C O NSTIT U TIO N
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AGR EE D UPO N B Y T H E
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D E L E GA T E
O F TH E
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PE OPL E
THE
O F M A S SA C H U S E T T S B A X ;
IN C O N V E NTIO N,
B E GUN AN D H E L D A T C A M B RID GE ,
ON T H E FIRST O F SE PT E M B E R 1 7 79 , AND
C ON T IN UED B Y A DJO U R N M E N TS T O T H E SE C O N D O F M AR CH , 1 78 0
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C O NST IT U T IO N
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FR AM E
G O V E R NM E NT
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t h e i n st i tu t io n m ai n t e n a n ce a nd a d mi n is
t r a t io n o f g o v e rn m e n t i s t o se c u re t h e e x is t e n c e o f th e
bo dy p o l i t ic t o p ro t ec t i t a n d t o fu r n is h th e i n d i v i d u a l s
w h o c o m p os e i t W i th th e p o w e r o f e nj oyi n g i n sa fe t y
a nd tr a n q u i ll i t y th e i r n a t u r a l r i gh t s an d th e b l essi n g s o f
l i fe An d W h e n e v e r th e s e g re a t obj e c t s a re n o t ob t ai n e d
t h e p e o p l e h av e a ri gh t t o a l t e r t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d t o
t a k e m ea s u re s n e c essary fo r th e ir s a fe t y p rosperi t y a n d
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TH E e n d
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TH E bo d y po l i t ic i s fo r m e d by a v o lu nt a ry a ssocia t i o n
o f i nd i v i d u a l s :
I t is a socia l c o m p a c t by w h ic h th e
W h o l e p e op l e co v e n a n t s w i t h e a c h c i t i ze n , a nd e a ch c i t i
z e n w i th t h e W h o l e p e o l e
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c e rt a i n l a w s fo r th e co m m o n good I t i s t he d u t y o f t h e
p eo p l e th e r e fore i n fra m i n g a C o n s t i t u t io n o f G o v e rn
m e n t t o p ro v i d e fo r a n e q u i t ab l e m o d e o f m a k i n g l a w s
a s W e l l a s for a n i m p ar t i a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a n d a fai th ful
e x ec u t io n o f t h e m ; t h a t e v e r y m an m ay a t a l l t i m e s
fin d h is s e cu ri t y i n th e m
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WE th ere fore th e p e o p l e
M ass ac h u se tt s a c k n OWl
e d g i n g w i th g ra t e fu l h e a rt s th e goodn e ss o f th e G re a t
L e g is l a t o r o f t h e U n i v e rse i n a ffor d i n g u s i n th e c o u rs e
o f H is p r o v i d e n c e a n oppor tu n i t y d e l ib e ra t e l y a n d p e a c e
ab l y w i th o u t fra u d v io l e n c e or s urp ris e o f e nt e r i n g i n t o
a n ori g i n a l e x l ic i t a n d so l e m n co m pa ct Wi th ea c h o the r
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a n d o f for m i n g a n e w C o n s t i tu t io n o f C i v i l G o v e r n m e n t
for o u rse l v e s a n d pos t e r i t y ; a n d d e v o u tl y i m p l ori n g H is
d i rec t io n i n s o i n t e r e s t i n g a d e si gn D O a g re e U p o n o r
d a i n a n d e s t ab l is h th e foll o w i n g D e cl a r a t i on of R ig ht s
a n d Fr a m e o
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o ve r n m e n t a s th e C ON S T I TUT I ON o f
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t h e C O MM ON W E A L T H o f M ASS A C H U S E TT S
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P A R T T H E F IR S T
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AR T I —AL L
m e n a re b o r n free a nd e q u a l a nd h a v e
cer t ai n n a tu ra l esse n t ia l a nd u n a l ie n ab l e ri gh t s ; a m o n g
w h ic h m ay be rec k o n e d th e ri gh t o f e nj oyi ng a nd d e fe nd
i ng th eir l i v e s a n d l iber t ie s ; th a t o f acq u iri ng p o ssessi ng
a nd pro t ec t i n g prop er t y ; i n fi n e th a t o f see k in g a nd o b
t a i n i n g t h eir sa fe t y a nd h appi n ess
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l I — IT
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is th e ri gh t as we l l as th e dut y o f a ll m e n i n
S ocie t y p u b l ic l y a nd a t s t a t e d seas on s t o w ors h ip th e
S UP R E ME B EI N G th e g re a t crea t or a nd pres er v er o f
th e un i v e rse And n o s u bj ec t s h a ll b e hu r t m o l es t e d or
res t r a i n e d i n h is perso n l ibe r t y or es t a t e for w ors h ip
pi n g GO D i n th e m a nn er a nd sea so n m o s t a g reeab l e t o
th e d ic t a t es o f h is o w n c o n scie n ce ; or for h is re l i g io u s
pro fessio n or se nt i m e nt s ; pro v i d e d h e d o th n o t d is tu r b
th e p u b l ic peace or obs t r u c t o th ers i n th eir re l i g io u s
w ors h ip
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llI
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A s th e h a ppi n ess O f a peop l e a nd th e g oo d or d er
,
a nd preser v a t io n o f a ci v i l g o v e r n m e n t e sse nt ia ll y d epe nd
u po n pie ty re l i g io n a nd m ora l i ty ; a nd as th ese ca n n o t be
2 s
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10
g e n era lly d i ffu se d th r ough a co m mu n i ty b u t by th e i n s t i
t u t io n o f th e p u b l ic w ors h ip o f GOD a nd o f p u b l ic i a
s t r uc t io n s i n pie t y re l i g io n a nd m ora l i t y : T h ere fore t o
pro m o t e th eir h appi n ess a nd t o sec u re th e g o od or d e r a n d
p reser v a t io n o f th eir g o ver n m e n t th e peop l e o f th is C o m
m o n we a l t h h a v e a ri gh t t o i nv es t th eir l e g is l a tu re w i th
po w er t o a uth ori z e a nd re q u ire an d th e l e g is l a tu re s h a ll
fro m t i m e to t i m e a uth orize a nd req uire th e se v eral
t o w n s paris h es preci n c t s a nd o th er bo d ies po l i t ic or r e
l igious socie t ies t o m a k e s u i t ab l e pro v isio n a t th eir o wn
e x pe n se for th e i n s t i t ut io n o f th e p u b l ic w o rs h i p o f GO D
a nd for th e s u ppor t a nd m ai nt e n a n c e o f p u b l ic pro t es t a n t
t ea c h ers o f pie ty re l i g io n a nd m ora l i t y i n a l l case s
w h ere s u c h pro v isio n s h a ll n o t be m a d e v o lunt ari l y
AND th e p eop l e o f th is C o m mon we a lth h av e a l so a
r i gh t t o a nd d o i n ves t th ei r l e g is l a tu re w i th a uth ori t y t o
e nj oi n u po n a l l th e s u bj ec t s a n a tt e nd a n ce u po n th e i n
s t r uc t io n s o f th e p u b l ic t eac h ers a foresai d a t s t a t e d t i m es
a nd seaso n s i f th ere be a n y o n w ho se i n s t r u c t io n s th e y
ca n co n scie nt io u s l y a nd co n v e n ie ntl y a tt e nd
PRO V I D E D n o t w i th s t a nd i n g th a t th e se v era l t o w n s
pa r is h es preci n c t s a nd o th er bo d ies p o l i t ic o r re l i g i ou s
socie t ies s h a ll a t al l t i m es h av e th e exc lu si ve ri ght o f
e l e ct i ng t h ei r pub l ic t eac h e r s a nd o f c ont rac t i ng wi th
th e m for th ei r s u p por t a nd m ai nt e n a n ce
AND al l mon ie s p ai d by th e s u bj e ct t o th e s u pp ort o f
p u b l i c wo rs h i p a nd o f th e p u b l i c t eac h ers a foresai d s h a ll
i f h e r eq u i r e i t be u n i for mly app l ie d t o t he s u ppor t of th e
p u b l ic t eac h er o r t ea ch ers o f h is o wn re l i g io u s se ct o r
d e n o m i n a t io n pro v i d e d th ere be a n y o n w h ose in s t ruc
t io n s h e a tt e nd s : o th er w is e i t m ay be pai d t o w a r d s th e
s u ppo rt o f th e t eac h e r or t eac h ers o f th e p aris h o r p re
ci nct i n whi c h th e sa i d m o n i es a r e r ais e d
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11
eve ry d e nom i n a t io n of C hr is t ia n s d e m ea n i ng t h e m
se lv es pea c e ab l y a nd as g oo d s u bj ec t s o f th e C o mm o n
w e a lth s h a l l be e q u a ll y u nd er th e pro t ec t io n o f th e l aw :
And n o s u bor d i n a t io n o f a n y o n e sec t o r d e n o m i n a t io n t o
a n o th e r s h a l l e v er be es t ab l is h e d by l a w
AND
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&
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— TH E peop l e o f th is C o m mon we a lth h a v e th e so l e
a n d e x c lu si v e ri ght o f g o v er n i n g th e m se lv e s as a free
so v erei gn a nd i nd ep e n d e n t s t a t e ; a nd d o a nd fore v er
h erea ft er s h a ll e x ercise a nd e nj oy e v e r y po w er j ur is d ic
t i on a nd ri g ht w h ic h is n o t o r m ay n o t h e r ea ft er be b y
th e m e x press l y d e l e g a t e d to t h e U n i t e d St a t es of A m e r i
ca i a C o n g ress asse m b l e d
IV
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V
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—AL L po w er resi d i ng or i g i n a ll y i n th e peo p l e a nd
,
bei n g d eri v e d fro m th e m th e se v eral m a g is t ra t es a nd O ffi
c e rs o f g o v er n m e nt v es t e d w i t h a uth ori t y w h e th e r l e g is
l at i v e ex ec u t iv e or j ud icia l are th eir s u bs t i tut es a nd
a g e nt s a n d are a t a ll t i m es acco unt ab l e t o th e m
,
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V I —N o m a n ,
n or corpora t io n o r a sso cia t io n o f m e n
h a v e a ny o th er t i tl e t o ob t ai n a dv a nt a g es o r par t ic ul ar a nd
e xc l u si v e pri v i l e g es d is t i n c t fr o m t h ose o f t h e c o mm u
th
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t
arises
from
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era
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on
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ser
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ices
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y
r e nd ere d t o th e p ub l ic ; a nd th is t i tl e bei ng i n n a tur e
n ei th er h e r e d i t ary no r tr a n s m issib l e t o c h i ldr e n o r d e
s c e n d a n t s or re l a t io n s b y b l o od th e i d ea o f a m a n bor n
a m a g is t ra t e l a wg i v er or j udg e is abs urd a nd u nn a tu ra l
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V II —G
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O V ER N ME N T is i n s t i t t e d fo r th e co mmon goo d
for th e pr ot e ct io n sa fe t y p r osperi ty a nd h a p pi n es s o f th e
u
,
,
peop l e ; a n d n o t for th e pro fit h o n or o r pri v a t e i nt eres t
o f a n y o n e m a n fa m i l y o r c l as s of m e n : T h ere fo r e th e
,
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12
p e op l e a lon e h av e a n i n c ont es t ib l e un a l ie n ab l e a nd ind e
,
,
feasi b l e ri ght t o i n s t i tu t e g o v er nm e n t ; a n d t o re fo r m
a lt er or t o t a ll y ch a ng e th e sa m e w h e n th e ir pro t ec t io n
sa fe ty p r osperi t y a nd h appi n ess re q u ire i t
,
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,
VIII
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or d er t o pre v e n t t he s e w ho are v es t e d w i th
a uth ori t y fro m beco m i ng oppressors th e p eop l e h a v e a
r i ght a t s u c h perio d s a nd i n s u c h m a nn er as th e y s h a l l
es t ab l is h by th eir fra m e o f g o v e rn m e nt t o ca u se th eir
p u b l ic o ffi cers t o re tu r n t o pri v a t e l i fe ; a nd t o fill u p
v aca nt p l aces b y ce rt ai n a nd re gul a r e l ec t io n s a nd a
p
-
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IN
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p
oi n t m e n t s .
—AL L e l ec t io n s o ugh t t o b e free ; a nd a ll th e in
h abi t a nt s of th is C o mm on w e a lth h a v i n g s u c h q u a l ific a
t io n s as th ey s h a ll es t ab l is h by th eir fra m e o f g o v er n m e nt
h ave a n e q u a l ri ght t o e l ec t o ffi cers a nd t o be e l ec t e d for
p u b l ic e m p loy m e nt s
IX
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X
—E
H i nd i v i du a l o f th e socie ty h as a ri ght t o be
pro t ec t e d by i t i n th e e nj oy m e nt o f h is l i fe l iber t y a n d
p roper t y acc o r d i ng t o s t a nd i ng l a w s H e is ob l i g e d
co n seq u e ntl y t o co nt rib ut e h is s h are t o th e e x pe n se o f
th is p ro t ec t io n ; t o g i v e h is perso n a l ser v ice o r a n e q u i v
al e n t
w h e n n ecessary : B ut n o p ar t o f th e proper t o f
y
a n y i nd i v i du a l ca n w i th j u s t ice be t a k e n fro m h i m o r
app l ie d t o p u b l ic u ses w i th o u t h is ow n co n se nt or th a t
o f th e represe nt a t i v e bo d y o f th e peop l e t I n fin e th e
p eop l e o f th is C o m mon we a l th are n o t co nt ro l ab l e by a n y
o th er l a w s th a n th ose t o w h ic h th eir co n s t i tu t io n a l r e
p rese nt a t i v e bo d y h a v e g i v e n th eir co n se n t And w h e n
ever th e p u b l ic e x i g e n cie s req u ire th a t th e proper t y o f
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AC
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13
a n y i nd i v i du a l s hould be appropri a t e d t o p u b l ic u ses
s h a ll rec ei v e a reaso n ab l e c o m pe n sa t io n th ere for
,
he
.
—EV ER Y s u bj ec t o f th e C o m m o n w e a lth o ugh t t o
find a c er t a i n re m e d y by h a v i ng reco u rse t o t he l a w s for
a ll i nj u ries or w ro n g s w h ic h h e m ay r e c e l v e i n h is perso n
p ro per t y or c h arac t e r H e o ugh t t o ob t ai n ri gh t a nd j u s
t ice free l y a nd w i th ou t bei ng o b l i g e d t o p u rc h ase It ; c o m
n ia l ; pro m p tl y a nd w i th o u t
l
a
nd
i
th
o
u
t
a
n
y
d
e
w
etel
p
y
d e l ay ; co n for m ab l y t o th e l a w s
XI
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—N o s u bj e c t s h a l l b e h e ld t o a n s w er for a n y cri m e
or o ffe n c e u nt i l th e sa m e is full y a nd p l ai nl y s ubs t a nt ia ll y
a n d for m a l l y d e sc ribe d t o h i m ; or be co m pe ll e d t o a o
c u se or fu r n i s h e v i d e n ce a g a i n s t h i m se lf An d e v e r y
s u bj ec t s h a l l h a v e a ri g h t t o p ro du c e a l l proo fs th a t m ay
b e fa v ora b l e t o h i m ; t o m ee t th e w i tn esse s a g a i n s t h i m
face t o fac e a nd t o be full y h ear d i n h is d e fe n c e b y h i m
se lf or h is co u n ci l a t h is e l e c t l o n And n o s u bj ec t s h a l l
be arres t e d i m priso n e d d espoi l e d or d ep ri v e d o f his p ro
p er t y i m m u n i t ies o r p ri v i l e g es p u t o u t o f th e p r o t e c
t io n o f th e l a w e x i l e d o r d ep r i v e d o f h is l i fe l iber t y
or es t a t e ; b u t by th e j udgm e n t o f h is peers or th e l a w
o f th e l a nd
AN D th e l e g is l a tu re s h a ll n o t m a k e a n y l a w th a t s h a ll
s u bj ec t a n y pe rso n t o a c a pi t a l or i nfa m o u s p u n is hm e n t
e x c e p t l n g for th e g o v er n m e n t o f th e a r m y a nd n a vy W i th
o u t t ria l b y j u r
y
Xl l
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w
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— IN cri m i n al pro sec u t io n s th e v eri fi ca t io n o f fac t s
i n th e V l c rm t y w h e re th ey h appe n is o n e o f th e g rea t es t
sec u ri t i e s o f th e l i fe l iber t y a n d prop e r ty o f th e ci t ize n
X l Il
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,
X IV
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,
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— E V ER Y s u bj ec t h as a ri gh t t o be se c u re fro m a ll
l4
n reas on ab l e sear ch es a nd sei z u res o f h is p erso n his
h o u ses h is pape rs a nd a ll h is possessio n s Al l w arra n t s
th ere fore are co nt rary t o th i s ri ght i f th e c a u se o r fo un
d a t io n o f th e m be n o t p re v io u s l y s u ppor t e d by oa th or
a ffi r m a t i on ; a nd i f th e or d er i n th e w arra nt t o a c ivi l
o ffi cer t o m a k e sea rc h i n s u spec t e d p l aces o r t o arres t
o n e or m o re s u spec t e d p e rso n s o r t o seize th e ir prope rt y
be n o t a cco m pa n ie d w i th a specia l d esi g n a t io n o f th e
p erso n s o r obj ec t s o f searc h a rres t or se i z u re : a nd n o
w arra n t o u ght t o b e iss u e d b ut i n cases a nd w i th th e
for m a l i t ies p rescribe d b y th e l a w s
u
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XV
—
IN a ll co n t rov ersies co n cer n i ng pr oper t y a n d i n
,
.
u i t s be t w e e n t w o o r m ore perso n s e x cep t i n cases i n
w h ic h i t h a s h ere t o fore bee n o th er w a y s u se d a nd p ra c
t i s e d th e pa rt ie s h a v e a ri gh t t o a t ria l b y j u ry ; a nd th is
m e tho d o f p r oce d u re s h a l l be h e ld sacre d u nl ess i n
ca u s e s arisi ng o n th e h i gh seas a nd s u c h a s r e l a t e t o
m a ri n ers w a g e s th e l e g is l a tu re s h a l l h erea ft e r fin d i t
n ecessary t o a l t er i t
all s
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XV I —TH E
l iber t y of th e p r ess is esse nt ia l t o th e se
c ur i t y o f free d o m i n a s t a t e : i t o ught n o t th ere fore t o be
res t rai n e d i n th is C o m m o n w e a l th
.
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.
X vIl
—THE p eop l e h a v e a ri gh t to k eep a nd t o b ea r
.
ar m s for th e co m m o n d e fe n ce And a s i n t i m e o f pea c e
a r m ies are d a ng ero u s t o l iber t y th ey o ught n o t t o be
m ai nt ai n e d w i th o u t th e co n se n t o f th e l e g is l a tu re ; a nd
th e m i l i t ar y po w er s h a ll a l way s b e h e ld i n a n exac t
s u bor d i n a t io n t o th e ci v i l a u tho r i ty a nd be g ove rn e d
l
by i t
.
,
,
.
XV I I I —A FR E Q UE NT re cu rre n ce t o t h e fund a m e n t a l
.
l5
pr i n c i p l es o f th e co n s t i tu t io n a nd a co n s t a nt ad h ere n c e
t o th ose o f pie t y j u s t i ce m o d era t io n t e m pera n ce i ndu s
t ry a nd fr ug a l i t y are abso lut e l y n ec ess a ry t o preser v e
t he a dv a nt a g es o f l ibe r t y a nd t o m ai nt ai n a free g o v er n
m e n t : T h e peop l e o ugh t co n seq u e n tl y t o h a v e a p a r
t ic ul a r a tt e nt i o n t o a l l th ose pri n cip l es i n th e c h oice o f
th eir o ffi ce rs a n d represe n t a t i v es And th ey h a v e a ri ght
t o re q u ire o f th eir l a w g i v e rs a nd m a g is t ra t es a n e x ac t
a nd co n s t a n t obser v a n ce o f th e m i n th e for m a t io n a nd
e x ec ut io n o f t h e l a w s n ecessar y for th e g oo d a d m i n is t ra
t io n o f th e C o m m o n wea lth
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
.
X IX
—TH E peop l e h a v e a ri ght i n a n or d er l y a n d
.
,
peaceab l e m a nn er t o asse m b l e t o co n s ult u po n th e c o m
m o n g oo d ; g i v e i n s t r u c t io n s t o th eir represe nt a t i v e s ; a n d
t o req u es t o f th e l e gis l a t l v e bo d y by th e way o f a dd re ss
es p e t i t io n s o r re m o n s t ra n ces re d ress o f th e w ro ng s
d o n e th e m a nd o f th e g rie v a n ces t h ey s u ffer
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
XX —TH E po w er o f s u spe nd i ng th e l a w s o r t he e x e
c ut ion o f th e l a w s o u ght n e v er t o be e x e r cise d b u t b
y
th e l e g is l a t u re o r b y a uth ori t y d eri v e d fro m i t t o be e x
e rc i s e d i n s uc h par t i c ul ar c ases o nl y a s th e l e g is l a tur e
s h a l l e x p ress l y pro v i d e for
.
.
,
,
,
,
.
XX L —TH E
free d o m o f d e l ibera t io n speec h a nd d e
ba t e in e i th er h o u se O f th e l e g is l a tu re is so esse nt ia l t o
t h e ri ght s o f th e peop l e th a t i t ca n n o t be th e fo und a t io n
o f a n y ac cu sa t io n o r prosec u
t io n ac t io n o r co m p l ai nt i n
an
y o th er co u r t or p l ac e w h a t soe v er
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
Xx l l
fo r
t he
.
THE l e g is l a tu re o ugh t fre q u e ntl y t o asse m b l e
-
re d ress o f g rie v a n c e s
,
fo r
correc t i ng s t re ngth e n
,
16
i ng a nd c onfi r m i ng th e l a w s a nd for m a k i ng
as th e co m mon g oo d m ay req u ire
l aws
,
XXI I I —
No s u bsi d y c h ar g e t a x i m pos t or d ut ies
,
new
,
,
.
'
,
.
,
,
,
o ught t o be e s t ab l is h e d fix e d l a i d or l e v ie d u nd er a n y
pre t e x t w h a t soe v er w i th o u t th e co n s e n t o f th e peop l e o r
th eir represe nt a t iv es i n th e l e g is l a tu re
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
XXI V —
L AW S m a d e t o p un is h for ac t io n s d o n e be fore
th e e x is t e n ce o f s u c h l a w s a nd w h ic h h a v e n o t be e n d e
c l a r e d cri m es by pre ce d i ng l a w s are u nj u s t opp ressi v e
a nd i n co n sis t e nt w i th t h e fu nd a m e nt a l pri n cip l es o f a free
g o v er n m e nt
.
