A legislator sponsors the Bill in the General Court . The official name for the Massachusetts legislature, usually used when referring to both branches. It is also sometimes called the Great and General Court. The message is written in letter format to the General Court , and the Bill accompanies the message. These documents are assigned one Bill number and are also contained within the Bills in the Legislative Documents volumes in the State Library.
Journals contain the procedural information of the process of legislative events.
The Journals do not contain debate. The bound volumes of the Bills , Resolves , Governor's Messages , and other legislative documents. Negatived The rejection by the members of the General Court of a motion by a negative vote. Paired votes Two Senators may combine or pair a negative vote with a positive vote, and therefore cancel each other out. Petition Formal document to request consideration of a proposal to the legislature.