Article 1. That all Government of right originates
from the People, is founded in compact only, and insti-
tuted 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; anything in the Constitution or Law of
this State to the contrary 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 govern-
ment and police thereof, as a free, sovereign and inde-
pendent 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 of July, seventeen hundred and seventy-six; and
which, by experience, have been found applicable to
their local and other circumstances, and have been in-
troduced, used and practiced by the Courts of Law or
Equity; and also of all Acts of Assembly in force on the
first day of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven; ex-
cept such as may have since expired, or may be incon-
sistent with the provisions of this Constitution; subject,
nevertheless, to the revision of, and amendment or re-
peal by, the Legislature of this State. And the Inhabit-
ants of Maryland are also entitled to all property de-
rived to them from, or under the Charter granted by
His Majesty Charles the First to Caecilius Calvert, Bar-
on of Baltimore.
' Including amendments proposed by the General Assembly
and adopted by the people through November 4, 1980.
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Art. 6. That all persons invested with the Legislative
or Executive powers of Government are the Trustees of
the Public, and, as such, accountable for their conduct:
Wherefore, whenever the ends of Government are per-
verted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and
all other means of redress are ineffectual, the People
may, and of right ought, to reform the old, or establish
a new Government; the doctrine of non-resistance
against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slav-
ish and destructive of the good and happiness of man-
kind.
Art. 7.2 That the right of the People to participate in
the Legislature is the best security of liberty and the
foundation of all free Government; for this purpose,
elections ought to be free and frequent; and every citi-
zen having the qualifications prescribed by the Consti-
tution, ought to have the right of suffrage.
Art. 8. That the Legislative, Executive and Judicial
powers of Government ought to be forever separate and
distinct from each other; and no person exercising the
functions of one of said Departments shall assume or
discharge the duties of any other.
Art. 9. That no power of suspending Laws or the ex-
ecution of Laws, unless by, or derived from the Legisla-
ture, ought to be exercised,' or allowed.
Art. 10. That freedom of speech and debate, or pro-
ceedings in the Legislature, ought not to be impeached
in any Court of Judicature.
Art. 11. That Annapolis be the place of meeting of
the Legislature; and the Legislature ought not to be
convened, or held at any other place but from evident
necessity.
Art. 12. That for redress of grievances, and for
amending, strengthening and preserving the Laws, the
Legislature ought to be frequently convened.
Art. 13. That every man hath a right to petition the
Legislature for the redress of grievances in a peaceable
and orderly manner.
2 Thus amended by Chapter 357, Acts of 1971, ratified Novem-
ber 7, 1972.
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