,
,
,
,
.
XXV — No
s u bj ec t o ught i n a n y case o r i n a n y t i m e
t o be d e c l are d gu i lt y o f t reaso n or fe l o n y by th e l e g is l a
tu re
.
,
,
,
.
—No m a g is t ra t e or co u r t o f l a w s h a l l d e m a nd
e x cessi v e bai l or s u re t i es i m pose e x cessi v e fin e s or in
flic t c r u e l or u n u s u a l p un is h m e nt s
X XV l
.
,
,
.
—l N t i m e o f peac e n o s o l d ier o ught t o be q u a r
t e r e d i n a n v h o u se u i t h o u t th e co n s e n t o f th e o w n er ;
a nd i n t i m e o f w a r s u c h q u ar t ers o ugh t n o t t o be m a d e
b ut by t h e ci v i l m a g is t ra t e i n a m a nn er or d ai n e d by th e
l e g is l a tu re
X XV l l
.
,
.
XX V Il l — No
perso n c an i n a n y case be s u bj ec t e d t o
l a w—
m ar t ia l or t o a n y pe n a lt ie s or pai n s by v i r tu e o f th a t
l a w e x c e p t th ose e m p l oye d i n th e a r m y or n a v y a nd e x
cep t th e m i l i t ia i n ac tu a l ser v ice b u t by a uth ori ty o f th e
l e g is l a tu re
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
17
XXIX -IT is esse nt ia l t o th e preser v a t io n o f t h e ri ght s
o f e v ery i nd i v i d u a l h is l i fe l iber t y proper t y a nd c h arac
t e r th a t th ere be a n i m par t ia l i nt erp r e t a t io n o f th e l a w s
a nd a d m i n is t ra t io n o f j u s t ic e It is th e ri ght o f e v e ry ci t i
z e n t o be t rie d by j u dg es as free i m par t ia l a nd i n d e pe n d
e nt as th e l o t o f hu m a n i t y w i l l a d m i t i t is th ere fore n o t
o nl y t he bes t po l icy b u t fo r th e sec u ri t y o f th e ri ght s o f
th e peop l e a nd o f e v ery c i t ize n t h a t t h e j udg es o f th e
s u pre m e j ud icia l co u r t s h o uld h o ld th eir o ffi ce s as l o n g a s
t he y b e h a v e th e m se lv es w e l l ; a nd th a t t h e y s h o u l d h a v e
h o n o r ab l e sa l a ri es a scer t a i n e d a n d e s t abl is h e d by s t a nd i n g
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
—
XXX IN th e g o ve r n m e n t o f th is C o m m o n wea lth th e
l e g is l a t i v e d epar tm e n t s h a ll n e v er e x erc i se t h e e x e c u t i v e
a nd j ud ic ia l po w ers or ei th e r o f th e m : T h e e x ec ut iv e
s h a ll n e v er e x ercise th e l e g is l a t i v e a n d j ud icia l po w e rs
or ei th e r o f th e m : Th e j u d icia l s h a l l n e v e r e x ercise th e
l e g is l a t i v e a nd e x ec ut i v e po w ers o r ei th er o f th e m : t o
t he e nd i t m ay be a g o v e r n m e nt o f l a w s a nd n o t o f m e n
,
.
,
,
,
.
3
s
18
P AR T T H E S E C O N D
The Fr a me
f
o
Gover n me n t
.
.
peo p l e i n h abi t i n g th e t erri t ory for m er l y ca l l e d th e
Pro v i n c e o f M assac h u se tt s B ay d o h e reb y so l e m nl y a nd
mu tu a ll y a gr ee w i th e ac h o th e r t o for m th e m se lv es i nt o
a free so v ere i gn a n d i nd epe nd e n t bo d y po l i t ic or s t a t e
by t he n a m e of THE C O MMONWE A L T H OF
TH E
,
-
,
,
,
-
,
,
SAC HU SETTS
.
C HAPTE R I
.
The L eg i s l at i ve P owe r
I
SECT O N I
.
.
The Ge n e r al C our t
.
THE d e p ar tm e nt o f l e g is l a t i o n s h a l l be form e d
b y t w o bra n c h es a Se n at e a nd H ou s e of Rep r e s e n t at ive s
eac h o f w h ic h s h a ll h a v e a n e g a t i v e o n th e o th er
TH E l e g is l a t i v e bo d y s h a l l a sse m b l e e v er y year o n t h e
l as t We dn es d ay i n M ay a nd a t s u c h o th er t i m es a s th e y
s h a ll j u d g e n e c essary ; a nd s h a ll d is s o lv e a nd be d isso lv e d
o n t h e d a y n ex t p rece d i ng th e said l as t W e dn es d a y i n
AR T I
.
.
-
,
.
,
,
19
M ay ;
and
s h a ll
S AC H U S E TTS
be
st
yl ed
,
TH E GE N E R AL
CO U R T OF MAS
.
I I —No bi l l or r e so l v e o f th e S e n a t e o r H o u se of Re
r e s e n t a t i ve s s h a l l beco m e a l a w a nd h a ve force as s u c h
p
u nt i l i t s h a ll h a v e bee n l ai d be fore th e G o v er no r for h is
re v isa l : And i f b e u po n s u c h re v isi on appro v e th ereo f
h e s h a ll si gn i fy h is approba t io n b y si g n i ng th e sa m e B ut
i f h e h a v e a n y O bj e c t io n t o th e passi ng o f s uch bi ll or r e
so lv e h e s h a l l re t u r n th e sa m e t o g e th er w i th h is obj e c
t io n s th ere to i n w ri t i ng t o th e S e n a t e or H ou se O f R e
re s e n t a t i ve s i n w h ic h soe v er th e sa m e s h a l l h a v e or i g i n
p
a t e d ; w h o s h a l l e n t e r th e obj ec t io n s se n t d o w n by th e
G o v er n or a t l ar g e o n th eir recor d s a nd procee d t o t e
co n si d er th e sa i d bi l l o r reso l v e B ut i f a ft er s u c h reco n
si d e ra t io n t w o th ir d s o f th e sai d S e n a t e o r H o u se o f R e
r e s e n t a t iv e s s h a l l n o t w i th s t a nd i ng th e sai d obj ec t io n s
p
a g re e t o pass th e s a m e i t s h a ll
t o g e th er w i th th e o bj e c
t io n s b e se n t t o th e o th e r bra n c h o f th e l e g is l a tu re w h ere
i t s h a ll a l so be reco n si d ere d a n d i f appro v e d b y t wo th i r d s
o f th e m e m be r s prese nt s h a l l h a v e th e force o f a l a w : B ut
i n a ll s u c h ca se s th e v o t es o f bo th h o u ses s h a ll be d e t er
m i n e d b y yeas a nd n ay s ; a n d th e n a m es o f th e p erso n s
th e sai d bi ll o r res ol ve s h a l l be
v o t i n g fo r or a g ai n s t
e nt ere d u po n th e p u b l ic recor d s o f th e C o mmon w ea lth
AND i n or d er t o pre v e nt u nn e c e ssary d e l ays i f a n y bi ll
o r r eso l v e s h a ll n o t be re tu r n e d b y th e G o v e r n or w i th i n
fiv e d ays a ft e r i t s h a ll h a v e bee n p r ese nt e d th e s a m e
s h a ll h a v e th e force o f a l a w
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
I I I —THE G e n era l C o u r t s h a ll fore v er h av e full p o w er
a nd a u th ori ty t o erec t a nd co n s t i tu t e j ud ica t ories a n d
c o u r t s of r e cor d o r o th e r c ourt s t o be h e ld i n th e n a m e
.
,
,
20
o f th e Com mo n w e alth for th e h ea r i ng t ry i ng an d d e t er
m i n i ng o f a ll m a nn er o f cri m es o ffe nc es p l eas proce s s e s
p l ai n t s ac t io n s m a tt ers ca u ses a nd th i n g s w h a t soever
arisi ng or h appe n i n g w i th i n th e C o m m o n w ea lth o r b e
t wee n or co n cer n i n g perso n s i nh abi t i n g or resi d i n g or
b r o u ght w i th i n th e s a m e ; W h e th e r th e sa m e be cri m i n a l
o r c ivi l or w h e th er th e sai d c ri m es be capi t a l o r n o t capi
t al a n d w h e th e r t h e sai d p l eas be rea l pers on a l o r m i x t
a nd fo r th e a war d i ng a n d m a k i ng ou t o f e x ec u t i on t here
u p o n : To w h ic h co u r t s a n d j ud ica t ori es are h ereb y g i v e n
a nd g ra nt e d full po w e r a nd a utho ri t y fro m t i m e t o t i m e
t o ad m i n is t e r oa th s o r a ffi r m a t io n s for th e be tt er d isco v a
r y o f t r uth i n a n y m a tt e r i n con t rovers y o r d e p e nd i ng b e
fo re th e m
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
'
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
—
AN
fu r th er full po we r a nd a uth ori ty are h ereby
g ive n a nd g ra nt e d to th e sa i d G e n era l C o u r t fro m t i m e
t o t i m e t o m a k e o rd a i n a n d es t ab l is h a ll m a nn e r o f
w hol es om e a nd reaso n ab l e o rd ers l a w s s t a t ut es a nd o r
d in an c e s d ire ct io n s a nd i n s t r u c t io n s ei th er w i th pe n a lt ies
o r W i th o ut ; s o as th e sa m e b e n o t rep ugn a n t or co nt rar
y
t o t hi s C o n s t i tut i o n as th e y s h a l l j udg e t o be fo r th e g oo d
a n d w e lfare o f th is C o mm o n wea lth a nd fo r t h e g o v er n
m e n t a nd or d eri n g th ere of a nd of th e s u bj ec t s o f th e
s a m e a nd fo r th e n e c e ssar y s u pp or t a nd d e fe n ce of th e
go v e rnm e nt t h ereo f ; a nd t o n a m e a nd se ttl e a nn u a ll y o r
p ro v i d e b y fi xe d l a w s fo r th e n a m i ng a n d se ttl i ng a ll civi l
o ffic ers w i th i n th e sai d C o m m on we a lth th e e l ec t io n a nd
con s t i tu t i on of w h o m are n o t h e r ea ft er i n t h is For m o f
Gov er n m e nt Ot h e r w ise pro v i d e d for ; a nd to se t fo rt h th e
s e ve r a l d ut ies p o w e r s a nd l i m i t s o f th e se vera l ci v i l a nd
m i l i t a ry o ffi ce r s o f t h i s Co m m o n wea lth a nd th e for m s o f
s uc h o a t h s or a fli rmat ion s a s s h a ll b e r e s p e ct i ve l y ad m in
IV
.
D
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22
CHAPTER
I
SEC T ON I I
Se n a t e
1
.
.
.
I —THERE
s h a ll be a n nu a ll y e l ec t e d by th e free
h o ld ers a nd o th er i nh abi t a nt s o f th is C o m mon w ea lth
q u a l i fi e d as i n th is C o n s t i t ut io n is p ro v i d e d for t y per s o n s
t o be C o un se ll ors a nd S e n a t ors for th e year e n s u i n g th eir
e l ec t io n ; t o be c h ose n by th e i n h abi t a n t s o f th e d is t ric t s
i n t o w h ic h th e C o m m o n wea lth m ay fro m t i m e t o t i m e be
d i v i d e d by th e G e n e ra l C o u r t for th a t p u r pose : And th e
G e n era l C o u r t i n a ssi gn i n g th e n u m bers t o be e l ec t e d by
th e respe c t i v e d is t ric t s s h a ll g o v e r n th e m se lv es b y th e
p ropor t io n o f th e p u b l ic t a x e s pai d by th e sai d d is t ric t s
a nd t i m e l y m a d e kn o w n t o th e i nh abi t a nt s o f th e C o m
m o n w e a l t h th e l i m i t s o f eac h d is t ric t a nd th e nu m ber o f
C o un se l l ors a nd S e n a t ors t o be c h ose n th erei n ; pro v i d e d
th a t th e nu m ber o f s u c h d is t ric t s s h a ll n e v er be l ess th a n
th i r t ee n ; a nd th a t n o d is t ric t be so l a r g e as t o e nt i tl e th e
sa m e t o c h oose m ore t h a n si x S e n a t ors
AND th e se v e ra l co u nt ie s i n th is C o mm o n w ea lth s h a ll
un t i l th e G e n era l C o u r t s h a ll d e t er m i n e i t n ec essary t o
a l t e r th e sai d d is t ric t s be d is t ric t s for th e c h oice o f C o un
s e l l o rs a nd S e n a t ors (e x cep t th a t th e co u nt ies o f D uk e s
C o u nt y a nd Na ntu c k e t s h a ll for m o n e d is t ric t for th a t
p u rpose ) a nd s h a ll e l ec t th e fo ll o w i ng n u m be r for C o u n
s e l l o r s a nd S e n a t ors v iz
S u ffo lk
Six
Tw o
Yor k
Si x
E sse x
D uk es C o unt y
on e
Five
M i ddl ese x
a n d Na nt u c k e t
A
R T.
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
23
H a mp s h i r e
P l y m o uth
B ar n s t ab l e
B r is t o l
Fo ur
Fi v e
W orces t er
C u m ber l a nd
L i n co ln
B e rk s h ire
T h r ee
On e
T h re e
One
One
Tw o
.
I I —THE S e n a t e s h a ll be t h e fi rs t bra n c h o f th e l e g is
l a t ur e ; a n d th e S e n a t ors s h a ll be ch ose n i n th e fo ll o w i ng
m a nn e r viz T h ere s h a l l be a m e e t i n g o n t h e fi rs t M o n
d ay in A pri l a nnu a ll y fo re v er o f t h e i nh abi t a nt s o f eac h
t o w n i n th e se v era l co un t ies o f th is C o m m o n w ea l th ; t o
be ca ll e d by th e S e l ec t m e n a nd w ar n e d i n d ue co u rse o f
l a w a t l eas t se v e n d ay s be fore th e fi rs t M o nd ay i n A pri l
for th e p u rpose o f e l ec t i n g pe rso n s t o be S e n a t ors a nd
C o un se ll ors And a t s u c h m ee t i ng s e v er y m a l e i n h a bi t a n t
o f t w e nt y o n e years o f a g e a n d u p w ar d s h avi n g a free
h o ld e s t a t e w i th i n th e C o m m o n w ea lth o f th e a n nu a l i n
co m e o f th ree po und s o r a n y e s t a t e o f th e v a l u e o f si x t y
po u nd s s h a ll h a v e a ri ght t o g iv e i n h is v o t e for th e S e n
a t o r s for th e d is t ri c t o f w h ic h h e is a n i n h abi t a nt
And t o
re m o v e al l d o ub t s co n cer n i ng th e m ea n i ng o f th e w o r d
&
“
i nh a bi t a n t i n th is co n s t i tut io n e v ery p erso n s h a l l b e
co n si d ere d as a n i n h abi t a nt fo r th e p u rpo s e of e l ec t i n g
a nd b e i n g e l ec t e d i nt o a n y o ffi ce or p l ace W i th i n th i s
St a t e in th a t t o w n d is t ric t or p l a n t a t io n Wh ere h e d we ll
e th o r h a th h is h o m e
THE S e l ec t m e n o f th e se ve r a l t o w n s s h a ll p r esi d e a t
s u c h m ee t i ng s i m par t ia ll y ; a nd s h a ll recei v e th e vo t es of
a l l th e i nh abi t a nt s o f s u c h t o w n s prese nt a nd q u a l i fi e d to
v o t e for S e n a t ors a nd s h a ll sor t a nd co u n t th e m i n ope n
t o w n m ee t i ng a nd i n prese n ce o f th e T o w n C l er k w h o
s h a ll m a k e a fair recor d i n p r ese n ce o f th e Se l ec t m e n a nd
i n ope n t o wn m ee t i ng o f th e n a m e o f e v ery p ers on vo t e d
for a nd of th e nu m be r o f v o t e s a g ai n s t his n a m e a nd a
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
-
,
,
,
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,
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,
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,
,
,
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,
-
,
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,
,
24
fai r co py o f t h is r e c o rd s h a ll be a tt es t e d b y th e S e l ec t m e n
a nd th e T o w n C l er k a nd s h a l l be sea l e d up d irec t e d to
th e S ecre t a ry o f th e C o m m o n w ea lth for th e t i m e bei ng
w i th a s u perscrip t io n e x pressi ng th e p u rpor t o f th e co n
t e nt s th ereo f a nd d e l i v ere d b y th e T o wn C l er k o f s u c h
t o w n s t o th e S h eri ff o f th e co un t y i n w h ic h s u c h t o w n
l ies th ir t y d ay s a t l ea s t be fore th e l as t We d n e s d ay i n M a y
’
a nnu a ll y ; or i t s h a ll be d e l i v ere d i nto th e S ecre t ary s o f
fi c e se v e nt ee n d ays a t l eas t be fo re th e sai d l as t We d n e s
d ay in M ay ; a nd th e Sh eri ff o f ea c h co u nty s h a ll d e l i v e r
’
a l l s u c h cer t i fi ca t es by h i m recei v e d i n t o th e S ecre t ary s
o ffi c e se v e n t ee n d ays be fore th e sai d l as t W e d n es d a y i n
M ay
AND th e i nh abi t a n t s o f p l a n t a t io n s u n i n corpora t e d qu a
l ifie d as th is C o n s t i tut io n pro v i d es w ho are o r s h a ll b e
e m po w ere d a nd re q u i re d t o assess t a x es u p o n th e m se lv e s
t o w ar d th e s u ppor t of g o v er n m e n t s h a ll h a v e th e sa m e
pri v i l e g e o f v o t i ng fo r C o un se ll ors a n d S e n a t ors i n th e
p l a nt a t io n s w h ere th ey resi d e as t o w n i nh abi t a nt s h a v e
i n th eir respec t i v e t o w n s a nd th e p l a n t a t io n m ee t i ng s for
th a t p u rpose s h a l l b e h e ld a nnu a ll y on th e sa m e fi rs t M o n
d ay i n A pri l a t s u c h p l ace i n th e p l a nt a t io n s respec t i v e l y
as th e A ssess o rs th ereo f s h a ll d irec t ; w h ic h Assessors
s h a ll h a v e l i k e a u th ori ty for n o t i fyi ng th e e l ec t o r s c ol
l ee t i ng a nd re tu r n i ng th e v o t es a s th e Se l ec tm e n a nd
T o w n C l er k s h a v e i n th eir se v era l to w n s by th is C o n s t i
t ut io n
And a ll o th er perso n s l i v i ng i n p l aces un in corpo
ra t e d (q u a l i fi e d a s a foresai d ) who s h a ll be assesse d t o th e
s u p por t o f g o v e r nm e n t by th e A ssessors o f a n a dj a c e n t
t o w n s h a l l h a v e th e pri v i l e g e o f g i v i ng i n th eir v o t es for
C o un se ll ors a nd Se n a t ors i n t h e t o w n w h ere th e y s h a ll
be assesse d a nd be n o t i fi e d o f th e p l ace o f m ee t i ng b y th e
-
,
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,
-
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,
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-
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-
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,
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,
25
S e l e ctm e n o f th e t o wn w h ere th e y s h a ll be as s ess e d
t h a t p u r p ose a cc or d i ngl y
,
IIl
.
for
,
.
—AND th a t th ere m ay be a d u e c o n v e nt i o n o f S e n
th e l as t W e dn e s d ay i n M ay a nn u a l l y th e G o v e r
n o r w i th fiv e o f th e Co un ci l for th e t i m e bei n g s h a ll a s
s oo n as m a y be e xa m i n e th e re tu r n e d copie s o f s u c h rec
or d s ; a nd fo u r t e e n d ays be fore th e sai d d ay h e s h a l l iss u e
h is s u m m o n s t o s u c h perso n s a s s h a l l appear t o be c h ose n
b y a m aj or i t y o f v o t ers t o a tt e n d o n th a t d ay a n d t a k e
th e i r sea t s accor d i n gl y : Pro v i d e d n e v e r th e l e ss th a t fo r
th e fi rs t y e a r th e sai d re tu r n e d c op i e s s h a l l be e x a m i n e d
b y th e Presi d e n t a nd fiv e o f th e C o un ci l o f th e for m e r
C o n s t i tut io n o f G o v e r n m e n t ; a nd th e s a i d Presi d e n t
s h a ll in l i k e rrian n e r i ss u e h is s u m m o n s t o th e p erso n s
so e l ec t e d th a t th e y m ay t a k e th eir sea t s as a foresa i d
a t ors o n
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
'
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
— TH E S e n a t e s h a l l be th e fin a l j udg e of th e e l ec
t io n s re tu r n s a nd q u a l i fi c a t i on s o f th eir o w n m e m bers a s
p o i n t e d o ut i n t he C o n s t i tut io n ; a n d s h a ll o n th e sa i d l as t
We dn e s d ay i n M ay a nn u a ll y d e t er m i n e a nd d ec l are w ho
are e l e c t e d by eac h di s t ric t t o b e S e n a to rs by a m aj ori t y
o f v ot es : And i n case th ere s h a ll n o t appear to be th e ful l
n u m be r o f S e n a to rs re tu r n e d e l e c t e d b y a m aj ori t y o f vo t e s
fo r a n y d is t ric t t h e d e fi cie n c y s h a ll be s u pp l ie d i n th e fo l
l ow i ng m a nn er v i z T h e m e m bers of th e H o u se o f R e
r e s e n t a t iv e s a nd s u c h S e n a t ors as s h a ll be d ec l are d e l ec t
p
e d s h a l l t a k e th e n a m es o f s u c h perso n s a s s h a ll be fo un d
t o h a v e th e h i gh es t n u m ber o f v o t e s i n s u c h d is t ric t a nd
unt i ng to t wrc e th e n u m be r o f S e n a t ors
n ot e l ec t e d a m o
a nd o ut o f th ese
w a nt i ng i f th ere be so m a n y v o t e d fo r
s h a l l e l ec t b y ba ll o t a n u m ber o f S e n a t ors s uffic ie nt t o fi l l
u
i n s uch d i s t r i ct : An d i n t h is m a n n er al l
th
e
va
c
a
n
c
i
e
s
p
4 s
IV
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
26
uc h v a c a n c i es s h a l l be fill e d u p in e v e r y d i s t r i ct of t h e
l
a
l vaca n c i es i n th e
o
m
o
n
ea
lth
a
nd
i
n
l
i
k
e
a
nn
er
m
m
w
C
S e n a t e arisi n g b y d ea th re mov al o ut of th e St a t e o r
o th e r w i se s h a l l b e s u p p l ie d as s oon a s m ay be a ft e r s uch
v a c an c i e s s h a ll h a pp e n
s
,
,
,
,
.
