1. The people of the United States are each entitled to a “separate and equal station [by] the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.”  Decl. of Indep.

  2. We are “all created equal . . . endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men.”  Decl. of Indep.

  3. When the government is destructive of securing our rights, “it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.”  Decl. of Indep.

  4. When the government abuses our rights and usurps its authority, “it is [our] right, it is [our] duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for [our] future security.”  Decl. of Indep.

  5. “We the People of the United States, in order to . . . secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”  US Const, Preamble.

  6. “We the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, and earnestly desiring to secure these blessings undiminished to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution.”  Const 1963, Preamble.

  7. “The ENUMERATION IN THE CONSTITUTION, OF CERTAIN RIGHTS, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others RETAINED BY THE PEOPLE.”  US Const, Am IX

  8. “The ENUMERATION IN THIS CONSTITUTION OF CERTAIN RIGHTS shall not be construed to deny or disparage others RETAINED BY THE PEOPLE.”  Const 1963, art I, § 23

  9. “The POWERS NOT DELEGATED [to the federal or state governments] are RESERVED . . . to THE PEOPLE.”  US Const, Am X

  10. “All political power is inherent in the people.”  Const 1963, art I, § 1

  11. “Every person shall be at liberty to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.”  Const 1963, art I, § 4

  12. “Religion, morality and knowledge [are] necessary to good government.”  Const 1963, art VIII, § 1

US Const = United States Constitution
Const 1963 = Michigan Constitution of 1963
Decl. of Indep. = Declaration of Independence