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Massachusetts Question 1, Governor-Elect Term Dates and Succession Amendment (1950)
| Massachusetts Question 1 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic State executive branch structure and State executive elections |
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| Status |
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| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 1 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Massachusetts on November 7, 1950. It was approved.
A “yes” vote supported amending the state constitution to specify the start and end dates of terms for the governor, lieutenant governor, and councillors, and to establish procedures for succession if the governor-elect or both the governor-elect and lieutenant governor-elect die before taking office. |
A “no” vote opposed amending the state constitution to specify the start and end dates of terms for the governor, lieutenant governor, and councillors, and to establish procedures for succession if the governor-elect or both the governor-elect and lieutenant governor-elect die before taking office. |
Election results
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Massachusetts Question 1 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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1,151,692 | 84.64% | ||
| No | 208,957 | 15.36% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 1 was as follows:
| “ | Do you approve of the adoption of an amendment to the constitution summarized below which was approved by the General Court in a joint session of the two branches held June 9, 1947, received 244 votes in the affirmative and 0 in the negative, and in a joint session of the two branches held June 8, 1949, received 242 votes in the affirmative and 7 in the negative? | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ | This proposed amendment of the Constitution provides for the time when the respective terms of office of the governor, lieutenant-governor and councillors shall begin and the time when their respective terms shall end. It also makes provision relative to the succession to the office of governor in the event of the death of the governor elect before qualification for the office of governor; and it further makes provision relative to the succession to the office of governor in the event of the death of both the governor elect and the lieutenant-governor elect before qualification for their respective offices. | ” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Massachusetts Constitution
A simple majority vote is required during two successive joint legislative sessions for the Massachusetts State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 101 votes in the joint session of the state legislature, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
See also
External links
- William Francis Galvin Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Statewide Ballot Measures: 1919-Present"
- The North Adams Transcript, "Legal Notice!" October 20, 1950
Footnotes
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State of Massachusetts Boston (capital) |
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