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America’s First Constitutions and Declarations of Rights
dissolve and be dissolved on the day next preceding the said last Wednesday in May; and shall be styled, the general court of massachusetts.
ii.—no bill or resolve of the Senate or House of Representatives shall
become a law, and have force as such, until it shall have been laid before
the Governor for his revisal: And if he, upon such revision, approve
thereof, he shall signify his approbation by signing the same. But if he
have any objection to the passing of such bill or resolve, he shall return
the same, together with his objections thereto, in writing, to the Senate
or House of Representatives, in which soever the same shall have originated; who shall enter the objections sent down by the Governor, at
large, on their records, and proceed to reconsider the said bill or resolve:
But if, after such reconsideration, two thirds of the said Senate or House
of Representatives, shall, notwithstanding the said objections, agree to
pass the same, it shall, together with the objections, be sent to the other
branch of the legislature, where it shall also be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of the members present, shall have the force of a law:
But in all such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas
and nays; and the names of the persons voting for, or against, the said bill
or resolve, shall be entered upon the public records of the Commonwealth.
And in order to prevent unnecessary delays, if any bill or resolve shall
not be returned by the Governor within five days after it shall have been
presented, the same shall have the force of a law.
iii.—the General Court shall forever have full power and authority to
erect and constitute judicatories and courts of record, or other courts, to
be held in the name of the Commonwealth, for the hearing, trying, and
determining of all manner of crimes, offenses, pleas, processes, plaints,
actions, matters, causes and things, whatsoever, arising or happening
within the Commonwealth, or between or concerning persons inhabiting, or residing, or brought within the same; whether the same be criminal or civil, or whether the said crimes be capital or not capital, and
whether the said pleas be real, personal, or mixed; and for the awarding
and making out of execution thereupon: To which courts and judicatories
are hereby given and granted full power and authority, from time to
time, to administer oaths or affirmations, for the better discovery of truth
in any matter in controversy or depending before them.