—PRO V I D E D n ever th e l ess th a t
p e r s o n s h al l be
cap ab l e f bei g e l ec t e d a s a S e n a tor w h i s n o t seize d i n
h is ow r i gh t f free h o ld wi th i n th is C o m m o n w ea lth f
V
.
,
n
o
o
,
a
o
n
no
,
o
th e va l u e o f th ree h u nd re d po und s a t l eas t or posse s se d
o f pe rso n a l e s t a t e t o t h e v a l ue o f six h und re d p o u nd s a t
l eas t o r o f bo t h t o t h e a m o u n t o f th e sa m e s u m a nd w h o
h as n o t bee n a n i nh abi t a n t o f th is C o m m o n w ea lth for t he
s p ace o f fiv e y ears i m m e d ia t e l y prece d i ng h is e l ec t io n a nd
a t th e t i m e of h is e l ec t io n h e s h a l l be a n i nh ab i t a nt in t he
d is t r i c t for w h ic h h e s h a l l be c h ose n
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
V L — THE
S e n a t e s h a l l h a v e p o w er to a dj o urn t h e m
se l ve s pro v ide d s u c h a dj o u r n m e nt s d o n o t excee d t wo
d ay s a t a t i m e
,
.
— T H E S e n a t e s h a l l c h oo s e i t s o wn Presi d e n t ap
poi n t i t s o wn O ffi cers a nd d e t er m i n e i t s ow n rul es o f pro
V Il
,
.
,
c e e d in g .
— T H E S e n a t e s h a l l be a c o u r t wi th full a uthor i t y
to h ear a n d d e t er m i n e a l l i rn p e a ch m e n t s m a d e b y th e
H o u se o f Represe n t a t ives a g a i n s t a n y o ffi cer o r o ffice r s
o f th e C o m m o n w ea lth fo r m isco ndu c t an d m al a d m in i s
B ut pre v io u s to t h e t ria l o f e v e r y
t ra t ion i n th ei r o ffi ces
i mp ea ch m e nt th e m e m bers o f th e S e n at e s h a ll respe ct i ve
l y be s w or n tr ul y a nd i m p a rt ia ll y t o t ry a nd d e t er m i n e
Th e i r
t he c h ar g e i n q u es t i on a cco r d i ng to e vi d e nc e
Vlll
.
,
-
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
27
j udg m e nt h o we v er s h a ll n ot e x t e n d furth er th a n t o r e
m o v a l fro m o ffi c e a n d dis qual ifi da t ion t o h ol d o r e nj o y a n y
l
ac
e
o
f
h
o
n
or
t
r
u
s
t
o r pro fi t und e r th is C o m m o n w ea lth
p
B u t th e par t y so co n v ic t e d s h a ll be n e v er th e l ess l iab l e
t o i nd ic tm e nt t ria l j udg m e n t a nd p u n i s h m e nt a c co rd i ng
t o th e l a w s o f th e l a nd
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
l ess th a n si x t ee n m e m bers o f t he S e n a t e s h a l l
c on s t i tut e aq u o ru m for doi ng b u si n ess
IX
.
-NO T
'
.
C HAPTE R I
III
SEC T I ON
H ou s e
f
o
.
.
R ep r e s e n t a ti ve s
.
— THE R E s h a ll be i n th e L e g is l a tu re o f th i s
C om m on w e a lth a re p r ese nt a t io n o f th e p eop l e a nnu all y
e l e ct e d an d found e d u p o n t h e p ri n c ip l e o f eq u a l i t y
,
,
.
,
I I — AND i n o r d er t o p ro v i d e fo r a rep re se n t a t io n o f th e
c i t i z e n s o f th is C o m m o n w ea lth fou nd e d u p o n th e p r i n ci
p l e o f equ a l i t y e v er y c o rpora t e to w n co nt ai n i n g on e
hu n dre d a nd fifty r a t eab l e p o ll s m ay e l ec t o n e Rep rese n t
a t i ve E v ery c o rpo r a t e t o w n co n t ai n i ng th re e h und re d
a nd sev e n ty fi ve ra t eab l e p o ll s m a y e l ec t t w o Re p r ese nt
a t ives : Eve ry co rp or a t e to wn con t ai n i n g six hu ndr e d
.
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
28
r a t eab l e p oll s m ay e l ec t t h r e e Re p r e se n t a t i ve s ; a n d p r o
o h u n d re d a nd t w e nt y
e di n
i
n
th
a
t
a
nn
er
a
k
i
ng
t
m
w
m
g
fiv e ra t eab l e po ll s th e m ea n i n c r e a s m g n u m be r fo r e v er y
a dd i t i on a l Rep r ese n t a t i v e
P R O V I D E D n e v er th e l ess th a t eac h t o w n n ow In c orpo
ra t e d n o t h a v i n g o n e h undr e d a nd fifty ra t eab l e po ll s
m ay e l ec t o n e R eprese nt a t i v e
b u t n o p l ace s h a ll h e re
a ft er b e i n cor p ora t e d w i t h th e pri v il e g e o f e l e c t l n g a Re
p rese n t a t i v e u nl ess th ere a r e w i th i n th e sa m e on e h un
d r e d a nd fift y ra t eab l e p oll s
AND th e H o u se o f Represe n t a t i v e s s h a ll h a v e po w e r
fro m t i m e t o t i m e t o i m pose fin es u po n s u c h t o w n s as
s h a ll n e gl ec t t o c h oose a nd re turn m e m b ers t o th e sa m e
a g reeab l y t o th is C o n s t i tut i on
TH E e x pe n ses o f t ra v e ll i n g t o th e G e n era l A sse m b l y
a nd re t u r n i ng h o m e o n ce i n e v e ry sessio n a n d n o m ore
s h a ll be pai d by th e g o v e r n m e n t o u t o f th e p u b l ic t r e a s u
r
a s s easo n ab l y as h e
t
o
e
v
ery
m
e
m
ber
h
o
s
h
a
l
l
a
tt
e
nd
w
y
c a n i n th e j udg m e n t o f th e H o u se a n d d oes not d epar t
w i th o u t l eav e
,
,
.
,
,
,
'
,
.
,
,
‘
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
l II
—EV E R Y m e m ber
f
th e H o u se o f R eprese nt a t iv es
s h a ll be c h ose n by w ri tt e n v o t es a nd for o n e y ear a t l eas t
n e x t p rece d i ng h is e l ec t io n s h a ll h a v e bee n a n i nh abi t a nt
o f a nd h a v e bee n se i z e d i n h i s o w n ri ght o f a f re eh o ld o f
th e v a lu e o f o n e h und re d po und s wi th i n th e to w n h e s h a ll
b e c h ose n t o represe n t o r a n y ra t eab l e es t a t e t o th e v a lu e
o f t w o hu nd re d po und s
a n d h e s h a ll cease t o r e p rese n t
th e sai d tow n i mm e d ia t e l y o n h i s c easi ng to be q u a l i fi e d
a s a foresai d
.
o
,
,
.
—E V ER Y
perso n bei n g t w e n t y o n e y ears o f
a g e a n d r es i d e n t i n a ny pa rt i cu l a r tow n i n th is Co mm on
IV
,
.
ma l e
,
-
30
res p e c t t o th e Hou se b y a n y d i s o r d er l y or con t e m p t uous
be h a v iour i n i t s prese n c e ; or w ho i n th e t o wn w h e r e
th e G e n era l C o u r t is si tt i n g a nd d u ri n g th e t i m e o f i t s
si tt i ng s h a ll thr ea t e n h ar m t o th e bo d y or es t a t e o f an y
o f i t s m e m bers fo r a n y th i ng said o r don e i n t h e H o u se ;
o r w ho s h a l l ass a ul t a n y o f th e m th ere fo r ; o r w h o s h a l l
assa ult o r a rres t a n y w i tn ess or o th e r p ers on o r d ere d
t o a tt e n d th e H o u se i n h is w ay In go rn g or re tu r n i ng ;
o r w ho s h a l l res cu e a n y p e rs on a rr es t e d b y th e o r d e r o f
th e H o u se
AND n o m e m ber o f th e Hou se o f R e p rese n t a t i v e s s h a ll
b e arres t e d o r h e l d t o bai l o n m ea n pr o cess d u r i ng his
g oi n g unt o re turn i ng fro m o r h is a tt e nd i ng th e G e n e r a l
A sse mb l y
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
X L —THE
Se n a t e s h a ll h av e th e sa m e po w e r s i n t h e
l i k e c ase s ; a nd th e G o v er no r a nd C ou n ci l s h a l l h a v e th e
Pro v i d e d th a t no
s a m e a uth ori t y t o p u n is h i n l i k e cases
i m p r iso n m e nt o n th e w arra n t o r or d er o f th e G ove rn o r
C o un c i l Se n a t e o r H o u s e o f Represe nt a t i v es for e i th e r
o f th e abo v e d escribe d o ffe n ces be for a t er m e x ce e d i n g
th ir t y d ay s
AND th e S e n a t e a n d H o u se o f R eprese n t a t i v e s m a y t ry
a n d d e t er m i n e a l l case s w h ere th eir ri ght s a nd p ri v i l e g e
a re c o n cer n e d a nd w h ic h by th e C o n s t i tu t io n th ey h a v e
a u th ori ty t o t r y a nd d e t e r m i n e by c o m m i tt e e s o f th eir
o w n m e m bers or i n s u c h o th e r w ay a s th e y m a y res p e ct
iv e l y th i n k bes t
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
31
C H A P T E R II
Ex e cu t i ve P owe r
I
.
.
SECT O N 1
.
Gove r n or
.
AR T I —THE R E
s h a ll b e a Su p re m e Ex e cu t i v e
E
V
E
H
T
R
R
s
h
a
l
b
e
st le d
G
O
NO
o
l
i
w
h
s t r at e
y
g
O F TH E C O MM ON W E A L T H OF MASSAC HU
—
e
S E TT S a n d wh o se t i tl e s h a ll b
H I S EXCE L L EN
.
.
,
,
‘
l I—
.
THE G o v er n or s h a ll b c h ose n a nnu all y And no
:
e
p e r so n s h a ll be e l i g ib l e t o th is o ffi ce unl ess a t th e t i m e
,
e l ec t io n h e s h a l l h a v e be e n a n i nh abi t a nt o f th is
C o m m o n w ea l th for se v e n years n e x t pre c e d i ng ; a nd n u
l ess h e s h a ll ar th e sa m e t i m e b e sei z e d i n h is o wn ri ght
o f a free h o ld w i th i n th e C o m mon w ea lth o f th e v a l u e o f
on e th o u sa nd po und s ; a nd u nl ess h e s h a ll d ec l are h i m
se lf to be o f th e ch ris t i a n re l i g io n
of
hi s
,
'
,
,
,
,
.
I I I — TH O SE p ers on s wh o s h a l l be q u a l i fi e d t o vo t e fo r
S e n a t ors a nd R eprese nt a t i v es w i th i n th e se v era l t o w n s
o f th is C o m mon w ea lth s h a ll a t a m ee t i n g t o be c all e d
for th a t p u rpose o n th e fi rs t M o nd a y o f A p ri l a n nu a ll y
i
v
e
i
n
th
eir
v
o
t
e
s
f
or
a
G
o
v
er
n
or
t
o
th
e
S
e
l
ec
tm
e
n
o
h
w
g
s h a ll presi d e a t s u c h m ee t i ng s ; a nd th e T ow n C l er k i n
th e prese nc e a n d w i th th e assis t a nc e of t he S e l e ct me n
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
32
s h a ll i n o p e n t o w n m e e t i n g s o r t a n d c oun t t h e v ot es a nd
for m a l is t o f th e perso n s vo t e d for w i th th e n u m ber o f
vo t es fo r eac h perso n a g a i n s t h is n a m e ; a n d s h a ll m a k e
a fa ir rec ord o f th e sa m e i n th e t o w n boo k s a nd a p u b l i c
d ec l ar a t io n t h ereo f i n th e sa i d m ee t i ng ; a n d s h al l i n th e
p rese nc e o f th e i n h abi t a nt s sea l u p copies o f th e sai d l is t
a tt e s t e d b y h i m a nd th e S e l ec tm e n a nd t ra n s m i t t h e sa m e
t o th e Sh eri ff o f th e co u nt y th ir ty d ays a t l eas t be fore
th e l as t W e dn es d ay i n M ay ; a nd th e S h eri ff s h a ll t ra n s
’
m i t th e sa m e t o th e S e c re t ary s o ffi ce se ve nt ee n d a y s a t
l e a s t be fore th e s ai d l as t W e dn es d ay i n M a y o r th e S e
l ee tm e n m ay ca u se re t ur n s o f th e sa m e t o be m a d e t o th e
O ffi ce o f th e S e c re t ary o f th e C o m m o n w e a lth se v e nt ee n
d ay s a t l eas t be fore t h e sai d d ay ; a nd th e Secre t ary s h a l l
l a y th e sa m e b e fore th e S e n a t e a nd th e H o u se of Re pr e
s e n t a t ive s o n th e l as t W e dn es d ay i n M ay t o be b y th e m
And i n case o f a n e l ec t io n b y a m aj or i ty o f a l l
e xa m i n e d
t h e v o t es r e tu r n e d th e c h oi c e s h a l l be by th e m d ec l are d
a n d p u b l is h e d : B u t i f n o p er s o n s h a ll h a v e a m aj ori t y o f
vo t es th e H o u se o f Re p r e s e n t a t l v e s s h a ll by ba ll o t e l ec t
t wo o u t o f fe ar p erso n s w h o h a d th e h i gh es t n u m ber o f
vo t es i f so m a n y s h l l h a v e bee n v o t e d for ; b u t i f o th er
p
w ise o u t o f th e n u m ber v o t e d for ; a nd m a k e re tu r n t o
th e S e n a t e o f th e t wo perso n s so e l ec t e d ; o n w h ic h t he
S e n a t e s h a ll procee d by ba ll o t t o e l ec t o n e w ho s h a l l b e
d ec l ared Go v er n o r
,
,
,
,
,
‘
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
— THE G over nor s h a ll h ave a utho ri ty fro m t i m e t o
t i me a t h is d iscre t io n t o asse mb l e a nd ca l l t o g e th er th e
C o un se ll ors o f th is C o m m o n w ea lt h fo r th e t i m e bei n g ;
a nd th e G o v e rn or w i t h th e sa i d C o un se ll ors o r fi ve o f
th e m a t l eas t s h a ll a nd m ay fro m t i m e t o t i m e h o ld a nd
k ee p a C o unc i l for th e or de r i ng a nd d i r e ct i n g t h e a ffai r s
lV
Q
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
33
of th e C o m m o n wea l t h a g reeab l y t o th e C o n s t i t u t i o n
th e l a w s o f th e l a nd
,
an
d
.
V
—TH E G o v er n or
a dv ice o f C o u n ci l s h a ll h a v e
ful l po w e r a nd a uth ori t y d u r i n g th e sessio n o f th e G e n e
ra l C o u r t t o a dj o u r n o r p ro ro gu e th e sa m e t o a n y t i m e th e
t wo H o u ses s h a l l d esire ; a n d t o d isso lv e th e s a m e o n th e
day n e x t prece d i ng t h e l a s t We dn es d ay i n M ay a nd i n
th e recess o f t h e sai d C o u r t t o p roro gu e t h e sa m e fro m
t i m e t o t i m e n o t e x ce e d i n g n i n e t y d ay s i n a n y o n e recess ;
a nd t o ca l l i t t o g e th e r soo n e r th a n th e t i m e t o w h ic h i t
m ay b e a dj o u r n e d o r p ro r o gu e d i f t h e w e l fare o f th e C o m
m o n w e a l t h s h a ll req u ire th e sa m e : An d i n case o f an y
In fe c t i ou s d is t e m p e r pre v ai l i n g i n th e p l a c e w h ere th e sai d
C o u r t i s n e x t a t a n y t i m e t o c o nv e n e or a n y o th e r ca u se
h app e n i n g w h e reby d a ng er m ay arise t o th e h ea lth o r l i v e s
o f th e m e m bers fro m th e i r a tt e nd a n c e h e m ay d ire c t t h e
se ssio n t o be h e ld a t so m e o th er th e m os t co nv e n ie n t p l ac e
w i th i n th e S t a t e
AN D t h e G o v e r n or s h a ll d isso l v e th e sai d G e n e ra l C o u r t
o n th e d ay n e x t p re c e d i n g th e l a s t W e dn es d ay i n M ay
.
,
w i th
,
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,
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.
.
VI
—
IN case s o f d isa g re e m e n t b e t w e e n th e
.
Ho u s
t wo
e s w i th re g a r d t o th e n e cessi t y e x p e d ie n cy or t i m e o f
a dj o u r n m e nt o r p roro g a t io n t h e G o v er n or w i th a dv ic e
o f th e C o un ci l s h a ll h a v e a ri ght t o a dj o u r n or pr o rogu e
th e G e n era l C o u r t n o t e x c e e d i n g n i n e t y d ays a s h e s h a l l
d e t er m i n e th e p u b l i c g oo d s h a l l re q uire
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
V Il
—
THE G o v e r n or
f
th is Co m mon we alth for th e
t i m e b ei ng s h a l l be th e c o m m a nd er in c h ie f o f th e a r m y
a n d o f a ll th e m i l i t ary forces o f th e St a t e by
a n d n av
y
sea a nd l a nd ; a n d s h a ll h a v e fu ll po w e r b y h i m se lf or b y
5 s
.
,
o
,
-
-
,
,
,
,
34
:
o
a
n d e r o r oth e r offi c e r o r o ffi c er s fr o m t i me t o
m
m
y
t i m e t o t rai n i n s t r u c t e x e r c i se a nd g ov e rn th e m i l i t i a a n d
n a v y ; a nd for t h e s p e c i a l d e fe nc e a n d sa fe t y o f th e C o m
mo n we a l t h t o a sse m b l e i n m ar t i a l a r r a y an d p u t i n w ar
l i k e p os tur e th e i n h abi t a nt s th e re o f a nd t o l e a d a n d c o n
d u c t t h e m a nd w i th th e m t o e n c o un t er rep e l res i s t ex p e l
a n d p u r s u e b y forc e o f ar m s a s w e ll b y sea a s b y l a n d
w i th i n o r wi th o u t th e l i m i t s o f th i s C o m m o n we a lth a n d
a l so t o k i ll s l a y a nd d e s t ro y i f n ec essar y a n d co n q u er
b y a l l fitt i n g w a y s e n t e r pri z e s a n d m ea n s w h a t soe v e r a l l
a n d e v e ry s u c h perso n a n d p erso n s a s s h a ll a t a n y t i m e
h erea ft e r m a h os t i l e m a n n er a tt e m p t o r e n t e r p riz e th e
d e s t r u c t i o n Inv asio n d e t ri m e nt o r a n n oy a n c e o f th i s
C o m m on w e a lth ; a n d t o u s e a n d e x ercise ov e r t he a rm y
a nd n a v y a n d o v er th e m i l i t ia i n a c tu a l ser vic e th e l a w
m a rt i a l i n t i m e o f w a r o r i n va sio n a nd a l so i n t i m e o f
r ebe ll io n d e c l are d b y t he l e g is l a tu re t o e x is t a s occa si on
s h a l l n e c essari l y req u ire ; a n d t o t a k e a n d s u rp ri se b y a l l
w ay s a n d m e a n s w h a t s o e v e r a l l a n d e v e r y s u c h p e r s o n
o r p e r so n s w i th th ei r s h ips a r m s a m m u n i t io n a n d oth e r
g oo d s a s s h a l l i n a h os t i l e m a n n e r i nv a d e o r a tt e m p t
t h e i n v a d i n g co n q u eri n g o r a nn oy i n g th i s C om mon
we a l th ; a nd th a t t h e G o v e rnor b e i n t ru s t e d w i th a ll th ese
a n d ot h e r p o w e r s i nc i d e n t t o th e o ffi ce s o f C a p t a i n G e n e
r al a n d C o m m a n d e r i a C h ie f a n d Ad m i r a l t o b e e xe r
c is e d a g reeab l y t o th e r ul e s a nd r e g u l a t io n s o f th e C o n
s t i t u t io n a nd th e l a w s o f th e l a nd a nd n o t oth e r w i s e
PRO V I D E D t h a t th e sai d G o v e r nor s h a l l n o t a t a n y t i m e
h erea ft e r b y v ir tu e o f a n y po w e r b y th is C o n s t i t ut i o n
g ra nt e d or h erea ft e r t o be g ra n t e d t o him b y th e l e g i s l a
tu re t ra n spor t a n y o f th e i nh abi t a nt s o f th is C o mm o n
we a lt h o r ob l i g e th e m t o m arc h o u t o f t h e l i m i t s o f t he
s am e
w i t h o u t t h e i r fr e e a n d vol un t ar y con s e n t or t he
an
c
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‘
,
-
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-
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,
35
c on s e n t o f th e G e n e r a l C o u r t ; e xc e p t s o fa r a s m ay b e
n ec e s s a r y t o m arc h o r t ra n spor t th e m b y l a nd o r w a t er
for th e d e fe n c e o f s u c h p a r t o f th e S t a t e t o w hi c h th e y
c a n not o th e r wise co nv e n ie n tl y h a v e access
,
,
.
—THE p o w e r
o f pa r d o n i n g O ffe n ce s e x c e p t s u c h
as p e rso n s m ay be co nv i ct e d o f be fore th e S e n a t e b y a n
i m p eac h m e n t o f th e H o u se s h a l l be i n th e G o v e r n or b y
a nd w i th th e a dv ic e of C o unc i l : B u t n o c h a r t e r o f par
d o n g ra nt e d b y th e G o v e r n o r w i t h a dv ic e o f th e C o u n
c i l be for e co n v i c t io n s h a l l a v ai l th e p ar t y p l ea d i n g th e
sa m e n o t w i th s t a nd i n g a n y g e n e ra l or p a r t ic ul a r e x p r e s
si on s co nt ai n e d t h e re i n d e scrip t i v e o f th e o ffe nc e or o f
fe n ce s i n t e nd e d t o b e p a r d o n e d
V l II
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
IX
.
