Back in November, we released a new database, State Constitutions Illustrated. It contains nearly 9,000 current and historical constitutions for all fifty states. This database is the most comprehensive state constitution research platform available, containing an extensive collection of pre-statehood primary material. It also contains original and consolidated texts heavily annotated with references to case law. In just three short months, we’ve added much more material! Read below for an update to see what’s new in this database.

Updates from November to Date

Since the database launch, we have updated 16 states with 51 current documents and 430 prestatehood documents. All states are currently up to date as of the elections of November 5, 2019.

We will continue to post state constitutional content news right here in the HeinOnline blog. Be sure to subscribe to our blog to receive notifications when new posts are published.

From the December 12, 2017 Elections

Alabama

• We added the 2018 Cumulative Supplements to the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama concerning statewide amendments and local amendments; this is now current through Amendment 928.

From the June 5, 2018 Elections

California

• The official current text of the California State Legislature is now available.

From the November 6, 2018 Elections

South Dakota

• We added the current text from the Legislative Manual of South Dakota 2019.

From the November 5, 2019 Elections

Kansas

• Now available is the 2019 amendment from the Session Laws and the Legislature.

Louisiana

• Added were two amendments from the Legislature, explanatory notes of the Secretary of State, and the current text of the Senate.

Maine

• We added the amendment from the Session Laws and the Legislature. Also available is the original text of the Constitution of 1819/1820/1876 from the Session Laws of 1820 and 1821, as well as consolidated texts to 1839 and 1869 from the Revised Statutes of 1841 and 1871.

Nevada

• Now available is the current text of the Legislature that includes proposed amendments to be ratified at the elections of November 3, 2020, and November 8, 2020.

New Jersey

• The amendment and the current consolidation of the Legislature is now available, as well as the amendment approved on November 7, 2017, as found in the Session Laws.

Texas

• Nine amendments from the Legislature, together with the Bill of Analysis, were added, along with the analysis of all proposed amendments and the current text of the Texas Legislative Council.

Washington

• We added the amendment from the Legislature and the Session Laws, plus the Bill Report of the Legislature and extracts of the Voter’s Pamphlet of the Secretary of State. Also available is the current text of the Legislature.

Prestatehood Material

• Now available is an additional group of documents concerning the Territory and Dominion [Royal Province] of New England, 1685-1688, which deal with the government of Sir Edmond Andros. States involved include Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
• Essential documents have been added to Rhode Island covering the period 1636-1790, including the Patents (Charter) of 1643/4 and 1663, and papers related to them; early founding documents of the Towns of Providence, Portsmouth, Newport, and Warwick; and incorporation agreements between the several Towns. Also included are the famous Declaration of Independence of May 4, 1776 and the instruments for ratification of the federal Constitution on May 29, 1790.
• Important documents have been added to Connecticut covering the period of 1631 to 1776, including the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut of January 14, 1638/9, the Fundamental Articles of New Haven of June 4, 1639, the Ludlow Code of 1650, and the Charter of Connecticut of April 23, 1662.

State Constitutions Illustrated LibGuide

To learn more about how to search and navigate in this new database, check out the LibGuide! Explore search tips and discover all the material included in this comprehensive collection.

Still need help? HeinOnline search gurus are available Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Call us at (800) 277-6995, email us, or chat with us!