The Boston School Committee serves as the school board for Boston Public Schools .
89-580: In 1647, the Massachusetts General Court passed a law requiring the establishment of schools, it dictated that responsibility for the schools would be granted to "no existing body of officials but charged the Town as a whole with this important duty." Until 1789, various methods were used to oversee the city's schools without a formal school board. Records from between 1644 and 1689 indicate that, lacking an official school board, Boston had
178-457: A vice-regal manner, overseeing the governance and functioning of the colony. Originally they were supposed to reside in London , as was the case with other colonial company governors, although this protocol was broken when John Winthrop was appointed governor. The governor served as the executive of the colony, originally elected annually, they were joined by a Council of Assistants. This council
267-716: A "lone walk" down the Grand Staircase, through the House of Flags, into Doric Hall, out the central doors, and down the steps of the Massachusetts State House . The governor then crosses the street into Boston Common , thereby symbolically rejoining the commonwealth as a private citizen. Benjamin Butler started the tradition in 1884. Some walks have been modified with some past governors having their wives, friends, or staff accompany them. A 19-gun salute
356-601: A home rule petition to establish an appointed School Committee was approved by the mayor and City council, and then passed into law upon approval of the Boston General Court and the governor of Massachusetts . The first appointed Committee took office in January 1992. Mayor Raymond Flynn had spearheaded the effort to bring mayoral control of schools . Before this change, the elected school board had come to be regarded as fractious. However, by 1993, little over
445-426: A law. It is usually effective in ninety days. The day after the governor signs the bill is considered to be the first day, and each succeeding day, including Sundays and holidays is counted until the ninetieth. Laws considered "emergency" in nature take effect immediately upon signing if the legislature has voted to attach an "emergency preamble" to the bill. Adoption of the preamble requires a two-thirds standing vote of
534-478: A lieutenant and died on May 20, 1800, between that year's election and the inauguration of Governor-elect Caleb Strong . The Governor's Council served as the executive for ten days; the council's chair, Thomas Dawes was at no point named governor or acting governor. Article LV of the Constitution, enacted in 1918, created a new line of succession: The governor has a 10-person cabinet, each of whom oversees
623-447: A non-binding ballot question on whether the city should adopt a mayoral appointed Committee form which would see the committee be shrunk to seven-members, all of whom would be named by the mayor from a list of Boston residents put form by a nominating panel, with their appointments subject to City Council confirmation. A plurality of 37.3% of voters voted in favor of the question, with 36.2% of voters voting against it. After this, in 1991,
712-547: A portion of the government under direct administration (as opposed to independent executive agencies). See Government of Massachusetts for a complete listing. The front doors of the State House are only opened when a governor leaves office, a head of state or the president of the United States comes to visit the State House, or for the return of flags from Massachusetts regiments at the end of wars. The tradition of
801-563: A single unit in 1686, but collapsed in 1689. In 1692 the Province of Massachusetts Bay was established, merging Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, which then included the territory of present-day Maine . Colonial governors of Plymouth and the Massachusetts Bay Colony were elected annually by a limited subset of the male population (known as freemen ), while Dominion officials and those of the 1692 province were appointed by
890-578: A state legislature in the United States. She was outed against her will following the election and served one term. As of 2018, the General Court was composed of 75 percent male and 25 percent female representation. There are 40 senatorial districts in Massachusetts, named for the counties in which they are located. There are 160 representational districts in Massachusetts, named for the counties in which they are located. The speaker of
979-469: A supreme executive magistrate, who shall be styled, The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and whose title shall be – His Excellency. The governor of Massachusetts is the chief executive of the commonwealth, and is supported by a number of subordinate officers. He, like most other state officers, senators, and representatives, was originally elected annually. In 1918 this was changed to
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#17327717724331068-433: A two-year term, and since 1966 the office of governor has carried a four-year term. The governor of Massachusetts does not receive a mansion or other official residence and resides in their own private residence. However, the governor does receive a housing allowance/stipend for $ 65,000. The title "His Excellency" is a holdover from the royally appointed governors of the Province of Massachusetts Bay . The first governor to use
