1974 Nov 5 :: State of Massachusetts :: Question 5 :: Initiative PetitionDo you approve of the adoption of an amendment to the constitution summarized below which was disapproved in the House of Representatives by a vote of 73 in the affirmative and 150 in the negative and was disapproved in the Senate by a vote of 16 in the affirmative and 22 in the negative? See summary »

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Choices
 
Yes
 
 
No
 
 
Summary

Provisions of the act establish an independent Corrupt Practices Commission, with five members appointed by the Governor to staggered five year terms. The Commission has subpoena powers and is to investigate, by means of secret hearings, candidates' compliance with all state and federal laws relating to political campaign contributions and expenditures and corrupt practices. If probable cause is shown, the Commission is required to direct the Attorney General to take further action in the power form and is required to make public a report of such action. In cases involving the campaign practices of the Attorney General himself, a special attorney is to be appointed. If no probable cause is shown, the Commission is to state so publically.

Further, the proposed act extends the application of the current stature regarding the disclosure of campaign expenditures and contributions, to all candidates for office above the town and city level, with the exception of President and Vice Present of the United States. The act requires all such candidates to receive and disburse all amounts greater than $25 by check, and make it a crime to knowingly receive cash payment from a candidate or his committee for a service costing more than $25. The act also requires candidates to designate a single book as depository of funds and as recordkeeper, with records of receipts and expenditures to be open to public scrutiny.

Provisions of the act extend present campaign spending limits to cover all media firms (including: television, radio, newspaper, billboard, magazine, advertising, public relations, printing, opinion polling, computer, telephone, telegraph) to report the purchase of media services by candidates. Media expense of candidates for the offices of district attorney, clerk of court, register of probate and insolvency, register of deeds, country commissioner, county treasurer and sheriff are limited to $.07 for each resident of the respective electoral district. Other provisions of the act require candidates, upon official announcement or filing of nomination papers, to report all political receipts and expenditures since the date of the last general election for the office sought, and count such expenditures toward spending limits. The act also limits candidates to one political committee.

The act establishes a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment and/or $10000 fine for individuals engaged in corrupt practices, and a $50,000 fine for corporations so involves. In addition, the Attorney General is permitted to bring an action for the removal of a candidate whose election was materially aided by corrupt practice on the part of the candidate or one acting in his behalf, where such removal is otherwise authorized by law.

1974 Nov 5 :: State of Massachusetts :: Question 5 :: Initiative PetitionDo you approve of the adoption of an amendment to the constitution summarized below which was disapproved in the House of Representatives by a vote of 73 in the affirmative and 150 in the negative and was disapproved in the Senate by a vote of 16 in the affirmative and 22 in the negative? See summary »

Ballot Question Results

View results as: # | %  
Ward
Yes
No
Blank Votes Total Votes Cast Total Ballots Cast
Totals
 
11,142
6,105
7,177
17,247
24,424
Precinct 1
 
220
127
152
347
499
Precinct 2
 
204
138
145
342
487
Precinct 3
 
231
126
163
357
520
Precinct 4
 
286
149
169
435
604
Precinct 5
 
246
109
149
355
504
Precinct 1
 
91
59
121
150
271
Precinct 2
 
237
159
181
396
577
Precinct 3
 
149
79
93
228
321
Precinct 4
 
290
176
204
466
670
Precinct 5
 
281
141
188
422
610
Precinct 6
 
197
104
138
301
439
Precinct 1
 
310
180
291
490
781
Precinct 2
 
294
145
206
439
645
Precinct 3
 
294
201
183
495
678
Precinct 4
 
319
190
168
509
677
Precinct 5
 
270
133
153
403
556
Precinct 1
 
305
183
210
488
698
Precinct 2
 
201
114
229
315
544
Precinct 3
 
360
157
223
517
740
Precinct 4
 
350
224
196
574
770
Precinct 5
 
315
172
315
487
802
Precinct 6
 
379
194
231
573
804
Precinct 1
 
264
174
182
438
620
Precinct 2
 
272
154
169
426
595
Precinct 3
 
321
144
157
465
622
Precinct 4
 
345
182
156
527
683
Precinct 5
 
247
174
179
421
600
Precinct 6
 
328
171
179
499
678
Precinct 1
 
340
214
182
554
736
Precinct 2
 
367
199
210
566
776
Precinct 3
 
301
135
183
436
619
Precinct 4
 
337
165
163
502
665
Precinct 5
 
267
121
138
388
526
Precinct 1
 
388
177
197
565
762
Precinct 2
 
343
187
191
530
721
Precinct 3
 
390
184
205
574
779
Precinct 4
 
441
262
370
703
1,073
Precinct 5
 
362
202
208
564
772
Totals
 
11,142
6,105
7,177
17,247
24,424