State Constitutions

Preamble WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution. Article 1 – Declaration of Rights That the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and unalterably […]

[Note –  Oregon’s constitution was ratified in 1857, but did not take effect until Feb. 14, 1857 when the territory officially became the 33rd state.] Preamble We the people of the State of Oregon to the end that Justice be established, order maintained, and liberty perpetuated, do ordain this Constitution. Article I – Bill of […]

Preamble Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessing of liberty; to secure just and rightful government; to promote our mutual welfare and happiness, we, the people of the State of Oklahoma, do ordain and establish this Constitution. Article I – Federal Regulations Section 1 –  Supreme Law of […]

[Note – The current Ohio State Constitution is based upon the 1851 and 1912 constitutions with amendments added since that time.] Preamble We, the people of the State of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish this Constitution. Section 1 – Inalienable Rights […]

Preamble We, the people of the eastern division of the territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio, having the right of admission into the general government, as a member of the Union, consistent with the constitution of the United States, the ordinance of Congress of one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and […]

[Note –  Current version with amendments] Preamble We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain and establish this constitution. Article I – Declaration of Rights Section 1. All individuals are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inalienable rights, among which […]

[Note – As currently amended] Preamble We, the people of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty, in order to secure the advantages of a state government, do ordain and establish this constitution. Article I – Name and Boundaries Name and Boundaries The name of this state is New Mexico, and […]

[Note – As amended November, 2014] Preamble A Constitution agreed upon by the delegates of the people of New  Jersey, in Convention, begun at Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, in New Brunswick, on the twelfth day of June, and continued to the tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord […]

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 – Declaration of Rights Section 1 – Inalienable Rights All men are by Nature free and equal and […]

Article I-0 Preamble. We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, do ordain and establish the following declaration of rights and frame of government, as the Constitution of the State of Nebraska. Article I-1 Statement of rights. All persons are by nature free and independent, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights; among […]

Preamble We the people of Montana grateful to God for the quiet beauty of our state, the grandeur of our mountains, the vastness of our rolling plains, and desiring to improve the quality of life, equality of opportunity and to secure the blessings of liberty for this and future generations do ordain and establish this […]

[Note – This constitution is based largely upon the 1875 constitution with some later additions that post-date 1875 and the constitution of 1945.] Preamble We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure […]

Preamble We, the people of Missouri, inhabiting the limits hereinafter designated, by our representatives in convention assembled, at St. Louis, on Monday, the 12th day of June, 1820, do mutually agree to form and establish a free and independent republic, by the name of “The State of Missouri,” and for the government thereof do ordain […]

Preamble. The People of the State of Michigan do ordain this Constitution. Article I – Boundaries Territorial jurisdiction. The State of Michigan consists of and has jurisdiction over the territory embraced within the following boundaries, to wit: Commencing at a point on the eastern extremity of Lake Michigan to the most northerly cape of the […]

Preamble We, the people of Mississippi, in Convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work, do ordain and establish this Constitution. Article 1 – Distribution of Powers Section 1. The powers of the government of the State of Mississippi shall be divided into three distinct departments, and each of them […]

Preamble We, the Representatives of the people inhabiting the western part of the Mississippi Territory, contained within the following limits, to wit: Beginning on the River Mississippi at the point where the southern boundary line of the State of Tennessee strikes the same; thence east along the said boundary line to the Tennessee River; thence […]

[Note – Although this constitution was drafted and approved in 1963, it went into effect on January 1, 1964.] Preamble We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, and earnestly desiring to secure these blessings undiminished to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this […]

[Note – The Massachusetts State Constitution of 1780 remains the oldest functioning constitution in continuous use in the world. Although it has been amended 120 times, the original 1780 constitution is still the only one the state has had.] Preamble The end of the institution, maintenance, and administration of government is to secure the existence […]

[Note: While the Maine Constitution has been amended many times since 1820, it has been recodified every ten years beginning in the late 19th century. The repealed portions have been deleted and the original structure has remained intact.] Preamble. Objects of government.  We the people of Maine, in order to establish justice, insure tranquility, provide […]

Preamble WE the people of Maine, in order to establish justice, ensure tranquillity, provide for our mutual defence, promote our common welfare, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of Liberty, acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity, so favorable to the […]

[NOTE] Louisiana has had 11 state constitutions: 1812, 1845, 1852, 1861, 1864, 1868, 1879, 1898, 1913, 1921, 1975] Preamble We, the people of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political, economic, and religious liberties we enjoy, and desiring to protect individual rights to life, liberty, and property; afford opportunity for the fullest development […]