engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same,

mfort to the enemies thereof. But congress may, by Disability may be s of each house, remove such disability.

removed.

Debt of United
States not to be

validity of the public debt of the United States, auincluding debts incurred for payment of pensions and questioned. ices in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be

e United States nor any state shall assume or pay any n incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the r any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; ots, obligations, and claims shall be held illegal and

Debts incurred

in aid of rebellion

to be void, &c.

e congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate Appropriate rovisions of this article.

ECT. 1. The right of citizens of the United States to

legislation.

Right of citizenship not to be

e denied or abridged by the United States, or by any abridged.
t of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Le congress shall have power to enforce this article by

slation.

ution was adopted 17th September, 1787, by the unanimous consent of the states ion appointed in pursuance of the resolution of the congress of the confederation, 1787, and was ratified by the conventions of the several states, as follows, viz.: By e, 7th December, 1787; Pennsylvania, 12th December, 1787; New Jersey, 18th De21 January, 1788; Connecticut, 9th January, 1788; Massachusetts, 6th Febru28th April, 1788; South Carolina, 23d May, 1788; New Hampshire, 21st June, 1788; 1788; New York, 26th July, 1788; North Carolina, 21st November, 1789; Rhode 0.

amendments were proposed at the first session of the first congress of the United r, 1789, and were finally ratified by the constitutional number of states on the 15th 1. The eleventh amendment was proposed at the first session of the third congress, was declared in a message from the President of the United States to both houses of anuary, 1798, to have been adopted by the constitutional number of states. The as proposed at the first session of the eighth congress, 12th December, 1803, and was tutional number of states in 1804, according to a public notice thereof by the secre5th September of the same year. For notes on the adoption of the 13th, 14th, and Supplement to the General Statutes, pages 534, 779, and 872.]

I OF GOVERNMENT

FOR THE

monwealth of Massachusetts.

CONSTITUTION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

constitution.

ving and publishing this

MENTS.

ved within five days, not egislature adjourn in the

ARTICLE

- Apportionment of representatives and coun-
cillors. Freenoid as a qualification for a seat
in general court or council not required.
14. Election by people to be by plurality.
15. Time of annual election of governor and legis-
lature.

16. Eight councillors, how chosen.

State to be districted.- Day and manner of election.Vacancies, how filled. - Organization of goyernment.

17. Election of secretary, treasurer, auditor, and
attorney general by the people. — Vacancies,
how filled. To qualify within ten days.
Qualifications.

18. School money not to be applied for sectarian
schools.

19. Legislature to prescribe for election of sheriffs,
registers of probate, &c., by the people.
20. Reading constitution in English and writing,
necessary qualifications of voters. - Proviso.
21. Census of voters and inhabitants. - House of
representatives to consist of 240 members. —
Legislature to apportion, &c. Qualifications
of representatives, and number for quorum.
22. Census of voters and inhabitants. Senate to
consist of 40 members. Senatorial districts.
-Qualifications of senators, and number for

quorum.

23. Residence of two years required of naturalized
citizens to entitle to suffrage, or make eligible
to office. Repealed.

Dolls. Representatives, how 24. Vacancies in the senate.

25. Vacancies in the council. tants. Senatorial districts. | 26. Twenty-third article repealed.

15

PREAMBLE.

the institution, maintenance and administration of govsecure the existence of the body politic, to protect it, the individuals who compose it, with the power of enjoyd tranquillity, their natural rights, and the blessings of ever these great objects are not obtained, the people have the government, and to take measures necessary for their ty and happiness.

olitic is formed by a voluntary association of individuals: ompact, by which the whole people covenants with each -h citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed -s for the common good. It is the duty of the people, aming a constitution of government, to provide for an e of making laws, as well as for an impartial interpretahful execution of them; that every man may, at all times, ty in them.

ore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with , the goodness of the great Legislator of the universe, in n the course of his providence, an opportunity, deliberately -, without fraud, violence or surprise, of entering into an cit, and solemn compact with each other; and of forming ition of civil government, for ourselves and posterity; and oring His direction in so interesting a design, do agree and establish, the following Declaration of Rights, and overnment, as the CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH

USETTS.

Objects of gov

ernment.

Body politic, how
formed.
Its nature.