State Constitution ( United States ) - wikipedia State Constitution ( United States ) In the United States, each state has its own constitution. Usually, they are much longer than the Constitution of the United states which only contains 4,543 words. State constitutions are usually longer than 8,500 - words because they are more detailed regarding the day - to - day relationships between government and the people. The shortest is the Constitution of Vermont, adopted in 1793 and currently 8,295 words long. The longest is Alabama 's sixth and current constitution, ratified in 1901, about 345,000 words long. Both the federal and state constitutions are organic texts : they are the fundamental blueprints for the legal and political organizations of the United States and the states, respectively. The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, part of the Bill of Rights, provides that `` The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. '' The Guarantee Clause of Article 4 of the Constitution states that `` The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government. '' These two provisions indicate states did not surrender their wide latitude to adopt a constitution, the fundamental documents of state law, when the U.S. Constitution was adopted. Typically state constitutions address a wide array of issues deemed by the states to be of sufficient importance to be included in the constitution rather than in an ordinary statute. Often modeled after the federal Constitution, they outline the structure of the state government and typically establish a bill of rights, an executive branch headed by a governor ( and often one or more other officials, such as a lieutenant governor and state attorney general ), a state legislature, and state courts, including a state supreme court ( a few states have two high courts, one for civil cases, the other for criminal cases ). They also provide general governmental frame work for what each branch is supposed to do and how it should go about doing it. Additionally, many other provisions may be included. Many state constitutions, unlike the federal constitution, also begin with an invocation of God. Some states allow amendments to the Constitution by initiative. Many states have had several constitutions over the course of their history. The Territories of the United States are `` organized '' and, thus, self - governing if the United States Congress has passed an Organic Act. Only two of the 14 territories - Guam and the United States Virgin Islands - are organized. One unorganized territory, American Samoa, has its own constitution. The remaining 13 unorganized territories have no permanent populations and are either under direct control of the U.S. Government or operate as military bases. The commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) do not have organic acts but operate under local constitutions. Pursuant to the acquisition of Puerto Rico under the Treaty of Paris, 1898, the relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States is controlled by Article IV of the United States Constitution. Constitutional law in the CNMI is based upon a series of constitutional documents, the most important of which are the 1976 Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, which controls the relationship between the CNMI and the United States ; and the local Commonwealth Constitution, drafted in 1976, ratified by the people of the CNMI in March 1977, accepted by the United States Government in October 1977, and effective from 9 January 1978. Contents 1 List of constitutions 1.1 Federal constitution 2 State constitutions 2.1 Federal district charter 2.2 Commonwealth and Territorial constitutions 2.3 Organic acts 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External links List of constitutions The following is a list of the current constitutions of the United States of America and its constituent political divisions. Each entry shows the original number of the current constitution, the official name of the current constitution, and the date on which the current constitution took effect. Federal constitution No. Official name Date of effect Notes 1st Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union 000000001781 - 03 - 01 - 0000 March 1, 1781 2nd Constitution of the United States of America 000000001789 - 03 - 04 - 0000 March 4, 1789 State constitutions Note that constitutions of states that were independent countries prior to admission, and constitutions used by rebelling states participating in the American Civil War are not counted. No. Official name Date of effect Notes 6th Alabama, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Alabama 000000001901 - 11 - 28 - 0000 November 28, 1901 1st Alaska, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Alaska 000000001959 - 01 - 03 - 0000 January 3, 1959 1st Arizona, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Arizona 000000001912 - 02 - 14 - 0000 February 14, 1912 4th Arkansas, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Arkansas 000000001874 - 10 - 13 - 0000 October 13, 1874 2nd California, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of California 000000001880 - 01 - 01 - 0000 January 1, 1880 1st Colorado, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Colorado 000000001876 - 08 - 01 - 0000 August 1, 