Opinion of the Justices to the Senate

*878To the Honorable the Senate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court respectfully submit these responses to the questions set forth in an order adopted by the Senate on June 7, 1977. The order recites that there is pending before the Senate a resolution “calling for a national constitutional convention to consider an amendment to the Constitution to protect the right to life of human beings” (House No. 5984). A copy of the resolution, submitted with the order, refers to “all” human beings, “including their unborn offspring at every stage of their…