# Model State Constitution

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_State_Constitution
> Source revision: 1332304102
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Suggested model (example) for how to write a constitution}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2026}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}}
{{Infobox constitution
| document_name        = Model State Constitution
| image                =
| image_alt            =
| caption              =
| orig_lang_code       =
| title_orig           =
| jurisdiction         =
| subordinate_to       =
| date_created         = {{Start date and age|1921}}
| date_presented       =
| date_ratified        =
| date_effective       =
| system               = Republic
| branches             = Three
| chambers             = Bicameral
| executive            =
| courts               =
| federalism           = Unitary
| electoral_college    =
| number_entrenchments =
| date_legislature     =
| date_first_executive =
| date_first_court     =
| date_repealed        =
| number_amendments    = Six
| date_last_amended    = 1963
| citation             =
| location_of_document =
| commissioned         = 
| writer               = [National Civic League](/source/National_Civic_League)
| signers              =
| media_type           =
| supersedes           =
}}
The '''Model State Constitution''' is "an ideal of the structure and contents of a [state constitution](/source/State_constitution_(United_States)) that emphasizes brevity and broad functions and responsibilities of government," according to Ann O'M Bowman and Richard Kearney in ''State and Local Government''.<ref>Ann Bowman and Richard Kearney. State and Local Government. Pg. 63.</ref>

The National Municipal League (now the [National Civic League](/source/National_Civic_League)) first developed the Model State Constitution in 1921 to advocate constitutional reform based on a "higher-law tradition" (a state constitutional tradition based on basic and enduring principles that reach beyond statutory law) as opposed to "[Positive Law Tradition](/source/positive_law)" (a state constitutional tradition based on detailed provisions and procedure). The National Municipal League would revise the Model State Constitution five times with the last revision - the sixth version published in 1963. It does not promote partisan ideals or a particular [political ideology](/source/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.

== Articles ==
The Model State Constitution has twelve basic articles:{{cn|date=March 2022}}

* [Bill of rights](/source/Bill_of_rights) 
* [Power of the state](/source/Police_power_(United_States_constitutional_law))
* [Suffrage](/source/Suffrage) and [election](/source/election)s
* [Legislative branch](/source/Legislature)
* [Executive branch](/source/Executive_(government))
* [Judicial branch](/source/Judiciary)
* [Finance](/source/Public_finance)
* [Local government](/source/Local_government)
* [Public education](/source/State_school)
* [Civil service](/source/Civil_service)
* [Intergovernmental relations](/source/Intergovernmentalism)
* [Constitutional revision](/source/Constitutional_amendment)

The [Constitution of Alaska](/source/Constitution_of_Alaska) was partially inspired by the Model state constitution.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/docs/pdf/citizens_guide.pdf |title=Alaska's Constitution: A Citizen's Guide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222043601/http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/docs/pdf/citizens_guide.pdf |archive-date=2012-02-22 |edition=Fourth |publisher=Alaska Legislative Affairs Agency |page=5}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [Model act](/source/Model_act) (model legislation)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/archive/html/cons/features/0301_02/modelcons.pdf Downloadable PDF of Sixth Edition, 1968]
* Online Editions at [HathiTrust](/source/HathiTrust)
** [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015042012628 First Edition, 1921]
** [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/coo.31924014569689 Revised Edition, 1924]
** [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015030798022 Fifth Edition, 1948]
** [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015033711493 Sixth Edition, 1963]

*
Category:Political systems

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