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Environment
Beginning in the 1970s, several states added environmental rights amendments, also known as “Green Amendments,” to their constitutions. The wording of the amendments can be as broad as the right to a “clean and healthful environment,” or it can enumerate specific rights such as clean air, clean water, or aesthetic environmental values.
Some constitutions allow citizens to enforce environmental quality rights against the government and private parties. This is an active field of state constitutional litigation, especially as citizens sue state governments to force action against climate change.
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Montana’s Housing Crisis Fix Survives Constitutional Challenge
Homeowners favoring single-family residences sued to block legislation meant to increase housing supply and bring down home prices.
The New Mexico Constitution: Heavily Influenced By Its Land, Culture, and Peoples
The rights of Spanish speakers, including public school students, are uniquely protected.
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in March
Issues on the dockets include mid-decade redistricting, ghost guns, a challenge to a DOJ request for voter data, gender-affirming care for minors, and SpaceX rocket launches.
What’s Next for the Next Generation of Environmental Rights Cases?
Young people are building on lessons learned in recent litigation, using state constitutions and laws to develop and enforce environmental protections.
2025’s Most Significant State Constitutional Cases
Leading legal thinkers weighed in on the state constitutional rulings our readers should know about from this past year.
States Pass Constitutional Amendments on Redistricting, Parental Rights, Water Preservation, and More
Californians approved a much-watched amendment that allows the use of a new congressional map.
2025 Ballot Measures to Watch
Voters will decide whether to amend their state constitutions or statutes regarding redistricting, voting, firearm access, parental rights, taxes, and more.
Back-to-School Scholarship Roundup: State Courts, Constitutional Law, and Federalism
Recent books and law review articles discuss voter disenfranchisement, separation of church and state, and much more.