How were the state constitutions important to the writing of the US Constitution?
IntroductionEach state is governed by its own constitution. State constitutions vary in length and scope and, unlike the federal Constitution, they are generally broader in scope and are amended more frequently. State constitutional research is similar to federal constitutional research. As with the federal constitution, a variety of online and print resources provide access to the states' constitutional texts as well as notes of court decisions, commentary, and historical documents. Show
Finding State Constitutional TextsMost states provide online access to its constitution on their state legislative body's website. See our Research Guides by Jurisdiction for more information on state law resources. In addition, the text of current and historical state constitutions can be found at the following resources:
Annotated Codes/Constitutions & CaselawAdditionally, state statutory codes often include its current state constitution. Annotated state codes and/or constitutions are available on Westlaw and Lexis:
Secondary Sources: Texts & TreatisesWhen researching an issue or area of law for the first time, we suggest you begin with a secondary source such as a legal encyclopedia, legal treatise, or ALR. Though not comprehensive, this section highlights some specific sources to consider.
Finding Additional Resources (Databases)The following resources are useful places to look for additional secondary sources on State Constitutional Law topics:
What was the main significance of the United States Constitution?A chief aim of the Constitution as drafted by the Convention was to create a government with enough power to act on a national level, but without so much power that fundamental rights would be at risk.
What is the purpose of U.S. and state constitutions?State constitutions establish certain organs of government for the State, vest these organs with their powers, and deny certain other powers. Like the federal Constitution, the written constitutions of the States do not comprise the entire “constitution” or fundamental law.
What was the importance of the state constitutions following the revolution?A basic goal of the new state constitutions was to curb the kinds of abuses that provoked the Revolution. The British had lacked a written constitution; many Americans felt that a written constitution would be harder to violate.
How are state constitutions similar to the US Constitution?Like the U.S. Constitution, state constitutions provide a framework of government that includes three branches. And, like the U.S. Constitution, state constitutions reflect the time period in which they were written.
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