—AL L j ud ici a l o ffi cers th e Att or n e y G e n e ra l th e
-
,
,
S o l i c i to r -G e n era l a l l Sh e r i ffs C oro n e rs a n d R e g is t ers o f
P ro ba t e s h a ll be n o m i n a t e d a n d a p p o i nt e d b y th e G o v er
n o r b y a nd w i th th e a d v ic e a n d c o n s e n t o f t h e C o u n ci l ;
a nd e v e r y s u ch n o m i n a t io n s h a ll be m a d e by t h e G o v e r
n o r a n d m a d e a t l e as t se v e n d ay s p rior t o s uc h app o i n t
me n t
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
—TH E C a p t ai n s a nd s u ba lt er n s o f th e m i l i t i a s h a ll
be e l e ct e d b y t h e w r i tt e n v o t e s o f th e t rai n —
ba nd a nd
f t w e n ty n e
a l ar m l i s t
f t he ir res p ec t i v e co m pa n ies
y ears o f a g e a nd u p w ar d s : T h e fi e l d o ffice rs o f R e g i
m e n t s s h a l l be e l e c t e d b y t he w ri tt e n v o t es o f th e c p
t a i n s a n d s u ba lt e r n s o f th e i r r es pec t i ve r e g i m e n t s : T h e
B r i g a d iers s h a ll b e e l e ct e d i n l i k e m a n n er b y th e fi e l d
ffic e rs o f th ei r respe ct i v e bri g a d es : An d s uch O ffic e rs s o
e l e ct ed s h a ll b e c o m m iss i o n e d b y t h e G o ve rnor w h o s h a l l
d e t e r m i n e t h e i r ra nk
X
.
o
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-
o
o
-
a
,
o
,
,
,
.
36
L e g i s l a tu re s h a ll by s t a n d i n g l a ws d i r ec t th e
t i m e a n d m a n n e r o f co nv e n i n g t h e e l ec t ors a nd o f co l
l ee t i n g v o t es a n d o f c er t i fy i n g t o th e G o v er no r th e o ffi
cers e l ec t e d
TH E M aj o r G e n era l s s h a l l b e a pp o i n t e d b y th e S e n a t e
a nd H o u se o f Represe nt a t i v e s eac h h a v i n g a n e g a t i v e
u po n th e o th er ; a nd be c o m m l s s m n e d by th e G o v e r n or
AN D i f th e e l ec t o rs o f B ri g a d ie rs fi e l d o ffic e r s cap t ai n s
o r s u ba lt er n s s h a l l n e gl ec t o r re fu se t o m a k e s u c h e l ec
t io n s a ft e r bei n g d ul y n o t i fi e d accor d i n g t o th e l a w s for
th e t i m e b e l n g th e n th e G o v e r n or w i t h a dv ic e o f C o u n
c i l s h a l l a ppoi n t s u i t a b l e pe rso n s t o fil l s u c h Offic e s
AN D n o O ffic e r d ul y co m m issio n e d t o co m m a nd i n th e
m i l i t ia s h a l l be re m o v e d fro m h is o ffi ce b ut by th e a d
d res s O f bo th h o u ses t o th e G o v er n or o r b y fai r t ria l i n
co u r t m ar t ia l p u rs u a n t t o th e l a w s o f th e C o m m o n w e a l th
for th e t i m e bei n g
TH E c o m m a n d i n g o ffi c e rs o f re g i m e n t s s h a ll a p p oi nt
th e B ri g a d ie rs th ei r
t h eir Adj u t a n t s a n d Q u ar t e r m a s t e rs
B ri g a d e M aj o rs ; a nd th e M aj or G e n era l s th ei r a i d s : a nd
th e Go v e r n or s h a ll a p p o In t th e Adj ut a nt G e n e ra l
TH E G o v er n or w i th a d v ic e o f C o un c i l s h a l l app oi n t
al l o ffi c ers o f th e c o n t i n e n t a l a r m y w h o m b y th e co n fe d
c r a t io n o f th e U n i t e d St a t e s i t is pro v i d e d t h a t th is C o m
m o n w e al t h s h a ll appoi nt — a s a l so a ll o ffi ce r s o f fo r t s a nd
g a rr i so n s
THE d i v i sio n s o f th e m i l i t ia i nto b r i g a d es r e g i m e n t s
a nd c o m p a n ies m a d e i n p u rs u a n c e o f th e m i l i t ia l a w s n o w
i n fo rc e s h a l l be co n si d ere d a s th e prope r d i v isio n s o f t he
m i l i t ia o f th is C om m o n w ea lth u nt i l th e sa m e s h a ll be
alt e r e d i n p u rs u a n ce o f so m e fu tu re l a w
TH E
,
,
,
,
.
-
,
.
-
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.
,
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-
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.
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.
,
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.
XI —No m on i es
.
s
h a ll be i s s u e d
o ut
of
t he
tr ea sur y
of
5
38
h ou ld
be u nd e r th e u nd u e i n fl u e n ce o f a n y o f t he
m e m be r s o f t h e G e n e ra l C o u r t b y a d e pe nd e n c e o n th e m
—
fo r h is s u p p o r t th a t h e s h o u ld i n a l l ca ses n o t w i t h
—
o
f
free d o m fo r th e be n e fi t th e p u b l ic th a t h e s h o ul d n o t
h a v e h is a tt e nt io n n ece ssari l y d i v er t e d fro m th a t obj ec t to
h is p riv a t e c o n c e r n s —a nd th a t h e s h o uld m ai nt a i n t he
d i g n i t y o f th e C o m m o n wea lth i n t h e c h a r a c t e r o f i t s c h i e f
m a g is t ra t e —it i s n ec essa r y th a t h e s h o uld h a v e a n h o n o r
a b l e s t a t e d sa l a ry o f a fi x e d a nd pe r m a n e n t va lu e a m p l y
s u ffi c ie n t fo r th ose p u rposes a n d e s t a b l is h e d by s t a nd i n g
l a w s An d i t s h a l l be a m o n g t h e fi rs t ac t s o f th e G e n era l
C ou r t a ft e r th e C o m m e n c e m e n t o f th is C o n s t i t ut io n to
e s t ab l is h s u c h sa l ary by l a w acc or d i n gl y
P E R M AN E N T a nd h on orab l e sa l a rie s s h a ll a l so be e s t ab
l is he d b y l a w fo r th e J u s t ices o f t h e S u p re m e J ud ici a l
C ou r t
AND i f i t s h a ll be fo u n d t h a t a n y o f t h e sa l aries a for e
s a i d so e s t a b l is h e d are i n s u ffi c ie n t th e y s h a ll fro m t i me
t o t i m e be e nl ar g e d a s th e G e n era l C ou r t s h a ll j u d g e
p r ope r
s
not
,
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,
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,
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.
.
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,
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.
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39
C HA P T E R I I
I
SEC T O N I I
.
.
-Gove r n or
t
i
t
e
n
an
L eu
.
—THERE s h a l l be a n n u a l l y e l ec t e d
AR T I
L i e u re
n a n t G o v e r n o r O f th e C o m m o n w ea l th o f M a ssac hu se t t s
w h ose t i tl e s h a l l be H l S H ON O R— a nd w h o s h a l l be
q u a l i fi e d In poi n t Of re l i gio n proper t y a nd resi d e n c e i n
t h e C o m m o n w ea lth 1n th e sa m e m a n n e r w i th th e G o v
e rn o r : And th e d ay a n d m a n n e r o f h is e l e c t io n a n d th e
q u a l i fica t io n s o f th e e l ec t ors s h a ll be th e sa m e a s a r e
r eq u ire d i n th e e l e c t io n o f a G o v e r n or T h e re t u r n o f
th e v o t e s for th is o ffi c e r a n d th e d ec l ara t io n of h i s e l e c
t io n s h a l l b e i n t h e s a m e m a n n e r : An d i f n o o n e pe rso n
s h a l l b e fo u nd t o h a v e a m aj o ri t y o f a ll th e v o t es re tu r n
e d th e v ac a n cy s h a ll be fill e d by th e S e n a t e a nd H o u se
o f R e prese n t a t i v es i n th e sa m e m a n n e r a s th e G o v e r no r
i s t o be e l ec t e d i n ca se n o o n e pe rso n s h a ll h a v e a m a
i
f
o
th
e
v
o
t
e
s
O f th e pe o p l e t o be G o v er n or
o
r
t
j
y
.
.
a
-
,
,
,
,
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,
,
.
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Il
—T
G o v er n o r a n d i n h is abse n c e th e L ie ut e n a n t
G o v e r n or s h a l l b e Presi d e n t o f th e C o un ci l b u t s ha l l
h av e n o v o t e i n C o un ci l : An d th e L i e ut e n a nt G o v e r no r
s h a ll a l w ays be a m e m be r o f t he C o u n ci l e x cep t w h e n
th e c h air o f th e G o v er n o r s h a l l be v a ca n t
.
HE
,
,
,
-
,
.
l IL —WHE N E V ER
c h a ir o f th e G o v e r n or s h a ll be
v a c a n t b y reas on o f h is d ea th o r abse nc e fr o m th e C o m
,
t he
,
4O
o th e r wis e th e L ie ut e n a nt Go v er n o r for
t h e t i m e bei n g s h a ll du ri n g s u c h v aca n c y pe rfor m a ll
th e d ut ies i n c u m be n t u po n th e G o v er no r a n d s h a ll h a v e
a n d e x ercise a l l th e po w ers a nd a uth ori t ies w h ic h by th is
C o n s t i tut i o n th e G o v e rn or is v es t e d w i th w h e n p erso n
a ll y pre se n t
m o n we al t h ,
-
or
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
I
SE C T O N
III
.
a nd
El e ct i on s
t he
AR T I —THERE
s h a l l be a C o u n c i l for a dv isi n g th e
G o v er n or i n th e e x ec ut i v e par t Of g o v e r n m e n t t o co n sis t
o f n i n e p erso n s besi d es th e L ie u t e n a n t G o v er n or w h o m
th e G o v er n or for th e t i m e b ei n g s h a ll h a v e full p o w e r
a nd a uth ori t y fro m t i m e t o t i m e a t h is d iscre t io n t o
asse m b l e a n d ca l l t o g e th er And th e G ov e rn or wi th th e
sai d C o u n se ll ors o r fiv e o f th e m a t l eas t s h a ll a n d m ay
fro m t i m e t o t i m e h o ld a n d k eep a co un ci l for th e o r
d eri ng a nd d irec t i ng th e a ff ai rs o f th e C o m m o n wea lth
accor d i ng t o th e l a w s O f t h e l a nd
.
.
,
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
6
,
.
ll
.
—
N INE C o un se l l ors s h ll be a n u a ll y c h ose n fro m
a
n
a m o ng th e perso n s re tu r n e d for C o un se ll ors a nd S e n a t ors
,
41
l a s t W e d n es d a y i n M a y b y th e jo i n t ba ll o t of th e
S e n a tor s a n d R e p r ese nt a t i v e s a sse m b l e d i n o n e r oo m
An d i n c ase th e re s h a ll n ot b e fo u n d u p o n th e fir s t
c h o i c e th e w hol e n u m b e r of n i n e p e rs on s w h o w i ll a o
c ep t a s e a t i n t h e C ou n c i l th e d e fic i e n c y s h a ll b e m a d e
U p b y th e e l e cto rs a fo re sai d fr o m a m o n g th e p e op l e a t
l a r g e ; a n d th e n u m b e r o f S e n a to rs l e ft s h a ll c o n s t i tut e
th e S e n a t e fo r t he ye a r Th e s e a t s o f th e p e r s on s thu s
e l e ct e d fr o m t h e S e n a t e a n d a cc e p t i n g th e tru s t s h a ll
b e v a c a t e d i n th e S e n a t e
on
t he
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
I I I —THE C ou n se llor s i n th e c iv i l a r r a n g e m e nt s of
th e C o m m o n w e a lth s h a ll h a v e ra n k n ex t a ft e r th e L i on
t e n a nt G o v e r n o r
,
.
,
-
.
—NO T mo re th a n t wo C o u n s e llo rs s h a ll b e c ho s e n
ou t o f a n y o n e d i s t ri ct o f th i s C o m mo n we a lth
IV
.
.
— TH E r es olu t io n s a n d a d v i c e o f t h e C o un c i l s h a ll
b e re c ord e d i n a re g is t e r a n d si g n e d b y t he m e m be r s
p r e se n t a n d th is r e c ord m a y b e c a ll e d for a t a n y t i m e
b y e i th e r H o u se o f th e L e g is l a tu r e ; a n d a n y m e m be r o f
th e C ou n c i l m a y i n se rt h i s o p i n i o n co n t r a r y to th e r e s o
l ut io n o f th e m ajo r i ty
V
.
,
.
—WHE N E V ER
th e O ffi c e o f th e G o v e rnor a n d L ie u
t e n a n t G o v e rno r s h a ll b e v a c a n t b y re a s o n o f d ea th
a bse n c e o r oth e r w ise th e n th e C o u nc i l o r th e m aj o r
p a r t of th e m s h a ll d u ri n g s u c h v a c a n c y h a v e full
p o we r a nd a u tho ri ty to d o a n d exe c u t e a ll a nd e v e r y
s u ch a ct s m a tt e rs a n d th i n g s a s th e G o v e rno r o r t h e
L ie ut e n a n t G o v e r n or m i gh t or co uld b y vi rtu e o f th i s
VI
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
42
Con s t i t u t i o n d o o r e x e c u t e
we r e p e r s on all y p res e n t
,
,
i f the y
or e
,
ithe r of the m
,
.
VI I —AN D w h e r e as t he e l e ct i on s a p p o i n t e d to b e
m a d e b y th i s C on s t i t ut i on o n t h e l a s t W e d n e s d a y i n
Ma y an n u a ll y b y t h e t wo H ou s e s o f th e L e g is l a tur e
m a y n o t be co m p l e t e d o n t h a t d ay t h e s ai d e l e ct i on s
m a y b e a dj ou rn e d fr o m d a y to d ay u n t i l t h e s a m e s h a ll
b e co m p l e t e d An d t he ord e r o f e l e ct i on s s h a ll b e a s
t he v a c a n ci e s i n th e S e n a t e i f a n y s h a l l fi r s t
follo ws
b e fill e d u p ; th e G o v e r no r a n d L i e u t e n a n t G o v e r no r
e l e c t e d p r o vi d e d t h e r e s ho u l d b e n o
s h a ll th e n b e
c ho i c e o f th e m b y t h e p e o p l e : A n d a ft e r wa r d s th e t wo
H ou s e s s h a ll p r oc e e d to t h e e l e ct i on o f t he C ou n c i l
.
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
-
,
.
TER
CHAP
I
1
IV
SEC T O N
.
Se cr e t ar y , Tr e as ure r , C ommi s s ary , 6 w
.
—
THE
S e cr e t a ry T r e as ur e r a n d Re c e ive r
G e n e ra l a n d th e C o mm issa r y G e n e r a l N ot a r i e s P u b
l i c a n d N a v a l -O ffi c e r s s h a ll b e cho se n a n n ua lly b y
s in
a
t
oi
n
ba
llot
t
h
e
S
e
n
to
r
a
d
e
p
r
s
e
n
t
t
i
ve
n
o
f
s
R
e
a
j
o n e roo m
An d t h a t t h e c i t iz e n s o f th i s C o m m o n
w e a lt h m a v b e a s s ur e d fro m t i m e to t i m e t h a t t h e
I
.
,
-
,
,
-
,
,
.
.
,
43
i e s r e ma i n i n g i n
p u b l i c T r e a s u ry u p on t h e
s e ttl e m e nt a n d l iq u i d a t i on o f th e p u b l i c a ccou nt s a re
th e ir p r op e r t y o m a n s h ll b e e l i g i b l e s T re s u r e r an d
Ie c i ve r Ge n
l m o re t ha n fi v e ye r s s u cc e s siv e l y
m on
t he
,
,
,
e
n
a
a
e ra
'
a
a
.
I I THE r e cord s o f t h e C om m o n we a lt h s h a ll b e k ep t
i n th e o ffic e o f th e Se c r e t a r y wh o m a y a pp o i nt h is D e
u t ie s for w h o se cond u ct h e s h all be a cco un t ab l e a nd
p
h e s h a l l a tt e n d th e Go ve r no r an d C ou n c i l th e S e n a t e
a n d Ho u se o f R ep rese n t a t iv e s i n p ers on o r b y h is d ep u
t ie s a s t h e y s ha l l re s p e ct i v e l y r e q u i r e
‘
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
CH A P T E R
—TH E t e n u r e t h a t
III
.
co mm i s s i on o ffi c e r s s h a l l
b y l a w h a v e i n th e ir o ffi c e s s h a l l b e exp r e sse d i n th e i r
r espe ct i v e co m m i ss i on s All j u d i c ia l o ffi c e r s d ul y a p
p o i n t e d co m m i ssi on e d a n d s worn s h a ll hold th e i r o th
e xc ep t i n g s u c h con c e r n i n g
c e s d ur i n g good be h a v i ou r
who m th e re is d i ffe r e nt p rov isi o n m a d e i n th is C o n s t i t u
t i on P r o v i d e d n e v e rth e l ess th e G o ve rno r wi t h con
s e nt o f th e Cou nc i l m a y r e mo v e t h e m u p o n t h e a ddr es s
of b oth Ho use s of th e L e g is l a tur e
AR T l
.
.
al l
,
.
,
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ll
.
-E AC
H b r a n c h of th e L e g i s l at ur e
,
as
we ll
as
t he
44
Go v e rnor a n d C ou n c i l s h a l l h a v e a u t h or i t y to r eq u i r e
t h e o p i n i on s o f th e J u s t i c e s o f t h e S u p r e m e J ud i c ia l
C o urt u p on i m p ort a n t q u es t i on s o f l a w a n d u p o n s ol
e m n occ a s i on s
,
,
,
.
l II —IN
ord e r t h a t t h e p e o p l e m ay n o t s u ff e r fro m
t he lon g co n t i n u a n c e i n p l a c e o f a n
J
u s t i c e of t he
y
Pea c e wh o s h a l l fa i l o f d isc h a r g i n g t h e i m p o r t a n t d u
t i e s o f his O ffi c e wi t h abi l i t y o r fid e l i t y a ll co m m iss io n s
o f J u s t i c e s o f t h e P e a c e s h a l l e x pire a n d b e c o m e v o i d
i n t he t e r m o f s e v e n y e a rs fro m th e i r r esp ec t iv e d a t e s
a n d u p on t h e e x p ir a t io n of a n y co m m issi on th e s a m e
m a y i f n e c e ssa r y b e r e n e w e d o r a n oth e r p e rso n a p
p o i nt e d a s s h a ll m o s t con d u c e to t h e we ll b e i n g of t he
C o m m on w e a lth
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
—THE J ud g e s o f P ro b a t e of W i ll s a n d fo r g r a n t
i n g l e tt e rs of a d m i n i s tr a t i on s h a ll h o l d th e i r c ou r t s a t
IV
.
,
,
ch p l a c e o r p l a c e s o n fix e d d ays a s th e con v e n ie nc e
o f t h e p e o p l e s h a l l re q u i r e
A nd t he L e g i s l a tu r e s h a ll
fro m t i m e to t i m e h e re a ft e r a p p o i n t s u c h t i m e s a n d
p l a c e s u nt i l wh i c h a pp o i nt m e n t s t h e s a i d C ou rt s s h a l l
b e h old e n a t th e t i m e s a n d p l a c e s wh i c h t h e r e s p e ct iv e
J ud g e s s h a l l d i r e ct
su
,
,
.
,
,
.
—A
c a u s e s o f ma rr ia g e d iv orc e a n d a l i m o n y
a n d a l l a p e a l s fr o m th e J ud g e s of P ro ba t e
a ll b e
s
h
p
h e a rd a n d d e t e r mi n e d b y t h e G o v e rnor a n d C ou nc i l
u nt i l t h e L e g is l a tu r e s h a l l b y l a w m a k e ot h e r p r o v is i o n
V
.
LL
,
,
,
,
,
.
46
U n ive r i ty m a ny p e r s o n s o f gre t e min e n c e h a v e b y t he
b l essi n g of GO D b e e n i n i t i a t e d i n tho s e a r t s a d s c ie n
c es w h i c h q u al i fi e d th e m fo r p u b l i c e r pl o ym e n t s b ot h
i n C h u r c h a nd S t a t e : A n d wh e re a s t h e e n c o u ra g e m e n t
s
a
,
n
,
n
,
,
A r t s a n d Sc ie n c es a n d a ll good l i t e r a tu re t e n d s to
th e h ono r o f GO D th e a d v a nt a g e o f t h e c h r i s t i an r e l i
d
i
o
d
th
e
g
re
a
t
b
e
n
e
fit
t
h
i
a
d
h
ot
h
e
r
U
n
i
t
e
a
n
o
s
n
t
e
n
f
g
S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a — It i s d e cl a re d T h a t th e P R E S I
D ENT AND FE L L O W S O F H A RV ARD C O L L E G E
i n t h e i r co rp or at e c a p a c i t y a n d th ei r s u c c e s s o rs i n t h a t
c ap a c i ty t h e i r o ffic e r s a n d s e r va nt s s h a ll h a v e h ol d
u se e x e r c ise a n d e nj oy a l l t h e p o wers a u tho ri t ie s
r i g ht s l i b e rt i e s p r i vi l e g e s i m m u n i t ie s a n d fra n c hi se s
wh i c h th e y n o w h a ve o r a r e e nt i tl e d to h a v e h o ld u s e
An d t h e s a m e a r e h e r e b y r a t i fi e d
e x e r c i s e a nd e nj o y
a nd con fi rm e d u n to t h e m th e s ai d Pr e s i d e n t a n d Fe l
lo ws o f H a r v a r d C oll e g e a n d to th e i r s u cc ess or s a n d
to t h e i r o ffi c er s a n d s e r v a n t s r e s p e ct i v e l y for e v e r
of
,
,
,
,
,
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-
,
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,
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,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
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.
l I — AND wh ere a s
th e r e h a v e be e n a t s u nd ry t i m e s
b y d ive rs p e r s on s g i ft s g r a nt s d e vi s e s o f h ou s es l a n d s
t e n e m e n t s good s c h a tt e l s l e g a c ie s a n d c on v e y a n c e s
C oll e g e i n C a rn
h ere t o fo re m a d e e i th e r to H a rv ar d —
En g l a n d o r to th e Presi d e n t a nd Fe llo ws
b ri d g e i n Ne w—
o f H a r va r d C oll e e o r t o t he s a id Co ll e e b y s o m e oth e r
g
g
d e s c rip t io n und e r se v e ra l ch a r t e r s s u cc essi v e l y : IT I S
D E C LA RE D T h a t a ll th e s a i d g i ft s g ra nt s d e v i ses
l e g a c ie s a n d conv e y a n c es a re h e re b y forev e r c onfir m e d
u nto th e Pr e s id e n t a n d Fe llo ws o f H a rv ar d Coll e g e a nd
t o th ei r s uc c e ss o rs i n th e c a p a c i ty a for es a i d a c c o r d i n g
to th e tru e i nt e n t a n d m e a n i n g o f th e d onor o r donors
e a t e r o r g ra n tor s d ev i s o r o r d e v i sor s
r
g
.
