Massachusetts Constitution of 1780
215
and the Secretary shall lay the same before the Senate and the House of
Representatives, on the last Wednesday in May, to be by them examined:
And in case of an election by a majority of all the votes returned, the
choice shall be by them declared and published: But if no person shall
have a majority of votes, the House of Representatives shall, by ballot,
elect two out of four persons who had the highest number of votes, if so
many shall have been voted for; but, if otherwise, out of the number
voted for; and make return to the Senate of the two persons so elected;
on which, the Senate shall proceed, by ballot, to elect one, who shall be
declared Governor.
iv.—the Governor shall have authority, from time to time, at his discretion, to assemble and call together the Counsellors of this Commonwealth for the time being; and the Governor, with the said Counsellors,
or five of them at least, shall, and may, from time to time, hold and keep
a Council, for the ordering and directing the affairs of the Commonwealth, agreeably to the Constitution and the laws of the land.
v.—the Governor, with advice of Council, shall have full power and
authority, during the session of the General Court, to adjourn to prorogue the same to any time the two Houses shall desire; to dissolve the
same on the day next preceding the last Wednesday in May; and, in the
recess of the said Court, to prorogue the same from time to time, not exceeding ninety days in any one recess; and to call it together sooner than
the time to which it may be adjourned or prorogue