Model state constitution
Encyclopedia
The Model State Constitution is “an ideal of the structure and contents of a state constitution that emphasizes brevity and broad functions and responsibilities of government," according to Ann O’M Bowman and Richard Kearney in “State and Local Government.”
The National Municipal League developed the Model State Constitution in 1921 to advocate constitutional reform based on a “higher-law tradition” (that is, a state constitutional tradition based on basic and enduring principles that reach beyond statutory law) as opposed to “Positive Law Tradition” (a state constitutional tradition based on detailed provisions and procedure). The Model State Constitution is now in its sixth version. It does not promote partisan ideals or a particular political ideology, but rather a simplistic, more concise, and more readable outline for state fundamental law that seeks to remain flexible to deal with emerging problems.
The Model State Constitution has twelve basic articles which are: (1) bill of rights (2) Power of the State
State power
State power may refer to:*Police power, the capacity of a state to regulate behaviours and enforce order within its territory*Government force, state coercion to induce conforming social results* The extroverted concept of power in international relations...

 (3) Suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...

 and Elections (4) the Legislative Branch
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...

 (5) the Executive Branch (6) The Judicial Branch (7) Finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...

 (8) Local Government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...

 (9) Public Education
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...

 (10) Civil Service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....

 (11) Intergovernmental Relations
Intergovernmental
Intergovernmental can refer to:*Intergovernmentalism*Intergovernmental Risk Pool*Intergovernmental organization...

, and (12) Constitutional Revision.
The Alaska State Constitution was partially inspired by the Model state constitution.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK