The Massachusetts Constitutional Convention was held between September 1 and October 30 of 1779. The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was drafted by John Adams, Samuel Adams, and James Bowdoin during the Constitutional convention. The Constitution was ratified on June 15, 1780. It became effective on October 25, 1780. The Massachusetts Constitution is the oldest functioning written constitution in continuous effect in the world.
Being the last of the first set of the state constitutions to be written, the Massachusetts Constitution has a structure consisting of chapters, sections, and articles which was replicated by the US Constitution. The Massachusetts Constitution consists of four parts: a preamble, a declaration of rights, a description of the framework of government, and articles of amendment. There are 120 Articles of amendment, as of 2003.