,
,
,
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'
-
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-
,
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.
47
l II — AN D w h e r e a s
b y a n a c t of th e G e n e ra l C o u r t
o f th e C olon y o f Massac hu se tt s B ay p a ss e d i n th e y e a r
o n e thou sa nd si x h und re d a n d fo rt y t wo t h e Go v e r n o r
a n d D ep uty Go v e r no r fo r th e t i m e b ei n g a n d a ll t h e
m a g is t r a t e s o f t h a t j uri s d i c t ion w e re w i th th e Presi d e n t
a n d a n u m b e r o f th e cl e r g y i n th e sa i d n o t d escribe d
con s t i tu t e d th e O ve rse e rs o f H arv a rd C o ll e g e : An d i t
b e i n g n e c essa ry i n th is n e w con s t itut io n o f G ov e r n m e n t
to a s c e r t a i n who s h a ll b e d e e m e dls u e c e s s o r s t o t h e sai d
l
G o ve rno r D e p u ty Go v er n o r e nd M a g i s t ra t e s : I T I S
D E C L A R ED T h a t th e Go v e r do r L ie u t e n a n t Go v
e rn o r C ou n c i l a n d S e n a t e o f th is Co m mon w e a lth a re
a n d s h a ll b e d e e m e d th eir s u cc e ss o rs ; w h o wi th th e
P r e si d e n t o f H a rv a r d C o l l e g e fo r [th e t i m e b ei n g to
e
t
h
e
r
i
th
h
w
t
e m i n is t e rs o f t he c on re g a t io n a l c h u rc h e s
g
g
i n t h e to wn s o f C a m b r i d g e Wa t e it o wn C h a r l e s to wn
B o s to n R ox b u ry a n d D or c h e s fie r me nt i on e d i n t h e s a i d
v e s t e d wi t h a l l th e p o w e r s
a c t s h a l l b e a n d h e r eb y a re
a n d a utho ri ty b e l on g i n g o r i n a n y wa y a p p e r t ai n i n g to
P RO VI D E D t h a t n o
t h e Ov e rse e r s o f H a r v a r d C ol e g e
th i n g h e r e i n s h a l l b e con s t r u e d to p r e v e n t th e L e g is l a
tu re o f th is C o mm on we a lt h fro m ma k i n g s u c h a lt e r a
t i on s In th e go v e rn m e n t o f t he sa i d u n iv e r si t y a s s h al l
b e c on d uc i v e to i t s a d va n t age da n d th e i nt e r es t o f t he
r e p u b l i c o f l e tt e r s In a s full a / m a n n e r a s m i gh t h a v e
b e e n do n e b y th e L e g is l a t ur e bf th e l a t e P ro v i n c e o f
t h e M a s sa c h us e tt s B a y
.
-
,
-
,
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
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-
,
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
l
,
,
,
-
,
.
48
C HA P T E R
v
.
SEC TION II
.
E n cour age me n t
WISD OM an d
f
o
L it e r a t u r e ,
as v irtu e d i ffuse d
g en erally a mon g t he b ody of t h e p eopl e, b e i n g n e c e s
s ary fo r t h e preser v atio n of t h eir ri gh ts an d l ibe rties ;
an d a s t h ese dep en d o n spreadin g t h e O p portu n i t i es an d
ad v an ta g es o f ed u catio
t h e v ariou s p arts o f t h e
co u ntry an d amo n g t h e
re nt ord ers o f t h e p eople
i t s h all be t h e d uty of l e sl a t o rs an d m a g istrates i n all
futu re p eriods o f t h is C o m o n we a l t h t o c h er i s h t h e i n
e scie n c es an d all se m i n ar i e s
t e r e s t s o f li t e rat ure an
e r s i t y at C am bri d g e p ublic
o f t h e m ; esp ec i ally t h
I
sc h ools an d g ram m ar
h e to wns to e n c o u r
a g e p ri v ate societie s an d p u b li c i n stitutions re war d s
&
arts
a n d i m mu n ities fo r t h e p r m o t io n o f a g r i c ult u re
p
u fa c t u re s an d a n atu ra l
s cie nc es co m m e rce t r a
h istory o f t h e cou n try ;
t e n a n c e an d in cu lc ate
t h e p rinci ples o f h u ma n i ty an d g en eral ben e v ole n c e
p ublic an d pr i v ate c h ar i ty i nd u stry an d fr u g al ity h on
g oo d
e sty an d pu n ctu al ity i n t h ei r de alin g s ; sincer i ty
h u mor a n d a ll soc i al a ffections an d g e n erou s s e nt i
m ents a mon g t h e people
,
kndwl e d ge ,
as
Well
,
,
,
,
l
,
,
,
,
,
‘
,
,
,
,
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,
,
,
'
,
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49
C HAP
Oat hs
an
f
or a
f
.
In comp a t i bi l it y cy
B e e rs e l
ut u r e
V l
’
d Su b s cr ip t ion s ;
P r ovi s rou
TER
f
o
the
an d
E xcl u
‘
C on s t it u t i on , &c
AR T I — AN Y
.
p e rson c h ose n G o v ernor L ie uten an t
Go v erno r C ou nsellor S e n ator o r Rep rese ntati v e a n d
accept i n g t h e trust s h all be fore h e pro cee d to execu t e
t h e d uties o f h is pl ace o r o ffi ce m a k e an d subsc r ibe t li é
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
“
,
,
,
I A B do d e clare t h at I belie v e t h e c h rist i an r e Z
l ig io n an d h a v e a fi rm p e rs u as ion o f i t s trut h ; an d t h at &
I a m se i zed an d p ossesse d i n my o w n r i gh t o f t h e p r e p
e r t y requ ired by t h e C onstitution a s on e qu ali fi catio n fo r
&
t h e o ffi ce o r p lac e to w h ic h I a m ele cted
AND t h e Go v ern or Lie u tenan t Go v e rno r an d C ou n
sell e rs s h all m a k e an d s ubscribe t h e s aid d e claratio n
i n t h e p resen c e o f t h e t wo Hou ses o f A s se m bly ; a n d
&
t h e Sen ators an d Represe ntat i v es fi rst electe d u n de r t h is
C onst i tu t i on b e fore t h e Presid e n t an d fi ve o f t h e Coun
cil o f t h e form er C o n s t it u t l o n an d fore v e r a fter wards
b e fore t h e G o v ern o r an d C ou n cil fo r t h e tim e bein g
AN D e v ery p erson c h ose n to eit h e r o f t h e plac es or
o ffi ces a foresaid as als o any p erso n appointe d o r c o m
m ission ed to any j ud icial executi v e m ilitary o r ot h er
o ffi ce u n d er t h e g o v ern m en t s h all be fore h e e n ters o n
t h e disc h ar g e o f t h e busin ess o f h is plac e o r o ffi ce ta k e
'
-
.
,
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&
,
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i
.
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’
,
,
)
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’
50
su b scri b e t he fo ll o win g d eclar a t i on an d oaths or
a ffi r mations v iz
“
I A B d o truly an d since rely ac k n o wled g e pro
fess testi fy an d d e clare t h at t h e C o m mon w e al t h o f
Massac h usetts is an d o f r i gh t o u gh t to be a free so v e
rei g n an d i n d ep e n d e nt State ; an d I d o s wear t h a t I
w ill bear tru e fait h a n d alle g ianc e to t h e s a id C e mm o n
w ealt h and t h at I w ill d e fend t h e s am e a g ainst traitoro us
conspi racies an d all h ostil e atte m pts wh atso e v e r : An d
t h at I d o ren ou n c e an d abj ure al l alle g ian ce subj e ctio n
an d o b edie n ce to t h e & in g Q u ee n o r Go v ern m en t o f
G reat B ritai n (as t h e c ase m ay b e ) an d e v e ry o t h
e r fore i g n p o we r w h atsoe v e r A n d t h at n o forei g n
B rin ce
Pe rson Prelate State o r Poten tate h at h
or
any
o
u
gh
t
to
h
a
v
e
u
r
i
sdi
ction
sup
eriority
p
re
J
r
Il lé mi n e n c e a ut h ority d isp en sin g o r ot h er p o w er i n a n y
c j ria t t e r ci v il e cclesiast ic al o r sp i r i tu al w i t h i n t h is C o m
f
It io n w e a l t h ; e xcep t t h e au t h ori ty a n d p o w er w h i c h i s
r
i fip r m a y b e v ested by t h ei r C onstitu en ts i n t h e C o n g res s
r an it e U n ited States : An d I d o fu rt h e r testi fy an d d e
G
dl a re t h at n o m an o r body o f m e n h at h o r c an h a v e
an y ri gh t to absol v e or d isc h ar g e m e fro m t h e obli g a
“
t i o n o f t h is oat h d ecl a r ation o r a ffi r m ation ; and t h at I
m a k e t h is ac k n o wled g m en t p ro fession testi mony
i
id e c l a r a t io n d enial re n u n ciat i on an d abj uration h eartily
and tru l y accordi n g to t h e co m m o n m ean in g an d a o
c e t a t i o n o f t h e fore g o i n
ords
it
h
o
t
any
equi
v
oc
a
w
u
w
p
g
tion m ental e v asion or s ecret rese r v ation w h atsoe v e r
&
So h elp m e G OD
“
I A B do sole mnly s we ar an d a ffi r m t ha t I wil l
fait h fully and i m partially d is c ha r g e an d p er for m a l l t h e
d uties i n cu mb en t on m e as
a ccord in g to t h e b est o f m y abilities an d u n derstan d i n g
a g reea b ly to t h e r ules and re g ul a t i ons o f t h e C on s t it u
an d
,
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
&
,
,
,
,
,
u
o
,
o
,
,
,
‘
,
,
,
,
,
‘
,
m
‘
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i
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,
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51
tion an d t h e l a ws o f t h is C o m mon wealt h
So h el p
me G OD
P R O V IDED al ways t h at w h en any p erson c h ose n o r
appointe d as a foresaid s h all b e o f t h e d eno min ation o f
t h e p eop le calle d Q u a k e rs and s h all d eclin e ta k in g t h e
s aid oat h s h e s h all m a k e h is a ffi rm atio n i n t h e fore g o
o mittin g t h e wo rds
i n g form and s ubscribe t h e sam e
&
&
&
“
“
“
a n d a bj u r e
I d o s we a r
o a t h or
a n d a bj u
&
in t h e fi rst oat h ; an d i n t h e secon d o at h t h e
r a t i on
&
“
s we a r a n d ;
an d i n e ac h o f t h e m t h e words
w ord s
“
s ubj oinin g Instead t h e reo f This
So he lp m e G O D
&
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
u n de r
I do
t he p
ai n s
an
d p e n a l t i e s of p e rj ury
a ffi r m ations s h all be ta k e n
&
.
t h e sa i d oat h s o r
an d
s ubscribe d by t h e G o v e rno r L ieu te n an t Go v e rn or a n d
C o unsello rs be fore t h e President o f t h e S en ate i n t h e
p resen ce o f t h e t wo H o uses o f Asse mbly ; an d by t h e
Se nators an d Rep re sentati v es fi r st electe d u nde r t h is
C onsti t u tion be fore t h e Preside nt an d fi ve o f t h e C o un
cil o f t h e form er C onstitu tion ; an d fore v e r a fte r wards
b e fore t h e Go v ernor an d C o u n cil fo r t h e ti m e bein g
An d by t h e resid u e o f t h e o ffi ce rs a fo resaid b e fore s uc h
p ersons an d i n s uc h m an n e r as fro m tim e to ti me s h al l
b e p rescribe d by t h e L e g islature
AND
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
I I —No G o v ernor L i e uten an t G o v ernor or Jud g e o f
t h e Supre me Ju dicial C ou rt s h all h ol d any ot h er o ffi ce
u nde r t h e aut h ority o f t h is C o m mon w ealt h
o r pl ace
except su c h as by t h is C onstitution t h ey are ad mitte d to
h old sa v in g t h a t t h e J ud g es o f t h e said C ou rt may h ol d
t h e o ffi ces o f Justices o f t h e Peace t h ro u gh t h e S tate ;
o r re cei v e
n o r s h al l t h ey h old any ot h er place o r o ffi ce
any p ension o r salary fro m an y ot he r State o r G o v ern
ment o r Po wer wh ate v e r
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
52
p erson s h all be c apable o f h oldi n g or e xercisin g
at t h e sam e ti m e w it h i n t h is State more t h an o n e o f
—
c
o
P
r
t h e follo w in g o ffi ces v iz J ud g e f
S h e ri ff
rb a t e
Re g iste r o f Probate —o r Re g iste r o f D e eds —and n e v er
m ore t h an any t wo o ffi ces wh ic h are to b e h eld by
a ppoi nt m e nt o f t h e Go v e rn or o r t h e G o ve rn or an d C ou n
cil o r t h e S en ate or t h e H ouse o f Represen t ati v es o r
b y t h e electio n o f t h e p eop le o f t h e State a t lar g e or
m ilitary o ffi ces and t h e
o f t h e peopl e o f any co u n ty
o ffi ces o f Justices o f t h e Peac e excepte d s h all be h el d
by o n e perso n
No p erso n h oldin g t h e o ffi c e o f J u d g e o f t h e Sup re m e
Judici a l C o u rt —Se cret a ry— Attorn ey G en e ral — Solici
tor G eneral —Treasu re r o r Re cei v e r G en e ral — Ju d g e
o f Probate — C o m m i s s a ry G ene ral — Presiden t
Pr o fe s
sor o r I ns t r uctor o f H ar v ard C ol le g e — S h e ri ff— Cl er k
o f t h e H ouse o f Re p rese ntati v es — Re g iste r o f P robate
-Re g iste r o f D e eds —C le r k o f t h e
Supre m e J u dicial
C ourt—C le r k o f t h e In fe r m r C o urt o f C o m m o n Ple as
—o r O ffi cer o f t h e C usto ms i n cl udin g i n t h is d e s c r ip
tion Na v al O ffi c e r s — s h all at t h e s a m e ti m e h a ve a se at
i n t h e Sen ate o r Ho use o f Represe n tati v es ; b u t
t h eir bei n g c h osen o r a ppoi n ted to an d acce ptin g
t h e sam e s h all operate as a resi g n atio n o f t h e n seat i n
t h e Senate o r House o f Rep rese ntati v es and t h e place
so v acated s h al l be fi lled U p
AND t h e sa m e rul e s h all ta k e pl ac e i n c ase any j ud g e
o f t h e said S upre me Judicial C ou rt o r J u d g e o f Pro
b ate s h all accept a seat in C ou n cil ; o r any C o unsellor
s h all accept o f e it h er o f t h ose o ffices or plac
AND n o person s h al l e v e r be ad mitted to h ol d a seat
i n t h e Le g isl a tu re o r a n y o ffi c e o f trust o r importan ce
u nde r t h e Go v ern men t o f t h is Com mon we alt h
w ho
No
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
‘
,
,
,
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,
.
,
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,
54
—TH E p ri v ile g e
ben e fi t o f t h e writ o f h ab e a s
corp u s s h al l b e e nj oye d i n t h is C o m mon wealt h in t h e
m ost free easy c h e a p exp editiou s an d a mpl e m anne r ;
an d s h al l n ot b e suspen d e d b y t he Le g isl at ure e xcep t
U pon t h e most u r g e n t an d pressin g occas i ons an d fo r a
limite d t i m e n ot exceedin g t wel v e mon t h s
Vl I
.
an d
,
,
,
‘
,
,
'
.
V l II — TH E
enact i n g style i n ma k i n g an d p ass i n g al l
B e it e n acte d b y t h e
a cts statu tes an d l a ws s h al l b e
Se nate an d H ouse o f Rep resentati v es i n Gen er al C o u r t
asse mbled an d by t h e au t h ority o f t h e sam e
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
— T o t h e en d t h e re ma y b e n o fail ure o f j ustic e o r
d an g er arise to t h e C o m m on we alt h fro m a c h an g e o f
t h e Form o f G o v ern m ent— all o ffi ce rs ci v il a n d mi l itary
h old in g co m missions u n de r t h e g o v e rn m e n t an d p eopl e
E n g lan d a n d all ot h e r
o f M as s a c h us e t t s B a y i n Ne w—
o ffi ce r s o f t h e said g o v e rn m en t an d p eople at t h e ti me
t h is C onstitution s h all ta k e e ffec t s h all h a v e h e ld use
e xercise and enj oy a l l t h e po we rs an d aut h or i ty to t h e m
g ranted o r co m mitted u ntil ot h e r pe rson s s h all be a p
pointed i n t h eir stead An d a ll cou rts o f l a w s h all p ro
c e e d i n t h e exec ution o f t h e busin ess o f t h eir respecti v e
d epartme nts ; an d all t h e e x e cu ti v e a nd l e g islati v e o ffi
c e rs bod ies an d po we rs s h a l l contin u e in full force i n
t h e enj oy m ent an d exercise o f all t h ei r trusts e mploy
m ents and aut h ority ; u ntil t h e G eneral Cou rt an d t h e
su pre m e and e xecut i v e o ffi cers u nd e r t h is C onstitutio n
are d esi g n ated and in v este d wit h t h e i r respecti v e trusts
p o wers and a ut h or i ty
IX
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
— IN orde r t h e more e ffectually to ad h ere to t h e
principles o f t h e C onstitu tion a n d to correct t he s e v i o
X
.
,
55
i c h by
m e an s m a y b e m ad e t h erein as
w ell as to form s uc h alterations as fro m ex pe rien c e s h al l
b e fou nd n ecessary—t h e G e n e ral C ourt wh ic h s h all b e
i n t h e ye ar o f o u r Lord on e t h ousan d se v e n h und re d
an d n i nety fi ve s h all issu e p re cepts to t h e Sele ctm en o f
t h e se v e ral to wns an d to t h e Assessors o f t h e u n in c o r
o ra t e d plantations d i re ctin g t h e m to con v e n e t h e q u a
p
l ifi e d v oters o f t h eir resp e cti ve to wn s and pl a n tation s
fo r t h e p urp ose o f colle ctin g t h ei r se nti ments o n t h e n e
c e s s it y o r exped i enc y o f re v isin g t h e C on stitu tion
in
o rder to a m en d m en ts
AN D i f it s h al l ap p ear by t h e retu rn s m ad e t h at t wo
t h i rds o f t h e qu ali fi ed v ote rs t h ro u gh ou t t h e S tate w h o
s h al l asse mbl e an d v ote i n consequ en c e o f t h e sai d p re
th e
c e p t s are in fa v or o f su c h re v ision o r a m end m e nt
Ge n e ral C o u rt s h all issu e p re c epts o r dire c t t h e m to b e
’
i ssu e d fro m t h e Secretary s o ffi c e to t h e s e v e r a l to wns
to elec t D ele g ates to m ee t i n C on v en tion fo r t h e p ur
pose a foresaid
TH E sa i d D ele g ates to be c h os en i n t h e sa m e m an n e r
a n d p roportion as t h eir Represe ntati v es i n t h e secon d
b ranc h o f t h e L e g islature a r e by t h is C onsti t u tio n to b e
c h osen
l a t ion s wh
a ny
,
,
-
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
XI —
T
for m
of
g o v ern me n t s h all b e e n rolle d o n
’
parc h me nt and d eposited i n t h e Se c retary s o ffi c e a n d
be a part o f t h e la ws o f t h e l a n d —an d p rin ted copies
t h e reo f s h all b e p re fi xed to t h e boo k containin g t h e l a ws
o f t h is C o m mon we alt h i n all futu re e ditions o f t h e sai d
l a ws
JA ME S B O WD O I N P r es id e n t
.
H IS
,
,
,
.
,
A TTE S T
,
SAM UE L
B AR RE TT , Se cr e t a r y
.
.
56
A RT I C L E S
AM E ND M E NT OF T H E C ON
STIT UT IO N s ub mitte d by D e l eg a t e s i n C on ven
t ion a s s e m b l e d No v e mb er 1 5 1 820 to t h e People ;
an d by t h e m r ati fied and adopte d Ap ril 9 1 82 1 c er
t ifi e d b y a C o m m itte e o f t h e C on v e n t i on May 24
1 82 1 a n d prese nte d to t h e G e neral Co urt May 3 0
OF
,
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
1 82 1
,
'
,
.
—
If an y bill o r resol v e s h al l b e obj ecte d
A
to an d n ot ap pro v ed by t h e G o v ern o r ; a n d if t h e G e n
e ral C ou rt s h al l adj ou rn w it h i n fi ve d ays a fte r t h e s am e
s h all h a v e be e n l aid be fore t h e G o v e rn or fo r h is app ro
b a t io n a n d t h e reby pre v en t h is r etu rn i n g it wit h h is o b
i
uc h b ill o r
as
p
ro
v
ide
d
by
t
h
e
C
onst
i
tu
t
on
s
e c t io u s
;
j
resol v e s h all n ot beco me a l a w nor h a v e forc e as su c h
“
RT
.
