NewPray State Constitutions as found on the Internet

Preambles of the State Constitutions

-as found on the internet (one state has no preamble), with Summary at the end.

I guess I got into this research in order to indirectly find that there is only one state which has a Constitution in violation of the U.S. Constitution; my own, Massachusetts (although Tennessee flip-flops). An early form of this list was part of this website under a different name, as an original feature, first live in 2003.

Alabama - We, the people of the State of Alabama, in order to establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, invoking the favor and guidance of Alm-ghty G-d, do ordain and establish the following Constitution and form of government for the State of Alabama.

Alaska - We the people of Alaska, grateful to G-d and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land, in order to secure and transmit to succeeding generations our heritage of political, civil, and religious liberty within the Union of States, do ordain and establish this constitution for the State of Alaska.

Arizona - We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution.

Arkansas - We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for the privilege of choosing our own form of government, for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings and secure the same to our selves and posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

California - We, the people of California, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, do establish this Constitution.

Colorado - We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, in order to form a more independent and perfect government; establish justice; insure tranquility; provide for the common defense; promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the "State of Colorado".

Connecticut - The People of Connecticut acknowledging with gratitude, the good providence of G-d, in having permitted them to enjoy a free government; do, in order more effectually to define, secure, and perpetuate the liberties, rights and privileges which they have derived from their ancestors; hereby, after a careful consideration and revision, ordain and establish the following constitution and form of civil government.

Delaware - Through Divine goodness, all men have by nature the rights of worshiping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences, of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring and protecting reputation and property, and in general of obtaining objects suitable to their condition, without injury by one to another; and as these rights are essential to their welfare, for due exercise thereof, power is inherent in them; and therefore all just authority in the institutions of political society is derived from the people, and established with their consent, to advance their happiness; and they may for this end, as circumstances require, from time to time, alter their Constitution of government.

Florida - We, the people of the State of Florida, being grateful to Alm-ghty G-d, for our constitutional liberty, in order to secure its benefits, perfect our government, insure domestic tranquility, maintain public order, and guarantee equal civil and political rights to all, do ordain and establish this constitution.

Georgia - To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and of the family, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Alm-ghty G-d, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

Hawaii - We, the people of Hawaii, grateful for Divine Guidance, and mindful of our Hawaiian heritage and uniqueness as an island State, dedicate our efforts to fulfill the philosophy decreed by the Hawaii State motto, "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono." We reserve the right to control our destiny, to nurture the integrity of our people and culture, and to preserve the quality of life that we desire. We reaffirm our belief in a government of the people, by the people and for the people, and with an understanding and compassionate heart toward all the peoples of the earth, do hereby ordain and establish this constitution for the State of Hawaii.

Idaho - We, the people of the state of Idaho, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare do establish this Constitution.

Illinois - We, the People of the State of Illinois - grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for the civil, political and religious liberty which H- has permitted us to enjoy and seeking H-s blessing upon our endeavors - in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the people; maintain a representative and orderly government; eliminate poverty and inequality; assure legal, social and economic justice; provide opportunity for the fullest development of the individual; insure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and liberty to ourselves and our posterity - do ordain and establish this Constitution for the State of Illinois.

Indiana - TO THE END, that justice be established, public order maintained, and liberty perpetuated; WE, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for the free exercise of the right to choose our own form of government, do ordain this Constitution.

Iowa - WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF IOWA, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on H-m for a continuance of those blessings, do ordain and establish a free and independent government, by the name of the STATE OF IOWA, the boundaries whereof shall be as follows:

Kansas - We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for our civil and religious privileges, in order to insure the full enjoyment of our rights as American citizens, do ordain and establish this constitution of the state of Kansas, with the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at a point on the western boundary of the state of Missouri,...

Kentucky - We, the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy, and invoking the continuance of these blessings, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

Louisiana - We, the people of Louisiana, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for the civil, political, economic, and religious liberties we enjoy, and desiring to protect individual rights to life, liberty, and property; afford opportunity for the fullest development of the individual; assure equality of rights; promote the health, safety, education, and welfare of the people; maintain a representative and orderly government; ensure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and justice to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution.