1157-418: A year since the appointed board had taken office, disorder had already arisen on the appointed board, and Black civic organizers in the city were pushing to revert to an elected school board. Despite having advocated for this change, as Mayor Flynn was preparing to leave office in 1993, he questioned whether the change had been a good decision, conceding that it had disenfranchised the input of voters in shaping
1246-423: Is Maura Healey , a Democrat who won the 2022 gubernatorial election . Any person seeking to become governor of Massachusetts must meet the following requirements: The governor is an elected position. The term of office is four years, with no term limit . Elections for governor are held on a four-year basis concurrently with elections for the offices of lieutenant governor , attorney general , secretary of
1335-412: Is composed of six senators and eleven representatives. The standing committees schedule public hearings for the individual bills, which afford citizens, legislators and lobbyists the opportunity to express their views. Committee members meet at a later time in executive session to review the public testimony and discuss the merits of each bill before making their recommendations to the full membership of
1424-446: Is offered during the walk, and frequently the steps are lined by the outgoing governor's friends and supporters. In January 1991, outgoing lieutenant governor Evelyn Murphy , the first woman elected to statewide office in Massachusetts, walked down the stairs before Governor Michael Dukakis . In a break from tradition, the January 2007 inauguration of Governor Deval Patrick took place the day after outgoing governor Mitt Romney took
1513-685: Is referred to the Senate or House Committee on Ways and Means after the first reading. Adverse reports ("ought not to pass") are also referred to the Committee on Steering and Policy in the Senate or placed without debate in the Orders of the Day for the next session of the House. Acceptance by either branch of an adverse report is considered the final rejection and the matter of the matter. However, an adverse report can be overturned. A member may move to substitute
1602-3149: Is the only news organization with floor privileges and a desk in both the House and Senate chambers. 1 (1780) 2 (1781) 3 (1782) 4 (1783) 5 (1784) 6 (1785) 7 (1786) 8 (1787) 9 (1788) 10 (1789) 11 (1790) 12 (1791) 13 (1792) 14 (1793) 15 (1794) 16 (1795) 17 (1796) 18 (1797) 19 (1798) 20 (1799) 21 (1800) 22 (1801) 23 (1802) 24 (1803) 25 (1804) 26 (1805) 27 (1806) 28 (1807) 29 (1808) 30 (1809) 31 (1810) 32 (1811) 33 (1812) 34 (1813) 35 (1814) 36 (1815) 37 (1816) 38 (1817) 39 (1818) 40 (1819) 41 (1820) 42 (1821) 43 (1822) 44 (1823) 45 (1824) 46 (1825) 47 (1826) 48 (1827) 49 (1828) 50 (1829) 51 (1830) 52 (1831) 53 (1832) 54 (1833) 55 (1834) 56 (1835) 57 (1836) 58 (1837) 59 (1838) 60 (1839) 61 (1840) 62 (1841) 63 (1842) 64 (1843) 65 (1844) 66 (1845) 67 (1846) 68 (1847) 69 (1848) 70 (1849) 71 (1850) 72 (1851) 73 (1852) 74 (1853) 75 (1854) 76 (1855) 77 (1856) 78 (1857) 79 (1858) 80 (1859) 81 (1860) 82 (1861) 83 (1862) 84 (1863) 85 (1864) 86 (1865) 87 (1866) 88 (1867) 89 (1868) 90 (1869) 91 (1870) 92 (1871) 93 (1872) 94 (1873) 95 (1874) 96 (1875) 97 (1876) 98 (1877) 99 (1878) 100 (1879) 101 (1880) 102 (1881) 103 (1882) 104 (1883) 105 (1884) 106 (1885) 107 (1886) 108 (1887) 109 (1888) 110 (1889) 111 (1890) 112 (1891) 113 (1892) 114 (1893) 115 (1894) 116 (1895) 117 (1896) 118 (1897) 119 (1898) 120 (1899) 121 (1900) 122 (1901) 123 (1902) 124 (1903) 125 (1904) 126 (1905) 127 (1906) 128 (1907) 129 (1908) 130 (1909) 131 (1910) 132 (1911) 133 (1912) 134 (1913) 135 (1914) 136 (1915) 137 (1916) 138 (1917) 139 (1918) 140 (1919) 141 (1920) 142 (1921) 143 (1923) 144 (1925) 145 (1927) 146 (1929) 147 (1931) 148 (1933) 149 (1935) 150 (1937) 151 (1939) 152 (1941) 153 (1943) 154 (1945) 155 (1947) 156 (1949) 157 (1951) 158 (1953) 159 (1955) 160 (1957) 161 (1959) 162 (1961) 163 (1963) 164 (1965) 165 (1967) 166 (1969) 167 (1971) 168 (1973) 169 (1975) 170 (1977) 171 (1979) 172 (1981) 173 (1983) 174 (1985) 175 (1987) 176 (1989) 177 (1991) 178 (1993) 179 (1995) 180 (1997) 181 (1999) 182 (2001) 183 (2003) 184 (2005) 185 (2007) 186 (2009) 187 (2011) 188 (2013) 189 (2015) 190 (2017) 191 (2019) 192 (2021) 193 (2023) 194 (2025) Governor of Massachusetts The governor of
1691-642: The Boston Board of Selectmen oversee school matters. In 1709, on its own initiative, the city of Boston opted to, "nominate and appoint a certain number of gentlemen, of liberal education, together with some of the Reverend Ministers of the Town to be Inspectors of the School." The school inspectors would pay annual visits to the town's schools. In 1712, the town voted to establish a committee to inspect, "the free writing schools which are supported at