1
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
AR T 2
T h e G en eral C ou rt s h all h a v e ful l p o we r
an d aut h ority to e re ct an d constitu t e m u nicip al o r city
g o v ern ments i n any corporate to w n o r to w ns i n t h is
C o m mon we alt h and to g ran t to t h e i n h abitants t h ereo f
suc h p o v é rs p ri v ile g es a n d i m mu ni ties n ot rep u g n an t
to t h e C onstitution as t h e G en eral C ou rt s h all d e e m
n ecessary o r ex p e d ien t fo r t h e re g ulation an d g o v ern
m ent t h ereo f an d to p rescribe t h e m an n e r o f callin g
and h oldin g p ublic m eetin g s o f t h e i n h abit a nts i n w ards
o r o t h er wise fo r t h e election o f o ffi ce rs u nd er t h e c o u
s t it u t io n an d t h e man ner o f r e t u r n i n
t
h
e
v
otes
g
i
v
e
n
at
g
suc h m eetin g s Pro v ided t h at n o suc h g o v ern m en t s h al l
be erected o r constituted in any to wn n ot conta i n i n g
.
.
-
,
v
,
,
,
‘
,
,
,
,
,
57
t wel v e t h ousan d in h ab i tan ts ; n or u nless i t b e w i t h t he
con sen t an d o n t h e ap plic atio n o f a m aj ority o f t h e i n
h abitants o f su c h to wn p resen t an d v otin g t h ereon
p u rs u ant to a v ote at a m eetin g d uly warn ed an d h old en
fo r t h at p u rpose
An d p ro v id ed also t h at all b y l a ws ,
m ad e by s u c h m u m c 1p a l o r city g o v ern m en t s h all b e
subj ect at all ti m es to b e ann u lled by t h e G en er a l
C ou rt
,
,
-
,
,
,
,
.
—
E v ery mal e citize n o f t we n t y o n e ye ars o f
A
u nd e r
exc
eptin
g
p
aup
ers
and
pe
rson
s
a e an d u p w ards
g
(
g u ardi ans h ip ) w h o s h a l l h a v e resid ed wit h i n t h e C o m
m o n w e a l t h on e ye a r an d w it h i n t h e to wn o r d istrict i n
w h ic h h e m ay clai m a ri gh t to v ote six c al e nd ar mon t h s
n ext p re cedin g any election o f Go v ern or
Lie uten an t
Go v e rn or S en ators or Rep resen tati v es an d wh o s h al l
h a v e p aid by h i msel f o r h is p a r e n t m a s ter o r g uardian
an y state o r c ou n ty tax w h ic h s h all w it h in t wo years
h a v e be e n assesse d u p o n
n e xt precedin g su c h election
h i m in any to w n o r d istric t o f t h is C o m m on we alt h ;
an d also e v ery c itizen who s h all b e by l a w exe m pte d
fro m tax ation a n d wh o s h all be i n al l ot h e r resp e cts
quali fi e d as abo v e m ention ed s h all h a v e a ri gh t to v ote
in s u c h election o f G o v ern or Lie ute n an t Go v e rn o r
S en ators an d Rep rese ntati v es ; an d n o ot h e r p erson
s h all b e e ntitle d to v o te i n su c h el e ct i ons
R T.
3
o
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
AR T 4
.
—
Notaries Public s h a l l b e a p po i nte d
.
by
th e
Go v e rnor i n t h e s a m e m an n e r as j udici al o ffi ce rs a r e
appoin ted and s h all h old t h ei r o ffi ces d u rin g se v e n ye ars
u n less soo n e r re mo v ed by t h e Go v e rno r w it h t h e con
sen t o f t h e C o un cil u p on t h e address o f b ot h h ouses
o f t h e L e g islature
8s
‘
,
,
,
,
,
.
58
c ase t h e o ffi ce o f S ec re tary or Treasu re r o f t h e
C om mon wealt h s h al l be co me v ac an t fro m any c a u se
d urin g t h e re cess o f t h e G e ne ral C ou rt t h e Go v ernor
w it h t h e ad v ice an d conse n t o f t h e C ou n cil s h all n o m
i n a t e a n d a p point u n de r suc h re g ul ation s a s m ay b e
p resc ribed by l a w a c o mp eten t a n d su itable person t o
su c h v ac a n t o ffi c e who s h all h old t h e sam e u ntil a su c
cessor s h all b e app oi nted b v t h e Ge n eral C ou rt
Wh en e v e r t h e exi g e n c 1es o f t h e C o m mon w ealt h s h all
require t h e appointme nt o f a C o m missary G en e ral h e
s h al l b e nomi nated ap poin t e d an d co m m issio n e d i n
su c h man n er as t h e Le g islatu re m ay by l a w prescribe
All o ffi cers co m m ission e d to co m m an d i n t h e Mil iti a
m a y be re mo v e d fro m o ffi ce i n suc h m an n e r as t h e L e
i
l
a t ur e m ay by l a w p rescribe
s
g
In
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
AR T 5
,
.
—In t h e e l e ction s
C aptain s an d S u b altern s
o f t h e Militia all t h e m e m b e rs o f t h e ir resp e cti v e c om
i
w
u nd e r as t h os e abo v e t h e a g e o f
an
e
s
as
ell
t
h
ose
p
t wen ty one years s h all h a v e a ri gh t to v o t e
.
.
of
,
,
,
-
,
AR T 6
.
—
I nste ad
of
t h e oat h o f alle g i an ce presc rib e d
by t h e C onstitu tion t h e follo win g o at h s h all b e ta k e n
an d subscribe d by e v e ry p erson c h ose n o r ap poi nte d to
any o ffi ce ci v il o r military u nd e r t h e Go v e rn m e n t o f
t h is C o m mon we alt h be fore h e s h all e n te r o n t h e d u ties
o f h is o ffi ce to wi t :
“
1 A B d o sole m nly s we ar t h at I will be ar tr u e
fait h an d alle g iance to t h e C o m m on w e a lt h o f Massa
c h use t t s and wi ll su p port t h e C onstitutio n t h e reo f
So
&
h elp m e G od
P r ovid e d T h at wh en any p erson s h all b e o f t h e d e
nominatio n called Q ua k e rs an d s h all d e clin e ta ki n g s a i d
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
.
,
,
59
o at h h e s h all ma k e h is a ffi rm atio n i n t h e fore g oin g
&
“
s wear an d inse rtin g instead
form omittin g t h e w e i d
&
“
“
f
ffi
t h ereo t h e w ord a rm an d o m ittin g t h e words so
&
h elp m e God an d s u bj oi ni ng i nstead t h ereo f t h e
“
t hi s l do u n de r t h e p ain s an d p en alties o f
w ords
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
9)
—No o at h declarat i on
su b s cr i pt i on e x
c e p t i n g t h e o at h p rescribed i n t h e p re c edin g article
a n d t h e o at h o f o ffi c e s h all b e r e u i i e d o f t h e Go v e r
q
n or Lie u ten an t G o v e rn o r C ou nsellors Se n ators o r
Rep resen tati v es to qu ali fy t h e m to p er for m t h e d uti es
o f t h eir resp ect i v e o ffi ces
AR T 7
.
.
,
or
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
—No j ud g e o f a n y C o u rt o f t h is C o m m o n
w ealt h (ex ce pt t h e C o u rt o f S essio ns ) a n d no p erso n
h oldin g any o ffi ce u n de r t h e au t h o r ity o f t h e U nite d
States (Postmaste rs exce p ted ) s h all at t h e sam e ti m e
h ol d t h e o ffi c e o f Go v ernor Lie ute n ant G o v ernor or
C o u nsellor or h a v e a se at i n t h e Se n ate o r H ouse o f
R epresentati v es o f t h is C o m mo n we al t h ; an d no Ju d g e
exc
e
pt
t
h
e
C
ou
rt
o f any C ou rt i n t h is C o m m on we al t h
(
n
o
r
t
h
e
Attorn
ey
G
e
n eral
S
olicitor
G
e
n
o f S essions
)
e ral C o u nty Attorn ey Cle r k o f an y C ou rt S h e ri ff
Tre asure r an d Re ce i v e r G e n e r a l Re g ister o f Prob a te
n o r Re g ister o f D eed s s h all con tin u e to h o l d h is sai d
o ffi c e a ft er bein g el ecte d a m e m b e r o f t h e Con g ress o f
t h e U nited States a n d acce ptin g t h at tru st ; b u t t h e
acce p tan ce o f su c h tru st by any o f t h e o ffi cer s a foresaid
s h all be d eem e d and t a k e n to b e a re s i g n a tion o f h is
said o ffi c e ; an d Jud g es o f t h e C ou rts o f C o m m o n Ple a s
s h all h old n o ot h er o ffi c e u nd e r t h e g o v e rn m e n t o f t h is
C o m mo n we alt h t h e o ffi c e o f J ust i c e o f t h e Pe ac e an d
Militi a o ffi c es e xce p te d
AR T 8
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
60
—If
at any ti m e h ere a fter a n y s p e ci fi c an d
p a rticular a m e nd men t o r am en d m e n ts to t h e C o n s t it u
tion b e proposed i n t h e G en eral C o u rt an d a g ree d to
by a maj ority o f t h e Se n ators an d t wo t h irds o f t h e
Me mbers o f t h e H ou s e o f Rep rese ntati v es p resen t an d
v ot i n g t h ereon su c h pr e pose d a mend me n t o r a men d
m ents s h all be e nte red on t h e j ou rn als o f t h e t wo H ouses
an d re ferre d to
w it h t h e ye as an d n ays ta k e n t h ereon
t h e G en e ral C ou rt t h e n n ext to b e c h osen an d s h all b e
p ublis h ed ; an d if in t h e Ge n eral C ou rt n ex t c h osen as
suc h p r e posed a m e nd m en t o r a m en d men ts
a foresaid
s h all b e a g re ed to by a maj ority o f t h e S en ators an d
t wo t h irds o f t h e Me mbe rs o f t h e Ho use o f R e p r e
s e n t a t i ve s p resent an d v otin g t h e reon ; t h e n it s h all
b e t he d uty o f t h e G en eral C o u r t to s ub m it su c h
p r e pose d a men d me nt o r am en d m ents to t h e p eop le ;
an d if t h ey s h all be app ro v e d an d rati fi ed by a m a
o r i t y o f t h e q u ali fi ed v ote rs v otin g t h e re on
at m e et
j
i n g s le g ally w arn e d an d h olde n fo r t h at p u rp ose t h ey
s h all b e co m e p art o f t h e C onst i tutio n o f t h is C o m mon
&
we a lt h
AR T 9
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
62
to t h e n ext d ay and a g ain to t h e
bu t no fu r th e r B u t in case a
n ext succe ed in g d ay
s econd m eetin g s h a l l be n e cessary fo r t h e c h oic e o f
R ep rese ntat i v es su c h meetin g s s h all be h el d o n t h e
fou rt h Mond ay o f t h e sam e m o nt h o f No v e mb e r
All t h e ot h e r p ro v isions o f t h e C onstit utio n resp ect
i n g t h e ele ctions an d p rocee d in g s o f t h e m e mb ers o f t h e
G en eral C ou rt or any ot h er o ffi cers o r p ersons wh at
e v er t h at h a v e re fe ren ce to t h e l ast We d n esd ay o f May
as t h e co m men c e men t o f t h e p oliti cal y ear s h all be s o
fa r altered as to h a v e li k e re fere n ce to t h e fi rst We d
n e sd a
f
J
o
a n u ary
y
T h is articl e s h al l g o into O p eration on t h e fi rst d ay
o f O ctober n ext follo win g t h e d ay w h e n t h e sam e s h all
be d uly rati fi e d an d adopte d as an a m e nd m e nt o f t h e
C onstit ution an d t h e Go v e rn or L ie ute n an t G o v e rno r
Cou nsellors Sen ators Re prese n tati v es an d all ot h e r
state o ffi cers w ho are a n n u ally c h ose n an d w h o s h all
b e c h ose n fo r t h e c u rren t ye ar w h e n t h e sa m e s h all g o
in to op eration s h all h ol d t h ei r respe cti v e o ffi ces u ntil
t h e fi rst Wed n esd ay o f J an u ary t h e n n ext follo win g an d
u n til ot h ers are c h ose n an d qu ali fi ed in t h ei r ste a d an d
n o lon g er ; and t h e fi rst ele ction o f t h e Go v ernor Li e u
ten an t Go v ern or Sen ators an d Represen tati v es to b e
h ad i n v irtu e o f t h is articl e s h al l b e h a d con form ably
t h ereu nto in t h e m on t h o f No v e mbe r follo win g t h e d ay
on w h i c h t h e sam e s h all b e i n forc e and g o in to op era
t i on p u rsu an t to t h e fore g oin g p ro v ision
AL L t h e p ro v isions o f t h e ex istin g C onstitution i n
consisten t w it h t h e pro v is i o ns h erei n con tai n ed are
&
h ere b y wh olly an n ul l ed
of
Representati v es ,
,
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Qt e ttt moutn raIt t)
’
S E C R E TA R Y S
O FF IC E , AU GU S T 30, 1 832
.
th a t I h a e c o m p a e d the C o py f the Fo m f Go e n
m e n t a g ee d p o b y the C on e n t on f 1 780 as h e e p i n te d w i h the
the
C ns t t t i o as fi nall y a t i fi e d e n g oss e d on p a ch m e n t and d p i d
P b l c A ch i e s and fi d th a i t e a ct l y c o e s p onds the e w i th
I h a e al so
c o m p a e d the fo e go i n g p i n te d p i f th s e e al Am e nd m e n s t o the
i on W th the o g nal s as e n g oss e d
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The follo w i n g
Articl e o f A m en d m en t o f t he
h as bee n a g reed to by con s titu tion al m a
l ast a n d p rese n t L e g isl atu re a n d is to b
t h e peop l e fo r t h ei r rati fi c atio n o r r ej
secon d Monday o f No v e m b er n e x t If r a t
i t w ill beco m e t h e
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f
V E NT H A R T I C L E
f
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t he
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d
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ifi
an d
O F AM E N
f
o
t he B i l l
a
Am e n d m e n t t
s tit ut e d .
A s t h e P ubl ic Wors h ip o f God an d i i
p i ety reli g ion an d mor a lity pro mot e t h e l
of
rosperi
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peopl
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sec
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o
f
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d
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p
G o v ern m e n t : t h ere fore t h e se v er a l Re l igi
o f t h is C o m m on w eal t h w h e t h er co rpor a t e
r ate at an y m ee tin
a rn ed and h e
l
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g
all
y
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g
p u rpose s ha l l e v er h a v e t he ri gh t to ele c t
o r rel i g iou s teac h ers
to con tract w i t h t l
su pport to raise mon ey fo r erec tin g a n d re &
fo r Pub l ic Wors h ip fo r t h e m ai n t e nance o f
stru ction and fo r t h e p ay m en t o f n e c e s s z
A n d a l l person s belon g in g to any R el i g iou s
be ta k en a n d h eld to be m e m be rs u n ti l
w i t h t h e C ler k o f s uc h Society a w ritte n n o
t h e d issol u tion o f t h eir m e mbers h ip a n t
s h a ll n o t be liabl e fo r a n y g ran t o r c o n t r a r
be t h erea fte r m ade o r en tere d i n to b y s uc h
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reli g i o u s sect s an d d eno m i n atio n s d e m ea n i n g t h e m
se l v es p e a ceably a n d a s g ood ci ti zen s o f t h e C o m m o n
w e alt h s h all b e equ a ll y u nd e r t h e p rot e ction o f t h e
l a w ; an d no s ubord inat i on o f a n y o n e sect o r d e nom i n a
t i o n t o a n ot h er s h a l l e v er b e es tab l i s h e d b y l a w
al
l
,
,
.
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certi fy t h a t t h e fore goin g i s a tru e co p y
or i g i n a l R e s ol v e n e w on t h e fi les o f t h e S en a te
I
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C H As
.
t he
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C AL H 0 UN,
Cl e r k
f
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t h e Se n a t e
.
66
Represen tati v e s an d d irec t t ax e s s h al l b e a pportione d
a mon g t h e se v er a l S t a t es w h ic h m ay b e i ncl ud e d Wit h i n
t h is U nion accord in g to t h eir re spec ti v e n u mbers wh ic h
s h all be d ete rm ined by add in g to t h e w h ol e n u mbe r o f
m
f
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persons
i
ncl
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ears
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of
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T h e a ctu al e n u m eration s h al l be m ad e
a l l ot h er persons
w it h i n t h re e y e a rs a fter t h e fi rs t m e et in g o f t h e C on g res s
a nd w it h i n e v e ry su bsequ en t ter m
o f t h e U n ited S tat es
o f ten y e a rs i n suc h m an n er as t h e y s h all by l a w d irect
T h e n u mber o f R eprese nt a ti v es s h a l l n o t ex ceed en e fo r
e v ery t h irty t h ousan d ; b u t e a c h S tat e s h al l h a v e a t l eas t
an d u nti l suc h e n u m eratio n s h al l b e
o n e Represen tati v e
m a d e t h e S tate o f Ne w H a m ps h ire s h a l l b e e n titl ed t o
c h oose t h ree Mass a c h u se t ts e i gh t R h od e I sl a n d an d
Pro v id ence Pl an tations o n e C o n n ecticu t fi v e Ne w Yor k
six Ne w J e rs ey fou r Pen n sy l van ia ei gh t D ela w a re o n e
M a ry l a nd si x V ir g in ia ten Nort h C arolin a fi ve , Sou t h
C arolin a fi ve a n d G eor g i a t h ree
Wh en v acancies h ap pe n i n t h e represen tat i o n fro ma n y
S tate t h e E x ec uti v e au t h ority t h ereo f s h al l issu e w rits
o f election t o fi l l s uc h v acancie s
T h e H ou se o f R ep res entati v e s s h all c h o os e t h e i r
S pe a k er an d ot h e r o ffi cers an d s h all h a v e t h e sol e p o w
er o f i mp eac h m en t
,
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T h e Sen at e o f t h e Un ite d S tate s s h al l b e
com posed o f t w o S en ators fro m e ac h S tate c h ose n b y
t h e L e g isl atu re t h ereo f fo r s i x y e a rs ; a n d e ac h S e n ator
s h all h a v e o n e v ote
I m m ed iately a fte r t h ey s h al l be a s sem ble d i n c o n s e
u
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t h e fi rst elec tion t h ey s h al l b e d i v ided as
q
equ al ly as m a y be i n to t h ree c l asses T h e seats o f t h e
SE C 3
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67
S en ators o f t h e fi rst class s h al l b e v a c a t e d at t h e
o f t h e secon d cl a ss a t t h
t ion o f t h e secon d y ear
a n d o f t h e t h i rd class
ear
r ation o f t h e fo u rt h
;
y
e xp i r a t i on o f t h e si x t h y ear ; so t h at o n e t h ird n
c h osen e v ery s econ d y ear ; an d if v aca ncies h a pp
d ur i n g t h e rece ss o f t h e
r esi g nation o r ot h er wise
l atu r o o f any S tate t h e E xecu ti v e t h ereo f m a y
t e m p or a ry a p p oin t m e n ts u n ti l t h e n ex t m e e tin
g
L e g islatu re w h ic h s h al l t h e n fi l l suc h v acancies
No p e rso n s h al l b e a S e n ato r w h o s h a l l n o t b :
t a i n e d t o t h e a g e o f t h irty y e ars
a n d bee n n in e 3
c itizen o f t h e U n ite d S tates a n d w h o s h a l l n o t
el ected be a n i n h abi tan t o f t h a t S tate fo r w h ic h h
b e c h osen
T h e V ice P re sid e n t o f t h e U n ite d S tates s h al l b f
iden t o f t h e Se nate b u t s h al l h a v e n o v ote u n l e s
b e equal ly di v ided
T h e S enate s h al l c h oose t h eir ot h e r o ffice r s a t
a P re s ide n t p ro te m pore in t h e absen c e o f t i
Presid en t o r w h e n h e s h al l e x e rcise t h e o ffi ce o f
d en t o f t h e U n ite d S t ates
T h e S enat e s h a l l h a v e t h e sol e po w e r to try
e a c h m e n t s : w h e n sittin g fo r t h at pu rpose t h ey s
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T h e t i m es places
m a n n e r o f h old in g
election s fo r S e n a t o rs an d R e p rese ntati v es s h al l be p re
c h S tate b y t h e L eg islat ure t h e reo f ; b u t t h e
s crib e d i n e a
C on g ress m ay at an y t i m e b y l a w m a k e o r al te r suc h
re g ulat i on s ex cep t as t o t h e places o f c h o o s i n g Se n ators
T h e C on g ress s h all asse mbl e a t l eas t o nce i n e v ery
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a ma ori ty o f eac h s h al l co n sti tut e a q u o ru m to d o bu s 1
j
b u t a s malle r n u m ber m ay a dj ou rn fro m d ay Lt o day
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s en t m em b ers i n s uc h m a n n e r a n d u n der s uc h p e n a l ti es
a s e ac h H ou se m ay p ro v id e
E a c h H ou se m a y d eter m in e t h e ru les o f i ts p roceed
i ng s a n d p u n is h its m e m bers fo r d isord e rly be h a v io r
a n d w it h t h e concu rrence o f t w o t h irds
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s h al l k eep a j o u rn al o f i ts p roceedin g s
a n d fro m ti m e to ti m e p ublis h t h e s a m e
e xcep tin g su c h
a rts as m a
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h e en tered o n t h e j ourn a l
N e it h e r H o u se d u r i n g t h e sessio n o f C o n g ress s h al l
w it h ou t t h e c o nse n t o f t h e o t h e r ad ou r n fo r m or e t h a n
j
t h re e d ays n o r to a n y o t h e r p lac e t h an t h at i n wh i c h
t h e t wo H ou s es s h all b e sitt i n g
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The Se n a tors
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s ha
