Why would anybody want to read the Utah State Constitution? We all know that only the United States Constitution is important! In fact, doesn’t the recent Prop 8 decision in California prove that state constitutions are meaningless these days? Well, no. Our state constitution is every bit as meaningful as our national one.
So…who’s read our state constitution? Have any of you school teachers read it? If not, my guess is that our kids haven’t read it either.
Well, our Sutherland Institute has a good deal for you: send us your contact info and we’ll send you a nice, clean copy of the Utah State Constitution. But before I give you our contact info, let me share some tidbits with you.
Its Preamble begins: “Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we, the people of Utah, in order to secure and perpetuate the principles of free government, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”
Right there alone, we could talk for days about its meaning. You mean God gives us life and liberty? If so, what do those look like to God? For surely we don’t want to get that wrong, now do we?
We also have “inherent and inalienable rights” under our Utah State Constitution. Here is Article 1, section 1: “All men have the inherent and inalienable rights to enjoy and defend their lives and liberties; to acquire, possess and protect property; to worship according to the dictates of their consciences; to assemble peaceably, protest against wrongs, and petition for redress of grievances; to communicate freely their thoughts and opinions, being responsible for the abuse of that right.”
Are you telling me that I have to be responsible for my thoughts and opinions? Good to know.
Our state constitution is a remarkable historical document on top of listing our rights and the limitations of state and local government. We need to remember that this state constitution was more or less thrust upon Utahns by the federal government at a time when Utahns weren’t all that popular. So in it’s language are several odd references to the power of the Church, meaning Mormon Church, and conversely, some clearly-stated protections for the dominant religion.
Another section worth mentioning given recent headlines is Article 12, section 19. Under the subtitle of “Blacklisting forbidden,” it reads, “Each person in Utah [note that it doesn’t say “citizen”] is free to obtain and enjoy employment whenever possible, and a person or corporation, or their agent, servant, or employee may not maliciously interfere with any person from obtaining employment or enjoying employment already obtained from any person or corporation.”
We ought to remind the employees over at Workforce Services of this provision.
If you would like a copy of this fascinating document…free…just drop Sutherland Institute a line – either online at sutherlandinstitute.org or by calling our office at 801-355-1272…that’s 801-355-1272.
Here’s one last quote from the same Article, section 20: “It is the policy of the state of Utah that a free market system shall govern trade and commerce in this state to promote the dispersion of economic and political power and the general welfare of all the people.”
Pretty cool, huh?
I’m Paul Mero. Thanks for listening.
