PART I. Bill of Rights. Article 1. All men are born equally free. 2. They have certain inherent rights. 3. When men enter into a state of society they surrender up some of their natural rights to that society. 4. Some are unalienable.- Of this kind are the rights of con science. 5. Freedom of religious thought and worship. 6. The rights of religious societies. 7. The people of this State have the sole and exclusive right of governing themselves. 8. All magistrates and officers of government are accountable to the people. 9. No office shall be hereditary. 10. The government is instituted for common benefit. 11. All elections to be free. 12. The rights of every member of the community. 13. Those who shall not be com pelled to bear arms. 14. Right and justice to be free and without denial. 15. No subject shall be held to answer for any crime until fully and plainly described to him. 16. No person in jeopardy twice for the same offense. 17. In criminal prosecutions the trial shall be in the vicinity where the crime was commit ted. 18. All penalties ought to be pro portioned to the nature of the offense. Article 19. Unreasonable searches and seiz ures prohibited. 20. The right of trial by jury. 21. None but qualified persons ap pointed to serve on the same. 22. Liberty of the press. 23. Retrospective laws are highly injurious. 24. Militia natural defense of the State. 25. Standing armies prohibited. 26. Military subordinate to civil power. 27. Quartering of soldiers. 28. In regard to taxes, impost and duty. 29. The power suspending the laws or the execution of them only to be exercised by the Leg islature. 30. Freedom of speech in debate in the Legislature. 31. The redress of public grievances. 32. The people have the right to assemble in a peaceable man ner for the common good. 33. Excessive bail and fines or cruel punishments not allowed. 34. Court martial. 35. The right of trial by impartial judge. 36. No pensions should be granted but in consideration of actual service. 37. The legislative, executive and judicial powers to be kept separate from and independent of each other. 38. Moderation, temperance, indus try and frugality. PART II. Form of Government. 1. Forming the State. Article Article 2. Supreme legislative power vested 31. In regard to rights, etc., of cerin the Senate and House of tain inhabitants. Representatives. 32. Election of Governor, etc. 3. They shall assemble biennially, 33. Notifying those Senators elected. and shall be called the General 34. In case of tie. 35. The Senate shall judge of the 4. The powers and authority of the election and qualification of its General Court. own members. 5. A further enumeration of its 36. May adjourn themselves. powers, etc. 37. Shall appoint their officers. 6. There shall be a valuation of 38. They have power of impeachestates within the State at ment. least once in five years. 39. Removal from office. 7. No member of the General Court 40. If the Governor is impeached, shall take fees, etc. 8. The doors to be kept open, except in certain cases. Executire Power. 9. Apportionment of members of 41. The Governor. the Legislature. 42. Shall be chosen biennially. 10. Stricken out. 43. The Governor may adjourn the 11. In case of a town, place or city Legislature in case of disagreewhere having less than six ment. hundred inhabitants. 44. All bills to be signed by the 12. The members shall be chosen bi Governor. ennially. 45. Every resolve to be presented to 13. Qualifications for voting. the Governor. 14. Every member of the house shall 46. All judicial and army officers to be chosen by ballot for two be appointed by the Governor years. and council. 15. Compensation and mileage. 47. The Governor and council shall 16. Vacancies, how filled. have a negative on each other, 17. Impeachments to be heard and ! 48. Captains and subalterns to be made by the Senate. commissioned by the Governor. 18. All money bills shall originate, 49. Whenever the chair of the Govwhere. ernor shall become vacant. 19. Power to adjourn for two days. 50. The Governor and council may 20. What constitutes a quorum. prorogue the General Court. 21. Privileged from arrest. 51. The Governor to be commander22. The house shall choose their own in-chief of the army of the State. speaker, etc. 23. Power of Senate, Governor and 52. The Governor's power of pardoncouncil. ing offenses, etc. 24. Both houses to keep a journal. 53. Removal of commissioned officers of the militia. 25. The Senate shall consist of twenty-four members. 54. Appointment of adjutants, etc. 55. Division of militia into brigades, 26. The State to be equally represented. regiments and companies. 56. No money to be issued out of the 27. Election of Senators. treasury, except by appropria28. How Senators shall be chosen. tion. 29. What disqualifies. 57. Certain officers to deliver an ac30. Those qualified to be considered count of all goods, stores, etc., an inhabitant. to the Governor. 1 a Article 58. Compensation of the Governor and council. 59. Permanent and honorable sal aries for justices of the Su preme Court. 60. Election of Governor's council lors. 61. Those having a majority of the votes to be considered elected. 62. In regard to the refusal or ac ceptance of an office if elected. 63. The members of the council may be impeached for bribery, etc. 64. The resolutions, etc., of the council to be recorded. 65. State may be divided into five districts, each to elect a coun cillor. 66. Elections may be adjourned. 67. Choosing of the Secretary, Treasurer and Commissary-Generai. 68. Records of the State. 69. Secretary of State to have 1 deputy 70. Secretary shall give bond. 71. Election of county treasurers, etc. 72. Two districts for registering deeds. 73. Judicial officers to hold office during good behavior. 74. May require opinions of the jus tices of Superior Court. 75. Commissions of justices of the peace to expire in five years. 76. Marriage, divorce and alimony. 77. Justices of the peace, jurisdic tion when damages shall not exceed one hundred dollars. 78. No person to hold office after the age of seventy. 79. No judge or justice of the peace to act as attorney, etc. 80. Judges of probate, duties of. 81. May not be counsel or act as advocate. 82. The judges of the courts shall appoint their respective clerks Article to hold office during their pleasure. etc. name of the State of New ernor. clude. force. Supreme Judicial Court shall any office or place of cept. exercising at the same time offices. have a seat in the Senate or House of Representatives. money are mentioned in this per ounce, time and alterations when amendments shall take effect. Constitution. Constitution may be called every seven years. be enrolled on parchment and office. 1 |