Preamble
We, Frederick William, by grace of God, King of Prussia, etc., hereby declare and make known that, whereas the constitution of the Prussian State, promulgated by us on the fifth of December, 1848, subject to revision by the ordinary process of legislation, and accepted by both chambers of our kingdom, has been submitted to the prescribed revision, we have finally established the provisions of that constitution in agreement with both chambers.
We, therefore, promulgate the same as a fundamental law of the state, as follows:
Title I. The Territory of the State
Article 1: Territorial Extent
All parts of the monarchy in its present extent form the territory of the Prussian State.
Article 2: Territorial Changes
The boundaries of this territory can only be altered by law.
Title II. The Rights of Prussians
Article 3: Citizenship
The constitution and the law determine under what conditions the quality and rights of a Prussian citizen may be acquired, exercised or forfeited.
Article 4: Equality
All Prussians shall be equal before the law. Class privileges shall not be permitted. Public offices, subject to the conditions imposed by law, shall be uniformly open to all who are competent to hold them.
Article 5: Personal Freedom
Personal freedom is guaranteed. The forms and conditions under which any limitation thereof, especially arrest, shall be permissible, shall be determined by law.
Article 6: Domestic Inviolability
The domicile shall be inviolable. Intrusion and search therein, as well as the seizing of letters and papers, shall be allowed only in the manner and in the cases prescribed by law.
Article 7: Right to Lawful Trial
No one shall be deprived of his lawful judge. Exceptional tribunals and extraordinary commissions shall not be permitted.
Article 8: Nulla Poena Sine Lege
Punishments shall not be prescribed or inflicted except according to law.
Article 9: Property
Property is inviolable. It shall only be taken or interfered with from considerations of public weal, and then only in a manner to be prescribed by law, and in return for a compensation to be previously determined. Even in urgent cases a preliminary valuation and compensation shall be made.
Article 10: Civil Death, Confiscation
Civil death and confiscation of property, as punishment, shall not be permitted.
Article 11: Freedom of Emigration
Freedom of emigration can only be limited by the state, with view to military service. Migration fees shall not be levied.
Article 12: Freedom of Religion
Freedom of religious confession, of association in religious societies (Art. 30 and 31), and of the common exercise of religion in private and public, is guaranteed. The enjoyment of civil and political rights shall not be dependent upon religious belief. But the exercise of religious liberty shall not be permitted to interfere with the civil or political duties of the citizen.
Article 13: Religious Societies
Religious and ecclesiastical associations, which have no corporate rights, can only acquire those rights by special laws.
Article 14: State Religion
The Christian religion shall be taken as the basis of those state institutions which are connected with the exercise of religion without prejudice to the religious liberty guaranteed by Article 12.
Article 15: Repealed
Repealed June 18, 1875.
Article 16: Repealed
Repealed June 18, 1875.
Article 17: Church Patronage
A special law shall be enacted relating to church patronage and to the conditions on which it may be abolished.
Article 18: Repealed
Repealed June 18, 1875.
Article 19: Civil Marriage
Civil marriage shall be introduced in accordance with a special law which shall also regulate the keeping of a civil register.
Article 20: Freedom of Science
Science and its teachings shall be free.
Article 21: Education
The education of youth shall be adequately provided for by public schools. Parents and their representatives shall not leave their children or wards without that education prescribed in the public elementary schools.
Article 22: Freedom of Instruction
Every one shall be at liberty to give instruction, and establish institutions of learning, provided he shall have given proof, to the proper state authorities, of his moral, scientific and technical fitness.