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print resources provide access to the states' constitutional texts as well as notes of court decisions, commentary, and historical documents.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 are the main differences between state constitutions and the U.S. Constitution quizlet?State constitutions are longer and more detailed than the U.S.Constitution, and their bill of rights ofter include new and expanded rights not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.
Which is the most important difference between the articles of the U.S. Constitution?Ultimately, the largest difference between America's two governing documents is in that the Articles sovereignty resided in the states, and the Constitution was declared the law of the land when it was ratified which significantly increased the power of the federal government.
Are state constitutions more powerful than the U.S. Constitution?Article VI, Paragraph 2 of the U.S. Constitution is commonly referred to as the Supremacy Clause. It establishes that the federal constitution, and federal law generally, take precedence over state laws, and even state constitutions.
Why is the U.S. Constitution shorter than any state Constitution?In the United States, each state has its own written constitution. They are much longer than the United States Constitution, which only contains 4,543 words. State constitutions are all longer than 8,000 words because they are more detailed regarding the day-to-day relationships between government and the people.
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