VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
BILL OF RIGHTS
INTRODUCTION TO ARTICLE I
Art. I §1 | EQUALITY AND RIGHTS OF MEN
Art. I §2 | PEOPLE THE SOURCE OF POWER
Art. I §3 | GOVERNMENT INSTITUTED FOR COMMON BENEFIT
Art. I §4 | NO EXCLUSIVE EMOLUMENTS OR PRIVILEGES; OFFICES NOT TO BE HEREDITARY
Art. I §5 | SEPARATION OF LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE, AND JUDICIAL DEPARTMENTS; PERIODICAL ELECTIONS
Art. I §6 | FREE ELECTIONS; CONSENT OF GOVERNED
Art. I §7 | LAWS SHOULD NOT BE SUSPENDED
Art. I §8 | CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS
Laws may be enacted providing for the trial of offenses not felonious by a court not of record without a jury, preserving the right of the accused to an appeal to and a trial by jury in some court of record having original criminal jurisdiction. Laws may also provide for juries consisting of less than twelve, but not less than five, for the trial of offenses not felonious, and may classify such cases, and prescribe the number of jurors for each class.
In criminal cases, the accused may plead guilty. If the accused plead not guilty, he may, with his consent and the concurrence of the Commonwealth's Attorney and of the court entered of record, be tried by a smaller number of jurors, or waive a jury. In case of such waiver or plea of guilty, the court shall try the case.
The provisions of this section shall be self-executing.
Art. I §8A | RIGHTS OF VICTIMS OF CRIME
2. The right to be treated with respect, dignity and fairness at all stages of the criminal justice system;
3. The right to address the circuit court at the time sentence is imposed;
4. The right to receive timely notification of judicial proceedings;
5. The right to restitution;
6. The right to be advised of release from custody or escape of the offender, whether before or after disposition; and
7. The right to confer with the prosecution.
Notes
Art. I §9 | PROHIBITION OF EXCESSIVE BAIL AND FINES, CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT, SUSPENSION OF HABEAS CORPUS, BILLS OF ATTAINDER, AND EX POST FACTO LAWS
Art. I §10 | GENERAL WARRANTS OF SEARCH OR SEIZURE PROHIBITED
Art. I §11 | DUE PROCESS OF LAW; OBLIGATION OF CONTRACTS; TAKING OR DAMAGING OF PRIVATE PROPERTY; PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION; JURY TRIAL IN CIVIL CASES
That in controversies respecting property, and in suits between man and man, trial by jury is preferable to any other, and ought to be held sacred. The General Assembly may limit the number of jurors for civil cases in courts of record to not less than five.
That the General Assembly shall pass no law whereby private property, the right to which is fundamental, shall be damaged or taken except for public use. No private property shall be damaged or taken for public use without just compensation to the owner thereof. No more private property may be taken than necessary to achieve the stated public use. Just compensation shall be no less than the value of the property taken, lost profits and lost access, and damages to the residue caused by the taking. The terms "lost profits" and "lost access" are to be defined by the General Assembly. A public service company, public service corporation, or railroad exercises the power of eminent domain for public use when such exercise is for the authorized provision of utility, common carrier, or railroad services. In all other cases, a taking or damaging of private property is not for public use if the primary use is for private gain, private benefit, private enterprise, increasing jobs, increasing tax revenue, or economic development, except for the elimination of a public nuisance existing on the property. The condemnor bears the burden of proving that the use is public, without a presumption that it is.
Notes
Art. I §12 | FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OF THE PRESS; RIGHT PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION
Art. I §13 | MILITIA; STANDING ARMIES; MILITARY SUBORDINATE TO CIVIL POWER
Art. I §14 | GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE UNIFORM
Art. I §15 | QUALITIES NECESSARY TO PRESERVATION OF FREE GOVERNMENT
That free government rests, as does all progress, upon the broadest possible diffusion of knowledge, and that the Commonwealth should avail itself of those talents which nature has sown so liberally among its people by assuring the opportunity for their fullest development by an effective system of education throughout the Commonwealth.
Art. I §15A | MARRIAGE
Notes
Art. I §16 | FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION; NO ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION
Art. I §17 | CONSTRUCTION OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS
This material might help you recover from the damages that lawbreaking judges/lawyers/agencies/organizations have inflicted upon you [and/or the public] (see this example of a Florida judge who outright committed perjury).
Perhaps it'll [even] help you navigate through your state's administrative gauntlet. A gauntlet which might include – but not be limited to:
- State Agency Bribery;
- State Agency Corruption;
- State Agency Obstruction; and
- State Agency Self-Discrimination
Sincerely,
www.TextBookDiscrimination.com
