Page:Colorado State Constitution (2020).pdf/1



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 tranquillity; 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".

The boundaries of the state of Colorado shall be as follows: Commencing on the thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude, where the twenty-fifth meridian of longitude west from Washington crosses the same; thence north, on said meridian, to the forty-first parallel of north latitude; thence along said parallel, west, to the thirty-second meridian of longitude west from Washington; thence south, on said meridian, to the thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude; thence along said thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude to the place of beginning.

Source: Entire article added, effective August 1, 1876, see L. 1877, p. 28.

Editor's note: As a result of a survey that was performed in the 1800's, the actual boundaries of the state of Colorado differ from the legal description of the boundaries in Article I of the state constitution. However, the United States Supreme Court held in New Mexico v. Colorado, 267 U.S. 30, 45 S. Ct. 202, 69 L.Ed. 499 (1925) that the boundary line marked by a surveyor in the 1800's will not be disturbed on the theory that it does not coincide with the 37th parallel of north latitude described as the common boundary under Acts of Congress and the state's constitutions.

Editor's note: In Medina v. People, 154 Colo. 4, 387 P.2d 733 (1963), cert. denied, 379 U.S. 848, 85 S. Ct. 88, 13 L. Ed. 2d 52 (1964), the Colorado supreme court held that the bill of rights is self-executing; the rights therein recognized or established by the constitution do not depend upon legislative action in order to become operative. Colorado Revised Statutes 2020