Bill Text: MA H650 | 2009-2010 | 186th General Court | Introduced

---

Bill Title: For a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to a vacancy in the office of Governor or Lieutenant-Governor.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-07-29 - Joint session adjourned with no action taken on this matter [H650 Detail]

Download: Massachusetts-2009-H650-Introduced.html

---

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

^{_______________}

PRESENTED BY:

Jay R. Kaufman

^{_______________}

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
��������������� Court assembled:

��������������� The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:

Proposal for a legislative amendment to the constitution relative to a vacancy in the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor.

^{_______________}

PETITION OF:

 

Name:	District/Address:
Jay R. Kaufman	15th Middlesex
Stephen J. Buoniconti
Scott P. Brown	Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex
Cleon H. Turner	1st Barnstable
Christopher N. Speranzo	3rd Berkshire
Martha M. Walz	8th Suffolk
Robert M. Koczera	11th Bristol
James B. Eldridge	Middlesex and Worcester
Steven J. D'Amico	4th Bristol
Thomas M. Stanley	9th Middlesex
Michael R. Knapik	Second Hampden and Hampshire
Richard J. Ross	9th Norfolk
Denise Provost	27th Middlesex
Jennifer M. Callahan	18th Worcester
Cory Atkins	14th Middlesex

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

^{_______________}

In the Year Two Thousand and Nine

PROPOSAL for a legislative amendment to the Constitution

����������� A majority of all the members elected to the Senate and House of Representatives, in joint session, hereby declares it to be expedient to alter the Constitution by the adoption of the following Article of Amendment, to the end that it may become a part of the Constitution [if similarly agreed to in a joint session of the next General Court and approved by the people at the state election next following]:

ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.

Section II of chapter II of Part the Second of the Constitution of the Commonwealth is hereby amended by striking out Article III and inserting in place thereof the following two articles:�

Article III. Whenever the chair of the governor shall be vacant, by reason of his death, resignation or removal, the lieutenant governor shall become governor. Whenever the chair of the governor shall be vacant by reason of his absence from the commonwealth, or otherwise, except for his death, resignation or removal, the lieutenant governor for the time being, shall, during such vacancy, perform all the duties incumbent upon the governor, and shall have and exercise all the powers and authorities, which by this constitution the governor is vested with, when personally present.

Article IV. Whenever the office of lieutenant governor shall become vacant, the governor shall nominate a lieutenant governor who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both the house of representatives and the senate.