State of Massachusetts - Constitution

Title

State of Massachusetts - Constitution

Description

State Motto of Massachusetts "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty" (Latin: Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem)

PREAMBLE

The end of the institution, maintenance, and administration of government, is to secure the existence of the body politic, to protect it, and to furnish the individuals who compose it with the power of enjoying in safety and tranquility their natural rights, and the blessings of life: and whenever these great objects are not obtained, the people have a right to alter the government, and to take measures necessary for their safety, prosperity and happiness.

The body politic is formed by a voluntary association of individuals: it is a social compact, by which the whole people covenants with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good. It is the duty of the people, therefore, in framing a constitution of government, to provide for an equitable mode of making laws, as well as for an impartial interpretation, and a faithful execution of them; that every man may, at all times, find his security in them.

We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the universe, in affording us, in the course of His providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit, and solemn compact with each other; and of forming a new constitution of civil government, for ourselves and posterity; and devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a design, do agree upon, ordain and establish the following Declaration of Rights, and Frame of Government, as the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Source: The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Creator

Massachusetts

Date

1788

Source

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Flag_of_Massachusetts.svg/2000px-Flag_of_Massachusetts.svg.png, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Seal_of_Massachusetts.svg/1200px-Seal_of_Massachusetts.svg.png

Rights

Source: The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Publisher

Massachusetts

Contributor

Massachusetts

Format

Medium: Logo

Language

English

Type

State

Identifier

State of Massachusetts, Massachusetts, States, Preamble, Constitution, Commonwealth

Coverage

United States

Files

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Flag_of_Massachusetts.svg/2000px-Flag_of_Massachusetts.svg.png
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Seal_of_Massachusetts.svg/1200px-Seal_of_Massachusetts.svg.png

Reference

Massachusetts, State of Massachusetts - Constitution, Massachusetts, 1788

Cite As

Massachusetts, “State of Massachusetts - Constitution,” Virtual Museum of Public Service, accessed March 29, 2024, https://vmps.omeka.net/items/show/383.