Montana's constitution celebrated at first Montana Constitution Day in Helena

The legacy of Montana's 1972 state constitution was celebrated in Helena this week for the first Montana Constitution Day at the Montana Heritage Center.

On Friday, a presentation was given by Anthony Johnstone, a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in which he explained the power and history of the constitution. He was introduced by Montana Chief Justice Cory Swanson.

On Thursday, one of the last living delegates from the 1972 Constitutional Convention, Mae Nan Ellingson of Missoula, reflected on her experience during an evening event at the museum.

The event was launched by an independent nonprofit called the Friends of the Montana Constitution.

"Most people know Montana is a remarkable place," said Susan Byorth Fox, chair of the Friends of the Montana Constitution. "But many people don't know how our state constitution plays a role in protecting what we know as Montana values. From a right to know what our government is doing, to a right to privacy, our Montana Constitution gives us more rights and protections than the U.S. Constitution."

While the United States Constitution was signed Sept. 17, 1787, the latest draft of the Montana Constitution was adopted March 22, 1972, and later ratified on June 6 of the same year.

It was a departure from a previous version that "protected the powerful interests and powerful people of Montana,” said Evan Barrett, vice chair of the Friends of the Montana Constitution, focusing more on open government and "sunshine.”