A Brief History of the Constitution and Government of Massachusetts: With a Chapter on Legislative ProcedureThis historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1916. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE To become law a measure has to pass through three readings in each branch of the Legislature; it must be engrossed and enacted in each, and then must be signed by the Governor, or left for five days without his signature, or vetoed within the required period and passed over his veto. Filing Petitions And Bills When one looks at the Massachusetts " blue books " which are issued yearly with their mass of laws general and special, one seldom pauses to reflect on the hearings, debates, readings and contests which must have taken place, and upon the general machinery that had to be set in motion before these matters were in shape to be put in the statute book. The fact that the Legislature sits for many months each year and steadily grinds out laws, is of course common knowledge. But if the average citizen wanted to get an idea enacted into law, would he know how to go about it ? He would probably consult a lawyer. This lawyer would undoubtedly know the method of procedure by which to set the ball rolling, but unless he had been at some time in the State government or had special experience with legislation he would scarcely know how to draw a bill and its accompanying petition in scientific form. For instance, very few realize the value of making the petition as broad as possible. Since each petition must, under the rules, be accompanied by a bill, the phrase commonly used in a petition is to ask " for legislation according to the accompanying bill." Generally 90 speaking, nothing could be more unwise than this. Events will undoubtedly occur making it desirable to amend the bill. If it is desired to cut out some of its provisions or to limit its scope well and good; the petition will be broad enough for that. But if, as is more ofte... |
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¹ Constitution adjourned adopted adverse report appointed Article of Amendment Assistants bill or resolve body Boston branch caucus Chap chosen chusetts clause clerk Committee on Bills Commonwealth Constitution of Massachusetts constitutional convention Convention of 1820 Councillors course delegates district document election Engrossed Bills favor finally rejected given Governor and Council granted hearing held House of Representatives House Rule Ibid impeachment John Adams joint ballot joint committee Joint Rule judicial justices legislation Legislature Lieutenant-Governor majority martial law Mass Massa Massachusetts Constitution matter measure ment mittee nomination notaries Notes of Rulings opinion original party passed petition Plymouth Colony point of order political presiding officer Provincial question Recess Committee referred Register of Deeds removal by address Repre Rule 30 Samuel Adams says seat Senate Rule sent sergeant-at-arms session Speaker statute submitted Supreme Court Third Reading tion towns two-thirds vote veto
Popular passages
Page 69 - No judge of any court of this commonwealth, (except the court of sessions,) and no person holding any office under the authority of the United States, (postmasters excepted,) shall, at the same time, hold the office of governor, lieutenant-governor, or councillor, or have a seat in the senate or house of representatives of this commonwealth...
Page 54 - It is essential to the preservation of the rights of every individual, his life, liberty, property and character, that there be an impartial interpretation of the laws and administration of justice. It is the right of every citizen to be tried by judges as free, impartial and independent, as the lot of humanity will admit.
Page 73 - He has a large house, and he has a movable partition in his garret which he takes down, and the whole club meets in one room. There they smoke tobacco till you cannot see from one end of the garret to the other. There they drink flip, I suppose, and there...
Page 73 - ... drink flip, I suppose, and there they choose a moderator, who puts questions to the vote regularly ; and selectmen, assessors, collectors, wardens, firewards, and representatives, are regularly chosen before they are chosen in the town. Uncle Fairfield, Story, Ruddock, Adams, Cooper, and a rudis indigestaque moles of others are members. They send committees to wait on the merchant's club, and to propose and join in the choice of men and measures.
Page 84 - Whenever the executive authority of any state or territory demands any person as a fugitive from justice of the executive authority of any state or territory to which such person has fled, and produces a copy of an indictment found, or an affidavit made before a magistrate of any state or territory, charging the person demanded with having committed treason, felony, or other crime, certified as authentic by the governor or chief magistrate of the state or territory from whence the person so charged...
Page 29 - That no person in this state can in any case be subjected to law-martial, or to any penalties or pains by virtue of that law, except those employed in the army, and the militia in actual service.
Page 69 - ... office after being elected a member of the Congress of the United States, and accepting that trust; but the acceptance of such trust, by any of the officers aforesaid, shall be deemed and taken to be a resignation of his said office...
Page 69 - Commonwealth, (except the court of sessions,) nor the attorney-general, solicitorgeneral, county-attorney, clerk of any court, sheriff, treasurer and receiver-general, register of probate, nor register of deeds, shall continue to hold his said office after being elected a member of the Congress of the United States, and accepting that trust ; but the acceptance of such trust, by any of the officers aforesaid, shall be deemed and taken to be a resignation of his said office...
Page 33 - That a committee of three on the part of the Senate, and five on the part of the House, be appointed to prepare such address, and submit it to a meeting of the whigs on Monday morning next, the 13th inst., at half past 8 o'clock.
Page 46 - Considering the questions in this light, we are of opinion, taking the second question first, that, under and pursuant to the existing Constitution, there is no authority given by any reasonable construction or necessary implication, by which any specific and particular amendment or amendments of the Constitution can be made, in any other manner than that prescribed in the ninth article of the amendments adopted in 1820.