Guide

Massachusetts appends all amendments to the end of the constitution in the Articles of Amendments. This means that, unlike states that recompile their constitutions when an amendment is passed, the original text of the constitution remains in the constitution even if it is no longer in effect, due to being amended or superseded by other later provisions. A number of states originally appended amendments to their constitutions like Massachusetts, such as New York, North Carolina, and Missouri; however, Massachusetts is the only state to have never incorporated at least some amendments into the constitution's main text.

Accordingly, the Massachusetts Constitution is displayed differently from the constitutions of states that incorporate amendments into the main text of their constitutions.

Amended Provisions

The amendments to this provision are listed below the selected provision, organized by year.

The amendments to this provision are listed as those items (provisions) based on this item. To determine the current status of the provision you have clicked on, you will want to click on, using "See Item," all provisions listed in the "based on" section. The compare feature may be less helpful when viewing the Massachusetts Constitution due to how the amendments are drafted.

Amending Provisions

When you click on an amendment, you will see one of two views. The first will look like a regular provision with no additional items; this means that the amendment only modifies one provision, which will be available to view beneath the amending provision on the same page. This page will also show subsequent amending provisions that modify that same original article. The second will take you to a single provision page that looks like this:

The provisions that the article amends will be listed as those items that the item (the provision) is based on. By clicking on "See Item," you can see the text of the provisions the amendment is modifying.