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Constitution of Maryland

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Constitution of Maryland 908 / Maryland Manual 1996-1997 Declaration of Rights CONSTITUTION OF MARYLAND ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION Which Assembled at the City of Annapolis on the Eighth Day of May, Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-seven, and Adjourned on the Seventeenth Day of August, Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-seven, and was Ratified by the People on the Eighteenth Day of September, Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-seven, with Amendments through Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-four.1 DECLARATION OF RIGHTS. We, the People of the State of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare: Article 1. That all Government of right originates (c) That notwithstanding the Common Law of Eng- from the People, is founded in compact only, and insti- land, nothing in this Constitution prohibits trial by jury tuted solely for the good of the whole; and they have, at of less than 12 jurors in any civil proceeding in which the all times, the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish right to a jury trial is preserved. their Form of Government in such manner as they may deem expedient. Art. 6. That all persons invested with the Legislative or Executive powers of Government are the Trustees of Art. 2. The Constitution of the United States, and the the Public, and, as such, accountable for their conduct: Laws made, or which shall be made, in pursuance thereof, Wherefore, whenever the ends of Government are per- and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the verted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all authority of the United States, are, and shall be the other means of redress are ineffectual, the People may, and Supreme Law of the State; and the Judges of this State, of right ought, to reform the old, or establish a new and all the People of this State, are, and shall be bound Government; the doctrine of non-resistance against arbi- thereby; anything in the Constitution or Law of this State trary power and oppression is absurd, slavish and destruc- to the contrary notwithstanding. tive of the good and happiness of mankind. Art. 7.3 That the right of the People to participate in Art. 3. The powers not delegated to the United States the Legislature is the best security of liberty and the by the Constitution thereof, nor prohibited by it to the foundation of all free Government; for this purpose, elec- States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people tions ought to be free and frequent; and every citizen thereof. having the qualifications prescribed by the Constitution, ought to have the right of suffrage. Art. 4. That the People of this State have the sole and exclusive right of regulating the internal government and Art. 8. That the Legislative, Executive and Judicial police thereof, as a free, sovereign and independent State. powers of Government ought to be forever separate and 2 distinct from each other; and no person exercising the Art. 5. (a) That the Inhabitants of Maryland are enti- functions of one of said Departments shall assume or tled to the Common Law of England, and the trial by Jury, discharge the duties of any other. according to the course of that Law, and to the benefit of such of the English statutes as existed on the Fourth day of Art. 9. That no power of suspending Laws or the July, seventeen hundred and seventy-six; and which, by execution of Laws, unless by, or derived from the Legisla- experience, have been found applicable to their local and ture, ought to be exercised, or allowed. other circumstances, and have been introduced, used and practiced by the Courts of Law or Equity; and also of all Art. 10. That freedom of speech and debate, or Acts of Assembly in force on the first day of June, eighteen proceedings in the Legislature, ought not to be impeached hundred and sixty-seven; except such as may have since in any Court of Judicature. expired, or may be inconsistent with the provisions of this Art. 11. That Annapolis be the place of meeting of the Constitution; subject, nevertheless, to the revision of, and Legislature; and the Legislature ought not to be convened, amendment or repeal by, the Legislature of this State. And or held at any other place but from evident necessity. the Inhabitants of Maryland are also entitled to all property derived to them from, or under the Charter granted by His Art. 12. That for redress of grievances, and for amend- Majesty Charles the First to Cæcilius Calvert, Baron of ing, strengthening and preserving the Laws, the Legisla- Baltimore. ture ought to be frequently convened. (b) The parties to any civil proceeding in which the Art. 13. That every man hath a right to petition the right to a jury trial is preserved are entitled to a trial by Legislature for the redress of grievances in a peaceable and jury of at least 6 jurors. orderly manner. 1 Including amendments proposed by the General Assembly and ratified by the voters through Nov. 8, 1994. 2 Amended by Chapters 203, 204, Acts of 1992, ratified Nov. 3, 1992. 3 Amended by Chapter 357, Acts of 1971, ratified Nov. 7, 1972. Maryland Manual 1996-1997 Constitution of Maryland / 909 Art. 14. That no aid, charge, tax, burthen or fees The right of trial by Jury of all issues of fact in civil ought to be rated or levied, under any pretense, without proceedings in the several Courts of Law in this State, the consent of the Legislature. where the amount in controversy exceeds the sum of five 4 thousand dollars, shall be inviolably preserved. Art. 15. That the levying of taxes by the poll is 6 grievous and oppressive, and ought to be prohibited; that Art. 24. That no man ought to be taken or impris- paupers ought not to be assessed for the support of the oned or disseized of his freehold, liberties or privileges, or government; that the General Assembly shall, by uniform outlawed, or exiled, or, in any manner, destroyed, or rules, provide for the separate assessment, classification and deprived of his life, liberty or property, but by the judg- sub-classification of land, improvements on land and per- ment of his peers, or by the Law of the land. sonal property, as it may deem proper; and all taxes there- Art. 25. That excessive bail ought not to be required, after provided to be levied by the State for the support of nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel or unusual punish- the general State Government, and by the Counties and by ment inflicted, by the Courts of Law. the City of Baltimore for their respective purposes, shall be uniform within each class or sub-class of land, improve- Art. 26. That all warrants, without oath or affirmation, ments on land and personal property which the respective to search suspected places, or to seize any person or prop- taxing powers may have directed to be subjected to the tax erty, are grievous and oppressive; and all general warrants levy; yet fines, duties or taxes may properly and justly be to search suspected places, or to apprehend suspected imposed, or laid with a political view for the good govern- persons, without naming or describing the place, or the ment and benefit of the community. person in special, are illegal, and ought not to be granted. Art. 16. That sanguinary Laws ought to be avoided Art. 27. That no conviction shall work corruption of as far as it is consistent with the safety of the State; and no blood or forfeiture of estate. Law to inflict cruel and unusual pains and penalties ought Art. 28. That a well regulated Militia is the proper and to be made in any case, or at any time, hereafter. natural defence of a free Government. Art. 17. That retrospective Laws, punishing acts com- Art. 29. That Standing Armies are dangerous to lib- mitted before the existence of such Laws, and by them erty, and ought not to be raised, or kept up, without the only declared criminal are oppressive, unjust and incom- consent of the Legislature. patible with liberty; wherefore, no ex post facto Law ought to be made; nor any retrospective oath or restriction be Art. 30. That in all cases, and at all times, the military imposed, or required. ought to be under strict subordination to, and control of, the civil power. Art. 18. That no Law to attaint particular persons of treason or felony, ought to be made in any case, or at any Art. 31. That no soldier shall, in time of peace, be time, hereafter. quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, except in the manner prescribed by Art. 19. That every man, for any injury done to him Law. in his person or property, ought to have remedy by the Art. 32. That no person except regular soldiers, ma- course of the Law of the Land, and ought to have justice rines, and mariners in the service of this State, or militia, and right, freely without sale, fully without any denial, and when in actual service, ought, in any case, to be subject speedily without delay, according to the Law of the Land. to, or punishable by Martial Law. Art. 20. That the trial of facts, where they arise, is one Art. 33.7That the independency and uprightness of of the greatest securities of the lives, liberties and estate of Judges are essential to the impartial administration of the People.
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