Omar Bennett
The Massachusetts Constitution, ratified in 1780, is the oldest state constitution in effect in the world. It was written primarily by John Adams and has served as a model for the United States Constitution. The constitution has been amended numerous times to meet the evolving needs of society, with these changes referred to as the Articles of Amendment. Amendments can be made through legislative, indirect citizen-initiated, or convention-referred processes, all requiring voter approval. The state has held four large-scale constitutional conventions in 1779-1780, 1820-1821, 1853, and 1917-1919, with the potential for additional amendments being considered through joint sessions of the Massachusetts General Court. As of 2022, there have been 121 amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution, with the most recent one imposing a 4% marginal tax on income over $1 million.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Ratification | 15 June 1780 |
| Author | John Adams |
| Amendments | 121 |
| Most Recent Amendment | 4% marginal tax on income over $1,000,000 (approved in 2022) |
| Amendment Process | Legislative, indirect citizen-initiated, or convention-referred constitutional amendment with voter approval |
| Amendment Requirements | Two sessions of the Massachusetts General Court with 25% legislative support in each session; simple majority of voters and at least 30% of total votes cast in that election |
| Amendment Sources | Constitutional Convention documents, House and Senate Journal indexes, bill histories |
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What You'll Learn
- The Massachusetts Constitution, ratified in 1780, is the oldest still in effect
- Amendments: the Articles of Amendment were adopted in 1918
- Constitutional conventions: four have been held, with the first in 1779
- Legislative, indirect citizen-initiated, or convention-referred amendments require voter approval
- The 121 Articles of Amendment include the right to freedom and equality
The Massachusetts Constitution, ratified in 1780, is the oldest still in effect
The Massachusetts Constitution, ratified in 1780, is the oldest constitution still in effect in the world. Written primarily by John Adams, it served as a model for the United States Constitution. The document was created by the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1779 and was approved by voters on June 15, 1780, becoming effective on October 25 of that year.
The Massachusetts Constitution has been amended numerous times to meet the needs of a changing society. Amendments can be made through legislative, indirect citizen-initiated, or convention-referred processes, all of which require voter approval. The state has held several constitutional conventions, with the first four occurring in 1779-1821, 1853, and 1917-1919. These conventions played a crucial role in proposing and adopting amendments to the constitution.
The process of amending the constitution is well-defined. For an amendment to be placed before voters, it must go through two sessions of the Massachusetts General Court and receive support from 25% of the legislature in each session. If it achieves the required legislative support, it is then included on the ballot for citizens to vote on. The most recent amendment, approved in 2022, imposed a 4% marginal tax on income over $1 million.
The Massachusetts Constitution has had a significant impact on history, including landmark cases such as Brom and Bett v. Ashley in 1781, where it played a role in abolishing slavery in the state. It also outlines the framework of the state's government, including the powers, structure, and limitations, as well as individual and civil rights.
Amendments: States' Ratification Power and the Constitution
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Amendments: the Articles of Amendment were adopted in 1918
The Massachusetts Constitution, ratified by the legal voters of the Commonwealth in 1780, is the oldest constitution currently in effect in the world. It was written primarily by John Adams and served as the model for the United States Constitution. The constitution has been amended numerous times to meet the evolving needs of society, with these changes referred to as the Articles of Amendment.
The process of amending the Massachusetts Constitution has evolved over time. Initially, amendments were proposed and adopted during constitutional conventions, with the state holding four large-scale and well-documented conventions between 1779 and 1919. These conventions served as the primary mechanism for making changes to the constitution. The Massachusetts General Court continues to hold constitutional conventions, now referred to as "joint sessions."
The specific procedures for amending the constitution have been established. An amendment must go through two sessions of the Massachusetts General Court and receive support from 25% of the legislature in each session. If it achieves sufficient legislative backing, it advances to the next ballot for Massachusetts citizens to vote on. There are three methods for proposing amendments: legislative, indirect citizen-initiated, or convention-referred, all of which ultimately require voter approval.
Article XLVIII, which was adopted in 1918, now governs the amending process. It outlines the steps and requirements for proposing and approving amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution. This article was established to ensure a consistent and fair process for making changes to the foundational document of the state's governance.
The Massachusetts Constitution has been amended 121 times as of 2022. The most recent amendment, approved by a vote of 52% to 48% in 2022, imposes a 4% marginal tax on income exceeding $1,000,000. These amendments reflect the evolving nature of the state's governance and the commitment to adapting to the needs of its citizens.
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Constitutional conventions: four have been held, with the first in 1779
The Massachusetts Constitution, ratified in 1780, is the oldest constitution in effect in the world. Between 1779 and 1919, four large-scale and well-documented constitutional conventions were held in Massachusetts, with the first in 1779. This was the second constitutional convention in Massachusetts, convened to draft a new state constitution following the state's declaration of independence in 1776.
