FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Rhode Island Const. art. 1, § 23 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 1 / Section 23
Â Rights of victims of crime.
Status: in_force

### Section 23. Rights of victims of crime.

A victim of crime shall, as a matter of right, be treated by agents of the state with dignity, respect and sensitivity during all phases of the criminal justice process. Such person shall be entitled to receive, from the perpetrator of the crime, financial compensation for any injury or loss caused by the perpetrator of the crime, and shall receive such other compensation as the state may provide. Before sentencing, a victim shall have the right to address the court regarding the impact which the perpetrators conduct has had upon the victim.
Rhode Island Const. art. 1, § 1 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 1 / Section 1
Right to make and alter Constitution â€” Constitution obligatory upon all.
Status: in_force

### Section 1. Right to make and alter Constitution  Constitution obligatory upon all.

In the words of the Father of his Country, we declare that the basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and alter their constitutions of government; but that the constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all.
Rhode Island Const. art. 13, § 8 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 13 / Section 8
Â Amendments to charters.
Status: in_force

### Section 8.Â Amendments to charters.

The legislative body of any city or town may propose amendments to a charter which amendments shall be submitted for approval in the same manner as provided in this article for the adoption of a charter except that the same may be submitted at a special election, and provided further that in the case of a town, amendments concerning a proposition to impose a tax or for the expenditure of money, shall be submitted at a special or regular financial town meeting.
Rhode Island Const. art. 10, § 5 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 10 / Section 5
Â Tenure of supreme court justices.
Status: in_force

### Section 5.Â Tenure of supreme court justices.

Justices of the supreme court shall hold office during good behavior.
Rhode Island Const. art. 1, § 7 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 1 / Section 7
Requirement of presentment or indictment â€” Information by attorney-general â€” Grand juries â€” Double jeopardy.
Status: in_force

### Section 7. Requirement of presentment or indictment  Information by attorney-general  Grand juries  Double jeopardy.

Except in cases of impeachment, or in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger, no person shall be held to answer for any offense which is punishable by death or by imprisonment for life unless on presentment or indictment by a grand jury, and no person shall be held to answer for any other felony unless on presentment or indictment by a grand jury or on information in writing signed by the attorney-general or one of the attorney-generals designated assistants, as the general assembly may provide and in accordance with procedures enacted by the general assembly. The general assembly may authorize the impaneling of grand juries with authority to indict for offenses committed any place within the state and it may provide that more than one grand jury may sit simultaneously within a county. No person shall be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed as in any wise impairing the inherent common law powers of the grand jury.
Rhode Island Const. art. 4, § 3 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 4 / Section 3
Filling vacancy caused by death, removal, refusal to serve, or incapacity of elected officers â€” Election when no candidate receives plurality.
Status: in_force

### Section 3. Filling vacancy caused by death, removal, refusal to serve, or incapacity of elected officers â€” Election when no candidate receives plurality.

When the governor-elect shall die, remove from the state, refuse to serve; become insane, or be otherwise incapacitated, the lieutenant governor-elect shall be qualified as governor at the beginning of the term for which the governor was elected. When both the governor Â and lieutenant governor-elect, or either the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney-general, or general treasurer-elect, are so incapacitated, or when there has been a failure to elect any one or more of the officers mentioned in this section, the general assembly shall upon its organization meet in grand committee and elect some person or persons to fill the office or offices, as the case may be, for which such incapacity exists or as to which such failure to elect occurred. When the general assembly shall elect any of said officers because of the failure of any person to receive a plurality of the votes cast, the election in each case shall be made from the persons who received the same and largest number of votes.
Rhode Island Const. art. 9, § 9 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 9 / Section 9
Â Vacancy in office of governor.
Status: in_force

### Section 9.Â Vacancy in office of governor.

If the office of the governor shall be vacant by reason of death, resignation, impeachment or inability to serve, the lieutenant governor shall fill the office of governor, and exercise the powers and authority appertaining thereto, until a governor is qualified to act, or until the office is filled at the next election.
Rhode Island Const. art. 1, § 9 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 1 / Section 9
Â Right to bail â€” Habeas corpus.
Status: in_force

