Number 9 September 29. 1970

Number 9 September 29. 1970 Honorable John F. X. Davoren Secretary of the Commonwealth State House Boston, Massachusetts 02133 Dear Secretary Davoren: By letters dated September 1, 3 and 4, 1970, you have asked me whether the following question (or questions identical in all material as- pects) is one of public policy in accordance with section 19 of Chapter 53 of the Massachusetts General Laws: "Shall the Representative from this District be instructed to vote to approve the passage of a constitutional amendment reducing the size of the Massachusetts House of Representa- tives from 240 members to 160 members?" 48 P.D. 12 It is my opinion that the question presented is an "important public question" in which "every citizen of the Commonwealth has an in- terest" and is therefore a question of "public policy" within the mean- ing of G. L. c. 43, § 19. See 1939 Opinions of the Attorney General, pp. 99-100; 1955 Opinions of the Attorney General, pp. 51-52. See, also, 8 Opinions of the Attorney General 1928, pp. 490, 491-92; 1965 Opinions of the Attorney General, pp. 92-93. Consequently, the question may properly be included on the election ballot in the Representative Dis- tricts which you have mentioned, namely: 1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th and I3th Essex; I4th Hampden; 10th, 23rd, 28th and 34th Middlesex; 8th, 12th and 13th Norfolk; 17th Suffolk; 16th and 22nd Worcester. You have requested further that I supply your office with a suitable statement of the question for presentation upon the ballot. It is my opin- ion that the question should be printed on the ballot in the form in which it appears in this letter. Very truly yours, ROBERT H. QUINN Attorney General