1780-500: The East India Company . The freemen would meet annually to elect representatives in the form of a Royal Governor, a Deputy Governor, and a Council made from the directors of the company. These officials were to have royally assented governmental control of the colony and would be tasked with the management and defense of the colonial plantation. The first Court assembled would be made from these members to discuss and evaluate
1869-597: The General Court of Massachusetts , is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts located in the state capital of Boston . The name "General Court" is a holdover from the earliest days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony , when the colonial assembly, in addition to making laws, sat as a judicial court of appeals . Before the adoption of the state constitution in 1780, it
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#17327717724331958-525: The Province of Massachusetts Bay , the colony then encompassed the territory of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Plymouth Colony , and areas of what is now the state of Maine . The governor however would not be chosen by the electorate, instead the position would remain a royal appointment. In order to ease tensions with royal authorities and the colonists the General Court was reestablished and given significant powers. This created acrimony between
2047-517: The Province of New York , Province of West Jersey , and the Province of East Jersey . During this period (1686–1689) Massachusetts had no governor of its own. Instead there existed a royally appointed governor who resided in Boston and served at the King's pleasure. Though there existed a council which served as a quasi-legislature, however the logistics of calling the council to meet were so arduous that
2136-584: The legislative branch . The governor has far-reaching political obligations, including ceremonial and political duties. The governor also signs bills into law and has veto power . The governor is a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council , a popularly elected council with eight members who provide advice and consent on certain legal matters and appointments. Beginning with the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1629,
2225-490: The legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since the adoption of the Massachusetts Constitution in 1780. The body was in operation before Massachusetts became a U.S. state on February 6, 1788 . The first sessions, starting in 1780 , were one-year elected sessions for both houses. This was expanded to two-year sessions starting with the 142nd General Court in January 1921. Thereafter,
2314-747: The British crown. In 1774 General Thomas Gage became the last royally appointed governor of Massachusetts. He was recalled to England after the Battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775, by which time the Massachusetts Provincial Congress exercised de facto control of Massachusetts territory outside British-occupied Boston . Between 1775 and the establishment of the Massachusetts State Constitution in 1780
2403-691: The Butler Bible, the "Gavel", and a two-volume set of the Massachusetts General Statutes with a personal note from the departing governor to their successor added to the back of the text. The governor-elect is then escorted by the sergeant-at-arms to the House Chamber and sworn in by the President of the Senate before a joint session of the House and Senate. Upon completion of their term, the departing governor takes
2492-578: The City Charter was amended to enshrine that the school board would only have five members.After a referendum was passed by Boston voters 1949, the committee's members' terms were decreased beginning in 1952 to two years in length, with the members being elected at-large. In 1981, the city's voters passed a referendum expanding the Committee to thirteen members, with nine representing electoral districts and four being at-large. Terms remained two-years in length In 1989, Boston voters were presented with
2581-506: The Committee on Bills in the Third Reading. This amounts to preliminary approval of the bill in that branch. That committee examines technical points, as well as the legality and constitutionality of the measure, and ensures that it does not duplicate or contradict existing law. The committee then issues a report and returns the bill to the House or Senate for its third reading. At that time, legislators can further debate and amend
2670-410: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the chief executive officer of the government of Massachusetts . The governor is the head of the state cabinet and the commander-in-chief of the commonwealth's military forces . Massachusetts has a republican system of government that is akin to a presidential system . The governor acts as the head of government while having a distinct role from that of
2759-762: The Dominion was essentially governed by the Crown through the royal governor. The reason for the creation of such a post was there existed tremendous hostility between the Kingdom of England and the colonists of Massachusetts Bay. In an effort to bring the colonies under tighter control the Crown dismantled the old assembly system and created the Viceroy system based on the Spanish model in New Spain . This model of government
