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; anything in the Constitu-
tion 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 re-
served to the States respectively, or to the people thereof.

Art. 4. That the People of this State have the sole and exclu-
sive right of regulating the internal government and police there-
of, 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 lury, 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 ap-
plicable 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
amendment 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 Caeeilius Calvert, Baron of Baltimore.

Art. 6. That all persons invested with the Legislative or Execu-
tive 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 arbi-
trary power and oppression is absurd, slavish and destructive of
the good and happiness of mankind.

Art. 7. That the right of the People to participate in the Leg-
islature 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 citizen having the qualifications prescribed
by the Constitution, 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 De-
partments 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 ex-
ercised, or allowed.

Art. 10. That freedom of speech and debate, or proceedings in
the Legislature, ought not to be impeached in any Court of Judi-
cature.

Art. 11. That Annapolis be the place of meeting of the Legisla-
ture; 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 Legisla-
ture 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. 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 Gen-
eral 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