When the highest court in Massachusetts amends the state constitution, how are the people to amend it back?* When the highest court in Massachusetts Massachusetts (măsəch  `sĭts), most populous of the New England states of the NE United States. amends AMENDS. A satisfaction, given by a wrong doer to the party injured for a wrong committed. 1 Lilly's Reg. 81.2. By statute 24 Geo. II. c. 44, in England, and by similar statutes in some of the United States, justices of the peace, upon being notified of an the state constitution, how are the people to amend it back? In the case of marriage, supporters of the old law gathered signatures and went to the legislature to put the issue on the ballot. Only a quarter of the legislature had to approve to move the issue forward. But liberals put up a roadblock. They said that "fundamental rights shouldn't should·n't Contraction of should not. shouldn't should not shouldn't should be put up to a vote" (in which case it is hard to see why the Founders bothered to hold constitutional conventions). The Democratic majority chose to kill the amendment by not holding a vote. Supporters of the amendment then went to the supreme court themselves. The court criticized the legislators' misconduct MISCONDUCT. Unlawful behaviour by a person entrusted in any degree: with the administration of justice, by which the rights of the parties and the justice of the, case may have been affected. 2. but said, quite properly if uncharacteristically un·char·ac·ter·is·tic adj. Unusual or atypical: an uncharacteristic display of anger. un , that it could not order a remedy. Shame, for once, did the trick, the legislators held the vote, and the issue will probably now be put before the people. Traditionalists are by no means guaranteed a victory, but they are at least to have a voice. |
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