1876 2nd Connecticut, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Connecticut 000000001965 - 12 - 30 - 0000 December 30, 1965 4th Delaware, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Delaware 000000001897 - 06 - 10 - 0000 June 10, 1897 5th Florida, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Florida 000000001969 - 01 - 07 - 0000 January 7, 1969 9th Georgia, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Georgia 000000001983 - 07 - 01 - 0000 July 1, 1983 1st Hawaii Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi 000000001959 - 08 - 21 - 0000 August 21, 1959 1st Idaho, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Idaho 000000001890 - 07 - 03 - 0000 July 3, 1890 4th Illinois, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Illinois 000000001971 - 07 - 01 - 0000 July 1, 1971 2nd Indiana, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Indiana 000000001851 - 11 - 01 - 0000 November 1, 1851 2nd Iowa, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Iowa 000000001857 - 08 - 03 - 0000 August 3, 1857 1st Kansas, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Kansas 000000001861 - 01 - 29 - 0000 January 29, 1861 4th Kentucky, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky 000000001891 - 08 - 03 - 0000 August 3, 1891 9th Louisiana, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Louisiana 000000001975 - 01 - 01 - 0000 January 1, 1975 1st Maine, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Maine 000000001820 - 03 - 03 - 0000 March 3, 1820 4th Maryland, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Maryland 000000001867 - 10 - 05 - 0000 October 5, 1867 1st Massachusetts, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 000000001780 - 10 - 25 - 0000 October 25, 1780 4th Michigan, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Michigan 000000001964 - 01 - 01 - 0000 January 1, 1964 1st Minnesota, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Minnesota 000000001858 - 05 - 11 - 0000 May 11, 1858 4th Mississippi, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Mississippi 000000001890 - 11 - 01 - 0000 November 1, 1890 4th Missouri, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Missouri 000000001945 - 03 - 30 - 0000 March 30, 1945 2nd Montana, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Montana 000000001973 - 07 - 01 - 0000 July 1, 1973 2nd Nebraska, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Nebraska 000000001875 - 11 - 01 - 0000 November 1, 1875 1st Nevada, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Nevada 000000001864 - 10 - 31 - 0000 October 31, 1864 3rd New Hampshire, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of New Hampshire 000000001784 - 06 - 02 - 0000 June 2, 1784 3rd New Jersey, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of New Jersey 000000001948 - 01 - 01 - 0000 January 1, 1948 1st New Mexico, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of New Mexico 000000001912 - 01 - 06 - 0000 January 6, 1912 4th New York, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of New York 000000001895 - 01 - 01 - 0000 January 1, 1895 4th North Carolina, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of North Carolina 000000001971 - 07 - 01 - 0000 July 1, 1971 1st North Dakota, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of North Dakota 000000001889 - 11 - 02 - 0000 November 2, 1889 2nd Ohio, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Ohio 000000001851 - 09 - 01 - 0000 September 1, 1851 1st Oklahoma, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Oklahoma 000000001907 - 11 - 16 - 0000 November 16, 1907 1st Oregon, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Oregon 000000001859 - 02 - 14 - 0000 February 14, 1859 4th Pennsylvania, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 000000001874 - 01 - 01 - 0000 January 1, 1874 2nd Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 000000001843 - 05 - 02 - 0000 May 2, 1843 6th South Carolina, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of South Carolina 000000001896 - 01 - 01 - 0000 January 1, 1896 1st South Dakota, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of South Dakota 000000001889 - 11 - 02 - 0000 November 2, 1889 3rd Tennessee, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Tennessee 000000001870 - 03 - 26 - 0000 March 26, 1870 4th Texas, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Texas 000000001876 - 02 - 17 - 0000 February 17, 1876 1st Utah, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Utah 000000001896 - 01 - 04 - 0000 January 4, 1896 1st Vermont, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Vermont 000000001793 - 07 - 09 - 0000 July 9, 1793 7th Virginia, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia 000000001971 - 07 - 01 - 0000 July 1, 1971 1st Washington, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Washington 000000001889 - 11 - 11 - 0000 November 11, 1889 2nd West Virginia, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of West Virginia 000000001872 - 08 - 22 - 0000 August 22, 1872 1st Wisconsin, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Wisconsin 000000001848 - 05 - 29 - 0000 May 29, 1848 1st Wyoming, Constitution of the State of Constitution of the State of Wyoming 000000001890 - 07 - 10 - 0000 July 10, 1890 Federal District charter No. Official name Date of