Saint Patrick's Day and the Constitution of the Irish Free State

Saint Patrick's day is a time for people all over the world to reflect on the culture and history of Ireland and the Irish.

On December 6th in 1921 the Anglo-Irish treaty was signed in London, concluding the Irish War of Independence. You can view the official correspondence of the peace conference on the University College Cork. 

By the 25th of October 1922 the Irish legislative body Dáil Éireann had adopted the Constitution of the Irish Free State. You will note that the publication of the constitution includes both English and Irish translations.

The treaty established Ireland as a free state under a constitutional monarchy. The constitution of 1922 established the Saorstát Éireann or the Irish Free State. The constitution set up a three tiered legislature consisting of the monarch, the Dáil Éireann and the Seanad Éireann. Together this made made up the parliament or the Oireachtas.

The Constitution of the Irish Free State governed the Irish Free State until December of 1937 when it was replaced by referendum and the establishment of the modern Republic of Ireland. 

The Constitution of the Irish Free State was initially intended to be amended by popular referendum. However this provision was delayed for 8 years after the enactment of the document. For the initial 8 years the constitution could be amended by the Oireachtas without referendum. This time period was eventually extended to 16 years and the referendum process never went into effect. For the entire life of the constitution the legislative acts of the Oireachtas were, as a practical matter, supreme.

The State of Oregon Library has a complete collection of all the acts of the Oireachtas during the existence of the Irish Free State. Come and take a look at this interesting piece of Irish legal history.

Lewis

Reference Librarian

Oregon Appellate Arguments - Week of March 16th

 Oregon Supreme Court

• No arguments scheduled

Oregon Court of Appeals

• Arguments 3/16 - 2/17
• All arguments are in The Supreme Court Courtroom this week.

Oregon Appellate Arguments - Week of March 9th

Oregon Supreme Court

• Arguments 3/9 - 3/13
• The court will be holding court throughout the state this week.
• 3/9 - Willamette University
• 3/10 - Lewis and Clark College
• 3/12 - University of Oregon

Oregon Court of Appeals

• Arguments 3/10 - 3/13

Oregon's 1% for Art

A visitor to the Eastern Oregon University Science Center can look up to this upon entering the lobby.

This sculpture called "Almost Freezing" by Thomas Sayre was paid for by a innovative Oregon program called the 1% for Art.

In 1975 the Oregon legislature mandated that 1% of funds for state construction in Marion and Polk go towards public art. In 1978 the program was expanded to the entire state. Various local cities and counties throughout Oregon have followed the State government's lead and enacted their own 1% for art ordinances.

ORS 276.080 mandates that 1% of construction projects spending 100,000$ or more go towards public art. Chapter 123 Division 475 of the Oregon Administrative Rules lays out the framework for how the money is to be spent. The Oregon Art Commission is charged with administering the selection process.

The art is commissioned or purchased by a committee of citizens that represents the agency acquiring the art. Serving on a art selection committee is an exciting way Oregon citizens can participate in beautifying their public spaces.

You can browse through images of the hundreds of pieces of public art installed through the program at this webpage.

Next time you walk into a public building in Oregon and see a fantastic piece of art say a silent thank you to those thoughtful legislatures back in 1975.

Excelsior Oregon!

Lewis
Reference Librarian
State of Oregon Law Library