State Constitutions
A state constitution is the supreme law of that state. State constitutions establish certain organs of government for the State, vest these organs with their powers, and deny certain other powers.
Like the federal Constitution, the written constitutions of the States do not comprise the entire “constitution” or fundamental law. In addition to the constitutions, each State government rests upon legislative enactments, executive decrees, judicial rulings, custom and habit. Often, the constitution of one state differs from that of another in various aspects. However, in their principal elements, state constitutions are all similar to one another.
At the beginning of every one of these laws through the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution and the State Constitutions, there’s an enabling clause that says how the law shall be brought into being. There’s an argument that says that the law that is presently here today is based on some law in the past. The rights that were there before are carried on plus are further delineated by this Constitution. At no time do they have a right to abridge the previous document.
For example, looking at the Michigan Constitution (Michigan became a state in 1837), we see in it’s enabling act where the law derives going all the way back to the Magna Carta you can see the decisions where they come from; the Declaration of independence, the Articles of Confederation, the United States Constitution, the Virginia Acts of Concession, the Northwest Ordinance, the Northwest Territorial Covenant, the Northwest Territorial Concession - Indiana, the Indiana-Michigan Territorial Division, the Enabling Act, the Michigan Organization and Submitting Alternatives, Michigan Consent to Admission. Michigan Constitution of 1835, Michigan Constitution of 1850, Michigan Constitution of 1908, Michigan Constitution of 1963. Every time one of these constitutions comes by, the enabling acts at the beginning of it state that everything that was before, guaranteed, is brought forward and if anything, is made stronger. All of the rights brought forward go back to the Magna Carta as a line of succession. This is how you determine authorities are established in law.