the state's House of Representatives rejected a measure which would have legalized [[Assisted suicide in the United States|assisted suicide]] for the terminally ill, by a vote of (82–63). With the governor's signature on May 20, 2013, Vermont became the fourth state to pass a "death with dignity" law — the first to be passed through legislation, rather than by ballot initiative.<ref>
{{cite web
 | last = Muller
 | first = Sarah
 | title = Assisted suicide: Vermont governor signs 'death with dignity' measure
 | website = The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell / Society / Health
 | publisher = MSNBC
 | date = May 20, 2013
| url = https://msnbc.com/the-last-word/assisted-suicide-vermont-governor-signs-dea
 | access-date = July 27, 2014}}
</ref>

Minor parties and independents flourish. Rules which eliminate smaller parties from the ballot in most states do not exist in Vermont. As a result, voters often have extensive choices for general elections. Among others, this more open policy enabled independents like [[Bernie Sanders]] to win election as mayor of [[Burlington, Vermont|Burlington]], as a [[U.S. Congressman|U.S. congressman]], and as a [[U.S. Senator|U.S. senator]].

A political issue has been [[Act 60 (Vermont law)|Act 60]], which balances taxation for education funding. This has resulted in the town of [[Killington, Vermont secession movement|Killington]] trying to secede from Vermont and join [[New Hampshire]], due to what the locals say is an unfair tax burden.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhpr.org/node/8429 |title=Killington Secession Not Too Popular in VT New Hampshire Public Radio |publisher=Nhpr.org |date=March 16, 2005 |access-date=July 31, 2010 |archive-date=September 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906000358/http://www.nhpr.org/node/8429 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Northeast/03/02/killington.secession.ap/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407041031/http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Northeast/03/02/killington.secession.ap/|url-status=dead|title=CNN.com—Killington residents vote to secede from Vermont—March 4, 2004|website=[[CNN]]|archive-date=April 7, 2008}}</ref>

The Vermont constitution and the courts supports the right of a person to walk (fish and hunt) on any unposted, unfenced land. That is, trespass must be proven by the owner; it is not automatically assumed.<ref>[http://www.usconstitution.net/vtconst.html#Section67 Vermont Constitution]. Retrieved May 29, 2008.</ref>

Vermont has some of the [[Gun laws in Vermont|least restrictive gun control laws]] in the country. A permit or license is not required for purchasing or carrying firearms. [[Concealed carry in the United States|Concealed carry]] and [[Open carry in the United States|open carry]] of a firearm is legal over the age of 16, with those below 16 requiring parental permission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atg.state.vt.us/issues/gun-laws.php |title=Vermont Attorney General Gun Laws |access-date=July 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704024115/http://www.atg.state.vt.us/issues/gun-laws.php |archive-date=July 4, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bradycampaign.org/stategunlaws/scorecard/VT |title=Brady Campaign Gun Laws |access-date=June 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102112805/http://www.bradycampaign.org/stategunlaws/scorecard/VT |archive-date=January 2, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-laws/vermont.aspx |title=NRA ILA Gun Laws |access-date=July 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615075432/http://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-laws/vermont.aspx |archive-date=June 15, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://smartgunlaws.org/vermont-state-law-summary/|title=Law Center to prevent Gun Violence|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref>

Vermont has a pro-[[sanctuary city]] law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/09/politics/sanctuary-city-bans-states/index.html|title=Florida is about to ban sanctuary cities. At least 11 other states have, too|first=Catherine E. |last=Shoichet|website=CNN|date=May 9, 2019}}</ref>

The state is an [[alcoholic beverage control state]]. In 2007, through the Vermont Department of Liquor Control, it took in over $14&nbsp;million from the sale and distribution of liquor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://liquorcontrol.vermont.gov/annualreports/2007.pdf |title=2007 Annual Report of the Department of Liquor Control |access-date=July 31, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617103717/http://liquorcontrol.vermont.gov/annualreports/2007.pdf |archive-date=June 17, 2010 }}</ref>

In 2013, Vermont became the 17th state to decriminalize marijuana. The statute makes possession of less than an ounce of the drug punishable by a small fine, rather than arrest and possible jail time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vermont becomes 17th state to decriminalize marijuana, making possession of less than an ounce of pot punishable by fine|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/vermont-decriminalizes-possession-small-amounts-pot-article-1.1365354|newspaper=NY Daily News|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref>

In 2014, Vermont became the first state to call for a [[Second Constitutional Convention of the United States|constitutional convention]] to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in ''[[Citizens United v. FEC]]''.<ref>MORGAN TRUE, March 5, 2014, Brattleboro Reformer, [http://www.reformer.com/state/ci_25688506/vermont-first-state-call-constitutional-convention-get-money Vermont first state to call for constitutional convention to get money out of politics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505125355/http://www.reformer.com/state/ci_25688506/vermont-first-state-call-constitutional-convention-get-money |date=May 5, 2014 }}, Accessed May 5, 2014, "...{{nbsp}}Vermont became the first state to call for a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision{{nbsp}}... Monetta is the organizing director for Wolf PAC{{nbsp}}..."</ref>

In 2014, Vermont became the first state to mandate labeling of genetically modified organisms in the retail food supply.

A distinctive law of Vermont is public nudity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.findlaw.com/state/vermont-law/vermont-indecent-exposure-laws.html#:~:text=Unlike%20most%20states%20in%20this,your%20city's%20public%20nudity%20ordinances|title=Vermont Indecent Exposure Laws - FindLaw.com}}</ref> The state's legislation calls for nudity in public to be a constitutional right of Vermonters, so long as "lewd and lascivious" acts are not performed in public view,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/wtf-why-is-public-nudity-legal-in-vermont-but-public-disrobing-isnt-2804753|title=WTF: Why Is Public Nudity Legal in Vermont But Public Disrobing Isn't?|first=Ken|last=Picard|website=Seven Days}}</ref> and that the nudist does not undress in the presence of others. One reason this law was implemented is to protect skinny-dippers who frequent swimming holes, a long-time tradition in the state. There are other restrictions and bylaws on the municipal level concerning problematic nudity, but walking in the nude is legally protected in all 251 towns and cities in Vermont.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN18231851/|title=Vermont town bans public nudity after brash displays &#124; Reuters|website=[[Reuters]] }}</ref>

In January 2018, Governor [[Phil Scott]] opted to sign H.511, the Vermont marijuana legalization bill, which allows adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow up to two mature plants starting July 1, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ledbetter|first1=Stewart|title=Vermont governor will sign marijuana legalization bill privately|date=January 18, 2018|url=http://www.mynbc5.com/article/vermont-governor-will-sign-marijuana-legalization-bill-privately/15288675|access-date=January 18, 2018}}</ref>