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2848-425: The House has historically been quite powerful, exerting significant influence over all aspects of state government. The General Court is responsible for enacting laws in the state. The two legislative branches work concurrently on pending laws brought before them. Lawmaking begins when legislators, or their delegates, file petitions accompanied by bills, resolves or other types of legislation electronically, using
2937-604: The House or Senate. Matters not requiring reference to another Joint, House or Senate committee are, following the first reading, referred without debate to the Committee on Senate Rules if reported in the Senate, except certain special laws (relative to a city or town) are placed directly on the Senate Calendar (Orders of the Day), or, without debate to the House Steering, Policy and Scheduling committee if reported into
3026-524: The House or Senate. The Health Care Financing Committee is required to provide an estimated cost of the bill, when making their report. If the estimated cost is less than $ 100,000, the bill bypasses having to be referred to Ways and Means. If a bill is not related to health care, but affects the finances of the Commonwealth, or, if it is reported by the Health Care Financing Committee with an estimated cost greater than $ 100,000, it
3115-512: The House or Senate. The public may still observe "executive" sessions, but may not participate in these meetings. The committee then issues its report, recommending that a bill "ought to pass" or "ought not to pass" and the report is submitted to the Clerk's office. The first reading of a favorably reported bill is automatic and generally occurs when the committee's report appears in the Journal of
3204-558: The House. Reports from Senate Rules or House Steering, Policy and Scheduling are placed on the Calendar of the Chamber receiving the report for a second reading. If a bill reported favorably by a joint committee affects health care it is referred by the House or Senate Clerk to the joint committee on Health Care Financing; and the first reading is delayed until the next favorable report, thus allowing Health Care Financing to report to either
3293-522: The Laws of this Commonwealth on the Votes of this Town to exercise." In 1822, when Boston incorporated as a city and adopted the first Boston City Charter , it reorganized the composition of the committee so that its 21 members would consist of the mayor of Boston , eight members of the Boston Board of Aldermen , and a member each to represent the city's twelve wards. In 1835, the charter was amended to expand
3382-597: The Legislative Automated Workflow System (LAWS). The electronically submitted legislation is received in the House or Senate Clerk's office where the petitions , bills , and resolves are recorded in an electronic docket book. The clerks number the bills and assign them to appropriate joint committees. There are 26 of these committees, each responsible for studying the bills which pertain to specific policy areas, taxation , education , health care , insurance , and others. Each committee
3471-517: The Massachusetts General Court, often by large majorities. The Democrats enjoyed veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers for part of the 1990s (i.e., enough votes to override vetoes by a governor) and also currently hold supermajorities in both chambers. State senators and representatives both serve two-year terms. There are no term limits ; a term limit was enacted by initiative in Massachusetts in 1994 but in 1997
3560-408: The Massachusetts courts have found that the full authority of the office of the governor devolves to the lieutenant governor upon vacancy in the office of governor, and that there is no circumstance short of death, resignation, or impeachment that would relieve the acting governor from the full gubernatorial responsibilities. The first use of the succession provision occurred in 1785, five years after
3649-604: The Town's charge." In 1721, the town voted that its selectmen others appointed by the selectmen would serve as, "Inspectors of the Gramer and Wrighting Schools" for the next year. In 1789, the Massachusetts General Court granted the authority to "trust to appoint School Committees for the control of the Schools". Under this, Boston's public schools would be administered by a committee with twenty-one members. Membership consisted of nine selectmen plus member that would represent each of
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3738-434: The authority of the General Court. Under this new system the religious qualification, that suffrage be for only Puritan men, was changed to a qualification of property ownership. The Assistants were also officially changed to a Governor's Council to be selected by the governor to act as an upper house as well as a council for advice and consent . All laws passed by the General Court were to be approved by Royal Governor of
3827-417: The bill for the report, and, if the motion to substitute carries, the matter is then given its first reading and follows the same procedure as if reported favorably by committee. After a bill is read for a second time, it is open to debate on amendments and motions . Following debate, a vote is taken and if the bill receives a favorable vote by the membership, it is ordered to a third reading and referred to
