HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3702        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 33

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Mindy Domb

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying proposal for constitutional amendment:

Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to the oaths and affirmations of public office.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Mindy Domb

3rd Hampshire

1/17/2023

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

1/23/2023

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex

3/30/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3702        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 33

By Representative Domb of Amherst, a petition (accompanied by proposal for constitutional amendment, House, No. 33) of Mindy Domb and Jack Patrick Lewis for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to the oaths and affirmations of public office.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 80 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to the oaths and affirmations of public office.

 

A majority of all the members elected to the Senate and House of Representatives, in joint session, hereby declares it to be expedient to alter the Constitution by the adoption of the following Article of Amendment, to the end that it may become a part of the Constitution [if similarly agreed to in a joint session of the next General Court and approved by the people at the state election next following]:
 

ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.
 

Article VI of the Amendments to the Constitution is hereby amended by striking out the third paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:- Provided, that when any person shall decline taking said oath, the person shall make an affirmation in the foregoing form, omitting the word “swear” and inserting instead thereof the word “affirm;” and omitting the words “So help me God,” and subjoining, instead thereof, the words “This I do under the pains and penalties of perjury.”