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State By State The Book of the States Reference Tool Provides Relevant and Valuable Resources
Did you know that Alabama has the longest constitution by word count in the U.S.? Or that Vermont’s constitution is the shortest at just 8,565 words? Here’s another interesting fact: in 2020, Rhode Island had the fewest number of amendments adopted to its constitution, at just 12.
answers and comparisons for all 56 states, commonwealths and territories of the United States. The 2020 volume includes 195 in-depth tables, figures and infographics — like the one below on state constitutions — illustrating how state government operates. CSG mined more than 500 sources to obtain the information shared in this year’s edition. Discover more at issuu.com/csg.publications/docs/bos_2020_web.
Since 1933, CSG has served as a resource for state leaders and a catalyst for innovation and excellence in state governance. “The Book of the States” has been the annual reference tool of choice since 1935, providing relevant, accurate and timely information,
Table 1.3 | State Constitutions
ISSUE 5 2020 | CAPITOL IDEAS
70%
10
Constitution Length by Word Count LONGEST
of Alabama’s constitution
Alabama
is made up of local amendments that apply to only one county.
Missouri
Amendments Submitted
Amendments Adopted
Texas
•
SHORTEST
402,852
•
92,345 85,036
•
Oklahoma Colorado
•
Highest Number of Constitutions
•
84,956
84,239
Vermont Iowa
•
Rhode Island Indiana
•
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5
•
11,407
11,610
Minnesota
LOWEST
•
12,016
Rhode Island • 14 Illinois • 22 Connecticut • 35 Pennsylvania • 40 Alaska • 43
HIGHEST
LOWEST
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5
Alabama • 946 California • 538 Texas • 507 South Carolina • 500 Oregon • 258
8,565
11,089
HIGHEST Alabama • 1,280 California • 909 South Carolina • 690 Texas • 686 Oregon • 505
•
Rhode Island • 12 Illinois • 15 Alaska • 29 Michigan • 32 Montana • 32
LOUISIANA • 11
GEORGIA • 10
SOUTH CAROLINA • 7
