The American State Constitutional Tradition - by John J Dinan (Paperback)

About the Book

The first comprehensive study of all 114 state constitutional conventions for which there are records--from Connecticut's in 1818 to New Hampshire's in 1984. By integrating state constitution-makers with the federal constitutional tradition, this path-breaking work yields a superior understanding of how American citizens have chosen to govern themselves.

Book Synopsis

For too long, the American constitutional tradition has been defined solely by the U.S. Constitution drafted in 1787. Yet constitutional debates at the state level open a window on how Americans, in different places and at different times, have chosen to govern themselves. From New Hampshire in 1776 to Louisiana in 1992, state constitutional conventions have served not only as instruments of democracy but also as forums for revising federal principles and institutions.

In The American State Constitutional Tradition, John Dinan shows that state constitutions are much more than mere echoes of the federal document. The first comprehensive study of all 114 state constitutional conventions for which there are recorded debates, his book shows that state constitutional debates in many ways better reflect the accumulated wisdom of American constitution-makers than do the more traditional studies of the federal constitution.

Wielding extraordinary command over a mass of historical detail, Dinan clarifies the alternatives considered by state constitution makers and the reasons for the adoption or rejection of various governing principles and institutions. Among other things, he shows that the states are nearly universal in their rejection of the rigid federal model of the constitutional amendment process, favoring more flexible procedures for constitutional change; they often grant citizens greater direct participation in law-making; they have debated and at times rejected the value of bicameralism; and they have altered the veto powers of both the executive and judicial branches.

Dinan also shows that, while the Founders favored a minimalist design and focused exclusively on protecting individuals from government action, state constitution makers have often adopted more detailed constitutions, sometimes specifying positive rights that depend on government action for their enforcement. Moreover, unlike the federal constitution, state constitutions often contain provisions dedicated to the formation of citizen character, ranging from compulsory schooling to the regulation of gambling or liquor.

By integrating state constitution making with the federal constitutional tradition, this path-breaking work widens and deepens our understanding of the principles by which we've chosen to govern ourselves.

Review Quotes

"A very important book based on prodigious research. Dinan has distilled for us in an extremely readable form an analysis of some of the key debates in American politics as played out through state constitutions."--Law and History Review

"An extremely important contribution to its subject and to the study of American politics in general. An excellent supplementary text for a survey course in American politics and government."--American Journal of Legal History

"Dinan's book will be the starting point for reexamining and explaining a wide array of traditional constitutional concerns."--American Historical Review

"As the single most important book on the topic, Dinan's impressive work will help to reshape scholarship in the field of American constitutional history for generations to come."--Kermit Hall, author of The Magic Mirror: Law in American History

"Dinan, one of the leading scholars of American state constitutionalism, has painted a new and fascinating portrait of American constitutional thought."--Keith E. Whittington, author of Constitutional Interpretation

"A major work by a recognized scholar that is highly original, exhaustively researched, and well-presented."--G. Alan Tarr, author of Understanding State Constitutions