                            CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE
                               OF NORTH CAROLINA
                              (as amended to 1975)

                                    PREAMBLE

   We, the people of the State of North Carolina,  grateful to  Almighty God,  
the  Sovereign Ruler of Nations,  for the preservation of the American  Union 
and  the  existence of our civil,  political and  religious  liberties,   and 
acknowledging  our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those blessings 
to us and our posterity, do for the more certain security thereof and for the 
better government of this State, ordain and establish this Constitution.

                                     ARTICLE I

                               DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

      That  the great,  general and essential principles of liberty and  free 
government  be  recognized and established,  and that the relations  of  this 
State  to  the  Union and government of the United States and  those  of  the 
people  of  this State to the rest of the American people may be defined  and 
affirmed, we do declare that:

Section  1.    We  hold  it to be self-evident that all persons  are  created 
equal;  that  they  are  endowed by their Creator  with  certain  inalienable 
rights;  that among these are life,  liberty,  the enjoyment of the fruits of 
their own labor, and the pursuit of happiness.

Section.  2.   All  political power is vested in and derived from the people; 
all  government  of right originates from the people,  is founded upon  their 
will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.

Section. 3.  The people of this State have the inherent, sole,  and exclusive 
right  of  regulating  the internal government and  police  thereof,  and  of 
altering  or abolishing their Constitution and form of government whenever it 
may be necessary to their safety and happiness; but every such right shall be 
exercised  in  pursuance of law and consistent with the Constitution  of  the 
United States.

Section 4.   This state shall ever remain a member of the American Union; the 
people thereof are part of the American nation; there is no right on the part 
of  this  state to secede;  and all attempts,  from whatever source  or  upon 
whatever  pretext,  to dissolve this Union or to sever this Nation,  shall be 
resisted with the whole power of the State.

Section  5.    Every  citizen of this State owes paramount allegiance to  the 
Constitution and government of the United States,  and no law or ordinance of 
the State in contravention or subversion thereof can have any binding force.

Section 6.   The legislative,  executive,  and supreme judicial powers of the 
State government shall be forever separate and distinct from each other.

Section  7.    All  power of suspending laws or the execution of laws by  any 
authority,  without  the  consent of the representatives of  the  people,  is 
injurious to their rights and shall not be exercised.

Section  8.    The people of this State shall not be taxed or made subject to 
the  payment of any impost or duty without the consent of themselves or their 
representatives in the General Assembly, freely given.

Section 9    For redress of grievances and for amending and strengthening the 
laws, elections shall be often held.

Section 10.  All elections shall be free.

Section  11.   As  political rights and privileges are not dependent upon  or 
modified  by  property,  no property qualification shall affect the right  to 
vote or hold office.

Section  12.   The  people have a right to assemble together to  consult  for 
their  common good,  to instruct their representatives,  and to apply to  the 
General  Assembly for redress of grievances;  but secret political  societies 
are dangerous to the liberties of a free people and shall not be tolerated.

Section  13.   All  persons have a natural and inalienable right  to  worship 
Almighty God according to the desires of their own consciences,  and no human 
authority shall, in any case whatever control or interfere with the rights of 
conscience.

Section 14.  Freedom of speech and of the press are two of the great bulwarks 
of liberty and therefore shall never be restrained, but every person shall be 
held responsible for their abuse.

Section 15.  The people have a right to the privilege of education, and it is 
the duty of the State to guard and maintain that right.

Section  16.   Retrospective  laws,   punishing  acts  committed  before  the 
existence  of such laws and by them only declared criminal,  are  oppressive, 
unjust,  and  incompatible with liberty,  and therefore no ex post facto  law 
shall be enacted.  No law taxing retrospectively sales,  purchases,  or other 
acts previously done shall be enacted.

Section 17.  Slavery is forever prohibited. Involuntary servitude,  except as 
a  punishment  for crime whereof the parties have been  adjudged  guilty,  is 
forever prohibited.

Section 18.  All courts shall be open; every person for an injury done him in 
his lands, goods, person,  or reputation shall have a remedy by due course of 
law;  and right and justice shall be administered without favor,  denial,  or 
delay.

Section  19.   No  person shall be taken,  imprisoned,  or disseized  of  his 
freehold, liberties, or privileges, or outlawed, or exiled,  or in any manner 
deprived of his life, liberty,  or property,  but by the law of the land.  No 
person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws; nor shall any person 
be subjected to discrimination by the State because of race, color, religion, 
or national origin.

Section  20.   General warrants,  whereby any officer or other person may  be 
commanded  to search suspected places without evidence of the act  committed, 
or  to  seize  any  person  or  persons  not  named,  whose  offense  is  not 
particularly  described and supported by evidence,  are dangerous to  liberty 
and shall not be granted.

Section  21.   Every person restrained of his liberty is entitled to a remedy 
to  inquire  into  the lawfulness thereof,  and to remove  the  restraint  if 
unlawful,  and  that remedy shall not be denied or delayed.  The privilege of 
the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended.

Section  22.   Except  in misdemeanor cases initiated in the  District  Court 
Division,  no  person  shall  be  put to answer any criminal  charge  but  by 
indictment, presentment, or impeachment. But any person,  when represented by 
counsel, may, under such regulations as the General Assembly shall prescribe, 
waive indictment in noncapital cases.

Section  23.   In all criminal prosecutions,  every person charged with crime 
has  the right to be informed of the accusation and to confront the  accusers 
and witnesses with other testimony, and to have counsel for defense,  and not 
be compelled to give self incriminating evidence, or to pay costs, jail fees, 
or necessary witness fees of the defense, unless found guilty.

Section  24.   No person shall be convicted of any crime but by the unanimous 
verdict of a jury in open court. The General Assembly may,  however,  provide 
for other means of trial for misdemeanors, with the right of appeal for trial 
de novo.

Section  25.   In all controversies at law respecting property,  the  ancient 
mode  of  trial  by jury is one of the best securities of the rights  of  the 
people, and shall remain sacred and inviolate.

Section 26.  No person shall be excluded from jury service on account of sex, 
race, color, religion, or national origin.

Section  27.   Excessive  bail  shall not be required,  nor  excessive  fines 
imposed, nor cruel or unusual punishments inflicted.

Section 28.  There shall be no imprisonment for debt in this State, except in 
cases of fraud.

Section  29.   Treason  against the State shall consist only of  levying  war 
against  it  or adhering to its enemies by giving them aid  and  comfort.  No 
person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses 
to  the  same overt act,  or on confession in open court.  No  conviction  of 
treason or attainder shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture.

Section  30.   A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of  a 
free  state,  the  right  of the people to keep and bear arms  shall  not  be 
infringed; and, as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, 
they  shall  not be maintained,  and the military shall be kept under  strict 
subordination  to,  and governed by,  the civil power.  Nothing herein  shall 
justify  the practice of carrying concealed weapons,  or prevent the  General 
Assembly from enacting statues against that practice.

Section  31.   No  soldier shall in time of peace be quartered in  any  house  
without  the  consent  of  the owner,  nor in time of war  but  in  a  manner 
prescribed by law.

Section 32.   No person or set of persons is entitled to exclusive emoluments 
or privileges from the community but in consideration of public service.

Section 33.  No hereditary emoluments, privileges, or honors shall be granted 
or conferred in this State.

Section 34.  Perpetuities and monopolies are contrary to the genius of a free 
state and shall not be allowed.

Section  35.   A frequent recurrence to fundamental principles is  absolutely 
necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty.

Section 36.  The enumeration of rights in this Article shall not be construed 
to impair or deny others retained by the people.
