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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Fifty Unique, Ever-Changing State Constitutions
New Mexico Supreme Court Adopts New Separation-of-Powers Approach to Disbursing Federal Funds
Voters Amend State Constitutions Around the Country
Kentucky Supreme Court Strikes Down Law Meant to Steer Cases Away from ‘Liberal’ Judges
How Courts Oversee Ballot Initiatives
State courts — and to some degree federal courts — play a significant role in every stage of the direct democracy process.
North Dakota Budget Bill Struck Down as Violation of ‘Single Subject’ Constitutional Rule
Judicial Deference to Agency Expertise in the States
As the U.S. Supreme Court reconsiders Chevron deference, almost all state courts continue to recognize the importance of agencies’ expertise in policymaking.
In Montana’s Right to Participation, the Seeds of a Better Democracy