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t h ei r s e r v i c es to b e asce rtai n
a co m p e nsa tio n fo r
e d by l a w an d p aid o u t o f t h e Tr e asu ry o f t h e Un ite d
T h ey s h al l i n al l c ases e x c ep t tr e ason fe l d n y
States
a n d b reac h o f t h e p e ac e b e p ri v il e g e d fro m arres t d u r
i n g t h e i r atte n d an ce a t t h e s essio n o f t h e i r r esp e cti v e
H o us es , an d i n g o i n g t o a n d re tu r ni n g fro m t h e s a m e
an d fo r a ny sp e e c h o r d eb ate i n e i t h e r H o u se t h e y s h a l l
n o t b e qu estio n e d i n an y o t h e r p lac e
No S e n ator o r R e p rese n tati v e s h all d u ri n g t h e ti m e
fo r w h ic h h e w a s el e cted b e ap p oi n te d to an y c i v il
o ffi c e u nd e r t h e au t h o rity o f t h e U nite d States w h ic h
s h all h a v e b e e n c re ate d or t h e e m ol u m e n ts w h e re o f
s h all h a v e be e n i n cr e ase d d u rin g su c h ti m e a n d n o p e r
so n h ol d in g an y o ffi c e u n d e r t h e U n ite d S tates s h all b e
a Me m b e r o f e it h e r H o ns e
d u rin g h is co n tin u a n c e i n
o ffi c e
c e i ve
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Al l b ills fo r raisi n g r e v e n u e s h all o ri g i n ate
i n t h e H o u s e o f R e p rese n tati v e s ; b u t t h e S e n ate m a y
p r e p os e o r c o n c u r w it h a m e n d m e n ts as o n o t h e r b ills
E v e ry b ill w h i c h s h all h a v e p asse d t h e H o u s e o f R e
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r e s e n t a t i ve s an d t h e
a
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l a w b e p rese n te d to t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n ite d Stat es
i f h e ap p r o v e h e s h al l s i g n i t b u t if n ot h e s h all r e tu r n
i t wi t h h i s obj e ctio n s t o t h at H o us e i n wh ic h i t s h all
h a v e o r i gi n a t e d w h o s h all e n te r t h e obj e ction s at l a r g e
o n t h ei r j o u rn al
an d p ro ce e d to re c o nsid er it If a fte r
s u c h re con s i d e ratio n
t wo t h i rd s o f t h at H o u s e s h al l
a g re e t o p ass t h e bill i t s h all b e s e n t to g et h e r w it h t h e
obj e c t io ns to t h e ot h e r H o u Se by w h i c h i t s h all l i k e w is e
b e r e co n sid e re d an d i f ap p ro v e d by t wo t h ird s o f t h a t
H ouse i t s h al l b e co m e a l a w B u t i n al l s u c h c ases
t h e v ote s o f b ot h H o uses s h all b e d e te r m i n e d by y eas
SE C
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70
a n d n a vs ; an d t h e n a m es o f t h e pe rso n s v otin g fo r a n d
a g ainst t h e bill s h al l b e e n te re d o n t h e j o u rn al o f e ac h
H o u s e res p ect i v el y If an y b ill s h al l n o t b e re tu rn e d
by t h e Pre sid e n t w it h i n te n d a y s (S u n d ays e x c e pte d )
a fte r i t s h all h a v e b e e n p res e nte d to h i m t h e s a m e s h all
b e a l a w i n l i k e m an n e r as if h e h ad Si g n e d it u n l es s
t h e C on g ress b y t h ei r a dj o u rn m e n t p r e v e n t its ret u r n
i n w h ic h c as e i t s h al l n o t b e a l a w
E v e r y o rd er r esol u tio n o r v ote t o w h ic h t h e c o n c u r
re n c e o f t h e Se n ate a n d H o u s e o f R e p rese ntati v e s m ay
e n t)
b e n e c ess ary (e x c e p t o n a q u esti o n o f adj o u rn m
s h al l b e p res en te d t o t h e P resid e n t b f t h e U n ite d S tates ;
a nd be for e t h e sa m e s h all ta k e e ff e ct s h all b e a p p ro v e d
by h i m , o r b ein g d is ap pro ve d by h i m s h al l b e r e p ass e d
by t wo t h i rd s o f th e Se n ate a n d H o u s e o f R e p rese n ta
t i ve s a c c ord in g t o t h e r ul e s an d l i m i tatio n s p res c ri b e d
i n t h e case o f a bill
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SE C u 8
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T h e C o n g ress s h a l l h a v e p o w e r— T o la y an d
c olle c t tax es d u ties i m posts a n d ex c is es ; t o p a y t h e
d ebts a n d p ro v i d e fo r t h e c o m m o n d e f e n c e a n d g e n e ral
wel fa re o f t h e U n ite d S tate s ; b u t al l d ut i es i m p osts a n d
e x cise s s h all b e u n i fo r m t h rou gh o u t t h e U ni te d S tate s
To b orro w m on ey o n t h e c re d it o f t h e U n i te d S t a te s
—To r e g ul ate c o m m e r c e w it h fo rei g n n at i on s a n d
an d w it h t h e I n di a n t ri b es :
a m o n g t h e s e v e ral S tate s
— To e stablis h a n u n i fo r m ru l e o f n atu ralizatio n an d
u n i fo r m l a w s o n t h e s ub e c t o f b an k ru ptci e s t h ro u gh o u t
j
t h e U nite d S tate s -T o c oi n m o n ey re g ul ate t h e v al u e
t h e reo f an d o f fo re i g n c oi n a n d to fi x t h e s tan d ard o f
w ei gh ts an d m e asu res
To p ro v id e fo r t h e p u n is h m e n t
o f c o u nter feitin g t h e sec u ritie s a n d c u rre n t c oi n o f t h e
U n ited S tates - To esta b l is h p ost o ffi c es a n d p ost
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g o v e rn in g s u c h pa rt o f t h e m as m ay b e e m p loy e d i n
t h e s e r v ic e o f t h e U n it e d St a t e s r e se r v in g t o t h e State s
resp e ct i v ely t h e ap p oi nt m e n t o f t h e o ffi ce rs an d t h e
a ut h ority o f train i n g t h e m il iti a a c c o r d in g t o t h e d isc i
To e x e rc is e e x cl u s i v e
p l in e p resc rib e d by C on g r ess
l e g isl atio n i n all c ase s w h atso e v e r o v e r s u c h d istric t
a re
ex
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) as m ay by c essio n o f
(
p arti c ul a r S tates an d t h e ac c e p tan c e o f C on g ress b e
c o m e t h e se at o f t h e g o v e rn m e n t o f t h e Un ite d S tates
a n d to ex e rcis e li k e au t h o rity o v e r al l p l ace s p u rc h a se d
by con se n t o f t h e L e g i sl atu re o f t h e State i n w h ic h t h e
s a m e s h all b e fo r t h e e re ctio n o f forts m a g azi n es ars e
g s A n d to
n a l s do c k y ard s an d o t h e r n e ed fu l b u ild i n
m a k e all la w s w h ic h s h al l b e n e c essa ry an d p rop e r fo r
c arryi n g i n to e xe c u tio n t h e fore g oin g p o w e rs an d a l l
o t h e r p o w e rs v este d by t h is C o n sti tu tio n i n t h e g o v er n
m en t o f t h e U n i te d S t ate s o r i n an y d e p a rtm en t o r o ffi
c e r t h e reo f
fo r
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72
The m ig rat i o n
i m p o rt at i o n
ch pe r
son s a s any o f t h e S tate s n o w e x istin g s h all t h i n k p r o
p e r to ad mi t s h all n ot b e p ro h i b ite d b y t h e C on g r ess
rio
r
to
t h e y e ar o n e t h o u san d e i gh t h u n d re d a n d ei gh t
p
b u t a t ax o r d u ty m ay b e i m p os e d o n s u c h i m p or t at i o n
n ot ex c e e d in g t e n d ollar s fo r e ac h p e rson
T h e p ri v ile g e o f t h e wri t o f h a b e as corp u s s h al l n o t b e
s uspe n d e d u n less w h e n i n c as e s o f re b ellio n o r i n v as io n
t h e p u b li c s a fety m ay re qu i re i t
N 0 bill o f attain d e r o r e x p os t fa ct o l a w s h all b e
p ass ed
No c ap itatio n o r o t h e r d i re c t tax S h al l b e laid u n l es s
i n p r e p ortio n t o t h e c e nsu s o r e n u m e r a tio n h e rei n b e
fo re d i re c te d t o b e t ak e n
No tax o r d u ty s h all b e l aid o n ar t i cles e xp or t e d fro m
an y S tat e
No p re fe re n c e s h al l b e g i v e n by an y r e g u l atio n o f
co m m e rc e o r re v e n u e t o t h e p orts o f o n e S tate o v e r
t h os e o f a n ot h e r n o r s h al l v ess els b o u n d t o o r fro m o n e
S tat e b e obli g e d to e n te r cl ear o r p ay d u ti es i n e u
ot h e r
No m on e y s h al l b e d ra w n fro m t h e T re as u ry b u t i n
con se q u e n c e o f a p p ro p ri ation s m ad e b y l a w an d a
r e gu l ar state m e n t an d a c co u n t o f t h e re c e i p ts a n d e x
e n d i t u re s o
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all
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b
f
v
m
p
ti m e t o ti m e
No titl e o f n obility s h al l b e g ran te d by t h e U n ite d
S tates ; an d n o p e rso n h oldi n g a n y o ffi c e o f p ro fi t o r
tru st u n d e r t h e m s h all w it h o u t t h e c o nse n t o f t h e C o n
g ress ac ce p t o f an y p res e n t e m ol u m e n t o ffi c e o r titl e
o f a n y k in d w h ate v e r fro m an y & in g Prin c e o r forei g n
S tate
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74
c e o f tru st o r p ro fi t u n d e r t h e U n ite d S tate s s h al l
b e a p poi nte d a n el e c t o r
T h e el e cto rs s h all m e e t i n t h e i r r esp e cti v e S tates an d
v ote by b allot fo r t wo p e rso n s o f w h o m o n e a t l e ast
s h al l n o t b e a n i n h abi tan t o f t h e s a m e S tate w it h t h e m
A n d t h ey s h al l m a k e a l ist o f al l t h e p erso n s
s el v es
an d o f t h e n u m b e r o f v otes fo r e ac h ; w h i c h
v ote d fo r
l ist t h ey s h all S i g n an d c e rti fy a n d tran s m it Se al e d t o
t h e s e at o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n ited S tates d i
T h e P re sid e n t
r e c t e d t o t h e Presid e n t o f t h e S e n ate
o f t h e S en at e s h all in t h e p rese n c e o f t h e S e n ate a n d
H o u se o f R e p rese n tati v es O p e n a l l t h e c e rti fi c ates a n d
T h e p e rso n h a vm g
t h e v ote s s h all t h e n b e c o un te d
t h e g re atest n u mb e r O f v ote s s h all b e t h e Presid e n t if
m aj o rity o f t h e w h ol e n u mb e r o f
s u c h n u mb e r h e a
e le cto rs ap poi n te d : A n d i f t h e re b e m o r e t h an o n e w h o
h a v e s u c h m aj ority an d h a v e a n e qu a l n u m b er o f v ote s
t h e n t h e H o u s e O f R ep r es e n tati v e s s h al l i m m e d i ately
c h o os e by b al lot o n e o f t h e m fo r P r e s id e n t ; a n d i f n o
p e rson h a v e a m aj o rity t h e n fro m t h e fi ve h ig h e s t o n
t h e l ist t h e s a i d H o u s e s h al l i n li k e m an n e r c h oos e t h e
P resid e nt B u t i n c h oosi n g t h e P resi d e n t t h e v ote s
s h all b e ta k e n by States t h e rep rese n tatio n fro m ea c h
S tate h a v in g o n e v ote a q u o ru m fo r t h is p u rp ose s h all
c o n sist o f a m e m b e r o r m e mb e rs fro m t w o t h ird s o f t h e
S tates an d a m aj o r i ty o f al l t h e State s s h all b e n o c e s
s ary to a c h oic e I n e v e ry case a fte r t h e c h o ic e o f t h e
P resid e n t t h e p e rso n h a v in g t h e g re ates t n u m b e r o f
v otes o f t h e el ecto rs s h all b e t h e V i c e P resid e n t
B ut
i f t h e re s h o ul d re m ai n t wo o r m o re w h o h a v e e qu al
v o tes t h e S e n ate s h al l c h oos e fro m t h e m by b al lot t h e
Vi c e P res i de nt
o ffi
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75
T h e C o n g res s m a y d ete r m in e t h e ti m e o f c h o osin g
t h e el e c t o rs an d t h e d ay o n w h i c h t h ey s h all g i v e t h e i r
v otes ; w h ic h d ay s h al l b e t h e s a m e t h ro u gh ou t t h e
U n ite d States
NO p e r s o n e xc e p t a n atu ral b o rn c itize n o r a c itize n
o f t h e U n ite d S tate s a t t h e ti m e o f t h e ad op tio n o f t h is
C on stitu tion s h al l b e e li g ibl e to t h e O ffi c e o f P resid e n t ;
n e it h e r s h al l a n y p e rson b e eli g ibl e to t h at o ffi c e w h o
s h all n o t h a v e att ai n e d to t h e a g e o f t h i rty fi ve y e ars
a n d be e n fo u r t e e n y ea rs a r esi d e n t w i t h i n t h e U n ite d
S tates
I n c a s e O f t h e re m o v al o f t h e Presid e n t fro m O ffi c e
o r o f h is d e at h
resi g n ation o r i n ab ility t o d isc h ar g e
t h e p o w e rs an d d u ti es o f t h e s ai d o ffi c e t h e sa m e s h al l
d e v ol v e o n t h e V ic e P resi d e n t ; an d t h e C o n g ress m ay
by l a w p ro v id e fo r t h e c ase o f r e m o v a l d e at h r esi g n a
tio n o r i n abili ty bot h o f t h e P resid e n t a n d V i c e P resi
d e n t d e cl a rin g w h at o ffi c e r s h all t h e n a c t a s P resi d e n t
a n d su c h o ffi c e r s h all a c t a c co rd in gl y u n til t h e d is ab il
i ty b e re m o v e d o r a P resid e n t s h al l b e el ecte d
T h e P resid e n t s h all at state d ti m e s re ce i v e fo r h is
s e r v ic es a c o m p e n satio n w h ic h s h all n e it h e r b e i n
c re as e d n o r d i m i n is h e d d u rin g t h e p e r io d fo r w h i c h h e
s h all h a v e b e e n ele cte d ; a n d h e s h al l n ot recei v e w i t h i n
t h at p e rio d an y o t h e r e m ol u m e n t fro m t h e U ni te d S tates
o r any o f t h e m
B e fo re h e e nte r o n t h e e xe c u tio n o f h is O ffi c e h e
s h al l ta k e t h e follo w i n g oat h o r a ffi r m atio n
“
I d o sol e m n ly s w e a r (o r a ffi r m ) t h at I w ill fa it h fully
e xe c u te t h e o ffi c e o f P resid e n t O f t h e U n ite d States
an d w ill to t h e b est o f m y ab ility p rese r v e p rote c t a n d
&
d e fen d t h e C o n stitu tio n O f t h e U ni te d S tates
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76
Pr e sid e n t s h a l l b e C o m m a n d e r i n C h i ef
an d of th e
d
S
t
h
e
U
it
e
ates
o
f
n
t
o f t h e Ar m y a n d N a v
y
M iliti a o f t h e s e ve ral Sta t es w h e n c alle d i n to t h e a ctu al
U n i t e d States H e ma y r equ i r e t h e
s e r vi c e
of the
O pi n io n i n w riti n g
o f t h e p ri n cip al o ffi c e r i n e a c h o f
t h e e xe c u ti v e d e p ar t m e n ts u p o n a n y s u bj e c t rel ati n g t o
t h e d u ties o f t h e i r r esp e c ti v e o ffi c es a n d h e s h all h a v e
r o ff e n c e s a g ai n s t
o
e
r
to
g
ra
t
r
ep
ri
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v
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s
p
ar
o
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n
a
d
d
n
p
t h e U n i te d St a t e s ex c e p t i n case s o f i m p e ac h m e n t
H e s h al l h a v e p o we r b y a n d w i t h t h e a d vi c e a n d
c o n se n t o f t h e S e n ate to m a k e t re ati es p ro v id e d t wo
t h irds o f t h e S e n ato rs p rese n t c o n c u r ; a n d h e s h al l
n o m i n ate a n d
b y a n d w it h t h e ad v i c e a n d co n s e n t o f
t h e S e n at e s h al l ap p o i n t Am b ass a d o rs o t h e r p u bli c
M i n iste rs an d C o n s u ls J u d g es o f t h e S u p re m e C o u rt
a n d all o t h e r o ffi c e rs o f t h e U n i te d S tates
w h os e a p
o i n t m e n t s a re n o t h e re i n o t h e r w is e p ro v id ed fo r a n d
p
w h i c h s h all b e e stabl is h e d by l a w
B u t t h e C o n g ress
m a y b y l a w V est t h e ap p o i n t m e n t o f s u c h i n fe rio r o ffi
ce rs as t h e y t h i n k p rop e r i n t h e P r esi d e n t al o n e i n t h e
c o u rts o f l a w o r i n t h e h e a d s o f d e p ar t m e n t s
T h e P resid e n t s h all h a v e p o w e r t o fi l l u p a l l v a c a n c i e s
t h at m a y h ap p e n d u ri n g t h e re c ess o f t h e S e n a t e b y
n
n
m
m
n
d
o
f
ra
ti
g
c
o
issio
n
s
h
ic
h
s
h
all
e
p
r
e
a
t
h
e
e
t
w
i
x
g
t h e i r n ex t s essio n
se e 2
.
.
The
,
,
.
‘
,
,
,
,
.
,
’
,
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SEC 3
He
s h al l fro m ti m e t o ti m e g i v e t o t h e C o n
g ress i n for m atio n o f t h e state o f t h e U n i o n a n d r e
c o m m e n d to t h ei r c o n sid e ratio n s u c h m e as u re s as h e
s h all j u d g e n e c e s s a ry a n d e xp ed ie n t ; h e m ay o n e x
t r a o r d i n a r y o c c asio n s
c o n v e n e bot h H o u s e s o r e i t h e r
o f t h e m a n d i n c a s e o f d is a g re e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e m
w i t h res p e c t to t h e ti m e o f ad j o u r n m e n t h e m a y a d
.
.
,
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,
,
,
,
,
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,
77
j ou r n t h e m to s u c h ti m e as h e s h al l t h i n k p r O p e r ; h e
s h all re c e i v e Am bass ad o rs a n d o t h e r p ubl i c M i n iste rs ;
h e s h all ta k e c ar e t h at t he l a w s b e fait h fully e x e c u te d
a n d s h all c o m m i s s m n
al l t h e o fii c e r s o f t h e U n ite d
S tates
,
.
T h e Presi d e n t V ic e P resi d e n t a n d a l l c i v il
o ffi c e rs o f t h e U n ite d States s h all be r e m o v e d fro m
o ffi ce o n i m p e ac h m e n t fo r a n d c o n v i ctio n o f tre aso n
b ribe r y o r o t h e r h i g h c r i m es a n d m is d e m e a n o rs
SE C
4
.
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
ARTI C L E 111
.
T h e J u d i c i al p o w e r o f t h e U n ite d St ate s
s h al l b e v e ste d i n o n e S u p re m e C o u rt a n d i n su c h In
fe ri e r C o u rts as t h e C o n g ress m ay fro m ti m e t o ti m e
ord e r a n d establis h Th e J u d g es b ot h o f t h e S u p re m e
oo
a n d I n fe rio r C o u rt s h all h ol d t h e i r o ffi c es d u ri n g
d
g
b e h a v io r a n d s h all a t s tate d ti m es ; re c e i v e fo r t h ei r
se r v i c es a c o m p e n s atio n w h i c h s h all n o t b e di m i n is h e d
d ur i n g t h ei r co n ti n u a n c e i n o ffi c e
SE C
.
1
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
SE C 2
.
in l a w
.
and
p o w e r s h all e x t e n d t o a l l c ases
e qu ity arisi n g u n d e r t h is C o n stitu tio n t h e
Th e J u d ic ial
,
,
,
'
78
b et we e n a St a t e o r t h e c iti z e n s t h e r e o f a n d fo r e i gn
Sta t es c iti z e n s o r s u bj e cts
In all c a s e s a ffe cti n g Amb ass ad o rs ot h e r p u bl ic M i n
i s t e r s a n d C o n su ls a n d t h ose i n w h ic h a S tate s h al l b e
p arty t h e S u p re m e C o u rt s h al l h a v e o ri g i n al j u r is d i c
tio n In al l t h e o t h e r c ases b e fo r e me n t i o n e d t h e Su
p re m e C ou rt s h al l h a v e a p p ellat e j u risd i c ti o n b ot h as
t o l a w a n d fact w it h s u c h e x ce p ti o n s a n d u n d e r s u c h
re g ul atio n s as t h e C o n g ress s h al l m a k e
T h e t r i al o f all c ri m es e x c e p t i n c as e s o f i m pe ac h
m e n t s h al l b e by j u ry ; a n d s u c h tri al s h al l b e h el d i n
t h e State w h e re t h e sai d c ri m es s h al l h a v e b e e n c o m
m i t t e d ; b ut w h e n n o t c o m m i tte d w it h i n a n y S tate t h e
trial s h all b e at su c h pla c e o r p l a c es a s t h e C o n gr ess
m a y by l a w h a v e di re c te d
and
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
'
,
‘
,
,
.
Tre aso n a g ai n s t t h e U n ite d S tate s s h all c o n
sist o n ly i n l e vy i n g wa r a g ai n st t h e m o r i n ad h eri n g to
t h e ir e n e m i es g i r l n g t h e m aid a n d c o m for t No p e rso n
s h al l b e co n v i c te d o f tr e aso n u n less o n t h e testi m o n y
o f t w o w it n ess es t o t h e s a m e o v e r t act o r o n c o n fessio n
i n o p e n C o u rt
T h e C o n g ress s h al l h a v e p o w e r t o d e cl ar e t h e p u n
i s h m e n t o f tre aso n b u t n o attai n d e r o f tre aso n s h a l l
w o r k c orru p ti o n of blood o r for fei t u re e x c ep t d u ri n g
t h e l i fe o f t h e p e rso n att a i n te d
SE C 3
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
ART I C L E IV
.
c re d it s h all b e g i v e n i n e a c h
S tate t o t h e p u bl i c a c ts re c ord s a n d j ud ic ial p ro c e e d
i n g s o f e v e ry ot h e r S tate An d t h e C o n g ress m a y b y
g e n e ral l a w s p resc rib e t h e m a n n e r i n w h i c h s u c h acts
re cord s a n d proc e ed i n g s s h all be p ro v ed a n d t h e e ff e c t
t h ere o f
SE C
1
.
.
