Constitutional Convention Supplement Jes,sen' s Weekly Fairbanks, November 4, 1955 .. Historic Meeting Starts Nov. 8 at College ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** Problems ·Facing 55 Delegates ·Reviewed Alaska Statehood · The Ex~utive Department, Committee Offers EStablishing ACORstitution; Analysis Of Issues The series of a.rtiCles preparelll 'by ·AKey To State Success the Alaska Statehood Committee Alaska's Big Op or unity and presented in these p a g e s By SPESSARD L. HOLLAND through the courtesy of your local By ALFRED E. DRISCOLL newspaper are designed to assist Senator From Florida; the people of Alaska in understand­ Formerly Governor of New Jersey; Governor of Florida, 1941-1945. ing the issues that will come before Member, Bar of the Supreme Court the Alaska Constitutional Conv~­ tf, the United States The Alaska Constitutional Con­ tion which convenes at the Univer­ vention, assembling on Nov. 8 to sity of Alaska on November 8. Alaska stands on the threshold of draft a Constitution for the State a great and significant event. A Does Alaska of Alaska, will make provision for When the Alaska Statehood Com­ mittee was created by the Territor­ Constitutional Convention, to write organization of the three branches Significance Of -what will very probably be the of government-'executive, legisla­ ial in 1949, it was auth­ Need County orized a.rid directed to "have ready, last constitution for a new mem­ tive and judicial. These three ber of the American Union, will branches are of equal importance in preparation for the Constitution­ Constitutiona I al Convention, fully detailed infor­ cgnvene at College on November Government? and eac his indispensable in erect­ 8 mation a.nd analyses for use by the of this year. Its purpose is to iag a proper governmental struc­ Language write fundamental law for this part WENDELL G. SCHAEFFER ture for the new state. Oonvention in preparing the re­ Public Administration Service quired draft of a constitution for of America which is of such sup­ In the drafting of constitutions By ERNEST R. BARTLEY reme importance to our nation's !Jaska has no county govern- Alaska, to the end that the people Professor of Political Science ment strueture. Although the ter- most states have had more diffi­ destiny, nqw ti la.nd of potenth!i _ cu!ty iu · defining the truw !>IJO'.'t·l'l?ity f.'f ~iPg , l:nin:~·sity uf J?!prida; ties. 1 n ~Utl Legislat\lre is em'p<>w~ed upon a.n entirely .1;ound and t~~ll­ Director of Research, Florida J by Congress to deal generally with functions of the executive branch 'l'he spirit and inventiveness Alas­ than they have had with the legis­ oughly prepared document." · Constitutional Revision the subject of local government, Commission ka citizens have demonstrated for lative and judicial. Such difficulty The Statehood Committe has ar­ 88 years combined with the knowl­ it is specifically prohibited from ranged for your elected Delegates Constitutional purposes are ex­ creating a county structure without has had its origin in fallure to ad­ edge of over a century and half of here to certain fundamental con­ at the Constitutional Convention to pressed in the American tradition affirmative action by Congress. through· the medium of the written American governmental tradition cepts clearly inherent in tlie fed­ have a series .of technical manuals; When the delegates the Con­ word. The words, phrases, sentenc­ and practice should result in an or­ to eral Constitution-c_oncepts that are each dealing with a constitutional ganic law of the highest order for \ stitutional Convention meet in Col­ topic and specially prepared . to es, and paragraphs which are used basic to maintenance :if rPsponsi­ th~ prospective new state. lege, one of. the most important bility in a governmental system treat Ala.Ska.'s circumstances. - must be so c-0mposed that the re­ sult is a cohesive and comprehen­ This eonstitution will first be issues they will be called upon built upon the separation-of-powers Each of the articles presented on submitted to the v&ters of Alaska to consider is the creation of a principle. these pages is devoted to a specific sible whole, an expres~ion so far as human capabilities will permit of for approval. If they ratify it, structure of local government in Framers of the federal Consti· constitutional topic or issue. These the Constitution will then be pre­ Alaska. Consequently, the question articles do not pretend to offer sol­ the meaning and intent of the con­ tution wisely realized that when stitution framers. sented to the Congress of the of dividing the new state into creating three co·equal branches utions or to suggest constitutional United States which will be re· counties is certain to arise. It is language. They are furnished by the The first and sures~ evidenc.e of of government their objective faulty and ineffective constitu­ quested to accept it, thus admit· appropriate therefore to consider was· to create just three and no Statehood Committee in· an effort ting Alaska to· full partnership what a traditional Americ"an county to gain wider popular understanding tional drafting is found in the in­ more. Then they built into the correct use of 'language-violation in the Union. is, what are the functions normally structure adequate