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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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Michigan Supreme Court to Hear Rare Lawsuit Between Legislative Chambers
The case arose after a new Republican majority in the Michigan House refused to send several bills passed by a previous Democratic-controlled legislature to the governor to become law.
Kansas Vote Could Lead to Wisconsin-Level Spending in Judicial Elections
Kansans will decide in August on an amendment that would change how judges are selected, a vote that could bring a surge of special interest spending and unwanted political pressure on judges.
The Arkansas Constitution: A Diamond in the Rough?
Its origins are tainted and its performance mixed, but the 1874 document allows Arkansans to intervene in governance.
A Territorial Death Penalty Case Carries a Warning for the States
A federal court of appeals case from the U.S. Virgin Islands shows how Congress could take charging decisions away from state prosecutors and impose capital punishment for state crimes.
When Are Retroactive Laws Constitutional?
The South Carolina Supreme Court’s latest word on retroactive legislation is in keeping with a messy tradition.
The Wisconsin Constitution: Initial Adoption Fights and a Veto Power That’s Still Contested
The charter is a guide for safeguarding the state’s aim of self-determination.
250 Years of State Constitutions
Early state charters are essential to understanding the American founding.
Sanctuary City Politics and Separation of Powers Conflict in Montana
Municipalities in Montana are testing the bounds of the state’s anti-sanctuary law, leading to a remarkable conflict between local government and the state attorney general.