Liberty of the press. and bear arms. tions for oftice. trates. to instruct rep. XVI. The liberty of the press is essential to the security of freedom in a state : it ought not, therefore, to be restrained in this commonwealth. Right to keep XVII. The people have a right to keep and to bear Standing armies arms for the common defence. And as, in time of peace, itary power sub armies are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be ordinate to civil. maintained without the consent of the legislature; and 5 121 the military power shall always be held in an exact subor dination to the civil authority, and be governed by it. Moral qualifica. XVIII. A frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles of the constitution, and a constant adherence to those of piety, justice, moderation, temperance, industry, and frugality, are absolutely necessary to preserve the advantages of liberty, and to maintain a free government. The people ought, consequently, to have a particular atten tion to all those principles, in the choice of their officers observance of them, in the formation and execution of the wealth. good; give instructions to their representatives, and to them, and of the grievances they suffer. Power to sus. XX. The power of suspending the laws, or the executheir execution. tion of the laws, ought never to be exercised but by the legislature, or by authority derived from it, to be exercised XXI. The freedom of deliberation, speech, and debate, reason thereof. in either house of the legislature, is so essential to the rights of the people, that it cannot be the foundation of other court or place whatsoever. and confirming the laws, and for making new laws, as the XXIII. No subsidy, charge, tax, impost, or duties 8 Allen, 247. ought to be established, fixed, laid, or levied, under any pretext whatsoever, without the consent of the people or ture. pend the laws or Freedom of de. bate, etc., and 9 sions, and ob. Taxation found. ed on consent. 424, 428, 434. XXIV. Laws made to punish for actions done before Ec post facts the existence of such laws, and which have not been de- 12 Allen, 421, clared crimes by preceding laws, are unjust, oppressive, and inconsistent with the fundamental principles of a free government. XXV. No subject ought, in any case, or in any time, Legislature not to be declared guilty of treason or felony by the legisla- treason, etc. ture. XXVI. No magistrate or court of law shall demand Excessive bailor excessive bail or sureties, impose excessive fines, or inflict punishments, cruel or unusual punishments. prohibited. 5 Gray, 482. XXVII. In time of peace, no soldier ought to be quar- No soldier to be tered in any house without the consent of the owner; and goarte red in any in time of war, such quarters ought not to be made but etc. by the civil magistrate, in a manner ordained by the legislature. XXVIII. No person can in any case be subject to law- Citizens exempt martial, or to any penalties or pains, by virtue of that law, tial, unless, etc. except those employed in the army or navy, and except the militia in actual service, but by authority of the legislature. XXIX. It is essential to the preservation of the rights Judges of suof every individual, his life, liberty, property, and charac- preme judicial ter, that there be an impartial interpretation of the laws, Cick: 471, and administration of justice. It is the right of every Allen, 591 . citizen to be tried by judges as free, impartial, and inde- 105 Mass. 219, pendent as the lot of humanity will admit. It is, therefore, Tenure of their not only the best policy, but for the security of the rights of the people, and of every citizen, that the judges of the supreme judicial court should hold their offices as long as they behave themselves well; and that they should have honorable salaries ascertained and established by standing Salaries. laws. XXX. In the government of this commonwealth, the separation of legislative department shall never exercise the executive executive, judi. and judicial powers, or either of them : the executive shall lative depart. never exercise the legislative and judicial powers, or either 3 Cush. 577. of them : the judicial shall never exercise the legislative & Allen, 247, 253. and executive powers, or either of them : to the end it may be a government of laws and not of men. office. ments. 100 Mass. 282, PART THE SECOND. Title of body politic. The Frame of Government. The people, inhabiting the territory formerly called the Province of Massachusetts Bay, do hereby solemnly and mutually agree with each other, to form themselves into a free, sovereign, and independent body politic, or state, by the name of THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. CHAPTER I. THE LEGISLATIVE POWER. SECTION I. Legislative department. For change of time, etc., see amendments, Art. X. Governor'sveto. 