effect Notes 1st District of Columbia, Charter of the Charter of the District of Columbia 000000001973 - 12 - 24 - 0000 December 24, 1973 The District of Columbia ( Washington City in the District of Columbia ) has a charter similar to charters of major cities, instead of having an constitution like the states and territories. The District of Columbia Home Rule Act establishes the Council of the District of Columbia which governs the entire district and has certain devolved powers similar to those of major cities. Congress has full authority over the district and may amend the charter and any legislation enacted by the Council. Attempts at statehood for the District of Columbia have included the drafting of two constitutions in 1982 and 1987 respectively referring to the district as the State of New Columbia. Commonwealth and territorial constitutions The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, July 25, 1952. It was ratified by Puerto Rico 's electorate in a referendum on March 3, 1952, approved by the United States Congress. The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands was drafted by thirty - nine elected delegates meeting in a constitutional convention on Saipan in 1976. Their proposed constitution was subsequently ratified by Northern Mariana Islands voters on March 6, 1977, and became effective January 9, 1978. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 202 of the Covenant, the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands was deemed to have been approved by the Government of the United States six months after the date of submission to the President. The six - month period having expired on October 22, 1977, President Carter issued a proclamation announcing the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands was deemed approved. The Constitution of the Territory of American Samoa was signed by 68 members of the 1960 constitutional convention and was approved by United States Secretary of the Interior Fred Andrew Seaton on 27 April 1960. It became effective 17 October 1960. Several amendments to the Constitution were approved in a referendum in the general elections in 1966, subsequently by Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall on 2 June 1967, and became effective 1 July 1967. Organic acts The Territory of Guam does not have its own constitution, but operates under the Guam Organic Act of 1950 and other federal statutes. The United States Virgin Islands, an unincorporated organized territory, does not have its own constitution, instead operating under various federal statutes. See politics of the United States Virgin Islands. See also State Constitution Gubernatorial Qualifications in the United States State constitution ( Australia ) References Jump up ^ `` Covenant ''. June 17, 1975. Jump up ^ `` Proclamations ''. January 9, 1978. Jump up ^ Despite its very different title, the United States Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, adopted on November 15, 1777, and ratified on March 1, 1781, was actually the first constitution of the United States of America. See Christian G. Fritz, American Sovereigns : The People and America 's Constitutional Tradition Before the Civil War ( Cambridge University Press, 2008 ) at p. 131 ISBN 978 - 0 - 521 - 88188 - 3 ( noting that `` Madison, along with other Americans clearly understood '' the Articles of Confederation `` to be the first federal Constitution. '' ) Jump up ^ Excludes the constitutions of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and the Republic of Hawaiʻi. Jump up ^ The Wyandotte Constitution supplanted the rejected Topeka Constitution, Lecompton Constitution, and Leavenworth Constitution. Jump up ^ Excludes the 1876 recodification of the Constitution of the State of Maine. Jump up ^ The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is currently the world 's oldest written constitution that is still in effect. Jump up ^ The first Constitution of the State of New Hampshire, adopted on January 5, 1776, was the first written constitution for an independent state in the New World and set the stage for the United States Declaration of Independence the following summer. Jump up ^ Excludes the 1938 recodification of the Constitution of the State of New York. Jump up ^ Excludes the 1968 recodification of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Jump up ^ Excludes the constitution of the Republic of Texas. Jump up ^ Excludes the two constitutions of the Vermont Republic. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Jump up ^ ( 2 ) Jump up ^ `` Proclamations ''. October 24, 1977. Jump up ^ `` American Samoa Constitution ''. October 17, 1960. Bibliography Bryce, James, viscount. The American Commonwealth ( 2nd ed., rev. ; London : Macmillan and Co., 1891 ), vol. 1, p. ( 413 ) - 445, ( 683 ) - 724, et passim. Hammons, Christopher W. ( 1999 ). Was James Madison wrong ? Rethinking the American preference for short, framework - oriented constitutions. American Political Science Review. Dec. 1999. The appendices to this article contain substantial data on state constitutions. 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Question: why are state constitutions usually longer than the u.s. constitution
Answer: they are more detailed regarding the day-to-day relationships between government and the people