



                           CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE  
                                  OF NEW JERSEY       
                          (As amended to Jan. 1, 1975)

                                    PREAMBLE          

          We, the people of the  State of New Jersey, grateful  to Al-
          mighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath
          so long  permitted us  to enjoy,  and looking  to Him  for a
          blessing  upon  our  endeavors  to  secure  and transmit the
          same  unimpaired  to  succeeding  generations, do ordain and
          establish this Constitution.


                                   ARTICLE I

                             RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES

Sec. 1.   All persons  are  by nature free  and independent, and  have
          certain  natural  and  unalienable  rights,  among which are
          those of  enjoying and  defending life  and liberty,  of ac-
          quiring, possessing,  and protecting  property, and  of pur-
          suing 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 at all times to alter or
          reform the same, whenever the public good may require it.

Sec. 3.   No person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege  of
          worshiping Almighty God  in a manner  agreeable to the  dic-
          tates of his own conscience; nor under any pretense whatever
          be compelled to attend any place of worship contrary to  his
          faith and judgement; nor shall any person be obliged to  pay
          tithes, taxes, or other rates for building or repairing  any
          church or churches, place or  places of worship, or for  the
          maintenance of any minister or ministry, contrary to what he
          believes to  be right  or has  deliberately and  voluntarily
          engaged to perform.

Sec. 4.   There shall be  no establishment of  one religious sect  in
          preference to another; no religious or racial test shall  be
          required as a qualification for any office or public trust.

Sec. 5.   No  person  shall  be denied  the enjoyment  of any civil or
          military right, nor be discriminated against in the exercise
          of any  civil or  military right,  nor be  segregated in the
          militia or in the public schools, because of religious prin-
          ciples, race, color, ancestry or national origin.

Sec. 6.   Every person may freely speak, write and publish his  senti-
          ments on all  subjects, being responsible  for the abuse  of
          that right. No  law shall be  passed to restrain  or abridge
          the liberty of speech or of the press.  In all  prosecutions
          or indictments for libel, 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; and the  jury shall have  the right to  determine
          the law and the fact.

Sec. 7.   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
          issued  except  upon  probable  cause,  supported by oath or
          affirmation,  and  particularly  describing  the place to be
          searched and the papers and things to be seized.


Sec.  8.  No person  shall be  held to answer for  a criminal offense,
          unless on  the presentment  or indictment  of a  grand jury,
          except in cases of  impeachment, or in cases  now prosecuted
          without indictment, or arising in the army or navy or in the
          militia, when  in actual  service in  time of  war or public
          danger.

Sec. 9.   The right of  trial by jury shall remain inviolate; but  the
          legislature may  authorize the  trial of  civil causes  by a
          jury of six persons. The Legislature may provide that in any
          civil cause a verdict may be rendered by not less than five-
          sixths of the jury.  The Legislature may authorize the trial
          of the issue of mental  incompetency without a jury.   (This
          Article amended effective Dec. 4, 1973.)

Sec. 10.  In all  criminal  prosecutions  the accused  shall have  the
          right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury;  to
          be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be
          confronted with the witnesses  against him; to have  compul-
          sory process for  obtaining witnesses in  his favor; and  to
          have the assistance of counsel in his defense.

Sec. 11.  No person shall, after acquittal, be tried for the same  of-
          fense.  All persons shall, before conviction, be bailable by
          sufficient sureties,  except for  capital offenses  when the
          proof is evident or presumption great.

Sec. 12.  Excessive bail shall not be required, excessive fines  shall
          not be imposed, and cruel and unusual punishments shall  not
          be inflicted.

Sec. 13.  No person shall be imprisoned for debt in any action, or  on
          any judgement found upon contract, unless in cases of fraud;
          nor shall  any person  be imprisoned  for a  militia fine in
          time of peace.

Sec. 14.  The privilege  of the  writ of  habeas corpus  shall not be
          suspended, unless in case of rebellion or invasion the  pub-
          lic safety may require it.

Sec. 15.  The military shall  be in strict subordination to the  civil
          power.

Sec. 16.  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 a manner prescribed by law.

Sec. 17.  Treason against the State shall consist only in levying  war
          against it, or in adhering  to its enemies, giving them  aid
          and comfort.  No person  shall be convicted of treason,  un-
          less on  the testimony  of two  witnesses to  the same overt
          act, or on confession in open court.

Sec. 18.  The  people have the right  freely to assemble together,  to
          consult for the common good, to make known their opinions to
          their representatives, and to petition for redress of griev-
          ances.

Sec. 19.  Persons in private employment shall have the right to organ-
          ize and bargain collectively.  Persons in public  employment
          shall have the right to organize, present to and make  known
          to the State, or any of its political subdivisions or  agen-
          cies, their grievances and proposals through representatives
          of their own choosing.

Sec. 20.  Private property shall  not be taken for public use  without
          just  compensation.   Individuals  or  private  corporations
          shall not be authorized to take private property for  public
          use without just compensation first made to the owners.

Sec. 21.  This enumeration of rights and privileges shall not be  con-
          strued to impair or deny others retained by the people.