Maine - We the people of Maine, in order to establish justice, insure tranquility, provide for our mutual defense, promote our common welfare, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of liberty, acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity, so favorable to the design; and, imploring G-d's aid and direction in its accomplishment, do agree to form ourselves into a free and independent State, by the style and title of the State of Maine and do ordain and establish the following Constitution for the government of the same.

Maryland - We the people of the State of Maryland, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare:

Massachusetts - The end of the institution, maintenance, and administration of government, is to secure the existence of the body politic, to protect it, and to furnish the individuals who compose it with the power of enjoying in safety and tranquillity their natural rights, and the blessings of life: and whenever these great objects are not obtained, the people have a right to alter the government, and to take measures necessary for their safety, prosperity and happiness.

The body politic is formed by a voluntary association of individuals: it is a social compact, by which the whole people covenants with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good. It is the duty of the people, therefore, in framing a constitution of government, to provide for an equitable mode of making laws, as well as for an impartial interpretation, and a faithful execution of them; that every man may, at all times, find his security in them.

We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the universe, in affording us, in the course of H-s providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit, and solemn compact with each other; and of forming a new constitution of civil government, for ourselves and posterity; and devoutly imploring H-s direction in so interesting a design, do agree upon, ordain and establish the following Declaration of Rights, and Frame of Government, as the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Michigan - We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for the blessings of freedom, and earnestly desiring to secure these blessings undiminished to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution.

Minnesota - We, the people of the state of Minnesota, grateful to G-d for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings and secure the same to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution

Mississippi - We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d, and involving his blessing on our work, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

Missouri - We the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for H-s goodness, do establish this constitution for the better government of the state.

Montana - We the people of Montana grateful to G-d for the quiet beauty of our state, the grandeur of our mountains, the vastness of our rolling plains, and desiring to improve the quality of life, equality of opportunity and to secure the blessings of liberty for this and future generations do ordain and establish this constitution.

Nebraska - We, the people, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for our freedom, do ordain and establish the following declaration of rights and frame of government, as the Constitution of the State of Nebraska.

Nevada - We the people of the State of Nevada Grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for our freedom in order to secure its blessings, insure domestic tranquility, and form a more perfect Government, do establish this Constitution.

New Hampshire - Revolutionary Secession

New Jersey - We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to H-m for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

New Mexico - We, the people of New Mexico, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for the blessings of liberty, in order to secure the advantages of a state government, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

New York - We The People of the State of New York, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for our Freedom, in order to secure its blessings, DO ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITUTION.

North Carolina - We, the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for the preservation of the American Union and the existence of our civil, political and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon H-m for the continuance of those blessings to us and our posterity, do, for the more certain security thereof and for the better government of this State, ordain and establish this Constitution.

North Dakota - We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain and establish this constitution.

Ohio - We, the people of the State of Ohio, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish this Constitution.

Oklahoma - Invoking the guidance of Alm-ghty G-d, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessing of liberty; to secure just and rightful government; to promote our mutual welfare and happiness, we, the people of the State of Oklahoma, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

Oregon - We the people of the State of Oregon to the end that Justice be established, order maintained, and liberty perpetuated, do ordain this Constitution.

Pennsylvania - We, the people of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, ordain and establish this constitution for its government.

Rhode Island - We, the people of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and to transmit the same, unimpaired, to succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this Constitution of government.

South Carolina - We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, grateful to G-d for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the preservation and perpetuation of the same.

South Dakota - We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for our civil and religious liberties, in order to form a more perfect and independent government, establish justice, insure tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and preserve to ourselves and to our posterity the blessings of liberty, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the state of South Dakota.

Tennessee - 1796: We the People of the territory of the United States south of the river Ohio, having the right of admission into the General Government as a member State thereof, consistent with the Constitution of the United States and the act of cession of the State of North Carolina, recognizing the ordinance for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio, do ordain and establish the following constitution or form of government, and do mutually agree with each other to form ourselves into a free and independent State by the name of the State of Tennessee.