checks which of the work that your Delegates are The Constitution . and Modem entrusted to county officials, and of accepted rules of grammar, i.n­ each branch should exttcise in performing. When the Delegates a·ccurate punctu:\tic..n, verboseness, State Government. In the broad what has been the experience with providing necessary restraint up- have completed their work, you will sense, a constitution sets out the eounty government over the years. and, most important, failure to use on the others. • have an opportnuity to vote upon words in their ex:.ct legal context general rules under which the ac­ What is County Government! Framers of state constitutions the result-a proposed constitution Dean Roscoe Pound often tells tivities of government are conduct­ Many Alaskans have lived in have· sometimes departed from for the State of Alaska. a story of one flf his C\'.perience.s ed and limited. The document is an The Territorial Legislature's en~ other years in one or another of these concepts b1 subdividing the as a young attorney. H~ had been agreement by the people on the the United States and have some executive branch into a number of actinent calling the convention re­ appointed by the county commis· broad principles under which they familiarity with county govern· semi-independent units, each with quires tha.t its work be completed Sioners in his area as a mem· order their individual conduct to Dient structure. If they comp1lre _constitutional status, and each a.nd. In not more tha.n 90 days after her of a ~oard cl!arged .vith the make possible enjoyment of the Jiotes however, they are almost with its own independently elected the constitution is written, the peo­ responsibility of committing per­ benefits of an organized society. certain to discover that there is head. In the circumstances thus ple of Alaska will be called upon to sons to mental institutions. The Thus in 1789 the American people little uniformity in their expe­ created, . the state governor has accept or reject it. This must be done state legislation which had ere· established the ·constitution of tlie rience. The county in Washington sometimes found himself some­ within 120 days after the conven­ ated the board gave it the title United Stai:es, a document which is or Oregon bears little resem· thing less than a chief executive tifrn's adjournment. Thus within of "Board of Insane Commis­ today the oldest written constitu- --fdance to the county in Massa· and he has thus been precluded seve~ months from now Alaska may sioners." The legislative Ian· tion · in the world. . , chusetts, is different still from from fully carrying eut his consti- ha.ve a. constitution ready for. sub­ guage stated that it should be The American Union is a federal that ef South Carolina or Florida, (Continued on Page 5) mission to the U. S. Congress.

The Legislative Department 1 Establishing The ---Guardian • · I , Constitution Voice Of Alaska s People1 ... ~~:,":.~'! i;;::::~ !:.fun- Of Rights Of Citizens damentals. The Constitution of the One of the tasks of the Constitu- and Delaware) to 67 (). United States has survived these by strikingly similar conclusions as t• tional Convention which convenes In the larger lower houses the num­ many years because, for the most Thomas B. Stewart the proper necessary elements of ber varies from 35 (Delaware) to Executive Officer a sound judiciary. And so is p-Os­ at College on November 8 will be part, the men who met at Phila­ ii 400 (New Hampshire). The uni­ delphia 166 years ago made no ef­ Alaska Statehood Committee sible to suggest such elements for to provide for a Legislature-one cameral legislature of has fort to write into the document One of the greatest challenges, the consideration of the Alaska Con­ of the three coequal branches of 43 members. minutiae better left to the discre­ and simultaneously, one of the rar­ stitutional Convention with a con­ American government. The major tion of the legislative and execu­ fidence enhanced by a great weight In general it is believed that most est opportunities, will face the dele­ function of the Legislature is the state are tQo large, par­ tive branches of the government. of respected, supporting authority. formulation of policy and the ex­ ticularly the lower house. However, Having reached a fairly general gates of the Alaska Consfitutional As to the organization of a court pressi0n of that policy through the it is also urged by many experts agreement on fundamentals, and Convention in the problem of de­ system, it is generally agreed that pa~age of laws. In addition to its that the lower house should con- having resisted rather well the signittg a judiciary for the future of there is need for at least three bas- major funcrton of law making, the tain at least 40 members in order temptation to write detail into the Alaska. The challenge is great be­ ic levels of courts. At the highest Legislature generally exercises document, they produced an or­ that committees may function prop­ cause in the judiciary rests the level is a court of ultimate appeal, bro.ad deliberative and investigative erly. The actual determinant in most ganic law capable of being flexi­ in which parties to cases may obtailt ·functions. As stated by Woodrow ultimate protection of the funda­ states has been