


                      CONSTITUTION of the STATE OF NEVADA
                              (as amended to 1974)

                                    PREAMBLE

          We the people  of the State  of Nevada Grateful  to Almighty
          God for our freedom in order to secure its blessings, insure
          domestic tranquility, and form a more perfect Government, do
          establish this CONSTITUTION.

                                  ARTICLE. 1.

Sec: 1.   All men are  by Nature free and equal and have  certain ina-
          lienable rights among  which are those  of enjoying and  de-
          fending  life  and  liberty;  Acquiring, Possessing and Pro-
          tecting  property  and  pursuing  and  obtaining  safety and
          happiness.

Sec: 2.   All political  power is inherent in the people.   Government
          is instituted  for the  protection, security  and benefit of
          the people; and they have  the right to alter or  reform the
          same whenever the public good may require it.  But the Para-
          mount Allegiance of every citizen is due to the Federal Gov-
          ernment in the exercise of all its Constitutional powers  as
          the same have been or may be defined by the Supreme Court of
          the United States; and no power exists in the people of this
          or any other  State of the  Federal Union to  dissolve their
          connection therewith or perform  any act tending to  impair,
          subvert, or resist the  Supreme Authority of the  Government
          of the United States.  The Constitution of the United States
          confers full power on the Federal Government to maintain and
          Perpetuate  its  existance  [existence],  and whensoever any
          portion of the States,  or people thereof attempt  to secede
          from the Federal Union, or forcibly resist the Execution  of
          its  laws,  the  Federal  Government  may, by warrant of the
          Constitution, employ armed force in compelling obedience  to
          its Authority.

Sec: 3.   The right of trial  by Jury shall be secured to all and  re-
          main inviolate forever;  but a Jury  trial may be  waived by
          the parties in all civil cases in the manner to be  prescri-
          bed by  law; and  in civil  cases, if  three fourths  of the
          Jurors agree upon a verdict it shall stand and have the same
          force and effect as a  verdict by the whole Jury,  Provided,
          the Legislature by a law passed by a two thirds vote of  all
          the members elected to each branch thereof may require a un-
          animous verdict notwithstanding this Provision.

 Sec: 4.  The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession  and
          worship without discrimination  or preference shall  forever
          be allowed in  this State, and  no person shall  be rendered
          incompetent to be  a witness on  account of his  opinions on
          matters of  his religious  belief, but  the liberty  of con-
          sciene [conscience]  hereby secured,  shall not  be so  con-
          strued,  as  to  excuse  acts  of  licentiousness or justify
          practices inconsistent  with the  peace, or  safety of  this
          State.

Sec: 5.   The privilege  of  the writ of  Habeas Corpus, shall  not be
          suspended unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion  the
          public safety may require its suspension.

Sec. 6:   Excessive  bail shall not  be required, nor excessive  fines
          imposed, nor shall cruel or unusual punishments be  inflict-
          ed, nor shall witnesses be unreasonably detained.

Sec: 7.   All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties; unless
          for Capital Offenses when the proof is evident, or the  pre-
          sumption great.

Sec: 8.   No person  shall  be tried for  a capital or  other infamous
          crime (except in cases of  impeachment, and in cases of  the
          militia when in actual service and the land and naval forces
          in time of war, or which this state may keep, with the  con-
          sent of congress,  in time of  peace, and in  cases of petit
          larceny, under the regulation of the legislature) except  on
          presentment  of  the  grand  jury,  or upon information duly
          filed by  a district  attorney, or  attorney-general of  the
          state, and in  any trial, in  any court whatever,  the party
          accused shall be allowed to appear and defend in person, and
          with counsel, as in civil actions.  No person shall be  sub-
          ject to be twice put  in jeopardy for the same  offense; nor
          shall he be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness
          against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or  prop-
          erty, without due process of law; nor shall private property
          be take for public use without just compensation having been
          first made, or secured, except in cases of war, riot,  fire,
          or great public peril,  in which case compensation  shall be
          afterward made.

Sec: 9.   Every citizen  may freely speak, write and publish  his sen-
          timents on all subjects  being responsible for the  abuse of
          that  right;  and  no  law  shall  be  passed to restrain or
          abridge  the  liberty  of  speech  or  of the press.  In all
          criminal  prosecutions  and  civil  actions  for libels, the
          truth may be given in evidence to the Jury; and if it  shall
          appear to the  Jury that the  matter charged as  libelous is
          true and was published with good motives and for justifiable
          ends, the party shall be acquitted or exonerated.

Sec: 10.  The people shall have the right freely to assemble  together
          to consult for the common good, to instruct their represent-
          atives and to petition the Legislature for redress of Griev-
          ances.

Sec: 11.  The military  shall  be subordinate to  the civil power;  No
          standing army shall be maintained  by this State in time  of
          peace, and in time of  War, no appropriation for a  standing
          army shall be for a longer time than two years.

Sec: 12.  No soldier shall, in time of Peace be quartered in any house
          without the consent of the owner, nor in time of War, except
          in the manner prescribed by law.

Sec: 13.  Representation shall be apportioned according to population.

Sec: 14.  The privilege of the debtor to enjoy the necessary  comforts
          of life shall be  recognized by wholesome laws,  exempting a
          reasonable amount of property from seizure or sale for  pay-
          ment of any debts  or liabilities hereafter contracted;  And
          there shall be no imprisonment for debt, except in cases  of
          fraud, libel, or slander, and no person shall be imprisioned
          [imprisoned] for a militia fine in time of Peace.

Sec: 15.  No  bill of attainder, ex  post facto law, or  law impairing
          the obligation of contracts shall ever be passed.

Sec: 16.  Foreigners  who are,  or who may  hereafter become Bona-fide
          residents of  this State,  shall enjoy  the same  rights, in
          respect  to  the  possession,  enjoyment  and inheritance of
          property,  as  native  born  citizens.  ( NOTE - Repealed in
          1924)

Sec: 17.  Neither  Slavery nor  involuntary servitude unless  for pun-
          ishment of crimes shall ever be tolerated in this State.

Sec: 18.  The right  of the  people to  be  secure  in their  persons,
          houses, papers and effects against unreasonable seizures and
          searches shall not be  violated; and no warrant  shall issue
          but upon probable cause,  supported by Oath or  Affirmation,
          particularly describing the place or places to be  searched,
          and the  person or  persons, and  the thing  or things to be
          seized.

Sec: 19.  Treason against the State shall consist only in levying  war
          against it, adhering to its  enemies or giving them Aid  and
          Comfort . And no person shall be convicted of treason unless
          on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act,  or
          on open confession in open court.

Sec: 20.  This enumeration of rights shall not be construed to  impair
          or deny others retained by the people.

