Amend. Art. CXVI
Punishment of death
Structure
Criminal Justice
Amendments · Articles of Amendment
Official text rightpowerlimitif conditionlegal term
Article XXVI of part 1 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth is hereby amended by adding the following two sentences: No provision of the Constitution, however, shall be construed as prohibiting the imposition of the punishment of death. The may, for the purpose of protecting the general welfare of the citizens, authorize the imposition of the punishment of death by the courts of law having jurisdiction of crimes subject to the punishment of death.
Simplified explanation
Adds two sentences to Article XXVI of Part the First: no provision of the Constitution shall be construed as prohibiting the punishment of death, and the general court may authorize its imposition by courts having jurisdiction of crimes subject to it.