CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

CONSTITUTION OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO

ADOPTED JANUARY 21, 1911

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

The name of this state is New Mexico, and its boundaries are as follows:

Beginning at the point where the thirtyseventh parallel of north latitude intersects the one hundred and third meridian west from Greenwich; thence along said one hundred and third meridian to the thirty-second parallel of north latitude; thence along said thirty-second parallel to the Rio Grande,

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Article II ? Bill of Rights

also known as the Rio Bravo del Norte, as it existed on the ninth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty; thence, following the main channel of said river, as it existed on the ninth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and fifty, to the parallel of thirty-one degrees forty-seven minutes north latitude; thence west one hundred miles to a point; thence south to the parallel of thirty-one degrees twenty minutes north latitude; thence along said parallel of thirty-one degrees twenty minutes, to the thirty-second meridian of longitude west from Washington; thence along said thirty-second meridian to the thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude; thence along said thirty-seventh parallel to the point of beginning.

ARTICLE II

Bill of Rights

Sec. 1. Supreme law of the land. 2. Popular sovereignty. 3. Right of self-government. 4. Inherent rights. 5. Rights under Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

preserved. 6. Right to bear arms.

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Article II ? Bill of Rights

Sec. 7. Habeas corpus. 8. Freedom of elections. 9. Military power subordinate; quartering of

soldiers. 10. Searches and seizures. 11. Freedom of religion. 12. Trial by jury; less than unanimous verdicts

in civil cases. 13. Bail; excessive fines; cruel and unusual

punishment. 14. Indictment and information; grand juries;

rights of accused. 15. Self-incrimination; double jeopardy. 16. Treason. 17. Freedom of speech and press; libel. 18. Due process; equal protection; sex dis-

crimination. 19. Retroactive laws; bills of attainder; im-

pairment of contracts. 20. Eminent domain. 21. Imprisonment for debt. 23. Reserved rights. 24. Victim's rights.

Sec. 1. [Supreme law of the land.]

The state of New Mexico is an inseparable part of the federal union, and the constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land.

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Article II ? Bill of Rights

Sec. 2. [Popular sovereignty.]

All political power is vested in and derived from the people: all government of right originates with the people, is founded upon their will and is instituted solely for their good.

Sec. 3. [Right of self-government.]

The people of the state have the sole and exclusive right to govern themselves as a free, sovereign and independent state.

Sec. 4. [Inherent rights.]

All persons are born equally free, and have certain natural, inherent and inalienable rights, among which are the rights of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and of seeking and obtaining safety and happiness.

Sec. 5. [Rights under Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo preserved.]

The rights, privileges and immunities, civil, political and religious guaranteed to the people of New Mexico by the Treaty

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Article II ? Bill of Rights

of Guadalupe Hidalgo shall be preserved inviolate.

Sec. 6. [Right to bear arms.]

No law shall abridge the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes, but nothing herein shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons. No municipality or county shall regulate, in any way, an incident of the right to keep and bear arms. (As amended November 2, 1971 and November 2, 1986.)

Sec. 7. [Habeas corpus.]

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall never be suspended, unless, in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety requires it.

Sec. 8. [Freedom of elections.]

All elections shall be free and open, and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage.

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