### Section 9.Â Right to bail â€” Habeas corpus.

All persons imprisoned ought to be bailed by sufficient surety, unless for offenses punishable by imprisonment for life, or for offenses involving the use or threat of use of a dangerous weapon by one already convicted of such offense or already convicted of an offense punishable by imprisonment for life, or for offenses involving the unlawful sale, distribution, manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell, distribute or deliver any controlled substance or by possession of a controlled substance punishable by imprisonment for ten (10) years or more, when the proof of guilt is evident or the presumption great. Nothing in this section shall be construed to confer a right to bail, pending appeal of a conviction. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety shall require it; nor ever without the authority of the general assembly.
Rhode Island Const. art. 6, § 3 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 6 / Section 3
Sessions of general assembly â€” Compensation of general assembly members and officers.
Status: in_force

### Section 3. Sessions of general assembly â€” Compensation of general assembly members and officers.

There shall be a session of the general assembly at Providence commencing on the first Tuesday of January in each year. Commencing in January 1995, senators and representatives shall be compensated at an annual rate of ten thousand dollars ($10,000). Commencing in 1996, the rate of compensation shall be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the cost of living, as determined by the United States government, during a twelve (12) month period ending in the immediately preceding year. Commencing in 2003, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house shall be compensated at an annual rate double that of other senators and representatives.

Senators and representatives shall receive the same health insurance benefits as full-time state employees.

Senators and representatives shall be reimbursed for traveling expenses in going to and from the general assembly at the same mileage paid to state workers as of the 31st day of December in the year preceding each session.

No senator or representative shall be eligible for any pension on account of service in the general assembly after 1994; provided, however, that those senators and representatives first elected before 1994 who elect to receive compensation for legislative service in 1995 and thereafter, at the rate of five dollars ($5.00) for every day of actual attendance and eight cents (.08) per mile for traveling expenses in going to and returning from the general assembly, for a maximum of sixty (60) days in any calendar year, shall be eligible for a pension on account of service in the general assembly after 1994. The amount of such pension shall be based upon the pension program in effect for legislators on January 1, 1994.

The general assembly shall regulate the compensation of the governor and of all other officers, subject to limitations contained in the Constitution.
Rhode Island Const. art. 13, § 3 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 13 / Section 3
Â Local legislative bodies.
Status: in_force

### Section 3.Â Local legislative bodies.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this article, every city and town shall have a legislative body composed of one or two branches elected by vote of its qualified electors.
Rhode Island Const. art. 2, § 1 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 2 / Section 1
Â Persons entitled to vote.
Status: in_force

### Section 1. Persons entitled to vote.

Every citizen of the United States of the age of eighteen years or over who has had residence and home in this state for thirty days next preceding the time of voting, who has resided thirty days in the town or city from which such citizen desires to vote, and whose name shall be registered at least thirty days next preceding the time of voting as provided by law, shall have the right to vote for all offices to be elected and on all questions submitted to the electors, except that no person who has been lawfully adjudicated to be non compos mentis shall be permitted to vote. No person who is incarcerated in a correctional facility upon a felony conviction shall be permitted to vote until such person is discharged from the facility. Upon discharge, such persons right to vote shall be restored. The general assembly may provide by law for shorter state and local residence requirements to vote for electors for president and vice president of the United States.
Rhode Island Const. art. 6, § 10 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 6 / Section 10
Â Continuation of previous powers. Repealed.
Status: in_force

### Section 10.Â Continuation of previous powers. Repealed.
Rhode Island Const. art. 6, § 8 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 6 / Section 8
Â House journals.
Status: in_force

### Section 8.Â House journals.

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings. The yeas and nays of the members of either house shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.
Rhode Island Const. art. 9, § 11 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 9 / Section 11
Compensation of governor and lieutenant governor.
Status: in_force

### Section 11. Compensation of governor and lieutenant governor.

The compensation of the governor and lieutenant governor shall be established by law, and shall not be diminished during the term for which they are elected.
Rhode Island Const. art. 9, § 17 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 9 / Section 17
Â Budget reserve account.
Status: in_force

### Section 17.Â Budget reserve account.

There is hereby established a budget reserve account within the general fund. Revenues in this budget reserve account may be appropriated in the event of an emergency involving the health, safety or welfare of the citizens of the state of Rhode Island or in the event of an unanticipated deficit in any given fiscal year, such appropriations to be approved by a majority vote of each house of the general assembly.
Rhode Island Const. art. 6, § 11 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 6 / Section 11
Vote required to pass local or private appropriations.
Status: in_force

Section 11. Vote required to pass local or private appropriations.

