Exam 3: State Constitutions: the Fundamental Rules of State Government

Describe the evolution of state constitutions from colonial times through the current era. Discuss the American tradition of written constitutions and how state constitutions were originally shaped by the colonial experience. Discuss the pressures to create a long constitution and the advantages and disadvantages of such a constitution. Include the major developments and trends that have occurred over the past 200 years.

A unicameral legislature, the only one of the fifty states, is found in which state?

Between 1860 and 1870, considerable constitutional revision occurred when

Which of the following was not a mechanism that increased gubernatorial power in the 1800s?

Since the beginning of modern constitutional reform efforts in the 1960s to the 1980s,

State constitutions are political documents and often have been drafted to protect the rights of special interests, such as public utilities, farmers, timber companies, religious groups and, more recently, social issues.

Vermont has the shortest state constitution, with roughly 8,565 words.

The legislative proposal is used more often than the initiative in amending state constitutions.

Constitutions represent the fundamental law of a state, superior to statutory law.

The Model State Constitution was developed by

Guarantees of individual rights are

One national survey found that 51 percent of Americans were not aware that their state had its own constitution.

The long ballot refers to having fewer elected officials and more appointed officials under the control of the governor.

State constitutions represent the fundamental law of the state, thus

Constitutions are essentially political documents. Discuss the informal and formal methods for making constitutional changes to a state's constitution.

The legislative proposal method of constitutional change is probably best suited for which of the following?

By 1967, most state constitutions were

The influential Kestnbaum Commission was

The National Municipal League's Model State Constitution emphasized

Lengthy state constitutions create problems for states, which include the