Article I — Bill Of Rights
4 sections · 42 paragraphs in this article.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ I Life, liberty, and property
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No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property except by due process of law.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ II Protection to person and property; equal protection
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Protection to person and property is the paramount duty of government and shall be impartial and complete. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ III Freedom of conscience
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Each person has the natural and inalienable right to worship God, each according to the dictates of that person's own conscience; and no human authority should, in any case, control or interfere with such right of conscience.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ IV Religious opinions; freedom of religion
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No inhabitant of this state shall be molested in person or property or be prohibited from holding any public office or trust on account of religious opinions; but the right of freedom of religion shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices i…
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ V Freedom of speech and of the press guaranteed
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No law shall be passed to curtail or restrain the freedom of speech or of the press. Every person may speak, write, and publish sentiments on all subjects but shall be responsible for the abuse of that liberty.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ VI Libel
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In all civil or criminal actions for libel, the truth may be given in evidence; and, if it shall appear to the trier of fact that the matter charged as libelous is true, the party shall be discharged.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ VII Citizens, protection of
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All citizens of the United States, resident in this state, are hereby declared citizens of this state; and it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to enact such laws as will protect them in the full enjoyment of the rights, privileges, and immunities due to such citizenship.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ VIII Arms, right to keep and bear
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The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but the General Assembly shall have power to prescribe the manner in which arms may be borne.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ IX Right to assemble and petition
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The people have the right to assemble peaceably for their common good and to apply by petition or remonstrance to those vested with the powers of government for redress of grievances.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ X Bill of attainder; ex post facto laws; and retroactive laws
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No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, retroactive law, or laws impairing the obligation of contract or making irrevocable grant of special privileges or immunities shall be passed.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XI Right to trial by jury; number of jurors; selection and compensation of jurors
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(a) The right to trial by jury shall remain inviolate, except that the court shall render judgment without the verdict of a jury in all civil cases where no issuable defense is filed and where a jury is not demanded in writing by either party. In criminal cases, the defendant sha…
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XII Right to the courts
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No person shall be deprived of the right to prosecute or defend, either in person or by an attorney, that person's own cause in any of the courts of this state.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XIII Searches, seizures, and warrants
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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 except upon probable cause supported by oath or affirmation particularly describing the place or places …
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XIV Benefit of counsel; accusation; list of witnesses; compulsory process
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Every person charged with an offense against the laws of this state shall have the privilege and benefit of counsel; shall be furnished with a copy of the accusation or indictment and, on demand, with a list of the witnesses on whose testimony such charge is founded; shall have c…
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XV Habeas corpus
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The writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless, in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XVI Self-incrimination
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No person shall be compelled to give testimony tending in any manner to be self-incriminating.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XVII Bail; fines; punishment; arrest, abuse of prisoners
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Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted; nor shall any person be abused in being arrested, while under arrest, or in prison.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XVIII Jeopardy of life or liberty more than once forbidden
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No person shall be put in jeopardy of life or liberty more than once for the same offense except when a new trial has been granted after conviction or in case of mistrial.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XIX Treason
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Treason against the State of Georgia shall consist of insurrection against the state, adhering to the state's enemies, or giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason except on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act or confession in open cour…
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XX Conviction, effect of
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No conviction shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XXI Banishment and whipping as punishment for crime
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Neither banishment beyond the limits of the state nor whipping shall be allowed as a punishment for crime.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XXII Involuntary servitude
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There shall be no involuntary servitude within the State of Georgia except as a punishment for crime after legal conviction thereof or for contempt of court.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XXIII Imprisonment for debt
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There shall be no imprisonment for debt.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XXIV Costs
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No person shall be compelled to pay costs in any criminal case except after conviction on final trial.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XXV Status of the citizen
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The social status of a citizen shall never be the subject of legislation.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XXVI Exemptions from levy and sale
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The General Assembly shall protect by law from levy and sale by virtue of any process under the laws of this state a portion of the property of each person in an amount of not less than $1,600.00 and shall have authority to define to whom any such additional exemptions shall be a…
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XXVII Spouse's separate property
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The separate property of each spouse shall remain the separate property of that spouse except as otherwise provided by law.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XXVIII Fishing and hunting
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The tradition of fishing and hunting and the taking of fish and wildlife shall be preserved for the people and shall be managed by law and regulation for the public good.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I, ¶ XXIX Enumeration of rights not denial of others
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The enumeration of rights herein contained as a part of this Constitution shall not be construed to deny to the people any inherent rights which they may have hitherto enjoyed.
