Malcolm Rivera
The Massachusetts Constitution, written primarily by John Adams, is the oldest constitution currently in effect in the world. It has been amended 121 times as of 2022, including in 1966, when two legislatively referred constitutional amendments were on the ballot on November 8. The first, Massachusetts Question 1, was a proposal for a single-ticket election for the governor and lieutenant governor, and the second, Massachusetts Question 4, was a proposal on the authority of municipalities. Both amendments were approved by a simple majority vote during two successive joint legislative sessions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Amendment | November 8, 1966 |
| Name of Amendment | Question 4, Authority of Municipalities Amendment |
| Type of Amendment | Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
| Result | Approved |
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What You'll Learn
Massachusetts Question 4
The Massachusetts Constitution, written primarily by John Adams and ratified by the legal voters of the Commonwealth in 1780, is the oldest constitution currently in effect in the world. It has been amended 121 times as of 2022.
Amending the Massachusetts Constitution involves a different process than amending the General Laws of Massachusetts. Amendments must go through two sessions of the Massachusetts General Court and must be supported by 25% of the legislature during each of these sessions. If an amendment receives enough legislative support, it is put on the ballot for Massachusetts citizens to vote on.
Other legislatively referred constitutional amendments were also on the ballot in Massachusetts on November 8, 1966, including Massachusetts Question 1, which was also approved.
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Ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment
The Massachusetts Constitution, ratified in 1780, is the oldest constitution currently in effect in the world. It has been amended 121 times as of 2022. The process of amending the constitution is governed by the 48th Article of Amendment, which establishes an indirect initiative process requiring action by the state legislature, followed by a referendum.
On November 8, 1966, two legislatively referred constitutional amendments were on the ballot in Massachusetts: Massachusetts Question 1 and Massachusetts Question 4. Both amendments were approved by the voters.
To place a constitutional amendment on the ballot in Massachusetts, a simple majority vote is required during two successive joint legislative sessions of the Massachusetts State Legislature. This amounts to a minimum of 101 votes in the joint session, assuming no vacancies. These amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
The Massachusetts Constitution allows for the impeachment of government officials through the legislature. The legislature can also disqualify convicted officials from ever holding any office within the Commonwealth.
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Required a simple majority vote
The Massachusetts Constitution is among the oldest functioning written constitutions in continuous effect, having been ratified in 1780. Written primarily by John Adams, it served as the model for the United States Constitution. As of 2022, the Massachusetts Constitution has been amended 121 times.
Amending the Massachusetts Constitution involves a different process than amending the General Laws of Massachusetts. The amendment process is governed by the 48th Article of Amendment to the Constitution, which establishes an indirect initiative process. A simple majority vote is required during two successive joint legislative sessions for the Massachusetts State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 101 votes in the joint session of the state legislature, assuming no vacancies.
Legislative referrals for constitutional amendments must go through two sessions of the Massachusetts General Court and must also be supported by 25% of the legislature during each of these sessions. If the proposed amendment receives enough legislative support, it is then put on the ballot for Massachusetts citizens to vote on.
On November 8, 1966, Massachusetts Questions 1 and 4 were on the ballot as legislatively referred constitutional amendments. Both amendments were approved by a simple majority vote.
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Minimum of 101 votes in the joint session
The Massachusetts Constitution, ratified in 1780, is the oldest constitution currently in effect in the world. Written primarily by John Adams, it served as the model for the United States Constitution. The Massachusetts Constitution has been amended 121 times as of 2022. Amendments to the constitution are referred to as the Articles of Amendment, and the process is governed by the 48th Article of Amendment, which was adopted in 1918.
For an amendment to be placed before the voters as a referendum, it must go through two successive joint legislative sessions of the Massachusetts State Legislature and receive a minimum of 101 votes, assuming no vacancies. This is a simple majority vote, which amounts to 25% of the legislature's support during each session. If the proposed amendment receives enough votes, it is then put on the ballot for Massachusetts citizens to vote on. This process is known as an indirect initiative process and does not require the governor's signature.
The 1966 amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution, known as Massachusetts Question 1, was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment that appeared on the ballot on November 8, 1966, and was approved by the voters. This amendment required a minimum of 101 votes during the two successive joint legislative sessions to be placed on the ballot. The specific details and content of the 1966 amendment are not explicitly mentioned in the sources, but it is referred to as the "Single-Ticket for Governor and Lieutenant Governor Amendment."
The process of amending the Massachusetts Constitution has evolved over time, with the General Court holding constitutional conventions, which are now synonymous with "joint sessions." The state legislature plays a crucial role in proposing and approving amendments, and the citizens of Massachusetts have the final say through a ballot question, ensuring that any changes to the constitution reflect the needs and values of the people.
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Did not require the governor's signature
The Massachusetts Constitution is among the oldest functioning written constitutions in continuous effect in the world, predated only by the 1777 Constitution of Vermont and by sections of the Constitution of San Marino and the Magna Carta. It was also the first constitution in history to be created by a convention called for that purpose, rather than by a legislative body. It has been amended 121 times as of 2022.
Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot. Instead, they must go through two sessions of the Massachusetts General Court and be supported by 25% of the legislature during each session. If an amendment receives enough legislative support, it is then put on the ballot for Massachusetts citizens to vote on.
The process for amending the Massachusetts Constitution is governed by the 48th Article of Amendment, which was adopted in 1918. This process requires action by the state legislature, followed by a referendum. For an amendment to be placed before the voters as a referendum, a state constitutional convention, a joint meeting of both houses of the legislature sitting as one body, must occur during two successive legislative sessions.
On November 8, 1966, two legislatively referred constitutional amendments were on the ballot in Massachusetts: Massachusetts Question 1, Single-Ticket for Governor and Lieutenant Governor Amendment, and Massachusetts Question 4, Authority of Municipalities Amendment. Both amendments were approved.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1966 Amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution refers to two legislatively referred constitutional amendments that were on the ballot on November 8, 1966, and were approved by a simple majority vote.
The first amendment, known as Massachusetts Question 1, was about requiring a single ticket for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The second amendment, known as Massachusetts Question 4, was about the authority of municipalities.
The process for amending the Massachusetts Constitution is governed by the 48th Article of Amendment, which was adopted in 1918. This process requires action by the state legislature, followed by a referendum. Initiative petitions and legislative referrals for constitutional amendments must go through two sessions of the Massachusetts General Court and must be supported by 25% of the legislature during each of these sessions. If an amendment receives enough legislative support, it is then put on the ballot for Massachusetts citizens to vote on.
The Massachusetts Constitution has been amended 121 times as of 2022, making it one of the most amended constitutions in the United States.
The Massachusetts Constitution was primarily written by John Adams and was approved by voters on June 15, 1780, becoming effective on October 25 of the same year. It served as a model for the United States Constitution.
