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Massachusetts Question 6, Allow Legislature Voice Vote for Emergency Laws Amendment (1980)
| Massachusetts Question 6 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic State legislative processes and sessions |
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| Status |
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| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 6 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Massachusetts on November 4, 1980. It was defeated.
A “yes” vote supported allowing the Legislature to declare a measure an emergency law by voice vote instead of a recorded vote, while retaining the option for a formal roll call. |
A “no” vote opposed allowing the Legislature to declare a measure an emergency law by voice vote instead of a recorded vote. |
Election results
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Massachusetts Question 6 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 610,138 | 29.20% | ||
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1,479,110 | 70.80% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 6 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 joint sessions of the House of Representatives and the Senate on September 7, 1977, by a vote of 264-0, and on September 19, 1980, by a vote of 162-0? | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ | The proposed amendment would change the procedure by which the Legislature declares a measure to be an emergency law, making it effective when it is signed by the Governor. The amendment would allow the Legislature to make such a declaration by a voice vote, rather than by a recorded vote, as now required. The amendment would maintain the existing option allowing for a formal roll call. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
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
Footnotes
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State of Massachusetts Boston (capital) |
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