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 RATI-
FIED BY THE PEOPLE ON THE EIGHTEENTH DAY
OF SEPTEMBER, EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND
SIXTY-SEVEN, WITH AMENDMENTS
TO AND INCLUDING NINETEEN
HUNDRED AND FORTY.

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 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, ac-
cording to the course of that law, and to the benefit of such
of the English statutes as existed on the Fourth day of July,
seventeen hundred and seventy-six; and which, by experience,
have been found applicable to their local and other circum-