State Constitutions for the Twenty-first Century: Drafting State Constitutions, Revisions, and Amendments(SUNY series in American Constitutionalism)

Identifies problems reformers face in drafting or amending state constitutions. Constitutional reform requires not only good ideas but also the ability to translate those ideas into language that will effectuate the drafters' aims. This book-the second of three volumes on state constitutions-is the essential guide for those involved in constitutional reform. It identifies the recurrent problems that reformers face in drafting or amending state constitutions and explores how those problems might be addressed. It also explains why drafting state constitutions is a distinctive enterprise, different from the drafting of other legal documents.

Table of Contents:
Contents Preface Introduction 1. Reflection and Restraint in State Constitutional Amendment and Revision 2. The State Constitution: Form and Function 3. Unique Issues in Drafting State Constitutions 4. Some Implications of State Constitutional Amendment for the Drafter 5. Judicial Doctrines of Interpretation Affecting Drafters of State Constitutional Provisions Notes Index

About the Author :
Frank P. Grad is Joseph P. Chamberlain Professor Emeritus of Legislation at Columbia Law School. Robert F. Williams is Distinguished Professor of Law and Associate Director of the Center for State Constitutional Studies at Rutgers University at Camden. He is the author of State Constitutional Law: Cases and Materials, Third Edition.

Review :
"This handbook is an invaluable guide for scholars, political leaders, and citizens who take an interest in drafting, revising, and amending state constitutions. Authored by the preeminent scholars of state constitutional law in the country, it provides an excellent introduction to this significant area of the law, and the footnotes offer guidance to those who will want to drill deeper into this important subject." — Talbot D’Alemberte, author of The Florida State Constitution: A Reference Guide "State constitutions are assuming an increasingly important role in law and politics in the United States. On issues ranging from gay marriage to school finance, they provide the central focus of legal disputes. Bringing the insights of theory and history to bear on the drafting of these documents, the authors explore key topics in state constitutional law and explain in clear and precise terms how these issues influence the drafting process. They provide a balanced and thorough treatment of such controversies as the wisdom of ‘single subject’ rules and the relative advantages of ‘self-executing’ provisions. The book does a marvelous job of developing general principles, while recognizing the variety of constitutional experience among the states. A vital contribution to the study of state constitutions, it should be read by lawyers, politicians, judges, and everyone else with an interest in shaping the fundamental charter of the state." — Robert A. Schapiro, Emory University School of Law "This book provides excellent analysis of the most common misconceptions about state constitutions and fills a gap in the current literature on drafting them. Language matters, but as the authors make clear, drafting is far more than English composition." — Janice C. May, author of The Texas State Constitution: A Reference Guide "A fine contribution to the literature on state constitutions. I am unaware of another like it." — Susan P. Fino, author of The Michigan State Constitution: A Reference Guide