State constitutions play a growing role in American politics. But turning to such documents to recognize rights and liberties is not a new project – nor is it an entirely liberal one.
Articles on State constitutions
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Amendment 3 would mean most homeowners pay less in property taxes – but that may not end up significantly lowering their costs.
Dating back centuries, a legal principle declares certain natural resources must be protected by the government for present and future generations to benefit from.
The new constitutional amendment to protect the right to abortion in Ohio − as well as other wins for Democrats − shows the importance of ballot initiatives and focusing on abortion in elections.
Impeaching a recently elected Wisconsin Supreme Court justice for conduct neither criminal nor corrupt would negate the people’s votes – and strike a blow at judicial independence.
The recent push in Ohio to pass a constitutional amendment was seen as a move to curb abortion rights. It failed. Two scholars say the ballot measure was really about minority rights in a democracy.
The case hinged on Montana’s ‘green amendment,’ which guarantees a constitutional right to ‘a clean and healthful environment.’ Other states have similar amendments, and more are considering them.
It’s official: State courts can review lawmakers’ election-district boundary decisions to ensure they comply with state law.
Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, most abortion policy has been settled by states. Now, citizen-crafted constitutional amendments may be the abortion battleground of the future.
Abortion referendums in such states as California and Kentucky provide a way to protect abortion rights at the state level – but voting limitations could undermine the power of the ballot box.
Most of the election-related lawsuits now before state courts focus on fine details of election procedures. This can be a costly, time-consuming process for state courts.
Anti-atheism is ingrained in American politics. A refusal to remove outdated language from state Constitutions perpetuates this prejudice.
Many states have found ways to remove partisan politics from their court systems.
President Donald Trump may be trying to get state lawmakers to shift the outcome of the presidential election.
This state law is leaving up to a million people unable to participate in elections who might have gotten relief through an amendment voters approved. Critics call it a modern-day poll tax.
Legislation requiring that all criminal debt associated with a citizen’s conviction be repaid would leave thousands of people unable to cast ballots.
Top contributors
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Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Pittsburgh
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Professor of Law, Boston University
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Associate Professor of Law, Co-Director of the State Democracy Research Initiative, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Professor of Law, The University of Texas at Austin
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Assistant Professor, University of South Dakota
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Associate Professor of Political Science, Westminster College
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Professor of Law, University of Richmond
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Associate Professor of Law, Co-Director of the State Democracy Research Initiative, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science, Amherst College
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Professor, Public Policy and Administration, California State University, Sacramento
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Staff Attorney with the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Assistant Professor of Law, Florida International University
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Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Wake Forest University
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Senior Staff Attorney, State Democracy Research Initiative, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Professor of Political Science, UMass Lowell