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America’s First Constitutions and Declarations of Rights
erall Courte to advise and consult of all such things as may concerne the
good of the publike, as also to examine their owne Elections. . . .
10. It is Ordered . . . that every Generall Courte . . . shall consist of the
Governor, or some one chosen to moderate the Court, and 4 other Magestrats at lest, with the major parte of the deputyes of the severall
Townes legally chosen; and in case the Freemen or major parte of them,
through neglect or refusall of the Governor and major parte of the magestrate, shall call a Courte, it shall consist of the major parte of Freemen
that are present or their deputyes, with a Moderator chosen by them: In
which said Generall Courts shall consist the supreme power of the Commonwelth, and they only shall have power to make lawes or repeale them,
to graunt levyes, to admitt of Freemen, dispose of lands undisposed of,
to severall Townes or persons, and also shall have power to call ether
Courte or Magestrate or any other person whatsoever into question for
any misdemeanour, and may for just causes displace or deale otherwise
according to the nature of the offence; and also may deale in any other
matter that concerns the good of this commonwelth, excepte election of
Magestrats, which shall be done by the whole boddy of Freemen.
In which Courte the Governour or Moderator shall have power to order the Courte to give liberty of spech, and silence unceasonable and disorderly speakeings, to put all things to voate, and in case the vote be
equall to have the casting voice. But non of these Courts shall be adjorned
or dissolved without the consent of the major parte of the Court.
11. It is ordered . . . that when any Generall Courte uppon the occations of the Commonwelth have agreed uppon any summe or sommes of
mony to be levyed uppon the severall Townes within this Jurisdiction,
that a Committee be chosen to sett out and appoynt what shall be the
proportion of every Towne to pay of the said levy, provided the Committees be made up of an equall number out of each Towne.