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Charters are documents that state governments issue to local governments. A charter grants the community a legal status and allows it to have a separate local government. Charters specify the type of government the community will have, the powers and responsibilities of the local government, and the procedure for electing officials to the local government.  Most charters establish three branches of local government along with the powers and duties of each branch.

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State constitutions create the structure of state government. Like the federal Constitution, every state constitution provides for separation of powers among three branches of government— legislative, executive, and judicial. Popular initiative allows people to propose bills or legislation by submitting ballots.

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The first 10 amendments in the constitution are called the Bill of Rights. They outline the inalienable rights every US citizen possesses. Amendments that deal with structural changes to the constitution are 12,17,20,22,25, and 27th amendments.

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One of the ways that the Constitution can be adapted as times change is through amending the document; the amendment process is explained in Article V. There are two steps to amending the Constitution—proposing an amendment and ratifying an amendment. In a reflection of our federal system of government, amendments are proposed at the national level and ratified in a state-by-state process.