the system of ap­ bly interpreted to meet the de­ a final review of the determinatiom~ Wilson, the legislature "is meant to portionment of seats rather than a mands of a growing society. mental rights of persons tradition­ of lower courts. The issues before­ be · the eyes and the voice, and to decision as to the most effective The fundamentals of the Alaska ally guaranteed by our American the Alaska delegates on the crea­ embody the wisdom and will of its size from the standpoint of effici­ Constitution can be divided into federal and state constitutions; only a tion of such a court, often called. . c.onstituents." ent procedures. two categories: (1) the- funda­ well-designed judiciary can effici­ the Supreme Court of a state, wiU Under the American t:qeory of Elections. The Legislative Article mentals of principle, and (2) the ently and fairly perform this guard­ include questions on what should popular sovereignty, the Legisla­ will contain provisions for the elec­ fundamentals of organization. ianship function. The opportunity be its composition and on what - ture is viewed as the people acting tion of Legislators, their term and Under the fundamentals of is rare because Alaska, not having should be its jurisdiction. in their respective capacity. Also, all their constituencies. The size and principle can be listed such con­ as a Territory its own judicial sys­ At the next level there is need for powers of government not granted nature of the Legislature will de­ cepts as the belief in popular tem, is free to choose from the best a court of general jurisdiction in in the Constitution to the other pend, in part, upon the constitution­ so,·ereignty-the idea that all modern concepts of a judiciary which criminal and civil cases are branches nor denied to the Legisla­ al provisions relating to selection of governmental power comes from without being hampered by that originally brought for consideration ture may be exercised by the legi­ members. Unlike the United States the people and must be exercised resistance to change which so often and trial. While the authority of' slative body. Thus residual govern­ Congress. both houses of state legis­ in conformity with their de· c!1aracterizes long-established sys­ such a court would properly extend. mental power may be exercised by latures in most states are appor­ sil:es as expressed through dem­ tems. over the entire state, it could be· the Legislature. tioned on the basis of population. ocratic processes. The Alaska The people of Alaska have grown set up in divisions to function in Constitution should be based, too, Restrictions on the powers of Other bases of apportioning seats accustomed to a federal judiciary the various populated areas of the· on the concept of limited govern· state legislatures arise from several in both houses are area, governmen­ provided by presidentially appoint­ state. sources. The United States Consti- ment, so fundamental to demo­ ed judges· and a system of district The remaining question concernsc tal units, or combinations of popula­ cratic thought; that governmen­ tution places certain limitations up­ tion, area, and units. Thus states commissioners. With statehood, some the provision of localized.- jp~ on state legislative bodies. Likewise, tal officials should be held ' to of these services must be replaced services to consider , have not folla.,.ed the Congression­ strict account for their actions; the Legislative Article of the state al system of area basis of apportion­ by a •state judicial system., This_ is civil case~;. involving relativi::b.' ~­ constitution places further and spe­ the belief that certain civil rights a crucial changeover. Not only-must sµms; · traffic violations, and like· ment of the upper house &.nd a pop­ are protected from interference cific limits on the ability of the ulation ba,sis for the lower house. the new ·state judiciary administer cases. The Con"\lentUm delegates;. · , Legislature to act in certain fields. on the , part of gover.nmental au- justice promptly and impartially, must determine whether:these-c:ases.:. · With regard to- the problems of ,thotity. A Bill of Rights is a Other limits arise by implication but it will have the added task of which daily affect the lives of apportionment of seats it has been traditional Ao:erican constitu· a from both the national and state interpreting the new constitution. great many more people than do the· urged that the two houses should tional expl"ession of this idea~ • constitutions. These interpretations can have an more serious cases, should be con-: . have basically different representa­ · There ~i.n be ~greement on the One of the tasks of the Constitu­ tive bases or they serve no useful important effect on the future of sidered in terms of a lower level of' tional Convention at College will be American concept of the separation the state. courts established_especially- fO{ this; check on each other. Thus the of powers; the division of govern­ to write a Legislative Article. Many theory of "equal representation" The issue of what principles and purpose, or whether the CQUrt of· mental authority among legisla­ general. original jurisdiction may be· of the states have adopted restric­ must be abandoned in at least one concepts might be embodied in the tive