


                      CONSTITUTION  OF THE STATE OF KANSAS
                              (as amended to 1975)

                                    PREAMBLE

          We, the people of Kansas,  grateful to Almighty God for  our
          civil and religious privileges, in order to insure the  full
          enjoyment of our rights as American citizens, do ordain  and
          establish this constitution of the state of Kansas, with the
          following boundaries, to wit:   Beginning at a point on  the
          western boundary of the state of Missouri, where the thirty-
          seventh parallel of north latitude crosses the same;  thence
          running west on said  parallel to the twenty-fifth  meridian
          of  longitude  west  from  Washington;  thence north on said
          meridian to the fortieth parallel of north latitude;  thence
          east on said parallel to  the western boundary of the  state
          of Missouri; thence south with the western boundary of  said
          state to the place of beginning.

                                 BILL OF RIGHTS

Sec. 1.   All  men  are  possessed of  equal and  inalienable  natural
          rights, among which  are life, liberty,  and the pursuit  of
          happiness.

Sec. 2.   All political power is inherent in the people, and all  free
          governments are founded on  their authority, and are  insti-
          tuted for their  equal protection and  benefit.  No  special
          privileges or immunities shall ever be granted by the legis-
          lature, which may not be altered, revoked or repealed by the
          same body;  and this  power shall  be exercised  by no other
          tribunal or agency.

Sec. 3.   The people have  the right to assemble, in a peaceable  man-
          ner, to  consult for  their common  good, to  instruct their
          representatives, and to petition the government, or any  de-
          partment thereof, for the redress of grievances.

Sec. 4.   The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and
          security; but standing armies, in time of peace, are danger-
          ous to liberty, and shall not be tolerated, and the military
          shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.

Sec. 5.   The right of trial by jury shall be inviolate.

Sec. 6.   There shall be no slavery in this state; and no  involuntary
          servitude, except for the  punishment of crime, whereof  the
          party shall have been duly convicted.

Sec. 7.   The right to  worship God according to the dictates of  con-
          science shall never  be infringed; nor  shall any person  be
          compelled  to  attend  or  support  any form of worship, nor
          shall  any  control  of  or  interference with the rights of
          conscience be permitted, nor any preference be given by  law
          to  any  religious  establishment  or  mode  of  worship. No
          religious test or  property qualification shall  be required
          for any  office of  public trust,  nor for  any vote  at any
          election, nor shall any person be incompetent to testify  on
          account of religious belief.

Sec. 8.   The right to the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspend-
          ed, unless the public safety requires it in case of invasion
          or rebellion.

Sec. 9.   All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties  except
          for capital offenses, where proof is evident or the presump-
          tion great.  Excessive bail  shall not be required, nor  ex-
          cessive  fines  imposed,  nor  cruel  and unusual punishment
          inflicted.

Sec. 10.  In all prosecutions, the accused shall be allowed to  appear
          and defend in  person, or by  counsel; to demand  the nature
          and cause of the accusation against him; to meet the witness
          face to face; and to  have compulsory process to compel  the
          attendance of witnesses in  his behalf, and a  speedy public
          trial by  an impartial  jury of  the county  or district  in
          which the  offense is  alleged to  have been  committed.  No
          person shall be a witness  against himself, or be twice  put
          in jeopardy for the same offense.

Sec. 11.  The liberty of the press shall be inviolate; and all persons
          may freely speak, write  or publish their sentiments  on all
          subjects, being responsible for the abuse of such right; and
          in all civil or criminal actions for libel, the truth may be
          given in evidence to the  jury, and if it shall  appear that
          the alleged  libelous matter  was published  for justifiable
          ends, the accused party shall be acquitted.

Sec. 12.  No  conviction within the state  shall work a forfeiture  of
          estate.

Sec. 13.  Treason shall consist only in levying war against the state,
          adhering to its enemies, or giving them aid and comfort.  No
          person shall be convicted of treason unless on the  evidence
          of two  witnesses to  the overt  act, or  confession in open
          court.

Sec. 14.  No  soldier  shall, in  time of  peace, be  quartered in any
          house without the  consent of the  occupant, nor in  time of
          war, except as prescribed by law.

Sec. 15.  The right of the  people to be secure in their persons,  and
          property against unreasonable  searches and seizures,  shall
          be inviolate,   and no  warrant shall  issue except  but  on
          probable cause, supported  by oath or  affirmation, particu-
          larly describing the place to be searched and the persons or
          property to be seized.

Sec. 16.  No person shall  be imprisoned for debt, except in  cases of
          fraud.

Sec. 17.  No  distinction shall ever be  made between citizens of  the
          state of Kansas and the citizens of other states and  terri-
          tories of the  United States in  reference to the  purchase,
          enjoyment or descent of property.   The rights of aliens  in
          reference to the purchase, enjoyment or descent of  property
          may be regulated by law.

Sec. 18.  All persons, for injuries suffered in person, reputation  or
          property, shall have remedy by  due course of law, and  jus-
          tice administered without delay.

Sec. 19.  No hereditary  emoluments, honors, or privileges shall  ever
          be granted or conferred by the state.

Sec. 20.  This enumeration of rights shall not be construed to  impair
          or deny others  retained by the  people; and all  powers not
          herein delegated remain with the people.

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