Opinion of the Justices to the House of Representatives

To the Honorable the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

The undersigned Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court respectfully submit their responses to the questions set forth in an order adopted by the House of Representatives on March 11, 1996, and transmitted to the Justices on March 13, 1996. The order recites that House Doc. No. 5780, an initiative petition pending before the General Court entitled “An Act encouraging a citizen legislature accountable to the people” (initiative), proposes amendments to the General Laws of the Commonwealth, that would, among other…