99 Mass. 636. The General Court. ARTICLE I. The department of legislation shall be formed by two branches, a Senate and House of Representatives ; each of which shall have a negative on the other. The legislative body shall assemble every year (on the last Wednesday in May, and at such other times as they shall judge necessary ; and shall dissolve and be dissolved on the day next preceding the said last Wednesday in May;] and shall be styled, THE GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS. II. No bill or resolve of the senate or house of representatives shall become a law, and have force as such, until it shall have been laid before the governor for his revisal ; and if he, upon such revision, approve thereof, he shall signify his approbation by signing the same. But if he have any objection to the passing of such bill or resolve, he shall return the same, together with his objections thereto, in writing, to the senate or house of representatives, in whichsoever the same shall have originated; who shall enter the objections sent down by the governor, at large, on their records, and proceed to reconsider the said bill or resolve. But if after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the said senate or house of representatives, shall, not withstanding the said objections, agree to pass the same, it shall, together with the objections, be sent to the other branch of the legislature, where it shall also be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of the members present, shall have the force of a law : but in all such cases, Bill may be passed by two. Thirds of each house, not with. standing. in case of ad. ments, Art. I. 3 Mass. 567. name etc. may administer the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays; and the names of the persons voting for, or against, the said bill or resolve, shall be entered upon the public records of the commonwealth. For exception And in order to prevent unnecessary delays, if any bill journment of or resolve shall not be returned by the governor within court within five days after it shall have been presented, the same shall the time days, have the force of a law. III. The general court shall forever have full power General court and authority to erect and constitute judicatories and pudicoofititute courts of record, or other courts, to be held in the courts of record, of the commonwealth, for the hearing, trying, and deter- & Gray, 1, 12 Gray, 147, mining of all manner of crimes, offences, pleas, processes, 154. plaints, actions, matters, causes, and things, whatsoever, arising or happening within the commonwealth, or between or concerning persons inhabiting, or residing, or brought within the same : whether the same be criminal or civil, or whether the said crimes be capital or not capital, and whether the said pleas be real, personal, or mixed; and for the awarding and making out of execution thereupon. To which courts and judicatories are hereby given and Courts, etc., granted full power and authority, from time to time, to oaths. administer oaths or affirmations, for the better discovery of truth in any matter in controversy or depending before them. IV. And further, full power and authority are hereby General court given and granted to the said general court, from time to may enact laws, time to make, ordain, and establish, all manner of whole- Gray, 428. some and reasonable orders, laws, statutes, and ordinances, 12 Allen, 223, directions and instructions, either with penalties or with- 100 Mass. 544, out; so as the same be not repugnant or contrary to this 116 Mass. 467, constitution, as they shall judge to be for the good and welfare of this commonwealth, and for the government was co., cho and ordering thereof, and of the subjects of the same, and repugnant to for the necessary support and defence of the government 6 Alleu, sus. thereof; and to name and settle annually, or provide by may provide fixed laws for the naming and settling, all civil officers or appointment within the said commonwealth, the election and consti- 11:0Mask602. tution of whom are not hereafter in this form of government otherwise provided for; and to set forth the several may prescribe duties, powers, and limits, of the several civil and military officers of this commonwealth, and the forms of such oaths or affirmations as shall be respectively administered unto them for the execution of their several offices and places, so as the same be not repugnant or contrary to , 470. their duties. taxea, etc. may impose this constitution; and to impose and levy proportional and reasonable assessments, rates, and taxes, upon all the inhabitants of, and persons resident, and estates lying, within the said commonwealth ; and also to impose and 2, levy reasonable duties and excises upon any produce, 330, 312, 313, 300, goods, wares, merchandise, and commodities, whatsoever, brought into, produced, manufactured, or being within the same; to be issued and disposed of by warrant, under the hand of the governor of this commonwealth for the time being, with the advice and consent of the council, for the public service, in the necessary defence and sup- port of the government of the said commonwealth, and the protection and preservation of the subjects thereof, 127 Mass. 413. according to such acts as are or shall be in force within And while the public charges of government, or any disposed of for part thereof, shall be assessed on polls and estates, in the manner that has hitherto been practised, in order that such assessments may be made with equality, there shall be a valuation of estates within the commonwealth, taken anew once in every ten years at least, and as much oftener as the general court shall order. For the authority of the general court to charter cities, see amendments, Art. II. ARTICLE I. [There shall be annually elected, by the freeholders and other inhabitants of this commonwealth, qualified as in this constitution is provided, forty persons which was’also to be councillors and senators for the year ensuing their superseded by election; to be chosen by the inhabitants of the districts into which the commonwealth may, from time to time, be divided by the general court for that purpose : and the general court, in assigning the numbers to be elected by the respective districts, shall govern themselves by the pro- portion of the public taxes paid by the said districts; and For provision as timely make known to the inhabitants of the common- wealth the limits of each district, and the number of coun- to councillors, |