664'/Maryland Manual
Art. 14. That no aid, charge, tax, burthen or fees
ought to be rated or levied, under any pretense, without
the consent of the Legislature.
Art. 15.3 That the levying of taxes by the poll is
grievous and oppressive, and ought to be prohibited;
that paupers ought not to be assessed for the support of
the government; that the General Assembly shall, by
uniform rules, provide for the separate assessment, clas-
sification and sub-classification of land, improvements
on land and personal property, as it may deem proper;
and all taxes thereafter provided to be levied by the
State for the support of the general State Government,
and by the Counties and by the City of Baltimore for
their respective purposes, shall be uniform within each
class or sub-class of land, improvements on land and
personal property which the respective taxing powers
may have directed to be subjected to the tax levy; yet
fines, duties or taxes may properly and justly be im-
posed, or laid with a political view for the good govern-
ment and benefit of the community.
Art. 16. That sanguinary Laws ought to be avoided
as far as it is consistent with the safety of the State; and
no Law to inflict cruel and unusual pains and penalties
ought to be made in any case, or at any time, hereafter.
Art. 17. That retrospective Laws, punishing acts com-
mitted before the existence of such Laws, and by them
only declared criminal are oppressive, unjust and in-
compatible with liberty; wherefore, no ex post facto Law
ought to be made; nor any retrospective oath or restric-
tion be imposed, or required.
Art. 18. That no Law to attaint particular persons of
treason or felony, ought to be made in any case, or at
any time, hereafter.
Art. 19. That every man, for any injury done to him
in his person or property, ought to have remedy by the
course of the Law of the Land, and ought to have jus-
tice and right, freely without sale, fully without any de-
nial, and speedily without delay, according to the Law
of the Land.
Art. 20. That the trial of facts, where they arise, is
one of the greatest securities of the lives, liberties and
estate of the People.
Art. 21. That in all criminal prosecutions, every man
hath a right to be informed of the accusation against
him; to have a copy of the Indictment, or charge, in
due time (if required) to prepare for his defence; to be
allowed counsel; to be confronted with the witnesses
against him; to have process for his witnesses; to exam-
ine the witnesses for and against him on oath; and to a
speedy trial by an impartial jury, without whose unani-
mous consent he ought not to be found guilty.
Art. 22. That no man ought to be compelled to give
evidence against himself in a criminal case.
3 Thus amended by Chapter 64, Acts of 1960, ratified Novem-
ber 8, 1960.
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Article 14
Art. 23.4 In the trial of all criminal cases, the Jury
shall be the Judges of Law, as well as of fact, except
that the Court may pass upon the sufficiency of the evi-
dence to sustain a conviction.
The right of trial by Jury of all issues of fact in civil
proceedings in the several Courts of Law in this State,
where the amount in controversy exceeds the sum of
five hundred dollars, shall be inviolably preserved.5
Art. 24. That no man ought to be taken or impri-
soned or disseized of his freehold, liberties or privileges,
or outlawed, or exiled, or, in any manner, destroyed, or
deprived of his life, liberty or property, but by the judg-
ment of his peers, or by the Law of the land.
Art. 25. That excessive bail ought not to be required,
nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel or unusual pun-
ishment inflicted, by the Courts of Law.
Art. 26. That all warrants, without oath or affirma-
tion, to search suspected places, or to seize any person
or property, are grievous and oppressive; and all general
warrants to search suspected places, or to apprehend
suspected persons, without naming or describing the
place, or the person in special, are illegal, and ought not
to be granted.
Art. 27. That no conviction shall work corruption of
blood or forfeiture of estate.
Art. 28. That a well regulated Militia is the proper
and natural defence of a free Government.
Art. 29. That Standing Armies are dangerous to lib-
erty, and ought not to be raised, or kept up, without
the consent of the Legislature.
Art. 30. That in all cases, and at all times, the mili-
tary ought to be under strict subordination to, and con-
trol of, the civil power.
Art. 31. That no soldier shall, in time of peace, be
quartered in any house, without the consent of the own-
er, nor in time of war, except in the manner prescribed
by Law.
Art. 32. That no person except regular soldiers, ma-
rines, and mariners in the service of this State, or mili-
tia, when in actual service, ought, in any case, to be
subject to, or punishable by Martial Law.
Art. 33. That the independency and uprightness of
Judges are essential to the impartial administration of
Justice, and a great security to the rights and liberties
of the People: Wherefore, the Judges shall not be re-
moved, except in the manner, and for the causes provid-
ed in this Constitution. No Judge shall hold any other
office, civil, or military or political trust, or employment
of any kind, whatsoever, under the Constitution or
Laws of this State, or of the United States, or any of
them; or receive fees, or perquisites of any kind, for the
discharge of his official duties.
4 Thus amended by Chapter 407, Acts of 1949, ratified Novem-
ber 7, 1950; transferred from Article XV, sec. 5, by Chapter
681, Acts of 1977, ratified November 7, 1978.
5 Thus amended by Chapter 789, Acts of 1969, ratified Novem-
ber 3, 1970; transferred from Article XV. sec. 6, by Chapter
681, Acts of 1977, ratified November 7, 1978.
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