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Government Structure
State constitutions vary in how they structure state governments and distribute power among the branches of government and between the state and localities. State governments include statewide executive, legislative, and judicial branches, but also multiple county, district, municipal, and local governments.
Home rule disputes between states and localities, separation of powers among the branches of government, the limits of executive power, jurisdiction of courts, and limits on legislative authority all regularly give rise to litigation.
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2024’s Most Significant State Constitutional Cases
Legal experts identified the most important cases that advanced state constitutional rights this year.
State Courts Can Provide Much-Needed Protection From Voter Deception
This past election, some state courts stepped in to protect the citizen initiative process from state-sponsored deception, while others refused. Their decisions influenced election outcomes.
We Need to Know More About State Supreme Court Cases
State high courts interpret laws that impact some of the most intimate parts of our lives. Communities have a right to know what’s on the docket.
The Curious Case of Oklahoma Search and Seizure
Because Oklahoma has two constitutional masters, it simultaneously has two different doctrines of search and seizure.
Kansas’s Constitution Is a Source of Expanded Rights
Kansans enjoy broad rights to bear arms, reproductive autonomy, and education.
What's at Stake with Congestion Pricing in the Courtroom?
As New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announces she’s reviving the program, litigation over the plan is ongoing.
Voters Across the Country Amend Their Constitutions
Through ballot measures, voters expressed policy preferences on issues including abortion, drug legalization, and same-sex marriage.
What’s at Stake in the 2024 Montana Supreme Court Elections
Races for two seats on the high court will shape the future of Montana law on criminal justice, environmental rights, and more.