Why New Hampshire? » Constitution

Quick Legislative Turnover

A Porcupine — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:50:07 +0000

In New Hampshire voters have the opportunity to completely overhaul the executive and legislative branches every other year as NH is one of only a handful of states to run elections on the biennial cycle.

Additional Sources:

Article 9, New Hampshire State Constitution

Secession is an option

A Porcupine — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:39:32 +0000

Unlike some, New Hampshire’s Constitution does not specifically prohibit secession.

Additional Sources:

http://www.nh.gov/constitution/constitution.html

No Government Schooling Provisions

A Porcupine — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:37:47 +0000

New Hampshire’s Constitution is one of the few in the nation that does not mandate the provision of a public school system.

Additional Sources:

http://www.nh.gov/constitution/constitution.html

Citizen Legislature

A Porcupine — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:27:02 +0000

New Hampshire offers a true citizen legislature, a government of the people based on their $100 per year pay to legislators.

The high number of legislators and low salary stiffles the number of “career politicians” seated in the legislature.

Additional Source:

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/abouthouse/housefacts.htm

Weak Governership

A Porcupine — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:03:03 +0000

New Hampshire’s governorship is the weakest of all the states due to its unique, constitutionally mandated system of checks and balances against the power of the governor. The Executive Council holds the distinction of being the first and the last of its kind in the nation. It is a vestige of the Colonial era and a public reminder of the continuing indication of the basic distrust Granite State citizens have for dictatorial government.

Additional Source:

Article 60, New Hampshire State Constitution

Constitutional right to revolution

A Porcupine — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:59:42 +0000

New Hampshire’s constitution is the only constitution in the world that expressly protects its citizens right to revolution.

Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security, of the whole community, and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, whenever the ends of government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the people may, and of right ought to reform the old, or establish a new government. The doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power, and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.

Additional Source:

Article 10, New Hampshire Constitution