Law Commons^™

American Constitution-Making: The Neglected State Constitutional Sources, Christian G. Fritz, Marsha L. Baum

Faculty Scholarship

American Constitution-Making: The Neglected State Constitutional Sources' looks at a frequently overlooked genre of literature pertinent to American constitution-making: comprehensive compilations of state constitutions that made their appearance from the first wave of constitution-making preceding (and following) the Federal constitution. Routinely issued in pocket-sized editions, the authors demonstrate the presence of these compilations in constitutional conventions and their use by constitution-makers from the Revolutionary period through the late 19th century. The significance of the process of 'borrowing' provisions from other state constitutions is placed in a new and different light that raises intriguing questions about the level of American awareness, …