Ga. Const. art. I, § I Rights Of Persons
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Ga. Const. art. I, § I Rights Of Persons Structural section heading for the GA Constitution. Operative constitutional text is stored in child paragraph rows. Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_State_of_Georgia_(1983)
Ga. Const. art. I, § II, ¶ I Origin and foundation of government
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All government, of right, originates with the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole. Public officers are the trustees and servants of the people and are at all times amenable to them.
Ga. Const. art. I, § II, ¶ II Object of government
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The people of this state have the inherent right of regulating their internal government. Government is instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people; and at all times they have the right to alter or reform the same whenever the public good may require it.
Ga. Const. art. I, § II, ¶ III Separation of legislative, judicial, and executive powers
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The legislative, judicial, and executive powers shall forever remain separate and distinct; and no person discharging the duties of one shall at the same time exercise the functions of either of the others except as herein provided.
Ga. Const. art. I, § II, ¶ IV Contempts
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The power of the courts to punish for contempt shall be limited by legislative acts.
Ga. Const. art. I, § II, ¶ V What acts void
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Legislative acts in violation of this Constitution or the Constitution of the United States are void, and the judiciary shall so declare them.
Ga. Const. art. I, § II, ¶ VI Superiority of civil authority
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The civil authority shall be superior to the military.
Ga. Const. art. I, § II, ¶ VII Separation of church and state
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No money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect, cult, or religious denomination or of any sectarian institution.
Ga. Const. art. I, § II, ¶ VIII Lotteries and nonprofit bingo games
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(a) Except as herein specifically provided in this Paragraph VIII, all lotteries, and the sale of lottery tickets, and all forms of pari-mutuel betting and casino gambling are hereby prohibited; and this prohibition shall be enforced by penal laws. (b) The General Assembly may by…
Ga. Const. art. I, § II, ¶ IX Sovereign immunity and waiver thereof; claims against the state and its departments, agencies, officers, and employees
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(a) The General Assembly may waive the state's sovereign immunity from suit by enacting a State Tort Claims Act, in which the General Assembly may provide by law for procedures for the making, handling, and disposition of actions or claims against the state and its departments, a…
Ga. Const. art. I, § II Origin And Structure Of Government
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Ga. Const. art. I, § II Origin And Structure Of Government Structural section heading for the GA Constitution. Operative constitutional text is stored in child paragraph rows. Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_State_of_Georgia_(1983)
Ga. Const. art. I, § III, ¶ I Eminent domain
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(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Paragraph, private property shall not be taken or damaged for public purposes without just and adequate compensation being first paid. (b) When private property is taken or damaged by the state or the counties or municipalities of the stat…
Ga. Const. art. I, § III, ¶ II Private ways
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In case of necessity, private ways may be granted upon just and adequate compensation being first paid by the applicant.
Ga. Const. art. I, § III, ¶ III Tidewater titles confirmed
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The Act of the General Assembly approved December 16, 1902, which extends the title of ownership of lands abutting on tidal water to low water mark, is hereby ratified and confirmed.
Ga. Const. art. I, § III General Provisions
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Ga. Const. art. I, § III General Provisions Structural section heading for the GA Constitution. Operative constitutional text is stored in child paragraph rows. Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_State_of_Georgia_(1983)
Ga. Const. art. I, § IV, ¶ I Recognition of marriage
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(a) This state shall recognize as marriage only the union of man and woman. Marriages between persons of the same sex are prohibited in this state. (b) No union between persons of the same sex shall be recognized by this state as entitled to the benefits of marriage. This state s…
Ga. Const. art. I, § IV Marriage
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Ga. Const. art. I, § IV Marriage Structural section heading for the GA Constitution. Operative constitutional text is stored in child paragraph rows. Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_State_of_Georgia_(1983)