Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-01-26

published, to the end that if agreed to bv
the General Court next to be chosen in the
manner provided by the Constitution. it NAV
oe submitted to the people for their ratifica-
ZION, IN order that it may become a part of
the Constitution Of this Commonwealth.
ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.
The political year shall begin on the first
wednesday of January, instead of the last
wednesday of May; and the General
Court shall assemble every year on the said
hrst Wednesday of January, and shall pro-
ceed at that session, to make all the cleo
tons, and to do all other acts, which are by
the constitution required to be made and
done at the session, which has heretofore
commenced on the last Wednesday of Nav.
And the General Court shall be dissolved
on the day next preceding the first Wednes-
day OF January, without any proclamation or
other act of the GOVERNOR. But nothing
herein contained, shall prevent the General
Court from assembling at such other times
as they shall Judge necessary, or when cal
led together by the GOVERNOR. The Gov
ernour, Lieutenant GOVERNOR, and Counsel
Tors, shall also hold their respective Offices
for one year next following the first We'd
nesday Of January, and until others are
chosen and qualified in their stead.
The meeting for the choice of GOVERNOR,
Lieutenant Governour, Senators and Rep
resentatives, shall be held on the second
Monday of November in every year: but
meetings may be adjourned, if necessary,
for the choice of Representatives to the
next day, and again to the next succeeding
day but no farther.
But in case a second meeting shall be
necessary for the choice of Representatives
such meetings shall be held on the fourth
Monday of the same month of November.
All the other provisions of the constitution,
respecting the elections and proceedings of
the members Of the General Court or of
any other officers or persons whatever, that
have reference to the last Wednesday of
May. as the commencement of the Political
year, shall be so far altered, as to have like
reference to the first Wednesday Of Janua-
ry. This article shall go into operation on
the first day of October next following the
day when the same shall be duly ratified
and adopted as an amendment of the Con-
stitution; and the Governour, Lieutenant
Governour, Counsellors, Senators, Repre-
sentatives, and all Others State officers who
are annually chosen, and who shall be chos-
en- for the current year, when the same
shall 60 into operation, shall hold their re-
spectlve offices, until the first Wednesday
of January, then next following, and until
others are chosen and qualified in their
stead and no longer. And the first election
of the Governour, Lieutenant GOVERNOR,
Senators and Representatives, to be had in
virtue of this article, shall be had conform
ably thereunto, in the month of November
following the day on which the same shall
be in force. and go into operation pursuant
to the foregoing provision.
All the Previeioas of tho existing Consti-
tutiou inconsistent with the provisions here
in contained are hereby wholly annulled.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSAC HUSETTS.
In General Court, at the January Session thereof
A. d. 1880.
Resolued, &c. in the same words as the
foregoing.]
ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.
The members of the House of Represent
atives shall be elected in the following man.
ner:-
The several cities and towns in this Com
monwealth shall be formed into Represent
alive Districts in such manner that no town
or city shall be divided that no district
shall be so large as to elect more than four
Representatives, except when composed of
single town or city ; and that each County
in the Commonwealth shall have at least
one Representative; and in forming such
representative Districts, regard shall oe
had to the number of inhabitants in the
cities and towns composing such Districts,
so that as nearly as may be, the same pro-
portion, may be maintained in all the Dis
tricts, between the number of Representa-
tives and the number of Inhabitants in such
Representative District. And the whole
number of Representatives to be elected,
shall not be less than one hundred and fif-
W, nor more than two hundred, and it
being determined what number of inhab-
tants shall be assumed as the number to
give one Representative, such Districts shall
be formed, of single towns, or of two or
more adjoining towns, containing as nearly
as may be such assumed number Of Inhabi-
tants, which may elect each one Represent
alive, or containing twice such number of
Inhabitants to elect each Representatives :
or containing three times such number of
Inhabitants to elect each four Representa-
tives. And in all cases, smaller districts
shall be preferred to larger, when they can
be formed without too great departure
from the principle of equality.
1t shall be the duty of the General Court
at their first session after the ratification of
this amendment by law made for that pur-
pose, to divide the Commonwealth into Rep
resentative Districts, upon the foregoing
principles, regard being had for the number
Of Inhabitants in each town and city, to the
their next proceeding census, taken under
the authority ofthe United States. And to
secure and maintain an equal representation
Of the people such Disticts shall by laws be
formed anew conformably to the rules above
after each census so taken.
And when any Representative District
shall consist of two or more towns, the quail
fled voters shall meet in their respective
towns and give in the votes for one or more
persons as Representatives, according to
the number to be chosen in such District,