                              CONSTITUTION
                                OF THE
                            STATE OF WYOMING

                                PREAMBLE

   We,  the  people of the State of Wyoming,  grateful to God for our  civil,
political  and religious liberties,  and desiring to secure them to ourselves
and  perpetuate  them  to  our  posterity,   do  ordain  and  establish  this
Constitution.

                               ARTICLE 1

                         DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

   Section 1.   All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments
are  founded on their authority,  and instituted for their peace,  safety and
happiness;  for  the  advancement  of these ends they have at  all  times  an
unalienable  right to alter,  reform or abolish the government in such manner
as they may think proper.

   Section 2.    In their inherent right to life,  liberty and the pursuit of
happiness, all members of the human race are equal.

   Section  3.    Since equality in the enjoyment of natural and civil rights
is  only  made  sure  through political equality,  the  laws  of  this  state
affecting  the  political  rights  and privileges of its  citizens  shall  be
without  distinction of race,  color,  sex,  or any circumstance or condition
whatsoever   other  than  individual  incompetency,   or  unworthiness   duly
ascertained by a court of competent jurisdiction.

   Section  4.    The  right  of the people to be secure  in  their  persons,
houses,  papers  and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall
not  be  violated,  and  no  warrant shall issue  but  upon  probable  cause,
supported  by affidavit,  particularly describing the place to be searched or
the person or thing to be seized.

   Section  5.    No person shall be imprisoned for debt,  except in cases of
fraud.

   Section  6.    No  person shall be deprived of life,  liberty or  property
without due process of law.

   Section  7.    Absolute,  arbitrary  power  over the  lives,  liberty  and
property  of  freemen exists nowhere in a republic,  not even in the  largest
majority.

   Section 8.    All courts shall be open and every person for an injury done
to  person,  reputation  or property shall have justice administered  without
sale, denial or delay.  Suits may be brought against the state in such manner
and in such courts as the legislature may by law direct.

   Section 9.   The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate in criminal
cases, but a jury in civil cases in all courts or in criminal cases in courts
not of record,  may consist of less than twelve men,  as may be prescribed by
law.  Hereafter  a  grand jury may consist of twelve men,  any nine  of  whom
concurring may find an indictment,  but the Legislature may change,  regulate
or abolish the grand jury system.

   Section 10.  In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right
to  defend  in person and by counsel,  to demand the nature and cause of  the
accusation,  to  have  a copy thereof,  to be confronted with  the  witnesses
against him,  to have compulsory process served for obtaining witnesses,  and
to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of the county or district in which the
offense is alleged to have been committed.

   Section  11.   No person shall be compelled to testify against himself  in
any criminal case, nor shall any person be twice put to jeopardy for the same
offense. If a jury disagree, or if the judgement be arrested after a verdict,
or  if the judgement be reversed for error in law,  the accused shall not  be
deemed to have been in jeopardy.

   Section  12.   No  person shall be detained as a witness in  any  criminal
prosecution longer than may be necessary to take his testimony or deposition,
nor be confined in any room where criminals are imprisoned.

   Section  13.   Until  otherwise provided by law,  no person shall,  for  a
felony, be proceeded against criminally, otherwise than by indictment, except
in  cases  arising  in the land or naval forces,  or in the militia  when  in
actual service in time of war or public danger.

   Section 14.  All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties,  except
for  capital  offenses  when the proof is evident or the  presumption  great.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed,  nor shall
cruel or unusual punishment be inflicted.

   Section  15.   The penal code shall be framed on the humane principles  of
reformation and prevention.

   Section 16.  No person arrested and confined in jail shall be treated with
unnecessary  rigor.  The  erection  of  safe  and  comfortable  prisons,  and
inspection  of  prisons,  and  the  humane treatment of  prisoners  shall  be
provided for.

   Section  17.   The  privilege  of the writ of habeas corpus shall  not  be
suspended unless, when in case of rebellion or invasion the public safety may
require it.

   Section  18.  The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession  and
worship  without discrimination or preference shall be forever guaranteed  in
this state, and no person shall be rendered incompetent to hold any office of
trust or profit, or to serve as a witness or juror, because of his opinion on
any  matter  of religious belief whatsoever;  but the liberty  of  conscience
hereby  secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness
or justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of the state.

   Section 19.   No money of the state shall ever be given or appropriated to
any sectarian or religious society or institution.

   Section  20.   Every  person may freely speak,  write and publish  on  all
subjects,  being  responsible for the abuse of that right;  and in all trials
for  libel,  both  civil and criminal,  the truth,  when published with  good
intent and [for]  justifiable ends,  shall be a sufficient defense,  the jury
having  the right to determine the facts and the law,  under the direction of
the court.

   Section  21.   The  right  of petition,  and of the  people  peaceably  to
assemble  to consult for the common good,  and to make known their  opinions,
shall never be denied or abridged.

   Section  22.   The rights of labor shall have just protection through laws
calculated  to  secure to the laborer proper rewards for his service  and  to
promote the industrial welfare of the state.

   Section  23.    The  right of the citizens to opportunities for  education
should  have practical recognition.  The legislature shall suitably encourage
means and agencies calculated to advance the sciences and liberal arts.

   Section  24.   The right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves
and the state shall not be denied.

   Section  25.   The  military shall ever be in strict subordination to  the
civil  power.  No  soldier in time of peace shall be quartered in  any  house
without  consent  of  the  owner,  nor in time of war except  in  the  manner
prescribed by law.

   Section  26.   Treason against the state shall consist only in levying war
against it, or in adhering to its enemies, or in 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;  nor shall
any person be attainted of treason by the legislature.

   Section 27.  Elections shall be open, free and equal, and no power,  civil
or  military,  shall at any time interfere to prevent an untrammeled exercise
of the right of suffrage.

   Section 28.   No tax shall be imposed without the consent of the people or
their authorized representatives. All taxation shall be equal and uniform.
Section 29.  No distinction shall ever be made by law between resident aliens
and  citizens  as  to the possession,  taxation,  enjoyment  and  descent  of
property.

   Section  30.   Perpetuities and monopolies are contrary to the genius of a
free  state,  and shall not be allowed.  Corporations being creatures of  the
state,  endowed  for the public good with a portion of its sovereign  powers,
must be subject to its control.

   Section  31.   Water being essential to industrial prosperity,  of limited
amount, and easy of diversion from its natural channels,  its control must be
in the state,  which,  in providing for its use,  shall equally guard all the
various interests involved.

   Section 32.  Private property shall not be taken for private use unless by
consent  of  the  owner,  except  for private  ways  of  necessity,  and  for
reservoirs,  drains,  flumes  or ditches on or across the lands of others for
agricultural, mining, milling, domestic or sanitary purposes, nor in any case
without due compensation.

   Section 33.   Private property shall not be taken or damaged for public or
private use without just compensation.

   Section 34.  All laws of a general nature shall have a uniform operation.

   Section 35.  No ex post facto law, nor any law impairing the obligation of
contracts, shall ever be made.

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

   Section  37.   The state of Wyoming is an inseparable part of the  federal
union,  and  the constitution of the United States is the supreme law of  the
land.
