rule cannot be raised after a bill has been ordered to a third reading and with those under Rule 47, where it has been held that substitution of a bill for the report of a committee makes it too late to raise the point of order that the bill is broader in its scope than when it was offered to the Committee.[1] Massachusetts has a liberal Constitution as I have shown. The rules of her Legislature are liberal too. There are only four other State Legislatures, according to Mr. Reinsch, that require a report from a committee within a certain time. In Massachusetts every committee has to report on all measures sent to it. There is no stifling of matters in committee. Hearings are given, and generously advertised, on all subjects, whether of great or little importance. Professor Reinsch says:
…the General Court of Massachusetts is in all respects nearest the people, and most responsive of any American legislature to intelligent public opinion.[2]…It is indeed quite necessary that all states should adopt and enforce legislation like that of Massachusetts, which requires sufficient notice of all committee meetings.[3]
