Constitution of Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Constitution ( Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ) is the Constitution of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It was 1780 - four years after the Declaration of Independence of the United States - and is adopted in modified form still in force today. This makes it one of the oldest constitutions ( in the modern sense ) in the world. She is also the first constitution ever, which voted an affected population itself.
The Constitution is divided into four sections now: the preamble, the Declaration of the rights of residents of Massachusetts, the provisions on government organization and finally the over 100 constitutional amendments ( Amendments). Its structure had influence on subsequent constitutions, among them the United States Constitution.
Genesis
The legislative body of Massachusetts - - After the declaration of independence of the General Court recommended that join together a convent, was to prepare a constitution for the State of Massachusetts. This did the General Court of the subsequent term of 1777/78, but when the Convention on the proposed constitution drafted by him to the people, she found at this no consent.
After this unsuccessful start of the General Court presented to the people on 20 February 1779, asked if she wanted a new constitution and if they would authorize their representatives to convene for this purpose a State Convention. After a large majority had answered both questions in the affirmative, the General Court, the citizens demanded on June 17, 1779 to gather and to determine delegates to the Constitutional Convention which was to meet in Cambridge on September 1, 1779.
The Convention came together as planned and elected James Bowdoin as its President. When the Convention had agreed on a draft constitution, the draft was submitted to the people at the March 2, 1780. On 7 June, the Convention reconvened and appointed a committee that would evaluate the returning from the cities of voting results. On June 14, this committee issued its report and on 15 June, the Convention was known that the people of Massachusetts adopted the Constitution in the form proposed. When the Convention had adopted a decision in the launch of the new constitution, he dissipated on June 16, 1780. According to his recent decision found in cities immediately held elections; the first General Court under the new Constitution came together in Boston on October 25, 1780.