Title 54, State Government

The original and ultimate right to all property, real or personal, within the limits of this state is in the state.

All property, real and personal, within the limits of this state, which does not belong to any person or to the United States, belongs to the state. Whenever the title to any property fails for want of heirs or next of kin, it reverts to the state.

The state may acquire property by taxation in the modes authorized by law.

The state may acquire or authorize others to acquire title to property, real or personal, for public use in the cases and in the modes provided by law.

The state, by the exercise of the right of eminent domain, may acquire, for the use of any state institution or state industry, any property necessary: 1. To the maintenance or expansion of such institution; 2. To the acquirement of any of the essentials of the existence of such …

Real property held in the name of the state of North Dakota for the use and benefit of any department or agency thereof may be transferred and conveyed by quitclaim deed executed in the name of the state of North Dakota by the governor and attested by the secretary of state.

Except as provided by section 54-01-05.5, whenever any department or agency of the state other than the board of university and school lands, the housing finance agency, and the Bank of North Dakota is authorized to sell such real property, the property must be sold for cash by t…

1. The supervising agency, board, commission, department, or institution owning or controlling land proposed by a bill introduced in the legislative assembly to be sold or exchanged shall prepare a written report that includes: a. An analysis of the type of land involved. b. A de…

The sovereignty and jurisdiction of this state extend to all places within its boundaries as established by the constitution, but the extent of such jurisdiction over places that have been or may be ceded to, or purchased or condemned by, the United States, is qualified by the te…

Jurisdiction is ceded to the United States over any tract of land that may be acquired by the United States on which to establish a military post. Legal process, civil and criminal, of this state, extends over all land acquired by the United States to establish a military post in…

Exclusive jurisdiction is ceded to the United States over the following tracts of land which were reserved from the public domain and set apart for military purposes as additions to the Fort Lincoln military reservation by executive orders of the President of the United States da…

(Contingent effective date - See note) Concurrent jurisdiction is hereby ceded to the United States over offenses, as defined in section 12.1-01-04, when committed within boundaries of the tracts of land designated as: 1. Theodore Roosevelt national park. 2. Fort Union trading po…

The concurrent jurisdiction ceded by section 54-01-09.1 is vested upon acceptance by the United States by and through its appropriate officials and continues so long as the lands within the designated areas are dedicated to park or historic site purposes.

1. The consent of North Dakota is hereby given to the retrocession by the United States of the jurisdiction granted by section 54-01-09.1, either partially or wholly. A partial retrocession may be with respect to particular territory or particular offenses, or both. The governor …

1. The state accepts the relinquishment of exclusive legislative jurisdiction from the United States in accordance with this section. 2. The state has concurrent legislative jurisdiction with the United States over any United States military installation under the control of the …

The state of North Dakota may accept from the United States any military reservation or Indian school reservation, and all property connected with either, that the United States may cede or transfer to the state, subject to any conditions and requirements which Congress may impos…

The state of North Dakota hereby accepts from the United States of America the lands and improvements comprising the Bismarck Indian school plant, as authorized by Public Law 78-502, which must hereafter be known as "Fraine Barracks" in honor of the late Brigadier General John A.…

When any military reservation or Indian school reservation is ceded to the state of North Dakota by the United States, the director of the office of management and budget shall take charge of and care for the property until otherwise provided by law. The governor shall receipt to…

The state of North Dakota, through its several departments and agencies, may exchange tracts and sections of land on Indian reservations within the state, belonging to the state of North Dakota, and not a part of the original grant of land to the state provided in the Enabling Ac…

The state of North Dakota, through its several departments and agencies, is hereby authorized and empowered to exchange tracts, sections, and parcels of land located within the diminished borders of Fort Berthold reservation belonging to the state of North Dakota and not a part o…

The state of North Dakota is hereby authorized to transfer and convey to the United States of America any lands situated within the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the county of Billings, state of North Dakota, including state school lands and lands held by the state historic…

The lands to be conveyed to the United States of America and also the lands to be taken in exchange therefor, under section 54-01-13.1, must be appraised by the county auditor and the chairman of the board of county commissioners in the county in which the land is situated, at th…

Conveyances made under section 54-01-13.1 to the United States of America of state school lands must be executed in the same form and manner as now provided by law for the sale and conveyance of state school lands and conveyance by the state of other lands under the provisions of…

