News & Opinions
Please note that opinions posted here are not necessarily opinions of The Friends of the Montana Constitution, a 501c3 nonprofit. The views and opinions expressed below are those of the authors listed and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.
News
April 21, 2022 / News
Judge finds birth-certificate changes imposed by Legislature violate Montana’s Constitution
A Yellowstone County District Court judge has ruled that a law meant to make changing a gender designation on a birth certificate more rigorous appears to violate the state’s constitution, and he’s blocked the law with a preliminary injunction.
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April 6, 2022 / News
Judge issues temporary injunction for four voting laws passed by Montana lawmakers in 2021
A Yellowstone County District Court judge has granted a preliminary injunction for four laws passed by the 2021 Legislature that he said likely harm different groups of voters. Lawmakers said they had passed the measures out of a concern for election integrity.
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March 23, 2022 / News
Panel: 1972 Montana Constitution ‘hard fought,’ ‘inspiring’
Even after the Montana Constitution guaranteed people the “right to know,” reporter Charles S. Johnson had to eavesdrop on at least one secret meeting by listening to legislators through pipes that carried sound in an old building.
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Opinion
May 10, 2022 / Opinion
Montanans rule
All of us who love Montana are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the state’s Constitution that keeps the power of Americans’ right to vote in the hands of Montana’s citizens.
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May 7, 2022 / Opinion
Montana may protect women better than any other state when it comes to abortion
The release of the proposed draft of the United States Supreme Court’s opinion overturning Roe v. Wade was, to be sure, a spoiler alert of sorts.
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May 2, 2022 / Opinion
Montana’s Constitutional Declaration of Rights: For the Ages
Fifty years ago, I was unbelievably blessed to be the research staff for the Declaration of Rights Committee of the Montana Constitutional Convention.
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April 25, 2022 / Opinion
Montana Constitution applies to all Montanans (including the governor)
In the many years I had the privilege of teaching Montana history, one of my absolute favorite chapters was on the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention.
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April 15, 2022 / Opinion
Gianforte betrays his constitutional and public trust responsibilities
Montanans were justifiably shocked when the news broke last week that Gov. Greg Gianforte stopped the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks from enforcing its instream flow water rights on the nationally famous Smith River as well as the Shields River.
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