                             CONSTITUTION
                                OF THE
                           STATE OF VIRGINIA

                               ARTICLE I

                            BILL OF RIGHTS

   A  declaration  of  rights  made by the good people  of  Virginia  in  the 
exercise of their sovereign powers, which rights do pertain to them and their 
posterity, as the basis and foundation of government.

   Section  1.   That all men are by nature equally free and independent  and 
have  certain  inherent rights,  of which,  when they enter into a  state  of 
society,  they  cannot,  by any compact,  deprive or divest their  posterity; 
namely,  the  enjoyment of life and liberty,  with the means of acquiring and 
possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

   Section  2.   That all power is vested in,  and consequently derived from, 
the  people,  that  magistrates are their trustees and servants,  and at  all 
times amenable to them.

   Section 3.  That government is, or ought to be,  instituted for the common 
benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation or community;  of all 
the  various modes and forms of government,  that is best which is capable of 
producing  the  greatest  degree  of  happiness  and  safety,   and  is  most 
effectually  secured against the danger of maladministration;  and,  whenever 
any  government  shall be found inadequate or contrary to these  purposes,  a 
majority of the community hath an indubitable, inalienable,  and indefeasible 
right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most 
conducive to the public weal.

   Section  4.    That  no man,  or set of men,  is entitled to exclusive  or 
separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of 
public  services;  which not being descendible,  neither ought the offices of 
magistrates, legislator, or judge to be hereditary.

   Section 5.  That the legislative,  executive,  and judicial departments of 
the  Commonwealth  should  be separate and distinct;  and  that  the  members 
thereof  may be restrained from oppression,  by feeling and participating the 
burthens  of  the people,  they should,  at fixed periods,  be reduced  to  a 
private station, return into that body from which they were originally taken, 
and the vacancies be supplied by regular elections,  in which all or any part 
of the former members shall be again eligible, or ineligible, as the laws may 
direct.

   Section 6.   That all elections ought to be free; and that all men, having 
sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the 
community, have the right of suffrage,  and cannot be taxed,  or deprived of, 
or damaged in, their property for public uses, without their own consent,  or 
that of their representatives duly elected, or bound by any law to which they 
have not, in like manner, assented for the public good.

   Section 7.   That all power of suspending laws,  or the execution of laws, 
by  any authority,  without consent of the Representatives of the people,  is 
injurious to their rights, and ought not to be exercised.

   Section  8.    That in criminal prosecutions a man hath a right to  demand 
the  cause and nature of his accusation,  to be confronted with the  accusers 
and witnesses, and to call for evidence in his favor,  and he shall enjoy the 
right  to  a speedy and public trial,  by an impartial jury of his  vicinage, 
without whose unanimous consent,  he cannot be found guilty.  He shall not be 
deprived  of life or liberty,  except by the law of the land or the judgement 
of  his peers,  nor be compelled in any criminal proceeding to give  evidence 
against himself, nor be put twice in jeopardy for the same offense.
   Laws may be enacted providing for the trial of offenses not felonious by a 
court not of record without a jury, preserving the right of the accused to an 
appeal  to  and  a  trial by jury in some court  of  record  having  original 
criminal  jurisdiction.  Laws may also provide for juries consisting of  less 
than twelve, but not less than five, for the trial of offenses not felonious, 
and  may  classify such cases,  and prescribe the number of jurors  for  each 
class.
   In criminal cases, the accused may plead guilty.  If the accused plead not 
guilty,  he  may,  with his consent and the concurrence of the Commonwealth's 
attorney and of the court entered of record,  be tried by a smaller number of 
jurors, or waive a jury. In cases of such waiver or plea of guilty, the court 
shall try the case.
   The provisions of this section shall be self-executing.

   Section 9.    That excessive bail ought not to be required,  nor excessive 
fines  imposed,  nor  cruel  and  unusual  punishments  inflicted;  that  the 
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless when, in 
cases of invasion or rebellion,  the public safety may require;  and that the 
General  Assembly shall not pass any bill of attainder,  or any ex post facto 
law.