1870:WHEREAS..., WHEREAS..., WHEREAS, The General Assembly of said State of Tennessee, under and in virtue of the first section of the first article of the Declaration of Rights, contained in and forming a part of the existing Constitution of the State, by an act passed on the fifteenth day of November, in the year of our L-rd one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, did provide for the calling of a Convention by the people of the State, to meet at Nashville, on the second Monday in January, in the year of our L-rd one thousand eight hundred and seventy, and for the election of delegates for the purpose of amending or revising the present Constitution, or forming and making a new Constitution; and, WHEREAS..., WE,...

Texas - 1836:We, the people of Texas, in order to form a government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence and general welfare, and to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution.

1969:Humbly invoking the blessings of Alm-ghty G-d, the people of the State of Texas do ordain and establish this Constitution.

Utah - Grateful to Alm-ghty G-d 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.

Vermont - 1777:Whereas, all government ought to be instituted and supported for the security and protection of the community as such and to enable the individuals who compose it, to enjoy their natural rights, and the other blessings which the Author of existence has bestowed upon man; and whenever those great ends of government are not obtained, the people have a right,

We the representatives of the freemen of Vermont, in General Convention met, for the express purpose of forming such a government, confessing the goodness of the Great Governor of the Universe (who alone, knows to what degree of earthly happiness, mankind may attain, by perfecting the arts of government), in permitting the people of this State, by common consent, and without violence, deliberately to form for themselves, such just rules as they shall think best for governing their future society; and being fully convinced that it is our indispensable duty, to establish such original principles of government, as will best promote the general happiness of the people of this State, and their posterity, and provide for future improvements, without partiality for, or prejudice against, any particular class, sect, or denomination of men whatever: Do, by virtue of authority vested in us, by our constitutents, ordain, declare, and establish, the following declaration of rights, and frame of government, to be the Constitution of this Commonwealth

Since July 9, 1793 Vermont's Constitution hasn't had a Preamble, or it's unfound.

Virginia - WE, the Delegates and Representatives of the good people of Virginia, do declare the future form of government of Virginia to be as followeth:

Washington - We, the people of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this constitution.

West Virginia - Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia, in and through the provisions of this Constitution, reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon G-d and seek diligently to promote, preserve and perpetuate good government in the state of West Virginia for the common welfare, freedom and security of ourselves and our posterity.

Wisconsin - We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Alm-ghty G-d for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, form a more perfect government, insure domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare, do establish this Constitution.

Wyoming - We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to G-d for our civil, political and religious liberties, and desiring to secure them to ourselves and perpetuate them to our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

37 mentions of G-d, 30 with Alm-ghty, 7 by itself [Rhode Island mentions "...He..." also]

3 mentions of "Supreme Ruler of the Universe" (Colorado, Missouri [also "...H-s..."], Washington)

3 mentions of "...Divine..." (Delaware as in goodness [also "...Creator..."], Hawaii as in guidance, West Virginia as in Providence)

2 mentions of "...dependence on H-m..." (Iowa [also "...Supreme Being..."], North Carolina [now counted twice, also "...Sovereign Ruler of Nations..."])

1 mention of "...Sovereign Ruler of the Universe..." (Maine)[also "...G-d's..."]

1 state mentions L-rd in the date twice (Tennessee) displaying improper biased government.

1 state unfortunately mentions "great Legislator of the universe" (Massachusetts) in the context of biased swearing-in ceremonies for the Governor, State police, Harvard's conception, etc.

1 state (Vermont) mentions "...Author of existence...," and "...Great Governor of the Universe..."

4 states found apparently without religious mentions (New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia)

Note: some of the Preambles may be historic, out of date, repealed, or no longer in use.

Jesse Ateek © U.S. 2026
Permission to copy for private, non-commercial, and educational purposes,
is granted on condition credit is given to the author and newpray.com.