the constitution of the commonwealth of massachusetts is the fundamental governing document of the commonwealth of massachusetts, one of the 50 individual state governments that make up the united states of america. as a member of the massachusetts constitutional convention of 1779, john adams was the document's principal author. voters approved the document on june 15, 1780. it became effective on october 25, 1780, and remains the oldest functioning written constitution in continuous effect in the world it was also the first constitution anywhere to be created by a convention called for that purpose rather than by a legislative body. only the constitution of san marino has sections still in force that are older. the massachusetts constitution was written last of the original states' first constitutions. rather than taking the form of a list of provisions, it was organized into a structure of chapters, sections, and articles. it served as a model for the constitution of the united states of america, drafted seven years later, which used a similar structure. it also influenced later revisions of many other state constitutions. the massachusetts constitution has four parts: a preamble, a declaration of rights, a description of the framework of government, and articles of amendment. it has been amended 120 times, most recently in 2000. ==history== in the spring of 1775, adams took the position that each state should call a special convention to write a constitution and then submit it to a popular vote. he told the continental congress that:richard samuelson, "john adams and the republic of laws," in bryan-paul frost and jeffrey sikkenga, eds., history of american political thought (lexington books, 2003), 120-1  the legislative body of massachusetts, known as the [[massachusetts general c
1780_in_law 1780_in_the_United_States 1780s_in_Massachusetts Government_of_Massachusetts History_of_Massachusetts Massachusetts_law Political_history_of_Massachusetts State_constitutions_of_the_United_States