The assent of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the general assembly shall be required to every bill appropriating the public money or property for local or private purposes.
Rhode Island Const. art. 1, § 11 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 1 / Section 11
Â Relief of debtors from prison.
Status: in_force

### Section 11. Relief of debtors from prison.

The person of a debtor, when there is not strong presumption of fraud, ought not to be continued in prison, after such person shall have delivered up property for the benefit of said persons creditors, in such manner as shall be prescribed by law.
Rhode Island Const. art. 6, § 1 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 6 / Section 1
Â Constitution supreme law of the state.
Status: in_force

### Section 1.Â Constitution supreme law of the state.

This Constitution shall be the supreme law of the state, and any law inconsistent therewith shall be void. The general assembly shall pass all laws necessary to carry this Constitution into effect.
Rhode Island Const. art. 3, § 4 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 3 / Section 4
Oath of general assembly members, judges, and other officers.
Status: in_force

### Section 4. Oath of general assembly members, judges, and other officers.

The members of the general assembly, the judges of all the courts, and all other officers, both civil and military, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution, and the Constitution of the United States.
Rhode Island Const. art. 1, § 6 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 1 / Section 6
Â Search and seizure.
Status: in_force

### Section 6.Â Search and seizure.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, papers and possessions, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue, but on complaint in writing, upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and describing as nearly as may be, the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.
Rhode Island Const. art. 3, § 2 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 3 / Section 2
Disqualification upon conviction or plea of nolo contendere â€” Requalification following sentence, probation or parole.
Status: in_force

### Section 2. Disqualification upon conviction or plea of nolo contendere â€” Requalification following sentence, probation or parole.

An elector shall be disqualified as a candidate for elective or appointive state or local office or from holding such office if such elector has been convicted of or plead nolo contendere to a felony or if such elector has been convicted or plead nolo contendere to a misdemeanor resulting in a jail sentence of six months or more, either suspended or to be served. Such elector shall not, once so convicted, attain or return to any office until three years after the date of completion of such sentence and of probation or parole.
Rhode Island Const. art. 10, § 3 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 10 / Section 3
Â Advisory opinions by supreme court.
Status: in_force

### Section 3.Â Advisory opinions by supreme court.

The judges of the supreme court shall give their written opinion upon any question of law whenever requested by the governor or by either house of the general assembly.
Rhode Island Const. art. 3, § 5 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 3 / Section 5
Â Administration of oaths.
Status: in_force

### Section 5.Â Administration of oaths.

The oath or affirmation shall be administered to the governor, lieutenant governor, senators, and representatives by the secretary of state, or, in the absence of the secretary of state by the attorney- general. The secretary of state, attorney-general, and general treasurer shall be engaged by the governor, or by a justice of the supreme court.
Rhode Island Const. art. 4, § 7 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 4 / Section 7
Elections in grand committee â€” Quorum â€” Permitted activities.
Status: in_force

### Section 7. Elections in grand committee â€” Quorum â€” Permitted activities.

A quorum of the grand committee shall consist of a majority of all the members of the senate and a majority of all the members of the house of representatives duly assembled pursuant to an invitation from one of said bodies which has been accepted by the other, and the acceptance of which has been communicated by message to the body in which such invitation originated, and each house shall be attended by its secretaries and clerks. No act or business of any kind shall be done in grand committee other than that which is distinctly specified in the invitation by virtue of which such grand committee is assembled, except to take a recess or to dissolve; provided, that the grand committee may appoint a subcommittee of its own members to count any ballots delivered to it and report the result of such count.
Rhode Island Const. art. 1, § 8 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 1 / Section 8
Â Bail, fines and punishments.
Status: in_force

### Section 8.Â Bail, fines and punishments.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel punishments inflicted; and all punishments ought to be proportioned to the offense.
Rhode Island Const. art. 13, § 10 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 13 / Section 10
Charter certificates â€” Signing â€” Recordation â€” Deposit â€” Judicial notice.
Status: in_force

### Section 10. Charter certificates â€” Signing â€” Recordation â€” Deposit â€” Judicial notice.

Duplicate certificates shall be made setting forth the charter adopted and any amendments approved and the same shall be signed by a majority of the canvassing authority; one of such certified copies shall be deposited in the office of the secretary of state and the other after having been recorded in the records of the city or town shall be deposited among the archives of the said city or town and all courts shall take judicial notice thereof.
Rhode Island Const. art. 4, § 4 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 4 / Section 4
Temporary appointment to fill vacancies in office of secretary of state, attorney-general, or general treasurer.
Status: in_force

### Section 4. Temporary appointment to fill vacancies in office of secretary of state, attorney-general, or general treasurer.