3916-425: The bill, first in the House and later in the Senate, is the final step in the passage of a bill by the legislature. Following enactment, the bill goes to the governor , who may sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without signing it (if the governor holds the bill for ten days without taking any action while the legislature is in session, it becomes law without his or her signature), veto it, or return it to
4005-554: The bill. Following the third reading, the body votes on "passing the bill to be engrossed." The bill must then pass through three readings and engrossment in the second legislative branch. Should that occur, it is sent to the Legislative Engrossing Division where it is typed on special parchment in accordance with the General Laws . However, if the second branch passes an amended version of the bill,
4094-769: The book burnt on Boston Common . With the collapse of the Dominion of New England in the Glorious Revolution in 1689 The Assistants convened an assembly of delegates from each town to reform the General Court. With the Massachusetts Charter in 1691 the Province of Massachusetts Bay absorbed the colony of Plymouth . The Plymouth Colony , along with the District of Maine and the islands off Cape Cod , Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket were to be an extension of Massachusetts and thus under
4183-409: The ceremonial door originated when departing governor Benjamin Butler kicked open the front door and walked out by himself in 1884. Incoming governors usually choose at least one past governor's portrait to hang in their office. Immediately before being sworn into office, the governor-elect receives four symbols from the departing governor: the ceremonial pewter "Key" for the governor's office door,
4272-637: The charter was not being followed, a compromise resulted in recomposition of the General Court as two deputies elected by freemen in each town. Problems with a judicial case resulted in another reform in 1638, where the Council of Assistants became an upper house that sat separately, with consent of both houses required to pass legislation. In October 1650 the General Court took exception to the book The Meritorious Price of Our Redemption by William Pynchon . They regarded it as containing many errors and heresies and decided to make their views very plain by having
4361-548: The city on March 17, 1776. The Governor's Council acted as the executive in the absence of the governor and lieutenant governor, administering the rebel forces of the colony during the early years of the American Revolutionary War , which began in Massachusetts at the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. The General Assembly declared Massachusetts independent from Britain on May 1, 1776. With
4450-556: The city's twelve wards . In this incarnation, the board opted to divide itself into a number of committees , including a visiting committee, committee to fill vacancies in teaching staff, and an examining committee. October 20, 1789 the members of the first School Committee for Boston were selected and authorized "to exercise all the Powers relating to the Schools and School Masters, which the Selectmen or such Committees are authorized by
4539-477: The committee to twenty-six members, consisting of the mayor, the president of the Boston Common Council , and two members from each of the city's twelve wards. In 1851, the committee appointed the city's first school superintendent , a position that lacked significant executive power. An 1854 revision to the City Charter expanded the committee to 74 members, consisting of the mayor, president of
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#17327717724334628-449: The common council, and six members from each of the city's twelve wards. By 1875, with the annexation of Roxbury , Charlestown , Dorchester , West Roxbury , and Brighton leading to an increase in the number of wards in the city, the committee subsequently grew to have 116 members. Later that year, a change to the City Charter shrunk the committee down to 25 members, consisting of 24 member elected at-large to staggered terms, as well as
4717-525: The commonwealth , state treasurer , and state auditor . The role of governor has existed in Massachusetts since the Royal Charter of 1628. The original role was one of a president of the board of a joint-stock company , namely the Massachusetts Bay Company . The governor would be elected by freemen , who were shareholders of the company. These shareholders were mostly colonists themselves who fit certain religious requirements. The governor acted in
4806-425: The commonwealth's armed forces. According to the Massachusetts State Constitution : Whenever the chair of the governor shall be vacant, by reason of his death, or absence from the commonwealth, or otherwise, the lieutenant governor, for the time being, shall, during such vacancy, perform all the duties incumbent upon the governor, and shall have and exercise all the powers and authorities, which by this constitution
