CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEBRASKA OF 1875
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: BILL OF RIGHTS
Sec. 1. All persons are by nature free and independent, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights; among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights and the protection of property, governments are instituted among people, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
Sec. 2. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude to this state, otherwise than for punishment of a crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.
Sec. 3. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
Sec. 4. All persons have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty god according to the dictates of their own consciences. No person shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship against his consent, and no preference shall be given by law to any religious society, nor shall any interference with the rights of conscience be permitted. No religious test shall be required as a qualification for office, nor shall any person be incompetent to be a witness on account of his religious belief; but nothing herein shall be construed to dispense with oaths and affirmations. Religion, morality, and knowledge, however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the legislature to pass suitable laws to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship, and to encourage schools and the means of instruction.
Sec. 5. Every person may freely speak, write, and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty; and in all trials for libel, both civil and criminal, the truth, when published with good motives and for justifiable ends, shall be a sufficient defense.
Sec. 6. The rights of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, but the Legislature may authorize trial by a jury of less number than twelve men in courts inferior to the District Court.
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 issue but upon probably cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the person or things to be seized.
Sec. 8. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless, in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety requires it, and then only in such manner as shall be prescribed by law.
Sec. 9. All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for treason and murder, where the proof is evident or the presumption great. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments indicted.
Sec. 10. No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense, except in cases in which the punishment is by fine or imprisonment, otherwise than in the penitentiary, in case of impeachment and in cases arising in the army and navy or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury; provided, that the legislature may, by law, provide for holding persons to answer for criminal offences on information of a public prosecutor, and may, by law, abolish, limit, change, amend, or otherwise regulate the grand jury system.
Sec. 11. In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right to appear and defend in person or by counsel, to demand the nature and cause of accusation and to have a copy thereof, to meet the witnesses against him face to face, to have 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.
Sec. 12. No person shall be compelled, in any criminal case, to give evidence against himself, or be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense.
Sec. 13. All courts shall be open, and every person, for any injury done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation, shall have a remedy by due course of law, and justice administered without denial or delay.