provisions in their legislative ture, executive, and judiciary to expanded to handle this case load. house of a bicameral legisla'ture. the end that all governmental pow· .constitution in a. judiciary -article artides. In addition, all pfovisions But whatever courts may be cr~­ In most state's the members of the er never be concentrated in the can well be considered .in terms of of other Articles of the constitution three basic topics: (1) the organiza­ ated, whether on varying levels -&r­ create implied restrictions, because upper house serve a longer teri:n hands of one branch of govern­ with varying special functions, mod-­ than in the lower house. In 28 of ment. The principle of checks and tion of the court system; (2) the the Legislature must operate within pe~sonnel of the system, including ern authorities have agreed that all . the ge.neral, as well as specific, the states Senators serve for terms balances will be incorporated into courts should be a part of and with­ of four years and House Members the Alaska organic law, in . order. qualification, selection, tenure, and ·: frairie\York of the Constitution.. related matters; and (3) .administra­ in an integrated or unified system serve terms of two years. In 16 that each branch may check the Unlike the United States Constitu­ tion of the ·system created. which would exercise all of the ju­ states all members serve two-year other. tion with its broad statements -0f In recent times there has devel­ dicial powers and authority of the­ terms and in 4 states all members Having established the funda­ powers and restrictions, many state oped a _surprisin!?'tinanimity of opin­ state. serve four years. governmental organization. The constitutions are filled with detailed ion among- both practitioners and The constitution should also pro­ mentals of principle, the Alaska restrictions which have seriously In those states which provide theorists as to the remedies for de­ vide a basis for selection of the­ Constitution should establish, in hampered attempts to adjust to four-year terms for Senators it is fects in existing state systems. Prac­ judges. at least for those who will generally intended that provision broad outline, the fundamentals of serve on the highest court of the changing circumstances. One of the document should create the three ticing attorneys, judges, legal theo­ problems facing the delegates to for the longer terms will provide a rists, and laymen, have come to state. Probably the principal issue­ stability and continuity ()f member­ branches of government - legisla­ to be resolved is whether judges of· the Alaska Constitutional Conven­ ture, executive, and judiciary­ tion will be to decide what is the ship in the upper body. Frequent the highest court should be elected election of all members of the low- and confer on them their various trust of legislative bodies - and a or appointed. Each method has its• proper role of the Legislature for powers. There will, naturally, be tendency to assume that economic the State of Alaska. er house is intended to give ex­ advantages and disadvantages. pression to changes in public sen­ considerable argument by the citi­ and social problems require consti­ There is considerable interest in The· Legislative -Article of the zens and the delegates to Conven­ tutional solution (an assumption timent each two years. the so-called Missouri pla~· Whicli. Constitution will contain provisions tion as to the exact form of each of amply dispro.ve tions, procedures, and general pow­ islative Article of the Constitution should exercise. But it is interest­ If tae. delegateS' · _are Wise and made by a panel selected partly by ers of this important branch of rep­ will establish the times and length ing to note that the framers: of the profit by the accumulated expert.... the Governor and partly by the PX-· resentative government. Yet the spe­ of legislative sessions. Many state national Constitntion made little ence o.f other states, they will 're­ isting court system or laymen. The cific provisions may not be as sig­ constitutions, adopted in the Nine­ effort, even in the area of organi­ sist the temptatiozt to cli..tter the judge selected by the Governor­ nificant as the general attitude teeth Century, have placed unreal­ zation, to set out the detailed or­ constitution with legislative enact­ serves one year, and then his name­ toward the Legislature reflected by istic limits upon legislative sessions. ganization of each branch. This ment. The incorporation of unnec­ "goes on the ballot, without oppo­ the comj:ilete document. As government has become m.ore wise decision to lay out organiza­ essary detail may seriously ham­ complex, the need for longer and sition. with the voters saying "yes"­ In attempting to write the Legis­ tion in broad and fundamental ter­ per Alaska's growth. Attainment of more frequent sessions has become or "no" to the question of whet.her lature Arti.:le the delegates will be minology has proved itself to be a government designed to cope suc­ apparent. To overcome such limita­ or not he shall continue in office for­ ·confronted with a confusing mass of one of the great strengths of the cessfully with the tremendous tions state legislatures have been a regular term. The delegates to the­ information regarding state legis­ national Constitution. changes that may be wrought in forced to resort to subterfuges that Alaska Constitutional Convention latures. The experiences of the The Constitution a :Brief Docu-· an era of the greatest and most do no credit to a representative may well give careful- consideratioa. 