4895-656: The constitution's adoption, when Governor John Hancock resigned the post, leaving Lieutenant Governor Thomas Cushing as acting governor. Most recently, Jane Swift became acting governor upon the resignation of Paul Cellucci . When the constitution was first adopted, the Governor's Council was charged with acting as governor in the event that both the governorship and lieutenant governorship were vacant. This occurred in 1799 when Governor Increase Sumner died in office on June 7, 1799, leaving Lieutenant Governor Moses Gill as acting governor. Acting Governor Gill never received
4984-497: The distinction between delegates elected by towns and the Council of Assistants. The assistants acted as magistrates and counselors of jurisprudence, however when in session they served as a sort of upper house . Their assent and approval was needed in order for any decision from the house of delegates to be passed. The new legislature was elected annually. Suffrage was allowed only for men who were Puritan church members and freemen. This General Court removed any feudal restraints on
5073-588: The donation of the Endicott Estate in Dedham from the heirs of Henry Bradford Endicott . He intended to renovate the 19th-century mansion into a splendid governor's residence. After Volpe resigned to become United States Secretary of Transportation in the Nixon administration , the plan was aborted by his successor in consideration of budgetary constraints and because the location was considered too far from
5162-641: The form of the Governor, the Governor's Council, etc. had more executive authority the Court could cause political stalemate if its demands were not met. Even the Governor's reserve power to dissolve the General Court was ineffective because a new assembly had to be elected the following year. With the passage of the Intolerable Acts by the Parliament of Great Britain there was political turmoil in
5251-691: The governor and other Royal Officers. From 1765 on the unraveling of the Province into a full political crisis only increased the tensions between the governor and the people of Massachusetts Bay. Following the passage of the Stamp Act Governor Thomas Hutchinson had his home broken into and ransacked. The early stages of the American Revolution saw political turmoil in Massachusetts Bay. With
5340-447: The governor is vested with, when personally present. The Constitution does not use the term "acting governor", but the practice in Massachusetts has been that the lieutenant governor retains the position and title as "lieutenant governor" and becomes acting governor, not governor. The lieutenant governor, when acting as governor, is referred to as "the lieutenant-governor, acting governor" in official documents. Despite this terminology,
5429-400: The governor's office on the third floor of the State House. Since 1780, 65 people have been elected governor, six to non-consecutive terms ( John Hancock , Caleb Strong , Marcus Morton , John Davis , John Volpe , and Michael Dukakis ), and seven lieutenant governors have acted as governor without subsequently being elected governor. Thomas Talbot served a stint as acting governor, but
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#17327717724335518-403: The governors and the assembly of the General Court. The governor could veto any decision made by the assembly and had control over the militia , however the General Court had authority of the treasury and provincial finances. This meant that in the event the governor did not agree with or consent with the rulings and laws of the General Court then the assembly would threaten to withhold any pay for
5607-415: The legislation returns to the original branch for a vote of concurrence in the amendment. If concurrence is rejected, a conference committee consisting of the three members from each legislative branch representing both political parties may be formed to effect a compromise piece of legislation. When a compromise is reached, the bill is sent to both legislative branches for their approval. A vote "to enact"
5696-429: The legislative year was defined as: "The first legislative year starting with the opening of the biennial session and ends at midnight on Tuesday before the first Wednesday of the following year. The second legislative year starts on the first Wednesday of the second year and ends when the legislature prorogues or at midnight on Tuesday before the first Wednesday of the following year. Watson F. Hammond , seated in 1885,
5785-462: The legislature with recommended changes. If the legislature has concluded its yearly session, and the governor does not sign the bill within ten days, it dies. This is referred to as a " pocket veto ." This ten-day period includes Sundays and holidays, even if they fall on the tenth day, and it begins the day after the legislation is laid on the governor's desk. A bill signed by the governor, or passed by two-thirds of both branches over his veto, becomes
5874-560: The lone walk down the front steps. Despite several proposals for establishing an official residence for the governor of Massachusetts, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not have a governor's mansion. In 1955, Governor Foster Furcolo turned down a proposal to establish the Shirley–Eustis House in Roxbury , built by royal Governor William Shirley , as the official residence. At one time, Governor John A. Volpe accepted
