The Washington State Constitution: A Reference GuideGreenwood Press, 2002 - 287 páginas
The article of the Constitution described at greatest length is Article I, the declaration of Rights. It contains 35 sections covering religious freedom, protection of speech and privacy, the right to bear arms, rights of the accused, a prohibition of a standing army, and many other provisions. Of the remaining 31 articles, many have their origins in other state constitutions, particularly those of western states, while a few sections are unique in their language. The paramount duty clause of the education article is an example of language that originated first in Washington, although it has cousins in other state constitutions that entrench the concept of common schools that spread throughout the nation after 1830. |