'states display wide variations and m~nt. Agreement by the citizens· of rapid transformation in all record­ body. Alaska that their Constitution shall ed history is likely to be defeated to this among other possible ar­ difference with regard to the legis­ A majority of state constitutions rangements. lative body. Thus it will be diffi­ contain only fundamentals will re­ by adherence to specific practices provide for a biennial session lim­ Judicial administration is the third cult to look to the experience of the sult in a document notable for grev­ which were adopted legislatively in i~ed to a specified number of cal­ area which in addition to judicial states with any hope of discerning ity. The national Constitution con­ a by-gone age. endar or legislative days. Also, state organization and personnel will con­ any "best" form for the Legislative tains scarcely 8,000 words in con­ Summary. If the Constitution of constitutions usually provide a trast to the "book-length" docu­ front the framers of our constitu­ Artide. As examples of these dif­ Alaska sets out ,fundamentals, it method for calling a special session. ments of California (72,000 words) tion. Inadequate provisions for ju­ ferences, the following might be will be brief and capable of broad In recent years the legi:§fatures in dicial administration, in many­ noted: and (65,000 words). The interpretation. It will, in short, be µiore and more states have been av.erage worcl,age for state constitu­ a documtmt designed to grow with states, has resulted in a huge back­ Structure. Structure of the Legis- called into special session to handle tions today is around 15,000. the State of Alaska, to aid the log of -cases and unreasonable delay lature is concerned with the ques- business for which there was insuf­ The longer the constitution, the State to grow and to achieve the in adjudication of cases brought be­ tion of whether there shall be one ficient time in the regular session. more in need of amendment it greatness of which its area is only fore the courts. Provision for cen­ house or two. All' Amedcan Legis- However, this problem can be re­ seems to be. The California Con­ the least important manifestation. tralized administrative responsibil­ latures, except the unicameral sys- solved if there is provision for the stitution was amended 343 times ity, with opportunities to assign terns of Nebraska and Guam, are Governor to call special sessions, in the 66·year period from 1886 " . . . conventions were elected in judges according to litigation needs, composed of two chambers, usually and also a method by which the to 1946, with many .more amend­ the several States for establishing plus administrative aids such as called the Senate and House of Rep- Legislature may convene itself by ments adopted since 1949 ! The the constitutions under which they court administrative' officers and resentatives. Nebraska has had ex- special session by request of a con­ Louisiana Constitution has been are now governed . . . as the plan judicial councils have speeded ana perience with a single-body legisla- stitutionally established percentage amended scoces of times. to be framed and proposed was to made more efective the administra­ ture since 1937. Although Nebraska's of the members, The mass of detail written into be submitted to the people them­ tion of justice in many states. experience indicates that a single SuMMARY the average state constitution has, selves, the disappropriation of this Alaska wants and needs, when it legislative body overcomes mariy of The delegates to the Alaska Con·- of course, -resulted in the extreme supreme authority would destroy it attains statehood, an honorable and the defects of the two-chamber body stitutional Convention will be able length. But underlying the demand forever; its approbation blot out an­ efficient court system to fill the - without losing any of the tradition- to profit from the mistakes of states for detail has been a popular dis- tecedent errors and irregularities." void that will exist with the with­ al "checks and balances" no other in establishing their representative Madison, The Federalist. drawal of U. S. Commissioners ana .state has adopted the system. body. State constitutions contain provision~ regarding the Legisla­ the limited jurisdiction of U. S. Size. The size of state legislatures many unrealistic restrictions which ture will establish both the frame­ " . . . every government onght to judges when Alaska becomes a is quite varied. In the states having have prevented their legislatures work and the role of the Legislature contain in it.lielf' the means of its state. Alaska can profit from the ex­ a bicameral legislature the number from adapting to new or changing as the representative branch of own preservation." Madison, The perience of other states in estab­ ~f Senators varies from 17 (Nevada circumstances. The Constitutional stl!