What's a state constitution's purpose? Who wrote it and how has it changed since 1889? We ask those questions and more of USD Knudson School of Law Professor Patrick Garry. We also discuss how Washington politics, rail road financing, political corruption and local Yankton politics had an impact on the issues surrounding statehood and the lives of those in the new state of South Dakota.
For a look at the original hand written constitution, see this from the State Archives: South Dakota State Constitution - Government Collections - South Dakota Digital Archives (oclc.org) Listeners may recall the related episodes with Tom Simmons (Season 3 Episode 12) and former Chief Justice David Gilbertson (Season 1, Episode 14).