Spain 1837 Constitution - The Xtra Daily

Table of Contents

Preamble

Isabel II, by the grace of God and the Constitution of the Spanish monarchy, Queen of Spain; and in its royal name, during her minor age, the widowed Queen Lady Maria Cristina of Bourbon, Governor of the Kingdom; of all that the present shall see and shall understand, know: That the General Parliament has decreed and sanctioned, and we conformingly accept the following:

Being it the willingness of the nation to revise, in the use of its sovereignty, the Constitution promulgated in Cadiz on March 19, 1812, the Parliament generally gathered for this purpose, decrees and sanctions the following constitution of the Spanish monarchy.

Title I. The Spanish

Article 1

Spaniards are:

All persons born in the Spanish domains.
Children of a Spanish parent, although they were born outside of Spain.
Foreigners who have obtained a letter of naturalization.
Those who without such have gained residency in any town of the Monarchy.

The quality of Spanish is lost by acquiring naturalization in a foreign country, and by accepting employment from another government without license of the King.

Article 2

All can print and publish their ideas freely without prior censorship, as determines the law. The qualification of the crimes of printing lies exclusively with jurors.

Article 3

All Spanish are entitled to direct requests in writing to the Parliament and the King, as determined by the laws.

Article 4

The same codes shall govern throughout the monarchy, and in them there shall only be established one set of laws for all Spaniards in common, civil and criminal trials.

Article 5

All Spaniards are eligible for jobs and public office, according to their merit and ability.

Article 6

All Spaniards are obligated to defend the homeland with arms when called by law, and to contribute in proportion of their assets to government expenditures.

Article 7

No Spaniards may be arrested, detained, or separated from his home, raided in his house, but in those cases and in the manner prescribed by law.

Article 8

If state security requires, in extraordinary circumstances, the temporary suspension of the provisions of the preceding article throughout the Monarchy, or any part thereof, such shall be determined by law.

Article 9

No Spaniards can be prosecuted or sentenced, but by the competent judge or court, under previous laws concerning the crime and in the manner prescribed.

Article 10

There shall no longer be imposed the penalty of confiscation of property, and no Spaniards shall be deprived of their property, but for the cause of common utility, upon appropriate compensation.