Includes bibliographical references (p. [411]-415) and index.

The other American constitutions -- The pre-federal state constitutions : the founding decade -- The evolving American state constitutions -- Federal limits on state constitutions -- The new judicial federalism -- Methodology in state constitutional rights interpretation -- Lockstepping state constitutional rights with federal constitutional law -- State constitutional distribution of powers -- The state legislative branch -- The state judicial branch -- The state executive branch -- Interpreting state constitutions -- Amending and revising state constitutions -- Judicial involvement in state constitutional amendment and revision.

"The Law of American State Constitutions provides complete coverage of the legal doctrines surrounding, applying to, and arising from American state constitutions and their judicial interpretation. Featuring examples drawn from specific states, Professor Williams provides legal analysis of the nature and function of state constitutions in contrast to the federal Constitution, including rights, separation of powers, policy-based provisions, the judicial interpretation issues that arise under state constitutions, and the processes for their amendment and revision. He examines the functions, background, and evolution of state constitutions, each of which contributes to their modern-day interpretation by the courts." "The Law of American State Constitutions provides an important analytical tool that explains the unique character and the range of judicial interpretation of these constitutions, together with the specialized techniques of argument and interpretation surrounding state constitutions. It covers the structure of state governments under state constitutions, and the distribution of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. This is the first book to present a complete picture of the current body of state constitutional law and its judicial interpretation."--BOOK JACKET.