   Section 10.  That general warrants, whereby an officer or messenger may be 
commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a fact committed, or 
to  seize  any  person  or  persons  not  named,  or  whose  offense  is  not 
particularly   described  and  supported  by  evidence,   are  grievous   and 
oppressive, and ought not to be granted.

   Section  11.   That no person shall be deprived of his life,  liberty,  or 
property without due process of law; that the General Assembly shall not pass 
any  law impairing the obligation of contracts,  nor any law whereby  private 
property   shall  be  taken  or  damaged  for  public  uses,   without   just 
compensation,  the term "public uses"  to be defined by the General Assembly; 
and  that the right to be free from any governmental discrimination upon  the 
basis of religious conviction, race, color, sex, or national origin shall not 
be  abridged,  except  that  the mere separation of the sexes  shall  not  be 
considered discrimination.
   That  in controversies respecting property,  and in suits between man  and 
man,  trial by jury is preferable to any other,  and ought to be held sacred. 
The General Assembly may limit the number of jurors for civil cases in courts 
of record to not less than five.

   Section  12.   That  the freedom of speech and of the press are among  the 
great  bulwarks  of liberty,  and can never be restrained except by  despotic 
governments;  that  any  citizen may freely speak,  write,  and  publish  his 
sentiments  on all subjects,  being responsible for the abuse of that  right; 
that  the  General Assembly shall not pass any law abridging the  freedom  of 
speech or of the press, nor the right of the people to peaceably to assemble, 
and to petition the government for the redress of grievances.

   Section  13.   That a well regulated militia,  composed of the body of the 
people, trained to arms, is the proper,  natural,  and safe defense of a free 
state, therefore,  the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be 
infringed;  that  standing  armies,  in time of peace,  should be avoided  as 
dangerous  to  liberty;  and that in all cases the military should  be  under 
strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.

   Section  14.   That  the people have a right to uniform  government;  and, 
therefore,  that  no  government  separate  from,  or  independent  of,   the 
government of Virginia,  ought to be erected or established within the limits 
thereof.

   Section 15.  That no free government, nor the blessings of liberty, can be 
preserved  to  any people,  but by a firm adherence to  justice,  moderation, 
temperance,  frugality,  and  virtue;  by frequent recurrence to  fundamental 
principles;  and  by the recognition by all citizens that they have duties as 
well  as  rights,  and that such rights cannot be enjoyed save in  a  society 
where  law is respected and due process is observed.                That free 
government rests, as does all progress,  upon the broadest possible diffusion 
of knowledge,  and that the Commonwealth should avail itself of those talents 
which  nature  has  sown  so  liberally among  its  people  by  assuring  the 
opportunity for their fullest development by an effective system of education 
throughout the Commonwealth.

   Section 16.   That religion or the duty which we owe our Creator,  and the 
manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction,  not 
by  force or violence;  and,  therefore,  all men are equally entitled to the 
free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience;  and that 
it  is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian  forbearance,  love,  and 
charity towards each other.  No man shall be compelled to frequent or support 
any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever,  nor shall be enforced, 
restrained, molested,  or burthened in his body or goods,  nor shll otherwise 
suffer  on account of his religious opinions or belief;  but all men shall be 
free  to  profess  and by argument to maintain their opinions in  matters  of 
religion,  and the same shall in no wise diminish,  enlarge,  or affect their 
civil capacities.  And the General Assembly shall not prescribe any religious 
test  whatever,  or confer any peculiar privileges or advantages on any  sect 
odenomination, orpass any law requiring authorizing any religious society, or 
the people of any district within this Commonwealth, to levy on themselves or 
others, any tax for the erection or repair of any house of public worship, or 
for the support of any church or ministry; but it shall be left free to every 
person  to select his religious instructor,  and to make for his support such 
private contract as he shall please.

   Section  17.   The  rights enumerated in this Bill of Rights shall not  be 
construed to limit other rights of the people not therein expressed.
