1. Structure and Function of State Government

2. State Constitutions Create structure of government
Every state separates powers between 3 branches
Outline the organization, powers, and method of election for the branches
Establish local governments (counties, townships, municipalities, etc.)
Regulate the ways state and local governments can raise and spend money

3. Constitutional Characteristics
Bill of Rights
Most or all of US Constitution guarantees
Other protections not in the national Constitution (workers rights, ban on discrimination, protections for the disabled)
Length
Originally, most states had constitutions around the same length as the national Constitution
Today the average state Constitution is roughly 5 times longer than the national

4. Constitutional Characteristics
Detail
Most state constitutions are very detailed
There are many aspects of life that are particular to individual states, it would not make sense for the national Constitution to cover everything
A lot of the length of state constitutions is political with certain groups lobbying for protections

5. Amendments and Changes
All 50 states use a two step process: Proposal and Ratification
Proposal
State Legislature
Popular Initiative
Constitutional Commission
Constitutional Convention
Ratification
All states except Delaware require ratification by popular vote
Most require a simple majority

6. Criticism and Reform
There is a lot of debate about state constitutions being too long
Creating a new constitution requires a state convention called for by the state legislature and the new constitution must be ratified by the people
Even though there is a process, many states have not had the political power to change existing constitutions
Judicial interpretation has become the most popular way to reform constitutions, with many state judges creating interpretations independent of the US Constitution

7. Your Own Constitution
If you had to create your own state constitution, what protections would you add beyond what is in the US Constitution?