Oregon Legal Research Blog
If you can’t read the Oregon Constitution in one gulp (and it is a bit of a dog’s breakfast), how about in small bites? (I’ll post a few more small bites over the next few weeks, months, sigh.)
Bite #1: Preamble:
“PREAMBLE
We the people of the State of Oregon to the end that Justice be established, order maintained, and liberty perpetuated, do ordain this Constitution.–”
Bite #2: Bill of Rights, Secs. 1-6
“Section 1. Natural rights inherent in people. We declare that all men, when they form a social compact are equal in right: that all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; and they have at all times a right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.–
Section 2. Freedom of worship. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences.–
Section 3. Freedom of religious opinion. No law shall in any case whatever control the free exercise, and enjoyment of religeous [sic] opinions, or interfere with the rights of conscience.–
Section 4. No religious qualification for office. No religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office of trust or profit.–
Section 5. No money to be appropriated for religion. No money shall be drawn from the Treasury for the benefit of any religeous [sic], or theological institution, nor shall any money be appropriated for the payment of any religeous [sic] services in either house of the Legislative Assembly.–
Section 6. No religious test for witnesses or jurors. No person shall be rendered incompetent as a witness, or juror in consequence of his opinions on matters of religeon [sic]; nor be questioned in any Court of Justice touching his religeous [sic] belief to affect the weight of his testimony.–”
(Yesterday I told one of my Tri-mates (friends you make while commuting on Trimet) that I suggested to my book group that we read the Oregon Constitution. I’ll give them credit for not snorting or laughing at me.
(I collect copies of print Oregon Constitutions from discarded, superseded print ORSs; the Oregon and U.S. Constitutions are in volume 17 of the 2005 edition. It won’t include the 2007 additions, but will serve its purpose.)