§16. Legislature and officers to exercise necessary and authorized powers only pending admission of state into union.
Nothing in this Constitution or schedule contained shall be construed to authorize the Legislature to exercise any powers except such as are necessary to its first organization, and to elect United States senators, and to adjourn as above provided. Nor to authorize any officer of the executive, administrative or judiciary departments to exercise any duties of his office until the state of South Dakota shall have been regularly admitted into the union, accepting such as may be authorized by the Congress of the United States.
§17. Validity of ordinances and schedule.
The ordinances and schedule enacted by this convention shall be held to be valid for all the purposes thereof.
§18. Freedom of religion -- Public lands -- Indian lands -- Uniformity of taxation -- Territorial debt -- Public schools -- Federal reservations -Irrevocability.
That we, the people of the state of South Dakota, do ordain:
First. That perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured, and that no inhabitant of this state shall ever be molested in person or property on account of his or her mode of religious worship.
Second. That we, the people inhabiting the state of South Dakota, do agree and declare, that we forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within the boundaries of South Dakota; and to all lands lying within said limits owned or held by any Indian or Indian tribes, and that until the title thereto shall have been extinguished by the United States the same shall be and remain subject to the disposition of the United States, and said Indian lands shall remain under the absolute jurisdiction and control of the Congress of the United States; that the lands belonging to citizens of the United States residing without the said state, shall never be taxed at a higher rate than the lands belonging to residents of this state. That no taxes shall be imposed by the state of South Dakota on lands or property therein belonging to or which may hereafter be purchased by the United States, or reserved for its use. But nothing herein shall preclude the state of South Dakota from taxing as other lands are taxed any lands owned or held by any Indian who has severed his tribal relation and has obtained from the United States, or from any person a title thereto by patent or other grant save and except such lands _as have been, or may be granted to any Indian or Indians under any act of Congress containing a provision exempting the lands thus granted from taxation, all such lands which may have been exempted by any grant or law of the United States, shall remain exempt to the extent, and as prescribed by such act of Congress.
Third. That the state of South Dakota shall assume and pay that portion of the debts and liabilities of the territory of Dakota as provided in this Constitution.
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