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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Wisconsin’s Legislative Vetoes Go to Court
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is set to decide whether a legislative committee can override executive branch decisions.
To Prepare for Emergency, States Must Resolve Constitutional Ambiguities
Thirty-five state constitutions contain provisions that allow lawmakers to take extraordinary action in emergencies, but the full extent of these powers hasn’t been tested.
State Supreme Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in April
Issues on the dockets include voting rights, abortion rights, and separation of powers.
The Sorry State of Disclosure for State Supreme Court Justices
A new study reveals that disclosures by state supreme court justices are frequently hard to access and lack relevant financial information.
Iowa Lawsuit Tests Boundaries of Legislative Privilege
The state’s highest court will consider whether state legislators can be ordered to produce communications with members of the public in a voting rights case.
State Constitutions: A State Solicitor General’s Perspective
Transcript of panel from Symposium: The Promise and Limits of State Constitutions
The Politics of State Constitutionalism
Transcript of panel from Symposium: The Promise and Limits of State Constitutions
Judicial Federalism and the Status of State Constitutions
Transcript of panel from Symposium: The Promise and Limits of State Constitutions