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California’s constitution is one of the most complex of the state constitutions. Various attempts have been made to simplify it over the years, including a number of failed constitutional conventions in the latter half of the 20th century. More than 500 amendments have been made to the current constitution.
Preamble to the Constitution
“We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this Constitution.”
Numbers
- 2 – Number of Constitutions
- 1879 – Year Current Constitution Accepted
Online References
Books
The California State Constitution: A Reference Guide by Joseph R. Grodin, et al
California’s Constitution has been one of the most influential state constitutions historically and has been amended and interpreted in many different ways. This definitive and easy-to-use reference by a former justice of California’s Supreme Court and two colleagues at Hastings College of Law should be a standard guide for lawyers, students, scholars, and for the citizenry to use in considering how to vote on ballot questions. The volume opens with an overview of the development of the constitution since the early days and then provides an article-by-article and section-by-section analysis and full text of this body of law under which the state is governed. A selected bibliography, a table of cases, and a full index make this invaluable reference useful to a broad interdisciplinary audience for varied use. [excerpted from the publisher's description]
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Other resources for state-level constitutions
