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 RATIFIED
BY THE PEOPLE ON THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF
SEPTEMBER, EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY-
SEVEN, WITH AMENDMENTS TO AND INCLUD-
ING NINETEEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR.

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

We, the people of the State of Maryland, grateful to Al-
mighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking
into our serious consideration the test means of estab-
lishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foun-
dation and more permanent security thereof, declare:

Article 1. That all Government of right originates from
the People, is founded in compact only, and instituted solely
for the good of the whole; and they have, at all times, the
inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their form of
Government in such manner as they may deem expedient.

Art. 2. The Constitution of the United States, and the
Laws made or which shall be made in pursuance thereof,
and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the
authority of the United States, are and shall be the Supreme
Law of the State; and the Judges of this State, and all the
People of this State, are, and shall be bound thereby, any-
thing in the Constitution or Law of this State to the con-
trary notwithstanding.

Art. 3. The powers not delegated to the United States
by the Constitution thereof, nor prohibited by it to the
States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the
People thereof.

Art. 4. That the People of this State have the sole and
exclusive right of regulating the internal government and
police thereof as a free, sovereign and independent State.

Art. 5. That the inhabitants of Maryland are entitled
to the Common Law of England, and the trial by Jury,
according to the course of that law, and to the benefit of
such of the English statutes as existed on the Fourth day