Chapter 23.1 – Structure and Functions of Government Section 1 – State Constitution – Flashcards
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Initiative
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a method by which citizens propose an amendment or a law.
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Constitutional Convention
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meets to consider changing or replacing a constitution.
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Constitutional Commission
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is a group of experts appointed to study the state constitution and recommend changes.
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Why are state constitutions lengthy documents compared to the nation's Constitution?
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Some amendments to state constitutions provide for very specific policies. Thus, some state constitutions have an enormous number of amendments
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How are state and Federal constitutions similar?
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Like the federal Constitution, every state constitution provides for separation of powers among three branches of government-legislative, executive, and judicial.
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What are the two steps in the amendment process?
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Proposal (new law) and ratification (change current law)
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What are three ways an amendment can be proposed into law?
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citizens propose an amendment or a law, convening a state constitutional convention, State legislature has the power to propose an amendment to the state constitution, and constitutional commission a group of experts appointed to study the state constitution and recommend changes.
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What amendment process is most commonly used?
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State legislature has the power to propose an amendment to the state constitution.
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How do citizens propose an amendment or law?
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The people to propose constitutional amendments by popular initiative-a method by which citizens propose an amendment or a law by circulating a petition.
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How judicial review has has become an important means of constitutional change in the states?
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More and more state judges began to interpret state constitutions independently of the United States Constitution.
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What are the basic common characteristics of state constitutions?
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Create structure of state government, establish types of local government, regulate ways state and local governments can raise and spend money, and establish independent state agencies, boards, and commissions