The lease of all of section nine in township one hundred thirty-eight north, range eighty-one west of the fifth principal meridian in Morton County, North Dakota to the United States northern great plains dairy station for a term of ninety-nine years as provided by chapter 28 of …

The United States may, with the specific consent of the legislative assembly as to each tract acquired, acquire, by purchase, gift, or condemnation with adequate compensation, such lands in North Dakota as in the opinion of the federal government may be needed for the establishme…

Power is conferred upon the Congress to pass such laws and to make or provide for the making of such rules and regulations, of both civil and criminal nature, and to provide punishment therefor, as in its judgment may be necessary for the administration, control, and protection o…

A state agency may, when it deems such action to be in the best interest of the state, grant easements upon or across any real property which it administers and which is owned by the state for the use or benefit of a state institution under its jurisdiction. Any property rights t…

Every person while within this state is subject to its jurisdiction and entitled to its protection.

The state has the following rights over persons within its limits, to be exercised in the cases and in the manner provided by law: 1. To punish for crime. 2. To imprison or confine for the protection of the public peace or health or of individual life or safety. 3. To imprison or…

The people, as a political body, consist of: 1. Citizens who are electors; and 2. Citizens not electors.

The citizens of the state are all persons who are citizens of the United States of America and who are bona fide residents of the state of North Dakota.

Persons in this state who are not its citizens are either: 1. Citizens of other states; or 2. Aliens.

Allegiance is the obligation of fidelity and obedience which every citizen owes to the state. Allegiance may be renounced by a change of residence.

An elector has no rights or duties beyond those of a citizen not an elector, except the right and duty of holding and electing to office.

A citizen of the United States who is not a citizen of this state has the same rights and duties as a citizen of this state who is not an elector.

Every person has in law a residence. In determining the place of residence, the following rules must be observed: 1. It is the place where one remains when not called elsewhere for labor or other special or temporary purpose and to which the person returns in seasons of repose. 2…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the state, or any agency or institution of the state, may enter agreements to lease all or part of, or an undivided or other interest in, any real or personal property belonging to the state, or any agency or institution of the state, t…

State funds may not be expended or transferred from state agencies to match federal moneys for the northern plains national heritage area or any similar or successor designated areas without the approval of the legislative assembly. State lands, water, property, or facilities may…

A governmental entity may not provide funds through grant, contract, or other agreement to a nongovernmental entity that is a nonprofit organization for the purpose of holding any interest in real property or an easement for wildlife or conservation purposes. This section does no…

Uplands of the Oahe Reservoir in Emmons and Morton Counties in North Dakota above the elevation of 1,620 feet [493.78 meters] are defined as excess lands to the operation of the Oahe Dam. The North Dakota legislative assembly encourages Congress to pass federal legislation to ret…

1. The great seal of the state is that prescribed in section 2 of article XI of the Constitution of North Dakota. A description in writing of such seal must be deposited and recorded in the office of the secretary of state and must remain a public record. A reproduction of the gr…

The flag of North Dakota must consist of a field of blue silk or material which will withstand the elements four feet four inches [132.08 centimeters] on the pike and five feet six inches [167.64 centimeters] on the fly, with a border of knotted yellow fringe two and one-half inc…

The floral emblem of the state of North Dakota shall be the wild prairie rose, rosa blanda or arkansana.

The song known as "North Dakota Hymn", with words written by James W. Foley and music composed by Doctor C. S. Putnam is the official song for the state of North Dakota.

The American elm, ulmus americana, is the official tree of the state of North Dakota.

The meadowlark, sturnella neglecta, is the official bird of the state of North Dakota.

There shall be awarded by the state of North Dakota, in the name of the legislative assembly and the citizens of this state, an award to be known as the Theodore Roosevelt rough rider award. The award is the highest recognition by the state of present or former North Dakotans who…

The teredo petrified wood is the official fossil of the state of North Dakota.

"Flickertail March" as composed by Mr. James D. Ployhar is the North Dakota state march. The North Dakota state march must be played in a manner consistent with the respect and dignity due a state march and may be played at appropriate state functions.

Western wheatgrass, agropyron smithii, is the official grass of the state of North Dakota.