Model State Constitution
The Model State Constitution is "an ideal of the structure and contents of a state constitution that emphasizes brevity and broad functions and responsibilities of government," according to Ann O'M Bowman and Richard Kearney in State and Local Government. The National Municipal League (now the National Civic League) first developed the Model State Constitution in 1921 to advocate constitutional reform based on a "higher-law tradition" (a state constitutional tradition based on basic and enduring principles that reach beyond statutory law) as opposed to "Positive Law Tradition" (a state constitutional tradition based on detailed provisions and procedure).