United States History and Constitutions to 1865

Constitution of Massachusetts   1.)    The town of Concord objected to having a legislature write a constitution of Massachusetts because they feel they are not a proper body to form something as important as the constitution. This is for the reason that Concord feels the purpose of a constitution is to protect the people from the government an therefore a constitution should not be written by a body that is highly involved with the government and has the power to control and alter ideas involved in government. 2.)    Steps involved in creating the Constitution of Massachusetts: A.    General court put a question into the towns B.     Suggested to created a new constitution C.     Towns then selected their representatives D.    A convention was held and created a new committee of three to write a draft E.     They transmitted the draft to the towns for ratification F.      With compromise the constitution remained 3.)    The chief author of the Constitution of Massachusetts is John Adams 4.)    A “civil body politic” is a “social compact, by which the whole people covenants with each citizen and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good.” 5.)    Three civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Massachusetts: 1.      Freedom of worship (Article II) and of religion (Amendment LXVI) 2.      Freedom of elections (Article IX) 3.      The right to obtain right and justice freely and promptly (Article XI) 6.)    Three rights of the accused guaranteed by the Constitution of Massachusetts: 1.      Prohibition of ex post facto laws (Article XXI) 2.      The right to keep and bear arms for common defense (Article XVII) 3.      The right to hear accusations, produce evidence in one’s own defense, and face accusers (Article XII) 7.)  A. the Massachusetts Legislature consists of two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate. B. the House of Representatives represented the people, and the senate was made for the property of the commonwealth. Today, there are 40 members of the Massachusetts, and 160 of the House. 8.)    Is the House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall meet qualifications required for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature. 9.)    The qualifications for voting in Massachusetts is that you must be 18 years or older, a U.S citizen, live in a town or city in Mass six months before the election, and be registered to vote. 10.) If the citizens dislike a law enacted by the legislature and approved by the governor, they may change it by a petition bye 3 % of the total vote of the general court. 11.) If citizens wish to have a law enacted by “Initiative” they must take these steps:  1. ten qualified voters must sign a petition and submit it to the Attorney General not later than the first Wednesday of the August preceding the Session of the General Court             2. The attorney-General must certify that the petition and title are:                         A. in proper for submission to the people                         B. have nor been submitted to the people within two 0previous elections                         C. do not pertain to any subject excluded bye the Constitution from the popular initiative             3. The petition is then filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth who provides blanks for signers printing at the top of each blank a summary of the measure and the names and addresses or the original ten signers. These petitions with signatures equaling at least 3% of the total vote for Governor in the preceding election are then filed with the Secretary.

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