Section 1.
WE DECLARE, That all people are created equal; that they are endowed by
their CREATOR with certain inalienable rights; that among these are
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that all power is inherent
in the People; and that all free governments are, and of right ought to
be, founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety,
and well-being. For the advancement of these ends, the People have, at
all times, an indefeasible right to alter and reform their government.
(As Amended November 6, 1984).
Section 2.
Natural right to worship
Section 2.
All people shall be secured in the natural right to worship ALMIGHTY
GOD, according to the dictates of their own consciences. (As Amended
November 6, 1984).
Section 3.
Freedom of religious opinions and rights of conscience
Section 3.
No law shall, in any case whatever, control the free exercise and
enjoyment of religious opinions, or interfere with the rights of
conscience.
Section 4.
Freedom of religion
Section 4.
No preference shall be given, by law, to any creed, religious society,
or mode of worship; and no person shall be compelled to attend, erect,
or support, any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry, against
his consent. (As Amended November 6, 1984).
Section 5.
Religious test for office
Section 5.
No religious test shall be required, as a qualification for any office
of trust or profit.
Section 6.
Public money for benefit of religious or theological institutions
Section 6.
No money shall be drawn from the treasury, for the benefit of any
religious or theological institution.
Section 7.
Witness competent regardless of religious opinions
Section 7.
No person shall be rendered incompetent as a witness, in consequence of
his opinions on matters of religion.
Section 8.
Oath or affirmation, administration
Section 8.
The mode of administering an oath or affirmation, shall be such as may
be most consistent with, and binding upon, the conscience of the
person, to whom such oath or affirmation may be administered.
Section 9.
Right to free thought, speech, writing and printing; abuse of right
Section 9.
No law shall be passed, restraining the free interchange of thought and
opinion, or restricting the right to speak, write, or print, freely, on
any subject whatever: but for the abuse of that right, every person
shall be responsible.
Section 10.
Truth in prosecutions for libel
Section 10.
In all prosecutions for libel, the truth of the matters alleged to be
libellous, may be given in justification.
Section 11.
Unreasonable search or seizure; warrant
Section 11.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
and effects, against unreasonable search or seizure, shall not be
violated; and no warrant shall issue, but upon probable cause,
supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place
to be searched, and the person or thing to be seized.
Section 12.
Courts open; remedy by due course of law; administration of justice
Section 12.
All courts shall be open; and every person, for injury done to him in
his person, property, or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of
law. Justice shall be administered freely, and without purchase;
completely, and without denial; speedily, and without delay. (As
Amended November 6, 1984).
Section 13.
Rights of accused in criminal prosecutions
Section 13.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have the right to a
public trial, by an impartial jury, in the county in which the offense
shall have been committed; to be heard by himself and counsel; to
demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him, and to have
a copy thereof; to meet the witnesses face to face, and to have
compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor.
Section 14.
Double jeopardy and self-incrimination
Section 14.
No person shall be put in jeopardy twice for the same offense. No
person, in any criminal prosecution, shall be compelled to testify
against himself.
Section 15.
Persons arrested or confined, treatment
Section 15.
No person arrested, or confined in jail, shall be treated with
unnecessary rigor.
Section 16.
Excessive bail or fines and cruel or unusual punishment
Section 16.
Excessive bail shall not be required. Excessive fines shall not be
imposed. Cruel and unusual punishments shall not be inflicted. All
penalties shall be proportioned to the nature of the offense.
Section 17.
Right to bail and unbailable offenses
Section 17.
Offenses, other than murder or treason, shall be bailable by sufficient
sureties. Murder or treason shall not be bailable, when the proof is
evident, or the presumption strong.
Section 18.
Penal code founded on reformation
Section 18.
The penal code shall be founded on the principles of reformation, and
not of vindictive justice.
Section 19.
Right of jury to determine law and facts in criminal cases
Section 19.
In all criminal cases whatever, the jury shall have the right to
determine the law and the facts.
Section 20.
Trial by jury in civil cases
Section 20.
In all civil cases, the right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate.
Section 21.
Right to compensation for services and property
Section 21.
No person's particular services shall be demanded, without just
compensation. No person's property shall be taken by law, without just
compensation; nor, except in case of the State, without such
compensation first assessed and tendered. (As Amended November 6,
1984).
Section 22.
Privileges of debtor; imprisonment for.
Section 22.
The privilege of the debtor to enjoy the necessary comforts of life,
shall be recognized by wholesome laws, exempting a reasonable amount of
property from seizure or sale, for the payment of any debt or liability
hereafter contracted: and there shall be no imprisonment for debt,
except in case of fraud.
Section 23.
Equal privileges
Section 23.
The General Assembly shall not grant to any citizen, or class of
citizens, privileges or immunities, which, upon the same terms, shall
not equally belong to all citizens.
Section 24.
Ex post facto laws and impairing contracts
Section 24.
No ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts,
shall ever be passed.
Section 25.
Effect of laws
Section 25.
No law shall be passed, the taking effect of which shall be made to
depend upon any authority, except as provided in this Constitution.
Section 26.
Suspension of operation of law
Section 26.
The operation of the laws shall never be suspended, except by the
authority of the General Assembly.
Section 27.
Suspension of habeas corpus; exception
Section 27.
The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended,
except in case of rebellion or invasion; and then, only if the public
safety demand it.
Section 28.
Treason against state; definition
Section 28.
Treason against the State shall consist only in levying war against it,
and in giving aid and comfort to its enemies.
Section 29.
Treason against state; proof
Section 29.
No person shall be convicted of treason, except on the testimony of two
witnesses to the same overt act, or upon his confession in open court.
Section 30.
Conviction; effect
Section 30.
No conviction shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate.
Section 31.
Right to assemble, to instruct and to petition
Section 31.
No law shall restrain any of the inhabitants of the State from
assembling together in a peaceable manner, to consult for their common
good; nor from instructing their representatives; nor from applying to
the General Assembly for redress of grievances.
Section 32.
Bearing arms
Section 32.
The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of
themselves and the State.
Section 33.
Military subordinate to civil power
Section 33.
The military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power.
Section 34.
Quartering of soldiers
Section 34.
No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house, without
the consent of the owner; nor, in time of war, but in a manner to be
prescribed by law.
Section 35.
Titles of nobility and hereditary distinctions
Section 35.
The General Assembly shall not grant any title of nobility, nor confer
hereditary distinctions.
Section 36.
Freedom of emigration
Section 36.
Emigration from the State shall not be prohibited.
Section 37.
Slavery and involuntary servitude
Section 37.
There shall be neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude, within the
State, otherwise than for the punishment of crimes, whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted.
(As Amended November 6, 1984).
