Government of Massachusetts


The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is governed by a set of political tenets laid down in its state constitution. Legislative power is held by the bicameral General Court, which is composed of the Senate and House of Representatives. The governor exercises executive power with other independently elected officers: the Attorney General, Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Auditor. The state's judicial power rests in the Supreme Judicial Court, which manages its court system. Cities and towns act through local governmental bodies to the extent that they are authorized by the Commonwealth on local issues, including limited home-rule authority. Although most county governments were abolished during the 1990s and 2000s, a handful remain.
Massachusetts' capital city is Boston. The seat of power is in Beacon Hill, home of the legislative and executive branches. The Supreme Judicial Court is in nearby Pemberton Hill.

Federal Government

Congressional Delegation

For Congressional representation outlined in the United States Constitution, Massachusetts elects two Senators to the Senate, as well as a number of Representatives to the House of Representatives proportional to the state's population in the US Census. From the 2010 Census, Massachusetts has nine representatives. As of the 2018 election, all these officials have been from the Democratic Party.
ChamberDistrictOfficialPartyTerm BeganTerm Expires
SenateAt-LargeElizabeth WarrenDemocrat20182024
SenateAt-LargeEd MarkeyDemocrat20152021
House of Representatives1stRichard NealDemocrat20192021
House of Representatives2ndJim McGovernDemocrat20192021
House of Representatives3rdLori TrahanDemocrat20192021
House of Representatives4thJoe Kennedy IIIDemocrat20192021
House of Representatives5thKatherine ClarkDemocrat20192021
House of Representatives6thSeth MoultonDemocrat20192021
House of Representatives7thAyanna PressleyDemocrat20192021
House of Representatives8thStephen LynchDemocrat20192021
House of Representatives9thBill KeatingDemocrat20192021

Federal Courts

For federal court cases the State falls within the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Electoral College

Massachusetts has 11 votes in the electoral college for election of the President, which are given on a winner-take-all basis. The state joined the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact in 2009, though the Compact has not yet achieved sufficient national support to be activated.

Executive

Massachusetts has 151 departments or agencies and over 700 independent boards and commissions. The head of the state's Executive Branch is by law the Governor, but it also has two types of executive officials that do not fall in the Governor's control. Constitutional officers are the elected officials specified by the state constitution, while independent agencies are created by statute and the governor exercises only indirect control through appointments. in Boston

Constitutional Officers

Officials elected statewide

Governor's Council

The Governor's Council consists of eight elected councilors elected from districts every two years, as well as the lieutenant governor. The council provides for advice and consent for judicial appointments, appointment of certain public officials including notaries public and justices of the peace, pardons and commutations, and certain payments from the state treasury. The governor is the nonvoting president of the council, but is chaired by the Lieutenant Governor in their absence.
DistrictCouncilorParty
Statewide Karyn PolitoRepublican
District 1Joseph FerreiraDemocrat
District 2Robert L. JubinvilleDemocrat
District 3Marilyn M. Petitto DevaneyDemocrat
District 4Christopher A. IannellaDemocrat
District 5Eileen R. DuffDemocrat
District 6Terrance W. KennedyDemocrat
District 7Vacant
District 8Mary E. HurleyDemocrat

Some executive agencies are tasked by the legislature with formulating regulations by following a prescribed procedure. Most of these are collected in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations.

