By the late 1960s there was growing sentiment in Montana for reform of the state's 1889 constitution. In 1970 voters passed Referendum 67, which called for a constitutional convention. The Montana Constitutional Convention Commission was created by the 42nd Legislative Assembly to assist the Convention delegates by undertaking a series of studies on constitutional issues for their use.

In a November 1971 special election Montanans chose one hundred delegates from 23 districts to the convention scheduled to convene January 17, 1972. A half-million dollars was appropriated by the legislature for the operations of the convention.

Dale A. Harris, who had served as executive director of the Constitutional Convention Commission, was chosen as executive director of the Constitutional Convention staff; Leo Graybill, Jr., of Great Falls served as president, and John H. Toole of Missoula served as vice president. Dorothy Eck of Bozeman was chosen honorary vice president from the Western District, and Bruce M. Brown of Miles City as honorary vice president from the Eastern District.

The delegates were divided into substantive and procedural committees. The substantive committees included Bill of Rights; Education and Public Lands; Executive; General Government and Constitutional Amendments; Judiciary; Legislative; Local Government; Natural Resources and Agriculture; Public Health, Welfare, and Labor; and Revenue and Finance. The procedural committees included Administrative; Public Information; Rules and Resolutions; and Style, Drafting and Transition. The Business Office oversaw the Convention's budgetary and personnel matters.

The Convention delegates held their meetings and hearings in the State Capitol Building and elsewhere in the Capitol Complex.

The Constitutional Convention adjourned after fifty-five days and the document they produced was narrowly passed by Montana voters, 116,415 to 113,883. The 1972 Constitution was contested in the state's Supreme Court by the Montana Farm Bureau, but was narrowly upheld.