Compare and Contrast Essay Sample on National and Nevada Governments

A. Constitutions

1.Similarities

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a.Preambles in both. The U.S. Constitution has 6 specific parts of the Preamble. The Preambles set out the need for the constitution, and both highlight the need for sovereignty of the People and the pursuit of peace and the fruits of Liberty. In other words, four main items are central to the Preambles: the right to control our destiny, to nurture the integrity of our people and culture, and to preserve the quality of life that we desire. They reaffirm the belief in a government of the people, by the people and for the people (democracy)

b.Both constitutions have all the three branches of government: Legislature, Judiciary, and the Executive. However, these arms are in different locations in the two documents: 4, 5, and 6, in Nevada and 1, 2, and 3 in the US.

2.Differences:

a. State of Nevada constitution has more articles than the U.S. constitution. The former has 19 while there are only 7 in U.S. constitution.

b.the State of Nevada's constitution is much longer than the U.S's. The Bill of Rights for Nevada is immersed in the entire body of the constitution of Nevada while the US constitution designates the second part of the documents to Human Rights. Other articles in the Nevada's constitution include taxation, local government, public health, conservation policies.

B. Government structure

1.Similarities

Both national and Nevada governments have three branches: the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. Both constitutions outline the powers and limitations of each.

b. Functions of each arm of government

Both constitutions highlight the separation of powers, allocating state duties to each arm of the government. The legislatures in both constitutions make laws and control the budget. The judiciary deals with the administration of justice while the executive implements national and state policies.

2. Differences

The State of Nevada has a Legislative Assembly while the US has both the Senate and House of Representatives. In other words, there is only one level of Parliament in the State of Nevada while there are two houses in the US.

C. Bill of Rights

1. Similarities

Both the U.S. and the Nevada's constitution have a Bill of Rights that outlines the human rights guaranteed in law of both levels of government. The following are similar rights vested in both documents: freedom of religion, speech, assembly, petition, press, due process rights, unreasonable searches and seizures, grand juries, probable cause, double jeopardy, excessive bail, speedy trial, bearing arms/state militia, eminent domain, and the right to vote.

2. Differences

The state of Nevada grants a right to representation in government based on the relative proportion of populations in the state but there is no such constitutional provision in the national constitution. Further, the state of Nevada's constitution grants special rights to foreigners, although this clause is missing in the US constitution.

D. Explicit Vs. General Constitutional Language & Conclusion

1. Similarities

Both constitutions adopt a universal legal language that is free from ambiguity and vagueness. The articles are broken down into sections or clauses, and related items are put under the same section.

2. Differences

Nevada's constitution is clearly more precise in language and content than the US Constitution. The US constitution dedicates considerable content to ratification and adoption by the framers, while this content is missing in the Nevada constitution.