Montana
Montana has a constitution which is rather young, as far as US state constitutions go. However, its very first constitution, which was written some 23 years before statehood, was actually lost on the way to the printer and so was never able to be voted upon.
Preamble to the Constitution
“We the people of Montana grateful to God for the quiet beauty of our state, the grandeur of our mountains, the vastness of our rolling plains, and desiring to improve the quality of life, equality of opportunity and to secure the blessings of liberty for this and future generations do ordain and establish this constitution. “
Numbers
- 1889 – Year of Statehood
- 4 – Number of Constitutions
- 1972 – Year Current Constitution Ratified
- 2004 – Year Last Amended
Online References
Books
The Montana State Constitution: A Reference Guide by Larry M. Elison and Fritz Snyder
Montana’s idealistic state constitution was created during the politically turbulent early 1970s. Progressive and innovative, but also pragmatic, this constitutional newcomer combines a strong concern for individual rights, personal liberty, and individual dignity while seeking to keep government open and responsive to the will of the people of Montana. It also stresses rights to a clean and healthful environment. This is the first reference work to provide an in-depth analysis of the text, meaning, and legal interpretations of Montana’s constitution. [excerpted from the publisher's description]
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