Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 43b - Home Rule Procedures
Section 12 - Charter and Charter Amendments and Revisions; Deposit of Certificates; Judicial Notice; Reprints for Distribution

Section 12. Certificates in quadruplicate shall be prepared setting forth any charter that has been adopted or revised and any charter amendments approved and shall be signed by the city or town clerk. One such certificate shall be deposited in the office of the state secretary and shall be kept under the custody of the archivist of the commonwealth, one shall be deposited in the office of the director of housing and community development, one shall be deposited in the office of the attorney general and the other shall be recorded in the records of the city or town and deposited in its archives. All courts may take judicial notice of charters and charter amendments of cities and towns.
The city council of each city, and the board of selectmen of each town, shall, at intervals of not greater than ten years, cause the charter of said city or town as revised or amended to be reprinted for distribution to such registered voters of said city or town as may apply therefor at the office of the city or town clerk. Acts of the general court which are included in such charter may be referred to by appropriate subject headings and statutory citations instead of being set forth at length. Copies of said document may be sold at a price not to exceed the cost of paper, printing and binding thereof, plus mailing charges if any, as determined by said clerk.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts

Chapter 43b - Home Rule Procedures

Section 1 - Short Title; Definitions

Section 2 - Adoption, Revision or Amendment of Existing Charter

Section 3 - Petition for Adoption and Revision of Charter; Filing; Objections

Section 4 - Order of Governing Body for Submission of Question of Adoption or Revision of Charter; Nomination and Election of Charter Commission

Section 5 - Charter Commission; Procedure for Nomination and Election of Members

Section 6 - Charter Commission; Number of Members; Election

Section 7 - Charter Commission; Organization; Compensation and Expenses of Members

Section 8 - Charter Commission; Rules and Regulations; Personnel; Funds; Receipts and Expenditures; Office Space and Facilities; Taxation and Borrowing

Section 9 - Hearings Before Charter Commission; Reports of Commission

Section 10 - Amendments to Charter Previously Adopted or Revised Under This Chapter; Procedure

Section 11 - Proposed Charter or Charter Revision; Submission to Voters; Ballot; Copies of Final Report or Proposed Amendment; Adoption of Alternative or Conflicting Provisions

Section 12 - Charter and Charter Amendments and Revisions; Deposit of Certificates; Judicial Notice; Reprints for Distribution

Section 12a - Resubmission of Charter Which Failed of Approval

Section 13 - Exercise of Powers and Functions by Municipalities

Section 14 - Enforcement of This Chapter; Declaratory Relief; Judicial Review

Section 15 - Petitions for Adoption or Revision of Charter or Suggestion of Charter Amendment; Form

Section 16 - Paper or Document Required to Be Filed or Submitted; Presumptions

Section 17 - Election Laws; Applicable and Conflicting Provisions

Section 18 - Method of Electing Officers

Section 19 - Special Laws Enacted After Nov. 8, 1966

Section 20 - Provisions of Charter or Amendment Deemed Consistent With Certain Other Laws