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
Ullilcil States, arc, and shall b» ttir 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 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 of July, seventeen hundred
and seventy-six; and which, by experience, have been found
applicable to their local and other circumstances, and have been
introduced, 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; except such as may have since
expired, or may be inconsistent with the provisions of this
Constitution; subject, nevertheless, to the revision of, and amend-
ment or repeal by, the Legislature of this State. And the
Inhabitants of Maryland are also entitled to all property derived
to them from, or under the Charter granted by His Majesty
Charles the First to Csecilius Calvert, Baron of Baltimore.

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 perverted, 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, slavish and
destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.

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

' Including amendments proposed by the General Assembly and
adopted by the people through Nov. 6, 1984.
'Amended by Chapter 357, Acts of 1971, ratified Nov. 7, 1972.

free Government; for this purpose, elections ought to be free and
frequent; and every citizen having the qualifications prescribed by
the Constitution, ought to have the right of suffrage.

Art. S. 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 execution of
Laws, unless by, or derived from the Legislature, ought to be
exercised, or allowed.

Art. 10. That freedom of speech and debate, or proceedings 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.

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, classification and sub-classification of land, improve-
ments 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 imposed, or laid with a
political view for the good government 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 tinie, hereafter.

'Amended by Chapter 390, Acts of 1914, ratified Nov. 2, 1915:
Chapter 64, Acts of 1960, ratified Nov. 8, 1960.