678/Maryland Manual

Art. 17. That retrospective Laws, punishing acts committed
before the existence of such Laws, and by them only declared
criminal are oppressive, unjust and incompatible with liberty;
wherefore, no ex post facto Law ought to be made; nor any
retrospective oath or restriction 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 justice and right, freely
without sale, fully without any denial, 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
examine the witnesses for and against him on oath; and to a
speedy trial by an impartial jury, without whose unanimous
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.

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 evidence 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.

Art. 24.' That no man ought to be taken or imprisoned 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 judgment of his peers, or by the Law of
the land.

Art. 25. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor
excessive lines imposed, nor cruel or unusual punishment in-
flicted, by the Courts of Law.

Art. 26. That all warrants, without oath or affirmation, 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 liberty, 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 military ought to
be under strict subordination to, and control of, the civil power.

''Amended by Chapter 407, Acts of 1949, ratified Nov. 7, 1950;
Chapter 789, Acts of 1969, ratified Nov. 3, 1970. Transferred from
Article XV, secs. 5 and 6, by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov.
7, 1978.
'Amended by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978.

Declaration of Rights

Art. 31. That no soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in
any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war,
except in the manner prescribed by Law.

Art. 32. That no person except regular soldiers, marines, and
mariners in the service of this State, or militia, 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 removed, except in the manner, and for the
causes provided 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.

Art. 34.^tf That a long continuance in the Executive Departments
of power or trust is dangerous to liberty; a rotation, therefore, in
those departments is one of the best securities of permanent
freedom.

Art. 35.⁷ That no person shall hold, at the same time, more than
one office of profit, created by the Constitution or Laws of this
State; nor shall any person in public trust receive any present
from any foreign Prince or State, or from the United States, or
any of them, without the approbation of this State. The position
of Notary Public shall not be considered an office of profit within
the meaning of this Article.

Art. 36.' That as it is the duty of every man to worship God in
such manner as he thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons are
equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore,
no person ought by any law to be molested in his person or estate,
on account of his religious persuasion, or profession, or for his
religious practice, unless, under the color of religion, he shall
disturb the good order, peace or safety of the State, or shall
infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their natural,
civil or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to
frequent, or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract, to
maintain, any place of worship, or any ministry; nor shall any
person, otherwise competent, be deemed incompetent as a
witness, or juror, on account of his religious belief; provided, he
believes in the existence of God, and that under His dispensation
such person will be held morally accountable fur his acts, and DC
rewarded or punished therefor either in this world or in the world
to come.

Nothing shall prohibit or require the making reference to belief
in, reliance upon, or invoking the aid of God or a Supreme Being
in any governmental or public document, proceeding, activity,
ceremony, school, institution, or place.

Nothing in this article shall constitute an establishment of
religion.

Art. 37. That no religious test ought ever to be required as a
qualification for any office of profit or trust in this State, other
than a declaration of belief in the existence of God; nor shall the
Legislature prescribe any other nath of office than the oath
prescribed by this Constitution.

Art. 38.' Vacant.

Art. 39. That the manner of administering an oath or affirma-
tion to any person, ought to be such as those of the religious
persuasion, profession, or denomination, of which he is a

"Amended by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978.
amended by Chapter 129, Acts of 1964, ratified Nov. 8, 1964.
"Amended by Chapter 558, Acts of 1970, ratified Nov. 3, 1970.
'Amended by Chapter 623, Acts of 1947, ratified Nov. 2, 1948.
Repealed by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978.