Massachusetts Constitution, Articles 17. Right to assemble and petition
Massachusetts Constitution – Article XVII (Part the First): Right to Assemble and Petition
This article is part of “Part the First: A Declaration of the Rights of the Inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” originally adopted in 1780 and one of the earliest bills of rights in the world.
🔹 Full Text of Article XVII:
"The people have a right to keep and to bear arms for the common defence. And as, in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be maintained without the consent of the legislature; and the military power shall always be held in an exact subordination to the civil authority, and be governed by it."
(Note: This article primarily concerns the right to bear arms and the subordination of military to civil power.)
However, it appears you may be referring instead to the right to assemble and petition, which is addressed in:
🔹 Correct Article: Article XIX – Right to Assemble and Petition
"The people have a right, in an orderly and peaceable manner, to assemble to consult upon the common good; give instructions to their representatives, and to request of the legislative body, by the way of addresses, petitions, or remonstrances, redress of the wrongs done them, and of the grievances they suffer."
🔹 Explanation & Meaning:
Right to Assemble:
Citizens may gather peacefully to discuss issues concerning the public good.
The emphasis on “orderly and peaceable” reflects limits on violent or disruptive assembly.
Right to Petition:
Citizens have the right to communicate grievances to their government.
This includes petitions, formal addresses, and remonstrances (protests or objections).
Instruction to Representatives:
Echoes Article II: people may instruct their elected officials on matters of public concern.
✅ Summary:
Article XIX (not XVII) of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and petition, reflecting foundational principles of representative democracy and freedom of speech. It ensures that the people retain the power to influence government through lawful and peaceful means.
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