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Massachusetts Question 4, Highway Funds for Mass Transportation Initiative (1974)
| Massachusetts Question 4 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Public transportation and Restricted-use funds |
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| Status |
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| Type Indirect initiated constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 4 was on the ballot as an indirect initiated constitutional amendment in Massachusetts on November 5, 1974. It was approved.
A “yes” vote supported allowing the use of money from the highway fund for systems of mass transportation. |
A “no” vote opposed allowing the use of money from the highway fund for systems of mass transportation. |
Election results
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Massachusetts Question 4 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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824,077 | 58.42% | ||
| No | 586,558 | 41.58% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 4 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 May 17, 1972, received 131 votes in the affirmative and 121 in the negative, and in a joint session of the two branches held May 8, 1974, received 139 votes in the affirmative and 119 in the negative? | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ | The proposed constitutional amendment would revise Article 78 of the Articles of Amendment to the Constitution to permit the expenditure of money from the highway fund for mass transportation lines and other mass transportation purposes in such manner as the Legislature may direct. The highway fund includes receipts from fees, duties, excises and license taxes relating to registration, operation or use of motor vehicles and taxes from the sale of motor vehicle fuels. The expenditure of money from such fund is presently restricted to highway and bridge construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair, enforcement of state traffic laws, and administration of the tax statutes which provide highway fund receipts. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
An indirect initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. There are two states – Massachusetts and Mississippi – that allow citizens to initiate indirect constitutional amendments.
While a direct initiated constitutional amendment is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiated constitutional amendment is first presented to the state legislature, which has various options depending on the state.
In Massachusetts, the number of signatures required for an indirect initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 3% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Massachusetts also has a distribution requirement that requires no more than 25% of the certified signatures on any petition can come from a single county.
If the petition meets the signature requirements, 25% of the Legislature in two joint sessions must approve the amendment to send it to the ballot. The petition may be amended by a 75% vote of the Legislature. Unlike indirect initiated state statutes in Massachusetts, a second round of signatures is not required. The state Legislature also has the power to place an alternative measure alongside the proposed amendment via a simple majority vote.
A simple majority vote is required for voter approval. However, the number of affirmative votes cast for the measure must be greater than 30% of the votes cast in the election.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Massachusetts Boston (capital) |
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