POL101: Comparative Study of U.S. and Colorado Constitutions

This essay offers a detailed comparative analysis of the U.S. and Colorado Constitutions. It begins by acknowledging the foundational role of constitutions in establishing governments, defining powers, and protecting individual rights. The essay highlights the similarities in the preambles and the inclusion of fundamental rights in both constitutions, while also exploring the differences in the number of articles and specific protections. It delves into a comparative study of the articles regarding local government, public health, taxation, elections, and conservation policies. The essay further examines the Bill of Rights in both constitutions and notes the differences in the approach to free speech, education, and civil rights. The structure of the governments and the distribution of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches are also compared, including a discussion of the jurisdiction of the courts in each constitution. The essay concludes by emphasizing that the Colorado Constitution is longer than the U.S. constitution.

Running head: COMPARATIVE STUDY OF U.S AND COLORADO CONSTITUTION
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF U.S AND COLORADO CONSTITUTION
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1COMPARATIVE STUDY OF U.S AND COLORADO CONSTITUTION
Constitutions are the basis of creating governments in order to govern by defining its
power of its branches and determining the limits of its legislative authority. It protects the
rights of every individual. Every law is passed provided with an authorization by a
legislature. These laws set the policies accordingly and following it further actions are taken
by the governor. These laws are assessed by the court which are the subjects to the
constitution (Foundation of a Great State, 2007)
. There are certain similarities as well as differences between the state constitution
and the U.S constitution. For example, Colorado Constitution and the U.S constitution, both
include Preamble and a list of fundamental rights with a number of articles bearing specific
powers of the three branches, that is, the legislative, executive and the judicial branches.
These are framed for the people of Colorado and alternatively, The United States
(leg.colorado.gov, 2020). The essay focuses on the comparative study of the U.S and
Colorado Constitution, provided with an in-depth analysis of the similarities and differences
found between these two constitutions.
The Preamble of both Colorado and the U.S constitution is the same as it is
acknowledged to the people to maintain a supreme ruler of perfect union ensuring to provide
established justice with a perfect and more independent government (Wayne, 2020). Both the
preamble is encarved to insure tranquility and provide security with the blessing of liberty
and general welfare to the people (Finn, 2017).
The Constitution of the United States of America contains 27 articles of the
amendments that include the Bill of Rights which have specific titles and numbered
accordingly in the publication and are considered as articles (Vile, 2015). Whereas the
constitution of Colorado contains 29 articles. The comparative analysis of the articles brings

2COMPARATIVE STUDY OF U.S AND COLORADO CONSTITUTION
out the similarities that are discovered. Both the constitution cover articles regarding the
essential topic of how the state deals with the local government, public health, taxation,
elections, conservation policies (Wayne, 2020). The Bill of rights of both the U.S and
Colorado constitution is similar in the frameworks of the rights of a citizen. For example, the
articles of both the constitution provide guaranteed freedom of speech, education, religion,
petition as well as assembly (leg.colorado.gov, 2020).
Colorado constitution contains 29 articles compared to 27 articles present in the U.S
constitution. Colorado is the only constitution that has approached new constitutions updated
from time to time. The constitution exceeds the constitution of the U.S in the protection and
rights of free speech (Wayne, 2020). Following it, it is observed that the U.S constitution bars
the maker of laws from enacting rules of free speech and further results in abridged freedom
of speech (Wayne, 2020). Whereas the Colorado constitution remains one step ahead in
enacting laws of free speech with clarity of statements that reveal the free speech rights of
citizens should be addressed through the right to speak, write or publish on any subjects
following any medium (Finn, 2017). The rights imposed in Colorado Constitution are more
focused on the progression of education rights, women's rights, and civil rights. Colorado
Constitution contains excessive details of amendments and is recognized to be the third
longest constitution in the entire nation, which is about nine times as long as the U.S
Constitution (Wayne, 2020). Therefore, the Colorado constitution is longer than the U.S
constitution.
Like the U.S constitution, the constitution of Colorado has a similar structure of government
and safeguard certain rights. For example, the constitution defines the three government
branches independently and enumerates the powers provided with individual rights
(leg.colorado.gov, 2020). The branches are legislative, executive and judicial (Wayne, 2020).
The legislative powers of both the constitution are vested in the bicameral legislature that

3COMPARATIVE STUDY OF U.S AND COLORADO CONSTITUTION
consists of senate and House of Representatives (Vile, 2015). The enactment and proposal of
laws and amendments are reserved independently in order to approve or reject the acts or
items at the polls (leg.colorado.gov, 2020).
The jurisdiction of courts is different in the constitution of the U.S and Colorado. The
judicial department of Colorado contains certain levels including Seven-member state
Supreme court, District court encompassing one or more countries, district attorneys., probate
and juvenile courts, country courts, and miscellaneous (Finn, 2017). Whereas the judicial
power of the U.S constitution is vested in one supreme court followed by inferior courts
(leg.colorado.gov, 2020). The supreme court has the rights and powers to issue habeas
corpus, quo warranto, mandamus, many other original jurisdictions (Vile, 2015). The
supreme court is required to give an opinion on important questions upon certain cases when
asked by the governor the house of representatives and the senate (Wayne, 2020).

4COMPARATIVE STUDY OF U.S AND COLORADO CONSTITUTION
References:
Albert, R. (2016). American Exceptionalism in Constitutional Amendment. Ark. L. Rev., 69,
217.
Finn, J. E. (2017). The Other Preamble: Civic Constitutionalism and the Preamble to the Bill
of Rights. Concordia L. Rev., 2, 1.
Foundation of a Great State. (2007). [Ebook]. Retrieved from
https://www.du.edu/ideas/media/documents/Constitution_Report.pdf
leg.colorado.gov. (2020). Colorado Constitution | Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 3
February 2020, from https://leg.colorado.gov/colorado-constitution
Vile, J. R. (2015). A companion to the United States Constitution and its amendments. ABC-
CLIO.
Wayne Williams. (2020). Colorado Constitution [Ebook]. Retrieved from
https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/info_center/laws/COConstitution/ColoradoConstituti
on.pdf