The Maine State Constitution (PDF)

The Maine State Constitution traces the history of Maine's constitution from its statehood in 1820 to the present day, highlighting major trends and developments in constitutional revision and interpretation. In it, Marshall J. Tinkle summarizes the meaning of each constitutional provision in a section-by-section analysis of the constitution, outlining the intent, historical development, and interpretation of each provision. This treatment, which includes a list of cases, index, and bibliography, makes this guide indispensable for students, scholars, and practitioners of Maine's constitution.

In this second edition, Marshall Tinkle updates his study of the Maine Constitution as part of The Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States. This volume updates the history and development of constitutionalism in Maine, including the complete text of the state's current constitution, with each section accompanied with commentary that explains the provision and traces its origins and its interpretation by the courts and by other governmental bodies.

The Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States is an important series that reflects a renewed international interest in constitutional history and provides expert insight into each of the 50 state constitutions. Each volume in this innovative series contains a historical overview of the state's constitutional development, a section-by-section analysis of its current constitution, and a comprehensive guide to further research.

Under the expert editorship of Professor G. Alan Tarr, Director of the Center on State Constitutional Studies at Rutgers University, this series provides essential reference tools for understanding state constitutional law. Books in the series can be purchased individually or as part of a complete set, giving readers unmatched access to these important political documents.