Fu ll fait h
and
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
79
T h e c iti z e n s o f e a c h Sta te s h al l b e e n title d
t o a l l pri v ile g e s a n d i m m u n iti es o f c iti z e n s i n t h e se v
e ral S tates
A p e rs o n c h ar g e d i n a n y S tate w it h tre aso n fe lo n y
o r o t h e r c ri m e w h o s h all fl e e fro m j ustic e a n d b e fo u n d
i n a n ot h e r Sta t e s h all o n d e m a n d o f t h e e x ecu ti v e a u
t h o r i t y o f t h e S tate fro m w h ic h h e fl e d b e d eli v e re d
to b e r e m o v e d t o t h e St a t e h a v i n g j u risd ictio n o f
up
t h e c ri m e
No p e rso n h el d to s e r v ic e o r l ab o r i n o n e S tate u n d e r
t h e l a ws t h e reo f e sc api n g i n to a n o t h e r s h all i n c o n s e
b
e
d
isc
h
ar
g
e
d
n c e o f a n y l a w o r r e g u l atio n t h e re i n
u
e
q
fro m s u c h s e r v ic e o r l abo r ; b u t s h al l b e d eli v e re d u p o n
c l ai m o f t h e p ar t y t o w h o m s u c h s e r v i c e o r l ab o r m ay
b e d ue
SE C
2
.
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
Ne w
S t ate s m a y b e a d m i tte d by t h e C o n
b
res
u t n o n e w S ta te s h al l b e fo r m e d
s i n to t h is U n i o n
g
o r e re cte d w it h i n t h e j u risd i c tio n o f a n y ot h e r S ta te ;
n o r a n y Stat e b e for m e d by t h e j u n ctio n o f t w o o r m ore
States o r p arts o f S tate s w it h ou t t h e c o n se n t o f t h e
L e g isl at u res o f t h e States c o n c e r n e d as w ell as o f t h e
C o n g ress
T h e C o n g ress s h al l h a v e p o w e r to d isp os e o f a n d
m a k e all n e ed fu l r u l es a n d r e g ul atio n s resp e c ti n g t h e
te rrito ry o r ot h e r p ro p e rty b elo n g i n g to t h e U n ite d
S tate s : An d n ot h i n g i n t h is C o n sti t u tio n s h all b e s o
c o n str u ed as t o p rej u di c e a n y cl ai m s o f t h e U n i t e d
St ates o r o f a n y p artic ul ar S ta t e
SE C 3
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
SE C
T h e U n ite d S ta t e s s h all g u ara n te e to e ve ry
S tate i n t h i s U n i o n a Re p u bl ica n For m o f Go v e r n m e n t ;
a n d s h all p ro t e c t e ac h o f t h e m a ai n s t i n v asio n ; a n d
g
.
4
.
80
p pl ic atio n o f t h e L e g isla t u r e or o f t h e E x ec u ti v e
ur e c an n o t b e
n e d ) a g ai n s t
h
e
t
h
e
L
e
g
isl
at
c
o
v
e
n
n
w
(
d o m estic v iol e n c e
on a
,
,
.
.
AR T I CL E V
.
T h e C o n g res s w h e n e v e r t wo t h ir d s o f b o t h H o u ses
s h al l d e e m i t n e c e ss ary s h all p r e pos e a m e n d m e n ts t o
t h is C o n stitu tio n o r , o n t h e a p pl ic atio n o f t h e L e g i sl a
t u re s o f t wo t h ird s o f t h e s e v e ra l S tate s s h al l c all a
c o n v e n tio n fo r p r e p osi n g a m e n d m e n ts w h ic h i n eit h e r
c ase s h all be v al id t o a l l i n te n t s a n d p u rp os es as p ar t
w h e n r ati fi e d b y t h e L e gislatu re s
o f t h is C o n s tit u tio n
o f t h re e fou rt h s o f t h e s e v e ral S tates o r by c o n v e n tio n s
i n t h re e fo u rt h s t h e reo f as t h e o n e o r t h e o t h e r m o d e
o f r ati fi c atio n m a y b e p r e p os e d by t h e C o n g ress ; p r o
t h at n o a m e n d m e n t s w h ic h m ay b e m a d e p rio r
v id e d
t o t h e y e ar o n e t h o u s a n d e i gh t h u n d re d a n d e i gh t s h all
i n a n y m a n n e r a ffe c t t h e fi r s t a n d fo u rt h cl au s es i n t h e
fi rs t arti cl e ; a n d t h at n o S tate
n i n t h s ectio n o f t h e
w it h o u t i ts c o n se n t s h al l b e d e p r i v e d o f its e q u al s uff
ra g e i n t h e S e n ate
'
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
ART I C L E V I
.
d eb ts co n tra c ted a n d e n g a g e m e n ts e n te re d i n to
b e fo re t h e ad op tio n o f t h is C o n stit u tio n s h all b e as v ali d
a g ai n st t h e U n ite d States u n d e r t h is C o n stitu tio n as
u n d e r t h e C o n fed e rati o n
T h is C o n sti tu tio n a n d t he L a ws o f t h e U n ite d S tat e s
w h i c h s h all b e m ad e i n p u rs u a n c e t h e r e o f a n d al l tre a
ti es m ad e o r w h ic h s h al l b e m ad e u n d e r t h e a u t h o rity
o f t h e U n i te d St ates s h all b e t h e S u p re m e L a w o f t h e
l a n d ; a n d t h e J ud g es i n e v e ry Sta t e s h all b e bo u n d
t h e re b y a n y t h i n g i n t h e C o n stit u t io n o r L a w s o f a n y
S tat e to t h e c o n trary n o t wi t h s t a n d i n g
Al l
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
82
B e nj a m i n Fr a n k li n
T h o m a s Miffi i n
Rob e r t M o rris
Ge o r g e C l y m e r
T h o m as Fit z si m o n s
J ar e d I n g e rs o l
J a m e s Wilso n
Go u v e r n e u r M orris
Ge o r g e R e e d
Gu n n i n g B e d for d J u n i or
J o h n D ic k e n so n
Ri c h a r d B ass ett
J ac o b B ro o m
’
J a m e s M He n ry
D a n i e l o f St T h J e n i fe r
D a n i e l C arrol l
J o h n B l air
J a m es M adi s o n j u n io r
Will ia m B lo u n t
Ric h ard D obb s Sp a i gh t
H ug h Willi a mso n
J o h n R u tl e d g e
C h arl es C P i n c k n e y
C h arl e s Pi n c k n e y
Pi er c e B u tl e r
,
‘
,
,
P e n n s y l va n i a ,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
D e l a wa r e ,
,
,
.
,
.
,
:
Vi rg i n i a ,
,
,
,
,
Nor t h C a r ol i n a ,
,
.
,
Sou t h C a r ol i n a ,
,
.
,
.
Will a m
Fe w ,
Abra h a m B al d wi n
Ge org i a
Attest ,
.
WI LL I AM J AC & SON
,
Se cr e t a ry
.
83
In C o n v
e n tio n
P r e s e n t , t h e St a t e s
,
f
o
Mo n d a y Se p t e m b e r
,
.
y
P e n n s y l va n i a ,
,
.
N e w H a mp s h i r e , Ma s s ach u s e t t s ,
C on n e ct i c u t , Mr H a m il t o n
se
17, 1 7 8 7
f
Ne w Yor k , Ne w J e r
r om
Ma r y l a n d ,
D e l a war e ,
Nor t h C a r ol i n a , Sou t h C a r ol in a ,
an d
Vi rg i n i a ,
Ge org i a
T h a t t h e p r ece d i n g C o n s t i tu tio n b e lai d b e
fo re t h e U n ite d S tates i h C o n g ress ass e m
ble d a n d t h at
i t is t h e o p l m o n o f t h is C o n v e n tio n t h at i t s h oul d a fte r
w ards b e s u b m itte d to a C o n v e n tio n o f D el e g a tes c h o
s e n i n e ac h S t ate b y t h e p e o pl e t h e re o f u n d e r t h e r e
c o m m e n d a t io n o f its L e gisl at u re fo r t h e ir ass e n t a n d
r ati fi c atio n ; a n d t h a t e a c h C o n v e n tio n asse n ti n g t o a n d
r ati fy i n g t h e s a m e s h o u l d g i v e n oti c e t h e r e o f t o t h e
U n ite d St a t es i n C o n g ress asse m bl e d
R e s ol ve d T h at i t is t h e O p i n i o n o f t h is C o n v e n ti o n
t h a t as soo n a s t h e C o n v e n tio n s o f n i n e S t a te s s h a ll
h a v e r ati fi e d t h is C o n sti t u tio n t h e U n ite d States i n
C o n g r e ss ass e m b l e d s h oul d fi x a d a y o n w h ic h E le cto rs
s h o u l d b e ap p oi n te d by t h e S tates w h ic h s h all h a v e ra t i
fi e d t h e sa m e a n d a d a y o n w h ic h t h e E le cto rs s h o ul d
a ss e m bl e to v o t e fo r t h e Preside n t a n d t h e ti m e a n d
p l a c e fo r c o m m e n c i n g p ro c e e d i n g s u n d e r t h is C o n s t it u
tio n T h at a ft e r s u c h p ublic atio n t h e E le ctors s h ou l d
b e ap poi n te d a n d t h e S e n ato rs a n d Re p res e n tati v es
el e cte d T h at t h e E l e c t o rs s h o u l d m e e t o n t h e d ay
fi xe d fo r t h e el e ctio n o f t h e P resi d e n t a n d s h o ul d t ra n s
m it t h e i r v ot e s c e rti fi ed si g n ed se al e d a n d d ire cte d as
t h e C o n sti t u tio n re qu i re s to t h e S e c re tary o f t h e U n ite d
T h a t t h e Se n at ors a n d
St a t e s i n C o n g ress ass e m bl e d
R e s ol ve d ,
‘
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
'
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
'
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
84
R e p re s e n tati v e s s h o u l d c o n v e n e a t t h e ti m e a n d pl a ce
assi g n e d T h at t h e S e n ato rs s h o u l d ap poi n t a P resi
d e n t o f t h e S e n at e fo r t h e sol e p u r p os e o f r e c e i v i n g
o p e n i n g a n d c o u n ti n g t h e v ote s fo r P re sid e n t ; a n d t h a t
a fte r h e s h al l b e c h ose n t h e C o n g ress to g e t h e r w it h t h e
P r e si d e n t s h o u l d w it h o u t d el a y p r o ce e d t o e x ec u t e
t h is C o n s t i t u t io n
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
By
the
un
a n i m ou s o r d e r
G E O R GE
J AC & S O N
,
Se c r e t a r y
of
the
C o n v e n t io n ,
WASH I NGT O N
,
P r e s i de n t
.
.
In C o n v e n t i o n , S ep t
e mber
1 7, 1 7 87
.
S i m—We
h a v e n o w t h e h o n or to s u b m it t o t h e c o n
s i d e ratio n o f t h e U n ite d S tates i n C o n g r e ss ass e m bl e d
t h at C o n stitu tio n w h ic h h as ap p e ar e d t o u s t h e m os t
ad v isabl e
T h e frie n d s o f o u r co u n try h a v e l o n g s e e n a n d d e
sir e d t h at t h e p o w e r o f m a k i n g w a r p e ac e a n d tre a
ties ; t h a t o f l e v yi n g m o n ey a n d r e g u l ati n g c o m m e rc e
a n d t h e c o rrespo n d e n t e x e c u ti v e a n d j ud ic i al
a u t ho ri
ties s h oul d b e fully a n d e ffe c tu ally v e ste d i n t h e Ge n
e ral Go v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n io n B u t t h e i m p ro p rie t y o f
d el e g ati n g s u c h e x te n si v e t r ust to o n e body o f m e n is
—
n
e v id e t H e n c e res ults t h e n e c e ssity o f a d i ffe r e n t o r
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
am z at i o n
g
.
I t is ob v io u sly i m p ra c t i c abl e
i n t h e Fe d e ral Go v
e rn
85
t h es e St a t e s t o s ec u re all ri gh ts o f i n d e p e n d e n t
so v e rei g n t y t o e ac h a n d y e t p ro v i d e fo r t h e i n te re st a n d
s a fety o f all I n d i v id u a ls e n te ri n g i n to so cie ty m u st g i v e
u p a s h are of l i be rty t o p rese r v e t h e rest
T h e m a g n itu d e
o f t h e sa c ri fi c e m u st d e p e n d as w el l o n situ atio n
an d
ci rc u m sta n c e as o n t h e o bj e c t to b e o btai n e d I t is a t
all ti m es d i ffi c ul t to d ra w w it h p re c isio n t h e li n e b e
t we e n t h os e ri gh ts w h ic h m u st b e s u r re n d e re d a n d t h os e
an d o n
t h e p r es e n t o c c asio n
w h ic h m a y b e r es e r v e d
t h is d i ffi c u lty w a s i n c re as e d b y a d i ff e re n ce a m o n g t h e
s e v e ral S tates as t o t h e i r Si tu a t io n e x te n t h abits a n d
p artic ula r i n te res ts
In a l l o u r d el ib e ratio n s o n t h is s u bj e c t w e k e p t ste ad
i l y i n o u r V i e w t h at w h ic h a p p e a rs to u s t h e g re a tes t
i n te res t o f e v e ry tru e Am e ric a n t h e co n solid atio n o f
o u r U n io n i n w h ic h i s i n v ol v e d o u r p ros p e rity feli c ity
s a fet y p e r h aps o u r n at i o n al e x is te n c e T h is i m p o rta n t
c o n sid e r a tio n s e rio u sly a n d d e e ply i m p ress e d o n o u r
m i n ds l e d e ac h S tat e i n t h e C o n v e n tio n to b e l e ss ri g i d
t h a n m i gh t h a v e be e n
o n p oi n ts o f i n fe rio r m a g n itu d e
o t h e r wis e ex p e cte d ; a n d t h u s t h e C o n stitu tio n w h i c h
w e n o w p re se n t is t h e res u l t o f a s p i rit o f a m i t y a n d
o f t h at m u t u al d e fe re n c e a n d co n c e s sio n w h ic h t h e p e
c ul ia r i t y o f o u r p ol itic al sit u atio n r e n d e red i n d is p e n
s ab l e
T h a t i t w ill m e e t t h e ful l a n d e n tire a p p rob atio n o f
e v e ry S tate 18 n o t p e r h aps t o b e ex p e cte d b u t e ac h w il l
d o u t b l e s s co n sid e r t h at h ad h e r i n teres t be e n alo n e c o n
co n se qu en c es m i gh t h a v e b e e n p art i c u l arly
s ul t e d t h e
d isa g re e abl e o r i nj u r io us t o o t h e rs t h a t i t is l iabl e to as
fe w e x c e p ti o n s as coul d r e aso n ably h a v e b e e n e x p e c t
ed w e h e p e a n d beli e v e ; t h at i t m a y p ro m ote t h e l ast
m ent
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86
e e o f t h a t co u n t ry s o d e a r t o u s a l l an d s e c u r e
fr e e d o m a n d h ap p in e ss ; i s o ur m os t a r d e n t w i s h
i n g w l far
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Wit h g re a t r e s p e c t
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H r s E X C E L L E NC Y
TH E
Con g r e s s
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d
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.
t h e St a t e s , h a v in g ,
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t o p r e v e n t m i s co n s t r u ct i o n
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Un i t e d S t a t e s
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t h e ir a d op t i n g t he
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R E SO LV E D by t h e Se n a t e a n d H ou s e of R ep r e s e n
t a t i ve s of t h e Un i t e d St a t e s of Am e r ica i n C on re s s a s
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t w o t h i r d s of b ot h H ou s e s con cu r r i n
s e mbl e d
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follo w i n g ar t icl e s be prop ose d t o t h e L e g islat u re s o f t h e
,
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87
St a tes ,
se v er a l
U n i te d
e n d m e n ts
t o t h e C o n s t itu tio n
the
S t a tes a l l o r a n y o f w h ic h art icle s w h e n rati fi e d
b y t h r e e fo u r t hs o f sai d L e g isl at ures to b e v ali d to a l l
i n te n ts a n d p urp os e s as a p art o f t he sai d C o n stitutio n
as a m
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AM E N D M E N T S
ART I CL E 1
.
.
s h al l m a k e n o l a w r e sp ecti n g a n establis h
m e n t o f reli g io n o r p ro h ibi ti n g t h e fre e ex ercise t h ereo f ;
o r o f t h e press ; o r
o r a bri d i n g t h e fr e e d o m o f speec h
g
t h e ri gh t o f t h e p e op l e p eace ab ly t o a sse m bl e a n d to
p e titio n t h e go v er n m e n t fo r a re d ress o f g ri e va n ces
C o n gress
,
,
,
I I A w e ll r e g ul a t e d m ilitia b e i n g n ecessary to t h e
secu ri ty o f a free S tat e t h e ri gh t o f t h e p eopl e t o k e ep
a n d bear ar m s s h a ll n o t b e i n fri n g e d
.
,
.
,
No
sol d ie r s h a ll i n t i m e o f p e a ce b e qu artere d
i n a n y h ou se w i t h ou t t h e c o n s e n t o f t h e o w n e r n o r i n
ti m e o f w a r bu t i n a m a n n e r to be p re sc r ibed by l a w
III
.
,
,
,
.
,
T h e ri g h t o f t h e p eo p l e to b e s e cu re i n t h e ir
p e r so n s h ouses pap e rs a n d e ffects a g a i n s t u n re aso n abl e
searc h es a n d sei z u re s sh al l n o t be v iol a ted a n d n o w a r
ra n ts s h al l issu e b u t u p o n p ro b ab l e cau s e su pported by
o at h o r a ffi r m atio n a n d pa r tic ularly describi n g t h e plac e
t o b e searc h e d a n d t h e p e rso n s o r t h i n g s to b e sei z ed
IV
.
,
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,
V
.
.
N0 perso n s h a l l be h el d to a n s we r fo r
i n fa m o u s cri m e u n l e ss o n
m e n t b y a g ra n d j u ry ex c ept i n
e r vvi s e
,
,
c a pita l o r o t h
a prese n t m e n t o r i n d ict
c a s e s a risi n g in t h e la n d
a
88
a v al forces o r i n t h e m ili t i a w he n i n act ual s e r v ice
i n ti m e o f w a r o r p u b l ic d a n ge r
n o r s h al l a n
p
erso
n
y
be s ubj ect fo r t h e sa m e o ffe n ce to be t w i ce p u t i n j e e p
m
a rdy o f li fe o r l i m b
n o r s h al l be c o m pelle d i n a n
c
ri
y
i n al case to b e a W It n e s s a g ai n st h i m sel f n o r be d epri v e d
w it h o u t d ue process o f l aw ;
o f l i fe libe rty o r p rop er ty
p ubl ic us e Wit h
n o r s h al l p ri v ate property be ta k e n fo r
o u t j us t co m p e n satio n
or n
,
,
,
,
,
.
c r i m i n a l pro s ecu tio n s t h e acc u se d s h al l
e nj oy t h e ri gh t to a sp e ed y a n d pu blic trial by a n i m par
ti a l j u ry o f t he S t a te a n d D istric t w h erei n t h e cri m e s h a l l
h a v e b e e n co m m i tte d wh ic h D istrict s h al l h a v e bee n
a n d to b e i n for m ed o f t h e
i
n e d by l a w
r e v 10 u s l
asce
rta
y
p
n at u re a n d cause o f t h e acc u s atio n
to b e co n fro n te d w it h
t h e W i t n esses a g ai n s t h i m ; to h a v e co m p u lsory p rocess
fo r ob tai n i ng w it n esses i n h is fa v or a n d to h a v e t h e as
s i s t a nc e o f co u n sel fo r h is d e fe n ce
In
VI
.
al l
,
,
,
,
,
.
In
V II
su its a t co m m o n l a w w h e re t h e v alu e i n c o n
t r o v e r s y s h al l e xceed t w e n ty d ol lars t h e ri gh t o f tri a l by
j u ry s h al l be preser v ed a n d n o fact t rie d by a j u r y s h al l
b e ot h er w ise r e e x a m i n ed i n a n y cou rt o f t h e U n ite d
S tates t h a n a ccord i n g to t h e rul e s o f co m m o n l a w
.
,
,
,
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,
-
.
,
bai l s h al l n o t be re qu ire d n o r e x c e s
si v e fi n es i m posed n o r c ruel a n d u n us u al p u n is h m e n ts in
V III
.
E xcessi v e
,
,
fl ic t e d
.
T h e e n u m e ratio n i n t h e C o n s t it u t io n o f c er t ai n
ri gh ts s h al l n o t b e c o n s t r u e d t o d e n y o r d isp a r a g e o t h
e rs r e tai n e d by t h e p e opl e
IX
.
,
,
.
X
.
T h e p o we rs
n ot
e
e
d el g a t d
to
t h e Un i t e d St a t
es
90
'
‘
fro m t wo t h i rd s
o f t he
St a t e s ,
m aj or it y
and a
o f a ll
t he
be n ece s s ar y t o a c h o i ce And if t h e H o u s e
o f R e p res e n t a t i v es s h all n o t c h oose a P r e s id e n t w h e n
e v e r t h e ri gh t o f c h o ide s h all d e v ol ve u p o n t h e m b e for e
t h e fou rt h d a y o f M arc h t h e n n ex t follo wi n g t h e n t h e
V i c e P resid e n t s h all act as Pr e sid e n t a s i n c a s e o f t h e
d e a t h o r o t h e r c o n stit u tio n a l d i s a b ili t y o f t h e P r e si d e n t
T h e p e rso n h a v i n g t h e g r e a t e s t n u mb e r o f v otes a s
V i c e Pr esid e n t s h all b e t h e V i c e P re si d e n t i f s u c h n u m
b e r b e a m aj o rity o f t h e w h ol e n u m b e r o f e le c to rs a p
p oi n ted a n d i f n o p e rs o n h a v e a m aj o ri t y t h e n fro m t h e
t wo h i gh e s t n u m b e rs on t h e list t h e S e n ate s h al l c h oos e
t h e V i c e P resid e n t a q u o ru m fo r t h at p u rp os e s h a ll
c o n sis t of t w o t h ird s o f t h e w h o l e n u m b e r o f Se n ator s
a n d a m aj orit y o f t h e w h ol e n u m b e r: s h al l b e n e c ess ar
y
t o a c h oic e
B u t n o p e rso n c o n stit u t io n a l ly i n e li g ib l e t o t h e o ffi c e
o f P r e s i d e n t s h a ll b e e li ib l e t o t h a t o f V i c e P r e s i d e n t
g
o f t h e U n it e d St a t e s
e
St a t s s h a ll
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.
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.