END Massachusetts INFORMAL SESSIONS Without a Quorum

END Massachusetts INFORMAL SESSIONS Without a Quorum

On August 22nd, the Massachusetts Republican Party will have the opportunity to vote on the following proposed resolution. 

 

SUMMARY

The Massachusetts legislature is taking unconstitutional shortcuts – passing a large number of its bills into law or moving them forward through what they call “informal sessions.” Alarmingly, these sessions are held with as few as 2 or 3 legislators present. The proper quorum for conducting business required by the Massachusetts Constitution is a majority of legislators, which is equal to 81 state representatives or 21 senators. This resolution calls on the Massachusetts Legislature to hold all legislative sessions with the constitutionally required quorum. Please read the resolution and show your support by signing and adding your comment.

 

RESOLUTION AGAINST INFORMAL SESSIONS THAT ARE HELD WITHOUT A QUORUM

 

Whereas, the Massachusetts Legislature is a full-time, paid body, with travel stipends, and legislators are expected to report to work;

Whereas, the Massachusetts Constitution specifically says that a “majority of the members of each branch of the general court shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business;” 

Whereas, informal sessions have too few (oftentimes only two to three) representatives or senators meeting, typically two or three times every week, to pass dozens of bills before an empty chamber under the false pretense that there is the required quorum; [See posted House and Senate informal sessions on the State House website.]

Whereas, a majority of all bills in Massachusetts get passed through this corrupt practice;

Whereas, all bills deserve the same attention to proper legislative process as required by the Massachusetts Constitution.

Therefore, be it:

Resolved, that the Massachusetts Republican Party condemns informal sessions that do not have a quorum;

Resolved, that the Massachusetts Republican Party urges all members of the Massachusetts Legislature to hold all legislative sessions with the proper quorum so that they properly conduct business for the benefit of its citizens as they were elected to do;

Resolved, that any time legislators conduct informal sessions without a quorum, the Massachusetts Republican Party calls for a representative or senator to show up at the session to announce, “I doubt the presence of a quorum” so that this corrupt practice ends.