In case of a vacancy in the office of the secretary of state, attorney- general, or general treasurer from any cause, the general assembly in grand committee shall elect some person to fill the same; provided, that if such vacancy occurs when the general assembly is not in session the governor shall appoint some person to fill such vacancy until a successor elected by the general assembly is qualified to act.
Rhode Island Const. art. 14, § 1 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 14 / Section 1
Procedure for proposing and approving amendments.
Status: in_force

### Section 1. Procedure for proposing and approving amendments.

The general assembly may propose amendments to the Constitution of the state by a roll call vote of a majority of the members elected to each house. Any amendment thus proposed shall be published in such manner as the general assembly shall direct, and submitted to the electors at the next general election as provided in the resolution of approval; and, if then approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, it shall become a part of the Constitution.
Rhode Island Const. art. 9, § 12 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 9 / Section 12
Powers and duties of secretary, attorney-general, and general treasurer.
Status: in_force

### Section 12. Powers and duties of secretary, attorney-general, and general treasurer.

The duties and powers of the secretary, attorney-general and general treasurer shall be the same under this Constitution as are now established, or as from time to time may be prescribed by law.
Rhode Island Const. art. 9, § 5 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 9 / Section 5
Â Powers of appointment.
Status: in_force

### Section 5.Â Powers of appointment.

The governor shall, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint all officers of the state whose appointment is not herein otherwise provided for and all members of any board, commission or other state or quasi-public entity which exercises executive power under the laws of this state; but the general assembly may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they deem proper, in the governor, or within their respective departments in the other general officers, the judiciary or in the heads of Â departments.
Rhode Island Const. art. 13, § 5 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 13 / Section 5
Â Local taxing and borrowing powers.
Status: in_force

### Section 5.Â Local taxing and borrowing powers.

Nothing contained in this article shall be deemed to grant to any city or town the power to levy, assess and collect taxes or to borrow money, except as authorized by the general assembly.
Rhode Island Const. art. 1, § 15 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 1 / Section 15
Â Trial by jury.
Status: in_force

### Section 15.Â Trial by jury.

The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate. In civil cases the general assembly may fix the size of the petit jury at less than twelve but not less than six.
Rhode Island Const. art. 11, § 1 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 11 / Section 1
Power to impeach â€” Procedure â€” Suspension from office impeachment.
Status: in_force

### Section 1. Power to impeach â€” Procedure â€” Suspension from office impeachment.

The house of representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment. A resolution of impeachment shall not be considered unless it is signed by one-quarter (1⁄4) of the members. For the purposes of impeachment, the general assembly and the committees thereof shall have the power to compel the attendance of witnesses and production of documents. A vote of two-thirds (2⁄3) of the members shall be required for an impeachment of the governor. Any officer impeached shall thereby be suspended from the office until judgment in the case shall have been pronounced.
Rhode Island Const. art. 6, § 15 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 6 / Section 15
Lotteries.
Status: in_force

### Section 15. Lotteries.

All lotteries shall be prohibited in the state except lotteries operated byÂ theÂ stateÂ andÂ exceptÂ thoseÂ previouslyÂ permittedÂ byÂ the general assembly prior to the adoption of this section, and all shall be subject to the proscription and regulation of the general Â assembly.
Rhode Island Const. art. 1, § 21 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 1 / Section 21
Right to assemble â€” Redress of grievances â€” Freedom of speech.
Status: in_force

### Section 21. Right to assemble â€” Redress of grievances â€” Freedom of speech.

The citizens have a right in a peaceable manner to assemble for their common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government, for redress of grievances, or for other purposes, by petition, address, or remonstrance. No law abridging the freedom of speech shall be enacted.
Rhode Island Const. art. 10, § 6 — Rhode Island Constitution / Article 10 / Section 6
Â Judges of supreme court â€” Compensation.
Status: in_force

### Section 6.Â Judges of supreme court â€” Compensation.

The judges of the supreme court shall receive a compensation for their services, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.