Simone Lawson
The US Constitution and the New Mexico Constitution are important documents that establish the fundamental political frameworks of the United States of America and the state of New Mexico, respectively. The US Constitution, signed in 1787, is the oldest national constitution in the world and has been an inspiration for democratic ideals worldwide. It outlines the principles and structure of the federal government, separates powers into three branches, and ensures a system of checks and balances. On the other hand, the New Mexico Constitution, drafted in 1910 and ratified in 1912, reflects the ongoing work of generations of New Mexicans. It sets forth the rights of citizens, addresses territorial issues, and provides for broader rights and protections than the federal constitution. Both constitutions are living documents that can be amended to adapt to changing values and interests, with the US Constitution having 27 amendments and the New Mexico Constitution having over 170.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of amendments | US: 27; New Mexico: 182 |
| Number of articles | US: 7; New Mexico: 24 |
| Ratification date | US: 1791; New Mexico: 1912 |
| Ratification process | US: N/A; New Mexico: Requires a simple majority vote, with certain provisions requiring a three-fourths supermajority |
| Frequency of amendments | US: 17 amendments since 1791; New Mexico: 182 amendments since 1912 |
| Rights protected | US: N/A; New Mexico: Free speech, firearm ownership, due process, free public school, freedom from sex-based discrimination |
| Historical context | US: N/A; New Mexico: Struggle for statehood spanning six decades, resulting in five constitutional conventions and four draft constitutions |
| Drafting process | US: N/A; New Mexico: Drafted by 100 delegates, including Republicans, Democrats, and a socialist, representing a cross-section of New Mexican society |
| Framework | US: N/A; New Mexico: Establishes the fundamental political framework, setting forth the principles and structure of government |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution is supreme law, with state constitutions subordinate
- The New Mexico Constitution establishes the state's political framework and government structure
- The New Mexico Constitution has been amended over 170 times since 1912
- The US Constitution has been amended 27 times, compared to 7,000+ state amendments
- The New Mexico Constitution grants broader rights than the federal constitution, including social and political reforms
The US Constitution is supreme law, with state constitutions subordinate
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, with state constitutions, such as that of New Mexico, being subordinate to it. The US Constitution has been amended 27 times since its creation, whereas state constitutions have been amended far more frequently, with over 7,000 amendments across all states. New Mexico's constitution, for example, has been amended more than 170 times since its ratification in 1912.
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land because it establishes the fundamental framework of the country and sets out the rights and freedoms of its citizens. It is the highest form of law, and all other laws and regulations must conform to it. The Constitution is also important because it outlines the structure and powers of the federal government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It establishes a system of checks and balances to ensure that no one branch holds too much power.
State constitutions, while subordinate to the US Constitution, are still incredibly important. They establish the fundamental principles and structure of government for each state, outline the rights and responsibilities of state citizens, and function as the supreme law of the state, second only to the US Constitution. The New Mexico Constitution, for example, was drafted by 100 delegates elected by the people of New Mexico and reflects the values and interests of its citizens. It has been amended numerous times to address the state's longstanding issues, such as the enforcement of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and to advance the values of New Mexicans, such as creating a right to early childhood education.
The process of amending state constitutions, as outlined in the example of New Mexico, also helps to safeguard the rights of citizens. While the US Constitution provides broad protections, state constitutions can offer more specific and expansive rights and protections, such as broader free speech protections, firearm ownership rights, and due process rights. State constitutions also allow for more frequent amendments, ensuring that the document remains relevant and responsive to the needs and values of the state's citizens.
In conclusion, while the US Constitution is the supreme law of the land, state constitutions play a crucial subordinate role in establishing the principles, structure, and rights specific to each state. The ability to amend state constitutions more frequently than the US Constitution allows states to address their unique concerns and adapt to the evolving values and interests of their citizens.
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The New Mexico Constitution establishes the state's political framework and government structure
The Constitution of the State of New Mexico is the document that establishes the state's political framework and government structure. It is the fundamental governing document of the state, outlining the principles and structure of government, as well as enumerating the rights of citizens. The New Mexico Constitution is unique in that it has been amended more than 170 times since its ratification in 1912, reflecting the ongoing work of generations of New Mexicans to advance their values and interests.
The New Mexico Constitution has 24 articles, which are organised into sections. Each article covers a different aspect of the state's governance, including the distribution of powers, the legislative department, the executive department, the elective franchise, and state, county, and municipal indebtedness. The constitution also includes provisions on voter qualifications and protections for the civil rights of Spanish-speaking citizens.
The process for amending the New Mexico Constitution is designed to safeguard constitutional rights. Amendments may be proposed by a majority vote of each house of the legislature, but they must then be submitted to the voters of the state for approval. Generally, only a simple majority vote is needed, but certain provisions require a three-fourths supermajority to be amended.
The New Mexico Constitution was drafted by 100 delegates elected by the people of New Mexico, representing a cross-section of society, including Nuevomexicanos, Hispanos, and Anglos. The delegates addressed several longstanding issues that had faced the territory, including the enforcement of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The constitution was framed to be conservative and non-controversial to ensure that statehood would be granted to New Mexico.
In summary, the New Mexico Constitution is important because it establishes the state's political framework and government structure, outlines the rights and protections of citizens, and provides a mechanism for ongoing amendments to reflect the evolving values and interests of the state's citizens.