5963-607: The mayor as an ex-officio member. Also in 1875, the committee established a Board of Supervisors to administer the schools on its behalf. The committee consisted of the superintendent and six school supervisors. In 1885, the City Charter was amended to shrink the committee to 24 members by removing the mayor from serving as an ex-officio member. In 1905, the School Committee was decreased to five members, each elected in staggered years to four-year terms. Committee members were not given compensation for their work. In 1924,
6052-512: The membership. The governor may also declare an act to be an emergency law and make it effective at once. A special act takes effect thirty days from the day it is signed, unless it contains a provision to make it effective immediately. The State House News Service is an independent privately owned wire service based in the Massachusetts State House that provides comprehensive coverage of the Commonwealth's government. It
6141-524: The most recent Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held in 2022 . Following each gubernatorial election, the elected governor is inaugurated on the Thursday after the first Wednesday in January following the election. There are no term limits restricting how long a governor may serve. The longest-serving Massachusetts governor is Michael Dukakis , who served 12 years; Dukakis was in office from 1975 to 1979 and from 1983 to 1991. The current governor
6230-543: The original Thirteen Colonies , was a royally chartered joint stock company founded in 1628 in London . Much like other joint-stock companies of the time the first General Court was a meeting of shareholders, known as freemen . The "Great and General Court" was to meet in London and elect its officers and members in the same manner as other colonial charted companies of the time such as the Virginia Company and
6319-532: The passage of the Intolerable Acts the then Royal Governor Thomas Gage dissolved the General Court and began to govern the province by decree. In 1774 the Massachusetts Provincial Congress was formed as an alternative revolutionary government to the royal government in Boston. With Massachusetts Bay declaring its independence in May 1776 the role of governor was vacant for four years. The executive role during this time
6408-555: The population and codified a Bill of Rights and powers of a judiciary. The General Court also enshrined the Laws of Moses as legal code under the discretion of local magistrates creating a theocratic quasi-democratic state. By votes of the General Court in the 1630s, the system of government changed to have an elected governor and to restrict the list of "freemen" to those affiliated with certain Puritan churches. In 1634, after complaint
6497-529: The province. The powers of the monarch to be expanded in this new system as well. The King had full control of maritime affairs and acted as an executive, through the Royal Governor, to enforce commercial law. This separation of powers led to some friction with the Royal Governor and the General Court. The General Court retained power over spending and budget and while the Royal Officers, in
6586-491: The province. With political disorder Thomas Gage , then the Royal Governor, cancelled the new elections for the General Court and in 1774 the assembly was essentially dissolved. This allowed the governor to rule by decree and appoint town governments. In defiance of both Crown law and Gage, members of the General Court formed the Massachusetts Provincial Congress and seized control of the colony except for Boston, where British troops maintained control until when they evacuated
6675-417: The role of the governor has changed throughout its history in terms of powers and selection. The modern form of the position was created in the 1780 Constitution of Massachusetts , which called for the position of a "supreme executive magistrate". Governors of Massachusetts are elected every four years during state elections that are held on the first Tuesday of November after November 1. As of November 2022,
6764-443: The school board, and had upset many communities of color in the city. In July 1993, Flynn remarked, Let me acknowledge that taking the right to vote away from people is not a pleasant thing for me. It's a big issue in the minority community. I know it. I still hear it...and it's a very valid concern. Massachusetts General Court Minority (4) Minority (24) Vacant (1) The Massachusetts General Court , formally
6853-527: The seat of power, the State House in Boston. Prior to their respective demolitions in 1922 and 1863, the Province House and the Hancock Manor were also proposed as official residences. Since the governor has no official residence, the expression "corner office", rather than "governor's mansion", is commonly used in the press as a metonym for the office of governor. This refers instead to
