Nationally recognized experts analyze how states deal with major constitutional issues.
This third and final volume in a series devoted to state constitutions analyzes how these documents address major constitutional issues such as the protection of rights; voting and elections; constitutional change; the legislature; the executive; the judiciary; taxing, spending, and borrowing; local government; education; and the environment. Contributors identify the strengths and weaknesses of current state constitutions, highlight the major issues confronting the states, and assess various approaches for reform.
“This volume marks an important contribution to the literature on state constitutional reform. Building on the editors’ earlier analyses of the politics and problems of amending state constitutions, this latest effort provides a thoughtful, comprehensive agenda for future work. Every chapter is informed, well written, and filled with lively insight. The book should be required reading for scholars and policy makers alike.” — Helen Hershkoff, New York University School of Law
“Anyone interested in either the actualities of American constitutional politics—which increasingly involve state constitutions—or the more general issue of ‘constitutional design’ at home or abroad should be very interested in this important collection of essays by leading students of state constitutions.” — Sanford Levinson, coeditor of Constitutional Stupidities, Constitutional Tragedies
“Two of the leading authorities on state constitutional law in the United States have hit a grand slam with this remarkable volume. It provides a fresh, comprehensive view of the entire spectrum of state constitutional issues that confront American government—past, present, and future.” — Ken Gormley, principal editor of The Pennsylvania Constitution: A Treatise on Rights and Liberties
Contributors include Gerald Benjamin, Thad Beyle, Richard Briffault, James A. Gardner, Michael E. Libonati, G. Alan Tarr, Barton H. Thompson Jr., Paul L. Tractenberg, and Robert F. Williams.
At Rutgers University at Camden, G. Alan Tarr is Director of the Center for State Constitutional Studies and Robert F. Williams is Associate Director. Tarr is also Distinguished Professor of Political Science and author of Understanding State Constitutions. Williams is also Distinguished Professor of Law and author of State Constitutional Law: Cases and Materials, Third Edition.
Table of Contents
Introduction G. Alan Tarr
1. Rights Robert F. Williams
2. The Legislative Branch Michael E. Libonati
3. The Executive Branch Thad Beyle
4. The Judicial Branch G. Alan Tarr
5. Local Government Michael E. Libonati
6. Voting and Elections James A. Gardner
7. Constitutional Amendment and Revision Gerald Benjamin
8. State and Local Finance Richard Briffault
9. Education Paul Tractenberg
10. The Environment and Natural Resources Barton H. Thompson, Jr.
