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CONSTITUTION OF

DELAWARE.

We the People, hereby ordain and establish this Constitu tion of Government for the state of Delaware.

THROUGH divine goodness, all men have by nature the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences, of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring and protecting reputation and property, and, in general, of attaining objects suitable to their condition, without injury by one to another; and as these rights are essential to their welfare, for the due exercise thereof, power is inherent in them; and, therefore, all just authority in the institutions of political society is derived from the people, and established with their consent, to advance their happiness: and they may, for this end, as circumstances require, from time to time, alter their constitution of government.

ARTICLE 1.

§ 1. Although it is the duty of all men frequently to assemble together for the public worship of the Author of the Universe, and piety and morality, on which the prosperity of communities depends, are thereby promoted; yet, no man shall or ought to be compelled to attend any religious worship, to contribute to the errection or support of any place of worship, or to the maintenance of any ministry, against his own free will and consent; and no power shall or ought to be vested in or assumed by any magistrate, that shall in any case interfere with, or in any manner control, the rights of conscience, in the free exercise of religious worship, nor a preference given by law to any religious societies, denominations, or modes of worship.

§ 2. No religious test shall be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, under this state. §3. All elections shall be free and equal. 4. Trial by jury shall be as heretofore.

§ 5. The press shall be free to every citizen who undertakers to examine the official conduct of men acting in a public capacity; and any citizen may print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. In prosecutions for publication investigating the proceedings of officers, or where the matter published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may be given in evidence; and in all indictments for libels, the jury may determine the facts and the law, as in other cases.

§ 6. The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and possessions, from unreasonable searches and seizures; and no warrant to search any place, or to seize any person or things, shall issue, without describing them as particularly as may be; nor then, unless there be probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation.

§7. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused hath a right to be heard by himself and his counsel, to be plainly and fully imformed of the nature and cause of the accusation against him, to meet the witnesses in their examination face to face, to have compulsory process in due time on application by himself, his friends, or counsel, for obtaining witnesses in his favour, and a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury: he shall not be compelled to give evidence against himself; nor shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, unless by the judgment of his peers or the law of the land.

§8. No person shall, for any indictable offence, be proceeded against criminally by information, except in cases arising in the land or navel forces, or in the malitia when in actual service, in time of war or public danger; and no person shall be for the same offence twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall any man's property be taken or applied to public use, without the consent of his representatives, and without compensation being made.

§ 9. All courts shall be open; and every man, for an injury done him in his reputation, person, moveable or immoveable possessions, shall have remedy by due course of law, and justice administered according to the very right of the cause, and the law of the land, without sale, denial, or unreasonable delay or expense; and every action shall be tried in the county in which it shall be commenced, unless when the judges of the court in which the cause is to be tried, shall determine that an impartial trial thereof cannot be had in. that county. Suits may be brought against the state, aceording to such regulations as shall be made by law.

§ 10. No power of suspending laws shall be exercised, but by authority of the legislature.

§ 11. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel punishments inflicted; and in the construction of jails, a proper regard shall be had to the health of prisoners.

12. All prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for capital offences, when the proof is positive or the presumption great; and when persons are confined on accusation for such offences, their friends and counsel may at proper seasons have access to them.

§ 13 The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety shall require it.

§14. No commission of oyer and terminer or jail delivery shall be issued.

§ 15. No attainder shall work corruption of blood, nor, except during the life of the offender, forfeiture of estate. The estates of those who destroy their own lives, shall descend or vest as in case of natural death, and if any person be killed by accident, no forfeiture shall be thereby incurred. § 10. Although disobedience to the laws by a part of the people, upon suggestions of impolicy or injustice in them, tends, by immediate effect and the influence of example, not only to endanger the public welfare and safety, but also, in governments of a republican form, contravenes the social principles of such governments, founded on common consent for common good; yet the citizens have a right, in an orderly manner, to meet together, and to apply to persons intrusted with the powers of government, for redress of grievances, of other proper purposes, by petition, remonstrance, or address.

§ 17. No standing army shall be kept up without the consent of the legislature; and the military shall in all cases and at all times, be in strict subordination to the civil power.

§ 18. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner; nor in time of war, but by a civil magistrate, in a manner to be prescribed by law.

§ 19. No hereditary distinction shall be granted; nor any office created or exercised, the appointment to which shall be for a longer term then during good behaviour; and no person holding any office under this state, shall accept of any office, or title of any kind whatever, from any king, rince, or foreign state

We declare that every thing in this article is reserved out of the general powers of government herein after mentioned.

ARTICLE. 2.

§ 1. The legislative power of this state shall be vested in a general assembly, which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives.

2. The representatives shall be chosen annually by the citizens residing in the several counties respectively, on the first Tuesday of October.

No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-four years, and have a freehold in the county in which he shall be chosen, have been a citizen and inhabitant of the state three years next proceding the first meeting of the legislature after his election, and the last year of that term an inhabitant of the county in which he shall be chosen, unless he shall have been absent on the public business of the United States, or of this state.

There shall be seven representatives chosen in each county, until a greater number of representatives shall by the general assembly be judged necessary; and then, two-thirds of each branch of the legislature concurring, they may by law make provision for increasing their number.

§ 3. The senators shall be chosen for three years by the citizens residing in the several counties respectively, having right to vote for representatives, at the same time when they shall vote for representatives, in the same manner, and at the same places.

No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-seven years, and have in the county in which he shall be chosen a freehold estate, in two hundred acres of land, or an estate in real and personal property, or in either, of the value of one thousand pounds at least, and have been a citizen and inhabitant of the state three years next preceding the first meeting of the legislature after his election, and the last year of that term an inhabitant of the county in which he shall be chosen, unless he shall have been absent on the public business of the United States, or of this state.

There shall be three senators chosen in each county. When a greater number of senators shall by the general assembly be judged necessary, two thirds of each branch S

concurring, they may by law make provision for increasing their number; but the number of senators shall never be greater than one half, nor less then one third, of the number of representatives.

Immediately after the senators shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, the senators residing in each county, shall be divided by lot into three classes. The seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the first year; of the second class at the expiration of the second year; and of the third class at the expiration of the third year; so that one third may be chosen every year.

4. The general assembly shall meet on the first Tuesday of January in every year, unless sooner convened by the gov

ernor.

§ 5. Each house shall choose its speaker and other of ficers: and also each house whose speaker shall exercise the office of governor, may choose a speaker protempore.

§ 6. Each house shall judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications, of its own members; and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do buisness; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and shall be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties, as shall be deemed expedient.

§ 7. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish any of its members for disorderly behaviour, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member: and shall have all other powers necessary for a branch of the legislature of a free and independent state.

§ 8. Each house shall keep a journal of its procedings, and publish them immediately after every session, except such parts as may require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members on any question shall, at the desire of any member, be entered on the journal.

§ 9. The doors of each house, and of committees of the whole, shall be open, unless when the business is such as ought to be kept secret.

§10. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting.

11. The senators and representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the state; but no law, varying the compensation, shall take effect till an election of repre

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