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The New Mexico Constitution has been amended over 170 times since 1912
The Constitution of the State of New Mexico is a document that establishes the fundamental political framework of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It sets forth the principles and structure of government, enumerates the rights of citizens, and functions as the supreme law of the state, subordinate only to the United States Constitution. The New Mexico Constitution is unique in the U.S. for recognising the state's cultural and ethnic diversity. It also reaffirms the rights of Hispanos and Spanish speakers under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which granted U.S. citizenship and various legal protections to former Mexican nationals, and prohibits discrimination based on language.
Worried that the conservative federal government would refuse to extend statehood to New Mexico, the Republican-controlled convention framed the constitution to be conservative and non-controversial. A minority of delegates embraced several social and political reforms of the contemporary Progressive Era, such as prohibitions of convict labour and debtor's prison, and guaranteed compensation to railroad workers for injuries suffered due to company negligence.
The process for amending the constitution through popular consent was designed to safeguard constitutional rights from being removed by future governments. Amendments may be proposed by a majority vote of each house of the legislature and must then be submitted to the voters of the state for approval. Generally, only a simple majority vote is needed; however, certain provisions, such as the one on voter qualifications, require a three-fourths supermajority to be amended. In 2003, for instance, the State Constitution was amended to improve educational outcomes in the state, creating a Public Education Department (PED) with a Secretary appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the New Mexico Senate.
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The US Constitution has been amended 27 times, compared to 7,000+ state amendments
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the country, and it outlines the rights of citizens and the structure and principles of the government. It is a challenging process to amend this important document, and it has only been amended 27 times since its inception in 1789, with 17 of those amendments being made before 1791. In contrast, the constitutions of the individual states have been amended over 7,000 times in total.
The process of amending the US Constitution begins with a proposal, and there have been nearly 12,000 proposals introduced in Congress since 1789. For a proposal to be considered an amendment, it must be ratified by three-fourths of the states, or 38 states. This can be done through the state legislatures or state ratifying conventions.
State constitutions are amended far more frequently than the US Constitution. For example, the New Mexico Constitution has been amended more than 170 times since its ratification in 1912, with the current version drafted in 1910. The process of amending the New Mexico Constitution involves a majority vote of each house of the legislature, followed by submission to the voters of the state for approval. This process is designed to safeguard the constitutional rights of citizens and ensure that future governments cannot remove them.
The ease of amending state constitutions allows states to reflect the ongoing work and evolving values and interests of their citizens. For instance, the New Mexico Constitution grants broader rights to its citizens than the federal constitution, including more expansive protections for free speech, firearm ownership, due process, and freedom from sex-based discrimination. The ability to amend state constitutions ensures that states can adapt to the changing needs and desires of their populations, making them an important tool for shaping state-level governance.
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The New Mexico Constitution grants broader rights than the federal constitution, including social and political reforms
The Constitution of the State of New Mexico is the document that establishes the fundamental political framework of the state. It sets out the principles and structure of government, the rights of citizens, and acts as the supreme law of the state, second only to the United States Constitution. The New Mexico Constitution has been amended over 170 times, reflecting the ongoing work of generations of New Mexicans.
The New Mexico Constitution grants broader rights than the federal constitution, including more expansive protections of free speech, firearm ownership, and due process, as well as freedom from sex-based discrimination. The state also provides a "'bill of rights'", modelled after the US Constitution, but with additional rights to privacy and public education.
The New Mexico Constitution was drafted in 1910, and adopted by referendum in both English and Spanish, becoming effective in 1912. The constitution was framed conservatively to ensure the state's admission to the union, but a minority of delegates did embrace several social and political reforms of the contemporary Progressive Era. These included prohibitions of convict labour and debtor's prison, and guaranteed compensation for injured railroad workers. The constitution also included protections for the rights of former Mexican citizens living under US administration, including the protection of their religious, linguistic, and cultural heritage.
The process for amending the constitution was designed to safeguard constitutional rights from being removed by future governments. Amendments may be proposed by a majority vote of each house of the legislature and must then be submitted to the voters of the state for approval.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution is important because it is the supreme law of the land and establishes the fundamental political framework of the country. It sets forth the principles and structure of the US government, enumerates the rights of citizens, and outlines the powers, structure, and limitations of the federal government.
The New Mexico Constitution is important because it is the fundamental governing document of the state of New Mexico. It establishes the state's political framework, sets forth the principles and structure of the state government, enumerates the rights of New Mexico citizens, and functions as the supreme law of the state, subordinate only to the US Constitution.
One key difference is that the US Constitution has seven Articles and has been amended 27 times since its ratification in 1789. In contrast, the New Mexico Constitution has 24 Articles and has been amended more than 170 times since its ratification in 1912. Additionally, the New Mexico Constitution provides broader rights to its citizens than the US Constitution, including more expansive protections for free speech, firearm ownership, due process, and freedom from sex-based discrimination.
Both the US Constitution and the New Mexico Constitution have been amended multiple times to reflect changing values and interests. While the US Constitution has been amended 27 times, with 17 of those amendments coming before 1791, the New Mexico Constitution has been amended more than 170 times, with 182 amendments as of 2025. Amendments to the US Constitution are made through a formal process that requires a proposal by Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. Amendments to the New Mexico Constitution are proposed by a majority vote of each house of the legislature and must then be submitted to the voters of the state for approval, usually by a simple majority vote.
