Introduction

Abstract

In 1973 the author Jessica Mitford was appointed Distinguished Professor at San Jose State University. Before taking up the post, she was required to swear that she would support and defend the constitutions of the United States and California. Subsequently she wrote to one of her sisters:

[T]he annotated Constitution of the state of California runs to three hefty volumes and covers all manner of subjects. Do I support and defend, for example, Article 4, Section 25 3/4, limiting boxing and wrestling matches to 15 rounds? I don’t know. Perhaps it should be 14 or 16 rounds?¹