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CAROLINA CONSTITUTION Acknowledgment of God Preamble.
We, the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to
Almighty God, 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 Him 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.
Article I,
section 1. We hold it to be self-evident that all persons are
created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable
rights; that among these are life, liberty, the enjoyment of the fruits of their
own labor, and the pursuit of happiness.
Religion Clauses
Article I, section 13. All persons have a natural and
inalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own
consciences, and no human authority shall, in any case whatever, control or interfere
with the rights of conscience.
Education Article
IX, section 1. Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary
to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools, libraries, and the means
of education shall forever be encouraged.
Finance/Property
Tax Article V, section 2. (3) Exemptions. Property
belonging to the State, counties, and municipal corporations shall be exempt from
taxation. The General Assembly may exempt cemeteries and property held for educational,
scientific, literary, cultural, charitable, or religious purposes, and, to a value
not exceeding $300, any personal property. The General Assembly may exempt from
taxation not exceeding $1,000 in value of property held and used as the place
of residence of the owner. Every exemption shall be on a State-wide basis and
shall be made by general law uniformly applicable in every county, city and town,
and other unit of local government. No taxing authority other than the General
Assembly may grant exemptions, and the General Assembly shall not delegate the
powers accorded to it by this subsection.
Article V, section
12. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Constitution,
the General Assembly may enact general laws to authorize the State or any State
entity to issue revenue bonds to finance and refinance the cost of acquiring,
constructing, and financing higher education facilities to be operated to serve
and benefit the public for any nonprofit private corporation, regardless of any
church or religious relationship provided no cost incurred earlier than five years
prior to the effective date of this section shall be refinanced. Such bonds shall
be payable from any revenues or assets of any such nonprofit private corporation
pledged therefor, shall not be secured by a pledge of the full faith and credit
of the State or such State entity or deemed to create an indebtedness requiring
voter approval of the State or such entity, and, where the title to such facilities
is vested in the State or any State entity, may be secured by an agreement which
may provide for the conveyance of title to, with or without consideration, such
facilities to the nonprofit private corporation. The power of eminent domain shall
not be used pursuant hereto.
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Copyright
© 2002-2008 by Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons LLP. All rights reserved.
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