2.  Every state has a written constitution  The United States is called a “Land of Constitutions” because every state has a constitution  State Constitutions are under the U.S. Constitution due to the Supremacy Clause

3.  Basic Principles ◦ Built on principles of popular sovereignty/limited govt. ◦ Each Constitution exists only with the approval of the people  Protection of Civil Rights  Each state has a bill of rights  Government Structure  Each constitution deals with the structure of the govt.  Governmental Powers  State Constitutions give the states 4 powers: tax, spend, borrow and provide for education  Constitutional Change  Most state Constitutions begin with a preamble

4.  Amendments- a change, or addition to, a constitution or law  Revisions- changes made to the constitution  Initiative- certain # of qualified voters that sign petitions in favor of a proposal  Referendum- process by which measures are referred to the state’s voters for approval  3 types  Mandatory- legislature must refer measure to the voters  Optional- refers measures to the voters voluntarily  Popular- people demand legislation through petition  Two Faults in State Constitutions  1) Lengthy- because there is popular distrust of the government  2) Age- Many are old and outdated

5.  John Kasich is the current governor (R)  Qualifications for Governor  American Citizen, Certain Age (25 or 30), Live in the State (for at least 5 years) and be a qualified voter  Since 2005, how many governors have been women? 25  11 are in office today  State chooses the Governor through a popular vote  4 year terms for the Governor