An Act to provide for submitting to the qualified electors the question of
whether there shall be a convention to revise and amend Section 141
of the Constitution of Virginia. (H 1]
Approved December 3, 1955
Whereas, by Item 210 of the Appropriation Act of 1954 (Acts of
Assembly, 1954, Chapt. 708, p. 970), the General Assembly sought to
enact measures to aid certain war orphans in obtaining an education at
either public or private institutions of learning, which said Item has
been adjudicated by the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia, insofar
as it purports to authorize payments for tuition, institutional fees and
other expenses of students who attend private schools, to be violative of
certain provisions of the Constitution respecting education and public
instruetion; and,
Whereas, the State’s entire program, insofar as attendance at private
schools is concerned, involving the industrial rehabilitation program,
grants for the education of war orphans, grants in aid of Negro graduate
students, and scholarships for teaching and nursing, is in jeopardy; and,
Whereas, in order to permit the handicapped, war orphans, Negro
graduate students and prospective teachers and nurses to receive aid in
furtherance of their education at private schools and in order to insure
educational opportunities for those children who may not otherwise receive
a public school education due to the decision of the Supreme Court of the
United States in the school segregation cases, it is deemed necessary that
said provisions of the Constitution be revised and amended; and,
Whereas, it is impossible to procure such amendments and revisions
within the time required to permit educational aid forthwith for the
current school year and that beginning in the fall of 1956 except by con-
vening a constitutional convention; and,
Whereas, because it is deemed unwise at this time to make any
sweeping or drastic changes in the fundamental laws of the State, and
also, in order to assure the adoption of the contemplated amendments and
revisions within the time necessary to permit educational aid in the school
year of 1956-57, it is deemed necessary that the people eliminate all
questions from consideration by said convention save and except those
essential to the adoption of those revisions and amendments specified in
this Act; and,
Whereas, in order to avoid heated and untimely controversies through-
out the State as to what other matters, if any, may or should be acted
upon by said convention, it is believed to be in the public interest to submit
to the electors the sole question whether a convention shall be called
which will be empowered by the people to consider and act upon said
%ifinitei_‘d revisions and amendments only, and not upon any others; now,
erefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. That at an election to be held on such day as may be fixed by
proclamation of the Governor (but not later than sixty days after the