The convention met in Cambridge from September 1 to October 30, 1779, with 312 members. The delegates chose a committee of thirty members to prepare a new constitution and declaration of rights, and John Adams was tasked with drafting the declaration of rights. Adams's draft declaration of rights stated: "All men are born equally free and independent...." Before being adopted by the constitutional convention, it was revised to read: "All men are born free and equal...". Adams also insisted that the document refer to the state as a "commonwealth".
Male voters aged 21 or older ratified the constitution and declaration of rights at the convention on June 15, 1780, and it became effective on October 25, 1780. The Massachusetts Constitution contains three parts: a Preamble, Part the First: A Declaration of the Rights of the Inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Part the Second: The Frame of Government.
The Massachusetts Constitution has served as a model for the U.S. Constitution, both structurally and substantively, and has influenced the revisions of many other state constitutions. It has been amended 121 times as of 2022.
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Legislative, indirect citizen-initiated, or convention-referred amendments require voter approval
The Massachusetts Constitution is one of the oldest functioning written constitutions in continuous effect in the world. It was ratified by the legal voters of the Commonwealth in 1780 and primarily authored by John Adams. It has since been amended 121 times as of 2022.
Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution can be made through a legislative, indirect citizen-initiated, or convention-referred process. All three methods require voter approval. The legislative process involves amendments proposed by the Massachusetts General Court, which must be approved by one-fourth of the legislators in two joint sessions before proceeding to the ballot. The court is also permitted to group conflicting initiatives together on the ballot. The indirect citizen-initiated process involves citizens initiating legislation through petitions, which are presented to the Massachusetts General Court. The convention-referred process involves a constitutional convention, which was the method used to create the original constitution.
The process for an indirect citizen-initiated amendment begins with a petition, which requires a certain number of signatures. The number of signatures is determined by voter turnout in the gubernatorial election held at least two years before the election date of the amendment. Once the petition has enough signatures, the proposed amendment must be approved by at least 25% of the legislators in two joint sessions to reach the ballot. The Massachusetts General Court can also place measures on the ballot as legislatively referred constitutional amendments.
The legislative process for amendments is similar to the indirect citizen-initiated process. Legislative amendments proposed by a legislator must receive a threshold of 50% of the members' votes. Amendments must then be approved by one-fourth of the legislators in two joint sessions before proceeding to the ballot.
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The 121 Articles of Amendment include the right to freedom and equality
The Massachusetts Constitution, ratified in 1780, is the oldest constitution currently in effect in the world. It was written primarily by John Adams and served as a model for the United States Constitution. The constitution has since been amended 121 times, with the most recent amendment in 2022, which placed a 4% marginal tax on income over $1,000,000.
The process of amending the Massachusetts Constitution has evolved over time. Initially, amendments were proposed and adopted during constitutional conventions, with the first four large-scale conventions held between 1779 and 1919. Today, the amendment process is governed by Article XLVIII of the Constitution, which outlines an indirect initiative process. To amend the constitution, a proposed amendment must go through two sessions of the Massachusetts General Court and receive support from 25% of the legislature in each session. If it achieves sufficient legislative support, it is then put on the ballot for Massachusetts citizens to vote on.
The 121 Articles of Amendment encompass a range of topics, including taxation, impeachment, and equality. One notable amendment, Article CVI, amended the constitution to change the word "men" to "people," reflecting a broader interpretation of rights. This amendment was pivotal in the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts and the extension of marriage rights to same-sex couples.
The right to freedom and equality is fundamental within the Massachusetts Constitution. Article II of the original 1780 Constitution states that "all men are born free and equal" and possess certain "natural, essential, and unalienable rights." This includes the right to enjoy and defend their lives and liberties, acquire and protect property, and pursue safety and happiness. The constitution's declaration of rights provides a foundation for the protection and expansion of freedoms and equal treatment for all individuals under the law.
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Frequently asked questions
The Massachusetts Constitution was ratified by the legal voters of the Commonwealth on June 15, 1780, and became effective on October 25, 1780.
As of 2022, the Massachusetts Constitution has been amended 121 times.
The Massachusetts Constitution can be amended with a legislative, indirect citizen-initiated, or convention-referred constitutional amendment, all of which require voter approval. Amendments must go through two sessions of the Massachusetts General Court and must be supported by at least 25% of the legislature during each session. If the proposed amendment receives enough legislative support, it is put on the ballot for citizens to vote on.
The most recent amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution was approved by voters in 2022. This amendment places a 4% marginal tax on income over $1,000,000.
