Comparing New Mexico State and Arizona State Constitutions (Essay Sample)

Name:
Instructor:
Course:
Date:
Comparative State Constitutions
Compare the rights enumerated in the Arizona and New Mexico constitutions. In what ways do the rights differ and how are they similar? Which of these rights provided for in the Arizona and New Mexico constitutions is not enumerated in the federal constitution?
Political power in both the state of Arizona and New Mexico are vested in the people, the government receive their just powers from the people and their will. Both states, constitution state that no one shall be deprived of property, life or liberty. All persons are entitled to freedom of speech, this right applies to both states, and one can speak freely or write their sentiments on anything. The New Mexico constitution states that the privilege of the Habeaus corpus should not be suspended by the authorities unless there is a case of invasion or rebellion and public safety requires it. Both states permit an individual to bear arms for defense, hunting, recreational use and other lawful purposes, in New Mexico, however the municipality or county will not regulate any incident of carrying and bearing arms.
New Mexico and Arizona constitution states that no person shall be convicted of treason without a testimony from two witnesses to the same overt act or confession in open court. Treason against the state is levying war against it, aiding enemies and giving them comfort.
The Arizona constitution states that persons charged with crime shall be bailable by sufficient sureties except: for sexual assault, capital offenses and sexual conduct with an under fifteen years of age minor when proof is evident. An individual can also be denied bail for serious felony offenses like entering the United States illegally. If the offender is a danger to the community and the safety of an individual bail can be denied if proof is evident. New Mexico also allows for bail except in situations where proof is evident for the crime. Bail in this state can be denied by the district court for sixty days after an incarceration of the defendant .The order has to be entered seven days after the incarceration in some instances. The first instance is if the defendant has been previously accused of two or more felonies within the state. The second instance is if the defendant used a deadly weapon and has been convicted before in the state.
Most laws are shared by the state of Arizona and New Mexico and these include:
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted. There shall be no imprisonment for debt, except in cases of fraud. Any person having knowledge or possession of facts that tend to establish the guilt of any other person or corporation charged with bribery or illegal rebating, shall not be excused from giving testimony or producing evidence, when legally called upon to. All elections shall be free and equal, and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage.
Compare the Arizona and New Mexico legislatures in terms of representation (How many representatives in total and how many representatives and senators per district); Describe the type of districting that Arizona has and the effect it produces in terms of party politics. Do the two states employ term limits? If so, what are they? When do the legislatures of Arizona and New Mexico meet?
New Mexico states that the senate should be composed of forty two members who are elected from single member districts. The House of Representatives in the same State of New Mexico should comprise of not more than seventy members who are elected from single-member districts. In the State of Arizona the senate shall be composed of a single member who will be elected from each of the thirty legislative districts. The House of Representatives on the other hand shall be composed of two members elected from each of the thirty legislative districts established.
Arizona consists of an independent redistricting commission that establishes Congressional Districts and Legislative Districts both should have equal population and be geographically compact. The districts will be required to comply with the United States Constitution and the United States Voting Rights Act. Every February 28, in the state of Arizona a redistricting commission is established, it shall consist of five members, no more than the two members of the redistricting commission shall be of the same political party. Of the other two members, none should be from the same county. Every member should be a registered voter in Arizona and has continuously registered with the same political party for three or more years.
The term limit for the members of state legislature in the state of Arizona is two years. No state senator will be allowed in office after four consecutive terms. After the maximum number of terms served no legislator will be allowed to serve in the same office until after being out of office for a full term. The New Mexico constitution states that members of the House of Representatives shall serve a term of two years. Senators from selected counties will serve for a term of six years and can also be elected for a term of four years thereafter.
Compare the executive, gubernatorial, powers of Arizona and New Mexico. What is the length of the gubernatorial term in Arizona and New Mexico? Do Arizona and New Mexico impose term limits on their governors?
Both duties of the Governor of the state of Arizona and New Mexico apply, they are both commander-in-chief of the military forces in their state. This power will however not apply when the forces are called to serve the United States. In both states the governor shall have power to grant pardon, commutations and reprieves after convictions for all offences apart from treason. New Mexico governors terms limit is four years, both the governor and lieutenant governor are elected jointly, they cannot however be elected again after serving two terms until one full term out of office has intervened. The state of Arizona states that the governor hold office for a term of four years, no member of the executive department shall be in that office for more than two terms, consecutively. In New Mexico, in case of an impeachment or death of governor the lieutenant governor takes into office, as for Arizona the next in power after such a situation is the secretary of state, this two will change after an active election for a new governor is done.
How does the democratic process differ between Arizona and New Mexico in terms of initiatives and referendums? What makes Arizona unique among the fifty states in the United States in terms of democratic process?
The state of Arizona has a house of representatives, the senate, which reserves power to its people. The legislative authority is vested in the legislature which consists of a house of representatives and the senate. The power to propose and reserve amendments and laws is reserved for the people, who can reject or approve any part of act, an item or act of the legislature at the polls. In New Mexico the legislative power is vested in the senate and house of representative an...