-te government. Federalist. lishing a sound judiciary. llJeve11ilH9' 4, 1955 CONS'l'ITUTIONAL CONVENTION SUPPLEMENT Page Three Convenfi,on Must Provide - Si~n-ificance What Should Be Included • • Of Language I A S . ( . . "' men ments ev1s1on (Continued From P~ge If n . ' tale ' onst1tut1on ~ For d I R "the duty of the said Insane - • By tile ALASKA STATEHOOD caution should be exercised in pre- Board" t<> perform certain fnoc- COMMITTEE scribing publication requ!f'ements tiens. The language in this in· By THE ALASKA STATEHOOD provisions declarina that the PoW­ A good state constitution will if they are to be written o.t all stance probably did not express COMMITl'EE ers of government are divided .contain provisions for its future Ratification of Amendments. A the intent of the legislature and among the legislative executive-, amendment to o b t a in specific popular vote is almost universally serves as one of many possible In the first of this series of ar- and judicial br­ .stitutional convention delegates is normally the requirement for great importance of language and fundamentals, with the result tnat vision for a legislature. In some ·will be how well they draft the pro- ratification, there are variations style. The convention met at Phila­ the document is brief and conr.IBe. conslilutions lhe organization is .set ~isions for amendment and revi- upon which this is based; 'Such as, delphia in May of 1787 and by Sep­ We shall now consider two ques- out in great detail; in a few the .sion. majorities of those voting at the tember of that. year a draft of the tions: (1) what matters are t:US· legislative body is created in gen­ If the process is made too diffi- election or of those voting on the Constitution had been completed. tomarlly covered in the average eral terms. One state Nebraska, -cult, tkey may create a constitu- amendment. The framers were wise enough, state co.i;is~tutiott today, ancl C2) provides for a unicameral or one, -tional straitjacket; if the proce<>s Stricter ratification requirements however, not to let matters rest whether it. lS _proper that the _Alas- house legislature. Many states is .too easy, they will have open- can, of course, be found; such is, at that point. kan Constitution should provide a prescribe legislative procedure· in .ed the floodgates to the writing of a three-fifths election majority i>r On the 8th of September a Com­ coverage of all, or part, of these? considerable detail. - .statutory minutiae into fundament- a straight majority wher~ a pre- mittee on Style and Arrangements Contents 9£ State Constitutions (4) Executive Officers and Pow• al law. scribed minimum perce'1tage of was appointed consisting of Gouv- Today. Many a state eonstitu:.ion ers. All states hav~ provisions for Satisfactory guideposts for voters in' an election must have eneur Morris, James Madison, is a most remarkable hodgepodge the election of a cbief executive reaching a decision on this point expressed their preference on the Alexander Hamilton, Doctor Wil­ of matters ranging from the basic but others elect in addition a great are not available. Similar or even amendment. · liarn Johnson, and Rufus King. It to the ridiculous. Most state consti- number of other state administra­ identical procedures, adopted in About half of the states require was this committee, and more par­ tuti~n.s, like Topsy. "just gro~ed." ti,., ·officials . Some constitutions ·different states, have proved in amendme1'ts to be submitted at a ticularly the literary and articulate Additions _ were made without provide for various boards and retrospect too difficult in the general / election. The other. states Gouveneur Morris, which had the thought !o. the ov_er'.'ll rf>~ults of commissions. -ene, and too easy in the other. variously specify a special elec- responsibility of eliminating er­ such additions. A listing of be Lop- (S ) J d" "al • ti Ji · 'Tbe seundest approach to design- tion often with time limits within rors, inconsistencies, and excess ics gerterally covered serves to il· . . u icr 0 rgamza on, urIS· ing the processes of amendment which the election must be held, verbiage and of giving final polish lustrate the wide variety of matters dicti~n, and Procedure. All states and revision requires considera- defer to legislative discretion, or to the language. deemed so basic and fundamental provide for a top court, usually tion of the nature of the whole are slient on the matter. The responsibilities placed on that they were ineorporated mto ~~e~ a supreme cou;-t. The ':11a­ censtitution produced by the con- Revision of State Constitutions: the Committee on Style were constitutions. In each of the cate-- J?nty of tates specify ~onstitu­ ventioo. When amendments to the constitu- h~avy ones. -They extended far gories listed there is, moreover, tii r.ally, lower court machinery as If the c<>nstitution is long, detail- tion are recognized to be piece- beyond the questions of mere wide variation in content among well. ~d •.and on many subjects specific meal and inadequate, it becomes literary technique and good us­ the states, (6) Suffrage and Eledioos. in nature-amendment and revi- necessary to overhaul the entire age. The people of the 13 states (l} Bills of Rights. All slate con- ( 7} Military PCJwers and Militia. -Sioll should be made relatively docurr.ent thro11gh revision. A few woul