Colorado Constitution Article II: The Bill of Rights (Part Two)

In the design of the Colorado Constitution, the Bill of Rights is the most important article. It precedes the articles that create the government. In the express view of the Colorado Constitution, rights precede government, and the purpose of government is to protect inherent rights.

In Part Two, presented by David Kopel, Research Director of the Independence Institute, sections 14 through 31 of the Colorado Constitution Bill of Rights will be discussed. Topics within these sections include takings of property, numerous aspects of criminal procedure, habeas corpus, rights of assembly and petition, due process, equality of the sexes, and the right to vote on municipal annexations.

1. See how the Colorado Bill of Rights is sometimes similar to, but often different from, its federal counterpart in sections 14 through 31
2. Identify rights takings, criminal procedures, assembly/petition, equality, and the right to vote that are expressly protected in Colorado but not in the U.S. Constitution
3. Recognize which rights in sections 14 through 31 of the Colorado Bill of Rights have been partially or fully nullified by the Colorado Supreme Court