The constitution of Massachusetts was agreed upon by delegates of the people, in convention, begun and held at Cambridge, on the first day of September, 1779, and continued by adjournments to the second day of March, 1780, when the convention adjourned to meet on the first Wednesday of the ensuing June. In the mean time the constitution was submitted to the people, to be adopted by them, provided two-thirds of the votes given should be in the affirmative. When the convention assembled, it was found that the constitution had been adopted by the requisite number of votes, and the convention accordingly Resolved, "That the said Constitution or Frame of Government shall take place on the last Wednesday of October next; and not before, for any purpose, save only for that of making elections, agreeable to this resolution." The first legislature assembled at Foston, on the twenty-fifth day of October, 1780. The first nine Articles of Amendment were submitted, by delegates in convention assembled, November 15, 1820, to the people, and by them ratified and adopted, April 9, 1821. The tenth Article was adopted by the legislatures of the political years 1829-30, and 1830-31, respectively, and was approved and ratified by the people May 11, 1831. The eleventh Article was adopted by the legislatures of the political years 1832 and 1833, respectively, and was approved and ratified by the people November 11, 1833. The twelfth Article was adopted by the legislatures of the political years 1835 and 1836, respectively, and was approved and ratified by the people the fourteenth day of November, 1836. The thirteenth Article was adopted by the legislatures of the political years 1839 and 1840, respectively, and was approved and ratified by the people the sixth day of April, 1840. The fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth Articles were adopted by the legislatures of the political years 1854 and 1855, respectively, and ratified by the people the twenty-third day of May, 1855. The twentieth, twenty-first, and twenty-second Articles were adopted by the legislatures of the political years 1856 and 1857, respectively, and ratified by the people on the first day of May, 1857. The twenty-third Article was adopted by the legislatures of the political years 1858 and 1859, respectively, and ratified by the people on the ninth day of May, 1859, and was repealed by the twenty-sixth Amendment. The twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth Articles were adopted by the legislatures of the political years 1859 and 1860, and ratified by the people on the seventh day of May, 1860. The twenty-sixth Article was adopted by the legislatures of the political years 1862 and 1863, and ratified by the people on the sixth day of April, 1863. The twenty-seventh Article was adopted by the legislatures of the political years 1876 and 1877, and was approved and ratified by the people on the sixth day of November, 1877. The twenty-eighth Article was adopted by the legislatures of the political years 1880 and 1891, and was approved and ratified by the people on the eighth day of November, 1881. INDEX TO THE CONSTITUTION. A. Address of both houses of the legislature, judicial officers may be Adjutant-general, appointed by the governor, Page 25 21 21 Adjutants, to be appointed by commanding officers of regiments, Amendment to the constitution, proposed in the general court, on basis of legal voters, and state to be divided into forty Apportionment of representatives, 28 26 43 7 7 to the several counties, made on the basis of legal voters, Arms, right of people to keep and to bear, for public defence, Attorney-general, to be chosen by the people annually in November, 20, 42 to hold office for one year from third Wednesday in January next thereafter, and until another is chosen and qualified, in failure of election by the voters, or in case of decease of 42 42 42 49 Page Attorney-general, vacancy occurring during session of the legisla- vacancy occurring during recess of legislature, filled by gov- not eligible, unless an inhabitant of the state for five years office to be deemed vacant if person elected or appointed 42 124 124 vacancy filled in same manner as in office of attorney-general, 42 2225 42 to hold office for one year from third Wednesday in January office to be deemed vacant if person elected or appointed fails B. Bail or sureties, excessive, not to be required, . to have force of law if signed by governor, if objected to by governor in writing, to be returned to if not returned by governor within five days after presenta- Boards, public, to make quarterly reports to the governor, title of: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Bribery or corruption used in procuring an appointment or election, C. 1247 9 17 10 10 of inhabitants and legal voters taken in the year 1865, and Cities, may be chartered by the general court, if containing twelve Civil officers, meeting for election to be held annually on the Tues- 28 Clerks of courts, elected by the people of the several counties, Commerce, agriculture and the arts, to be encouraged, Commissions, to be in the name of the Commonwealth, signed by Congress, delegates to, members of, may not hold certain state offices, Constitution, provisions for revising, to be enrolled on parchment, deposited in secretary's office, Corruption or bribery used in procuring any appointment or elec- Council, five members to constitute a quorum,. election to be determined by rule required in that of gover- nor, to rank next after the lieutenant-governor, 24 |