The Alaska Constitution was written so as to discourage dedicating state funds for a particular purpose. The Permanent Fund has become the rare exception to this, mostly due to the political climate of distrust existing during the time of its creation. From its initial principal of $734,000, the fund has grown to $50 billion as a result of oil royalties and capital investment programs. Most if not all the principal is invested conservatively outside Alaska. This has led to frequent calls by Alaskan politicians for the Fund to make investments within Alaska, though such a stance has never gained momentum. COUNT 5
QSN1 Was Alaska's Constitution written to encourage or discourage state funds being used for a particular purpose? ANS1 discourage QSN2 Why is the Permanent Fund an exception to the premise of the Alaskan Constitution? ANS2 political climate of distrust existing during the time of its creation QSN3 Where is the principal of the Permanent Fund invested? ANS3 outside Alaska QSN4 How much was the initial principal of the Permanent Fund? ANS4 $734,000 QSN5 How high has the principal of the Permanent Fund grown? ANS5 $50 billion