The criminal statutes of 49 of the 50 states are based on English common law which began developing under Alfred the Great...some 9 centuries before the constitution was written.
The phrase you are referring to, "life liberty and the pursuit of happiness" appears in the Preamble to the constitution which is not law.
The 50th state, btw, is Louisiana which has its criminal code based on the Napoleonic Code.
The phrase you are referring to, "life liberty and the pursuit of happiness" appears in the Preamble to the constitution which is not law.
The 50th state, btw, is Louisiana which has its criminal code based on the Napoleonic Code.