State Constitutions Of the United States, 2nd Edition [Hardcover]

Robert Maddex (Author), Maddex (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1933116250 | ISBN-13: 978-1933116259 | Edition: 2

Newly updated and reflecting the diversity of state policies and the issues that are important to them, "State Constitutions of the United States" collects, explains, and offers comparison of each of the fifty state constitutions. Its in-depth explorations and easy-to-follow structure reveal individual state priorities, the significance of state constitutions and their impact on issues that affect the day-to-day lives of citizens. This major revision incorporates specific details and describes trends and patterns in state constitutions, drawing on over 380 amendments passed since the first edition of this resource was published in 1998. These amendments address, at the state level, important issues that are also being debated on the national level, such as freedom of religion (Alabama), tobacco (Arizona), death penalty (Florida), and same-sex marriage in a number of states. The new edition addresses all of these issues and more, in well-organized state-by-state chapters - including a new chapter on Washington, DC. Beyond the extensive state-by-state coverage, this resource provides further insights through supplemental materials, including an overview of state constitutions, comparative tables, 'new rights' such as privacy and victim's rights, "special provisions" such as the environment and home rule, and much more. This is the only one-volume resource on state constitutions designed to inform non-specialists, including students, non-constitutional scholars, and interested citizens, about the variety, influence, and continual revision and innovation that define state constitutions in the U.S. A wide range of libraries, including those that serve college students, AP high school students, and the general public, will want to update their collections with this unique and essential reference work.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Researchers and students will find this new edition of State Constitutions of the United States informative, interesting, and useful. Author Maddex's expertise and experience as federal attorney and author of earlier CQ Press works on constitutions, such as The U.S. Constitution A-Z (2002) and Constitutions of the World (2d ed., 2001), enable him to create a reference source that is factual and thought-provoking.

Where else can you learn that Alabama's state constitution is nearly 10 times longer than the average state constitution and almost 100 times longer than the U.S. Constitution? Or that there have been about 500 amendments to the state constitutions since Maddex's first edition (1998)--dealing with the definition of marriage (17 states), the right to hunt and fish wildlife (7 states), and other issues of current interest? Telling for future social analysts, to say the least!

The entries are pragmatic, summarizing and analyzing the current constitutions of the 50 states, the territories that have constitutions (American Samoa, the North Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico), and the District of Columbia. Each entry provides general historic and geographic information, a summary of constitutional history, and an introduction to the current document. The summaries of key provisions enable the user to know where each state stands on vital issues as of January 1, 2005.

Besides the entries, the comparative tables, tables of cases, glossary, and state-by-state lists of sources and Web sites (for actual texts of current constitutions) make this a valuable resource for anyone interested in the role of units that constitute a larger governmental entity. Recommended for academic and public libraries. Sally Jane
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

..."merits a place in all general collections, as well as specialized political science libraries. Law libraries might find the book useful as a fast ready-reference tool. The work helps simplify a vast body of literature and will permit students to get quick answers without being put off by a massive series of state-by-state volumes."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 592 pages
• Publisher: CQ Press; 2 edition (September 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933116250
• ISBN-13: 978-1933116259
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,722,364 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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