Constitution of Massachusetts

Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The title page and first articles, the Declaration of Rights, in the first published edition of the 1780 Constitution
Overview
JurisdictionCommonwealth of Massachusetts
Subordinate toConstitution of the United States
CreatedOctober 30, 1779
PresentedJune 15, 1780
RatifiedOctober 25, 1780
SystemSingle executive
Government structure
Branches3
ChambersTwo (Massachusetts General Court):
Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts House of Representatives
ExecutiveGovernor of Massachusetts
JudiciarySupreme, Appeals, Trial
History
First legislatureOctober 25, 1780
First executiveOctober 25, 1780
First courtOctober 25, 1780
Amendments121
Last amendedNovember 8, 2022
Commissioned byMassachusetts Provincial Congress
Author(s)John Adams
SupersedesMassachusetts Charter
Full text
Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1780) at Wikisource

The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the fundamental governing document of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, one of the 50 individual states that make up the United States of America.[1] It consists of a preamble, declaration of rights, description of the principles and framework of government, and articles of amendment. It is the highest legal authority in the state, subordinate only to the U.S. Constitution.

Created by the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1779, the document was primarily authored by American founding father and future president John Adams. Following its approval by convention delegates, it was approved by voters on June 15, 1780 and became effective October 25 of that year.

The Massachusetts Constitution was the last to be written among the initial thirteen U.S. states. It was unique in being structured with chapters, sections and articles, as opposed to being a list of provisions. It served as a model for the U.S. Constitution, drafted seven years later, both structurally and substantively, and also influenced later revisions of many other state constitutions.

The Massachusetts Constitution is among the oldest functioning written constitutions in continuous effect in the world,[2][3] predated only by sections of the Constitution of San Marino and the Magna Carta.[4] It was also the first constitution in history to be created by a convention called for that purpose, rather than by a legislative body.[2]

It has been amended 121 times as of 2022.[5]

  1. ^ [Art. VIII. The senate shall be a court, with full authority to hear and determine all impeachments made by the house of representatives, against any officer or officers of the commonwealth, for misconduct and maladminstration in their offices; but, previous to the trial of every impeachment, the members of the senate shall, respectively, be sworn truly and impartially to try and determine the charge in question, according to the evidence. Their judgment, however, shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold or enjoy any place of honor, trust, or profit under this commonwealth; but the part so convicted shall be, nevertheless, liable to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment, according to the laws of the land. "Constitution of Massachusetts"]. The NATIONAL HUMANITIES INSTITUTE. Retrieved 13 February 2021. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  2. ^ a b Levy, Leonard (1995). Seasoned Judgments: The American Constitution, Rights, and History. p. 307. ISBN 9781412833820.
  3. ^ Murrin, John (2011). Liberty, Power, and Equality: A History. ISBN 978-0495915874.
  4. ^ Slomp, Hans (2011). Europe, A Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics. ABC-CLIO. p. 693. ISBN 978-0-313-39181-1. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Massachusetts Constitution". Massachusetts General Court. Retrieved 6 January 2023.