What state has the longest constitution?

Asked by: Meredith Little  |  Last update: August 7, 2022
Score: 4.4/5 (67 votes)

Alabama not only has longest state constitution in the U.S, it is perhaps the longest constitutional document in the world.

What state has the longest state constitution?

The longest state governing document is that of Alabama, which has approximately 389,000 words. That document is also the most amended state constitution in the Union, with nearly 950 amendments as. The average state constitution has been amended about 115 times.

Is Texas Constitution the longest?

At 86,936 words, the constitution is the second-longest state constitution in the United States, exceeded only by the Constitution of Alabama, which is 388,882 words long.

What state has the shortest state constitution?

State constitutions are quite long. The shortest is that of Vermont, which contains 8,295 words, while Alabama's sixth and most recent constitution, ratified in 1901, is 340,136 words long.

Why does Alabama have the longest constitution?

Alabama's Constitution is some 388,882 words long and it's believed to be the longest such document in the world. Its massive length is due in part to its 892 amendments that cover everything from bingo and mosquito control to how to deal with dead farm animals and prostitution.

What U S state has the longest constitution?

41 related questions found

What is the longest constitution?

The Constitution of India is the longest written constitution of any country in the world, with 146,385 words in its English-language version, while the Constitution of Monaco is the shortest written constitution with 3,814 words.

Who has the longest constitution?

Everyone knows India is the world's largest democracy. But did you know it also has the world's largest constitution? At 145,000 words, it is the longest written constitution of any sovereign state in the world.

How long is the California constitution?

California's constitution is one of the longest collections of laws in the world, taking up 110 pages. Part of this length is caused by the fact that many voter initiatives take the form of a constitutional amendment. The constitution can be changed by initiatives passed by voters.

How long is the Florida Constitution?

The Florida Constitution, by the way, checks in at about 39,000 words. It has been amended 102 times since 1968, when the new constitution (except for Article V which was approved in 1972) was adopted. The typical life of a state constitution is 70 years, and during that time it is amended about 115 times.

Does Texas have a constitution?

The current (and fourth) Texas Constitution was adopted in 1876. The current constitution has been amended 515 times. The most recent amendments to the Texas Constitution, of which there were eight, were approved by voters in 2021.

How long is Alabama constitution?

At 388,882 words, the document is 12 times longer than the average state constitution, 51 times longer than the U.S. Constitution, and is the longest and most amended constitution still operative anywhere in the world.

What is the second longest state constitution?

According to a tally kept by the Council of State Governments, Alabama's Constitution, at more than 376,000 words (without the 12 new amendments) is more than four times as long as the Texas Constitution. That's the second longest state constitution, at just under 87,000 words.

How many constitutions has Georgia had?

There have been three constitutions in the modern era - in 1945, 1976 and the current constitution of 1983.

Which is the shortest constitution?

The Indonesian Constitution of 1945 is the shortest constitution in the world. It is much shorter than the US Constitution which is usually claimed by some American scholars to be the shortest.

Does Tennessee have a constitution?

Tennessee's current constitution was written after the Civil War in 1870. The original state constitution came into effect on June 1, 1796 concurrent with the state's admission to the Union. Tennessee's current constitution is its third constitution. Previous constitutions were written in 1796 and 1834.

How long is the US Constitution?

The Constitution contains 4,543 words, including the signatures and has four sheets, 28-3/4 inches by 23-5/8 inches each. It contains 7,591 words including the 27 amendments. The Constitution was ratified by specially elected conventions beginning in December 1787.

How many constitutions Does Florida have?

Florida has been governed by six different constitutions since acceding to the United States.

How many different constitutions has Illinois had?

The Constitution of the State of Illinois is the governing document of the state of Illinois. There have been four Illinois Constitutions; the fourth and current version was adopted in 1970.

Why is the California Constitution so long?

The California Constitution is one of the longest in the world. The length has been attributed to a variety of factors, such as influence of previous Mexican civil law, lack of faith in elected officials and the fact that many initiatives take the form of a constitutional amendment.

What is the Colorado Constitution?

The Constitution of the State of Colorado is the foundation of the laws and government of the state of Colorado. The current, and only, Colorado State Constitution was drafted March 14, 1876, approved by Colorado voters July 1, 1876, and took effect upon the statehood of Colorado on August 1, 1876.

How many states have a constitution?

Collects, explains, and compares each of the fifty state constitutions, revealing individual state priorities, the significance of state constitutions and their impact on issues that affect the day-to-day lives of citizens.

Why are state constitutions longer?

As such, state constitutions are much longer because citizens must restrict what a state government can and cannot do.

How are the U.S. and Ga constitutions different?

Georgia has a supreme court of state and the U.S has a supreme court. Which constitution has an elastic clause? The U.S constitution has an elastic clause, the Georgia constitution does not.