8 1 6 , ▁the ▁Indiana ▁Territ ory ▁was ▁govern ed ▁by ▁territorial ▁law . ▁The ▁state ' s ▁first ▁constitution ▁was ▁created ▁in ▁ 1 8 1 6 , ▁after ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Congress ▁had ▁agreed ▁to ▁grant ▁state hood ▁to ▁the ▁former ▁Indiana ▁Territ ory . ▁The ▁present - day ▁document , ▁which ▁went ▁into ▁effect ▁on ▁November ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 8 5 1 , ▁is ▁the ▁state ' s ▁second ▁constitution . ▁It ▁su pers edes ▁Indiana ' s ▁ 1 8 1 6 ▁constitution ▁and ▁has ▁had ▁numerous ▁am end ments ▁since ▁its ▁initial ▁ad option . ▁ ▁Indiana ' s ▁constitution ▁is ▁composed ▁of ▁a ▁pre am ble , ▁articles , ▁and ▁am end ments . ▁Among ▁other ▁prov isions , ▁it ▁spec ifies ▁a ▁republic an ▁form ▁of ▁government ▁( p urs u ant ▁to ▁Article ▁IV , ▁Section ▁ 4 , ▁of ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Constitution ) ▁consisting ▁of ▁three ▁branches : ▁executive ▁( including ▁administration ), ▁legisl ative , ▁and ▁jud icial . ▁The ▁state ▁constitution ▁also ▁includes ▁a ▁bill ▁of ▁rights , ▁gr ants ▁suff rage ▁and ▁regul ates ▁elections , ▁provides ▁for ▁a ▁state ▁milit ia , ▁state ▁educational ▁institutions , ▁and ▁sets ▁limits ▁on ▁government ▁inde bt ed ness . ▁The ▁Indiana ▁General ▁Assembly ▁may ▁am end ▁the ▁ ▁constitution , ▁subject ▁to ▁rat ification ▁by ▁vote ▁of ▁the ▁people , ▁as ▁specified ▁in ▁Article ▁ 1 6 ▁of ▁Indiana ' s ▁ 1 8 5