State constitutions have long played an important role in American government, yet they are often neglected in K-12 classrooms. Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions (e.g., Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) and Rucho v. Common Cause (2019)), as well as state disputes over equitable school funding, have cast new light on the importance of state constitutions. How do state constitutions compare to the U.S. Constitution and to each other? What roles do state constitutions play in citizens’ lives? Why are state constitutions important in the education of citizens? This Digest helps students and teachers address these and other important questions about state constitutions. READ MORE . . .
