Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Chapter 3: State Constitutions Roots of State Constitutions Amending State Constitutions Politics of Constitutional Revision

The Roots of State Constitutions LO 3.1 Compare and contrast the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions. Roots of State Constitutions colonial charters—Mass/NH still used Models for US Constitution Constitutions as Straitjackets—halt growth Outdated detailed provisions Include matters that should be statutory Thus require more amendments (ave:140) The New Judicial Federalism—can go beyond U.S. Constitution in rights thru state court interpretation LO 3.1 Back to learning objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

LO 3.1 Back to learning objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

LO 3.1 Back to learning objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

Amending State Constitutions LO 3.2 Outline the processes used to amend state constitutions. Amending State Constitutions Legislative Proposals—75% pass voters Initiative Petitions—about 1/3 pass Constitutional Conventions 41 states allow—some require Only 1 since 2000 (R.I. in 2004) Package approval or each one separately? LO 3.2 Back to learning objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

The Politics of Constitutional Revision LO 3.3 Evaluate the states’ recent attempts at constitutional revision. The Politics of Constitutional Revision Two types of proposed amendments Focused on streamlining or modernizing the constitution—opposed by groups favoring the status quo—e.g. school integration in Alabama Targeting specific policy issues rather than institutional reforms—e.g. gay marriagegay marriage LO 3.3 Back to learning objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

Judicial federalism entails ___ interpreting state constitutions. A.The U.S. Supreme Court B.Congress C.State supreme courts D.State legislatures LO 3.1 Back to learning objectives

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Judicial federalism entails ___ interpreting state constitutions. A.The U.S. Supreme Court B.Congress C.State supreme courts D.State legislatures LO 3.1 Back to learning objectives

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Which method of amending happens most often? A.Legislative proposals B.Initiative petitions C.Constitutional conventions D.All of the above LO 3.2 Back to learning objectives

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Which method of amending happens most often? A.Legislative proposals B.Initiative petitions C.Constitutional conventions D.All of the above LO 3.2 Back to learning objectives

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Amending is ____ than/from maintaining the status quo. A.Easier B.More difficult C.No different LO 3.3 Back to learning objectives

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Amending is ____ than/from maintaining the status quo. A.Easier B.More difficult C.No different LO 3.3 Back to learning objectives