This page contains a curated list of resources on the history of the Washington Constitution. To the extent possible, links are to publicly accessible copies of the sources listed. Where that is not possible, the link directs to an online database.
Books
Robert F. Utter & Hugh D. Spitzer, The Washington State Constitution (2013 2d Edition)
Robert F. Utter, The Washington State Constitution: A reference Guide (2002)
Harry Ritter, Washington’s History: The People, Land and Events of the Far Northwest (Revised Ed. 2018)
Articles
Michael Bindas, David K. DeWolf & Michael J. Reitz, The Washington Supreme Court and the State Constitution: a 2010 Assessment, 46 GONZ. L. REV. 1 (2011)
Dustin Buehler, Washington’s Title Match: the Single Subject and Subject-in-Title Rules of Article II, Section 19 of the Washington State Constitution, 81 WASH. L. REV. 595 (2006)
Devra R. Cohen, Forever Evergreen: Amending the Washington State Constitution for a Healthy Environment, 90 WASH. L. REV. 349 (2015)
Nicholas Carlson, Note, Taxing Judicial Restraint: How Washington’s Supreme Court Misinterpreted Its Role and the Washington State Constitution, 37 SEATTLE U. L. Rev. 865 (2014)
Cornell W. Clayton, Toward a Theory of the Washington Constitution, 37 GONZ. L. REV. 41 (2001)
Suzanne Lee Elliott & Jane Elizabeth Pearson, Alderwood Associates v. Washington Environmental Council: State Action and the Washington State Constitution, 5 U. PUGET SOUND L. REV. 331 (1982)
Kristen L. Fraser, Method, Procedure, Means, and Manner: Washington’s Law of Law-Making, 39 GONZ. L. REV. 41 (2003)
Lebbeus J. Knapp, The Origin of the Constitution of the State of Washington, 4 WASH. HIST. Q. 227 (1913)
Brian Snure, A Frequent Recurrence to Fundamental Principles: Individual Rights, Free Government, and the Washington State Constitution, 67 WASH. L. REV. 669 (1992)
Hugh D. Spitzer, New Life for the “Criteria Tests” in State Constitutional Jurisprudence: “Gunwall is Dead—Long Live Gunwall,” 37 RUTGERS L.J. 1169 (2006)
James W. Talbot, Comment, Rethinking Civil Liberties Under the Washington State Constitution, 66 WASH. L. REV. 1099 (1991)
Arthur C. Wang, Legislative History in Washington, 7 SEATTLE U. L. REV. 571 (1984)
Convention Records
The Journal of the Washington State Constitutional Convention, 1889
Washington’s First Constitution, 1878, and Proceedings of the Convention
Legislative Publications
Arthur S. Beardsley, Sources of the Washington Constitution, in State of Washington, 2017–2018 Legislative Manual
Washington State Data Book
Additional Databases & Resource Lists
Washington Constitutional Amendment Database
Newspapers Covering the 1889 Constitutional Convention
Washington State Library Digitized Newspapers
Voter’s Pamphlets Since (1914-)
Sources of the Washington Constitution
University of Washington School of Law Washington State Constitution Research Guide
