The powers of the State legislature, unlike those of Congress, are not specifically enu merated by the constitution. In this respect they are more like those of the English Parlia ment. A State legislature, therefore, may usually exercise any legislative powers which have not been delegated to Congress or pro hibited to the legislature by the Federal or State Constitutions. Their powers are conse quently very wide and as President Woodrow Wilson has well said in his book on 'The State,' the attempt to enumerate them would involve cataloguing all the business and social relationships of life — obviously an impossible task. Among their powers may be mentioned the enactment of the civil and criminal law, the law of judicial procedure the law of busi ness, of contracts, partnerships, agency and the like, the regulation of trade, industry and the professions, local government, public health, the public safety, education, charity, marriage and divorce, railways, elections and hundreds of other matters: As a result of the action of the courts in important acts of the legislature unconstitutional for excess of power there has been a disposition in recent years to enumerate in the constitution certain matters upon which the legislature is author ized to enact laws, the purpose being to remove doubt as to the power of the legislature in respect to such matters.
In consequence of the popular distrust of the legislatures, there has been a tendency in recent years to impose constitutional limita tions on their powers, particularly in respect to the of debts, the levying of taxes and the appropriation of money. Many consti
tutions forbid the enactment of local or special laws where a general law would be applicable or they allow it only under certain restrictions. These restrictions have had the effect of reduc ing the output of legislation in many States and of removing well-known evils that are in separable from private and local legislation.
See also CONGRESS ; LEGISLATION ; REFERENDUM ; PARLIAMENT; SENATE.
Bibliography.— Burgess, 'Political Science and Constitutional Law) II, New York 1890) ; Bryce, The American Commonwealth) (Vol. X, Ch. 40, New York 1910) ; Dealey, 'Growth of American State Constitutions) (Chs. XV-XVII, New York 1915) ; Garner, 'Introduction to Political Science' (Ch. XIV, New York 1910) ; Harley and Others, 'Second Chambers in Practice' (London 1911) ; Lea cock, 'Elements of Political Science' (Pt. Ch. II, Boston 1906) • Marriott, 'Second Chambers) (Oxford 1910) ; Reinsch, 'American Legislatures and Legislative Methods' (New York 1907) Sidg.wick, 'The Elements of Politics' (Ch. XX, New York and London 1897) ; Wilson, 'Constitutional Government in the United States' (Chs. IV-V, New York 1908).