6942-487: The situation of the colony. The first meeting of the original General Court took place in London in 1629. The General Court selected John Endicott as its representative to the colony. Soon after, Governor John Winthrop and the Deputy Governor Thomas Dudley broke with protocol when they themselves traveled to New England and moved the government to Massachusetts Bay. Along with them came
7031-411: The state was governed by the provincial congress and an executive council. The constitution of Massachusetts created the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, to be elected annually. Terms were lengthened to two years in 1918, to last until their successor was inaugurated, which would be at least the first Wednesday in the January after their election. This was changed to the Thursday following
7120-476: The stock holders of the company and the Council of Assistants . Once in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the new government reorganized itself out of convenience. Instead of attempting to assemble all stockholders to the meeting of the General Court the government decided on having each town elect two representatives to send in their stead. The General Court became a de facto bicameral legislature by virtue of
7209-419: The title was Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont , in 1699; since he was an Earl , it was thought proper to call him "Your Excellency." The title was retained until 1742, when an order from King George II forbade its further use. However, the framers of the state constitution revived it because they found it fitting to dignify the governor with this title. The governor also serves as commander-in-chief of
7298-543: The war still ongoing, demands for government reform resulted in the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1778 , but the text proposed by the legislature failed in a statewide voter referendum. The Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1779–1780 was held by a specially-elected body, and the resulting text, after amendment and ratification, became the current state constitution. The current Massachusetts General Court has met as
7387-480: Was a group of magistrates who performed judicial functions, acted as an upper house of the General Court, and provided advice and consent to the governor. The early governors of Massachusetts Bay were staunchly Puritan colonists who wished to form a state that coincided with religious law. With the founding of the Dominion of New England by James II of England , the New England colonies were combined with
7476-688: Was called the Great and General Court , but the official title was shortened by John Adams , author of the state constitution . It is a bicameral body . The upper house is the Massachusetts Senate which is composed of 40 members. The lower body , the Massachusetts House of Representatives , has 160 members; until 1978, the state house had 240 members. It meets in the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill in Boston. Since 1959, Democrats have controlled both houses of
7565-461: Was elected governor several years later. Prior to 1918 constitutional reforms, both the governor's office and that of lieutenant governor were vacant on one occasion, when the state was governed by the Governor's Council . The colonial history of Massachusetts begins with the founding first of the Plymouth Colony in 1620, and then the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1628. The Dominion of New England combined these and other New England colonies into
7654-620: Was filled by the Governor's Council, the Committee of Safety, and the president of the Congress when in session. With the adoption of the Constitution of Massachusetts in 1780 the role of an elected civilian governor was restored. John Hancock was elected as the first governor of the independent commonwealth on October 25, 1780. Part the Second, Chapter II, Section I, Article I of the Massachusetts Constitution reads, There shall be
7743-532: Was greatly disliked by the colonists all throughout British North America but especially in New England where colonists at one time did have some semblance of democratic and local control. With the Glorious Revolution and the Boston Revolt the Dominion was abolished in 1689. With the creation of the Massachusetts Charter in 1691, the role of civilian governor was restored in Massachusetts Bay. Now
7832-545: Was struck down by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court , which ruled that it was an unconstitutional attempt to provide additional qualifications for office by statute, rather than constitutional amendment. The legislature is a full-time legislature, although not to the extent of neighboring New York or some other states. The earliest history of the General Court is in the original charter of 1629. Massachusetts Bay Colony , one of
7921-503: Was the first Native American to be elected to the body. Florence Slocomb was one of the first three women in the Commonwealth to be elected to the state Legislature and the first woman from Worcester to win a state legislative seat, representing that district from 1926 to 1928. Althea Garrison was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1992 and is known as the first transgender person to serve in
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