Massachusetts Constitution, Articles 9. Right to elect rulers
Massachusetts Constitution – Article IX (9): Right to Elect Rulers and Officers
This article is part of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights, which serves as the state's Bill of Rights. Adopted in 1780, it is one of the oldest still-functioning written constitutions in the world.
📜 Text of Article IX (Original Wording):
"All elections ought to be free; and all the inhabitants of this Commonwealth, having such qualifications as they shall establish by their frame of government, have an equal right to elect officers, and to be elected, for public employments."
🔍 Explanation & Key Ideas:
Free Elections
Elections must be free from coercion, manipulation, or unfair restrictions.
This clause reflects a foundational democratic principle.
Equal Right to Vote and Hold Office
All eligible inhabitants (citizens) have the equal right:
To vote in elections
To run for public office
This article underscores the egalitarian ideal that public office should be open to all qualified individuals—not just elites or specific classes.
Qualification by Law
The state may define qualifications (such as age, residency, citizenship), but those must be applied equally and established by the constitution or laws.
🧭 Historical Context:
Adopted in 1780, this article reflected Revolutionary-era values: opposition to monarchy and aristocracy, and support for popular sovereignty.
It laid a philosophical foundation for Massachusetts' democratic process and was influential in the drafting of later American democratic documents.
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