Cabinet and Government Agencies

The governor has a cabinet of eleven secretaries.They supervise the state agencies, which are under the direct control of the governor. Nine of the secretaries preside over the executive office of their respective areas.
OfficeSecretaryDepartmentsWebsite
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenAppellate Tax Boardhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenBureau of the State Househttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenCivil Service Commissionhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenDepartment of Revenuehttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenDevelopmental Disabilities Councilhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenDivision of Administrative Law Appealshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenDivision of Capital Asset Managementhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenState Libraryhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenGroup Insurance Commissionhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenHealthy Policy Commissionhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenHealth Resources Divisionhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenOffice on Disabilityhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenOperational Services Divisionhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenPublic Employee Retirement Administration Commissionhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Administration and FinanceMichael J HeffernenTeacher's Retirement Boardhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental AffairsKathleen A. TheohadiresDepartment of Agricultural Resourceshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-energy-and-environmental-affairs
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental AffairsKathleen A. TheohadiresDepartment of Conservation and Recreationhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-energy-and-environmental-affairs
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental AffairsKathleen A. TheohadiresDepartment of Energy Resourceshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-energy-and-environmental-affairs
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental AffairsKathleen A. TheohadiresDepartment of Environmental Protectionhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-energy-and-environmental-affairs
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental AffairsKathleen A. TheohadiresDepartment of Fish and Gamehttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-energy-and-environmental-affairs
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental AffairsKathleen A. TheohadiresDepartment of Public Utilitieshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-energy-and-environmental-affairs
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental AffairsKathleen A. TheohadiresState Reclamation Boardhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-energy-and-environmental-affairs
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersDepartment of Children and Familieshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersDepartment of Developmental Serviceshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersDepartment of Elder Affairshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersDepartment of Mental Healthhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersDepartment of Public Healthhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersDepartment of Transitional Assistancehttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersDepartment of Veterans' Serviceshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersDepartment of Youth Serviceshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersDepartment of Public Healthhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersOffice of Refugees and Immigrantshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersCommission for the Blindhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersCommission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearinghttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersRehabilitation Commissionhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersMassHealthhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesMarylou SuddersSoldiers Homes in Chelsea and Holyokehttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Housing and Economic DevelopmentMike KennealyConsumers Affairs and Business Regulationhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-housing-and-economic-development
Executive Office of Housing and Economic DevelopmentMike KennealyDepartment of Business Developmenthttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-housing-and-economic-development
Executive Office of Housing and Economic DevelopmentMike KennealyDepartment of Housing and Community Developmenthttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-housing-and-economic-development
Executive Office of Housing and Economic DevelopmentMike KennealyDepartment of Telecommunications and Cablehttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-housing-and-economic-development
Executive Office of Housing and Economic DevelopmentMike KennealyDivision of Bankshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-housing-and-economic-development
Executive Office of Housing and Economic DevelopmentMike KennealyDivision of Insurancehttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-housing-and-economic-development
Executive Office of Housing and Economic DevelopmentMike KennealyDivision of Professional Licensurehttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-housing-and-economic-development
Executive Office of Housing and Economic DevelopmentMike KennealyDivision of Standardshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-housing-and-economic-development
Executive Office of Housing and Economic DevelopmentMike KennealyMassachusetts Marketing Partnershiphttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-housing-and-economic-development
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentRosalin AcostaDepartment of Career Serviceshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-labor-and-workforce-development
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentRosalin AcostaDepartment of Industrial Accidentshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-labor-and-workforce-development
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentRosalin AcostaDepartment of Labor Relationshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-labor-and-workforce-development
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentRosalin AcostaDepartment of Labor Standardshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-labor-and-workforce-development
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentRosalin AcostaDepartment of Unemployment Assistancehttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-labor-and-workforce-development
Executive Office of Public Safety and SecurityThomas TurcoDepartment of Criminal Justice Information Systemshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-public-safety-and-security
Executive Office of Public Safety and SecurityThomas TurcoDepartment of Correctionhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-public-safety-and-security
Executive Office of Public Safety and SecurityThomas TurcoDepartment of Fire Serviceshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-public-safety-and-security
Executive Office of Public Safety and SecurityThomas TurcoDepartment of Public Safetyhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-public-safety-and-security
Executive Office of Public Safety and SecurityThomas TurcoDepartment of State Policehttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-public-safety-and-security
Executive Office of Public Safety and SecurityThomas TurcoEmergency Management Agencyhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-public-safety-and-security
Executive Office of Public Safety and SecurityThomas TurcoMerit Rating Boardhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-public-safety-and-security
Executive Office of Public Safety and SecurityThomas TurcoMilitary Divisionhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-public-safety-and-security
Executive Office of Public Safety and SecurityThomas TurcoMunicipal Police Training Committeehttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-public-safety-and-security
Executive Office of Public Safety and SecurityThomas TurcoOffice of the Chief Medical Examinerhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-public-safety-and-security
Executive Office of Public Safety and SecurityThomas TurcoParole Boardhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-public-safety-and-security
Executive Office of Public Safety and SecurityThomas TurcoSex Offender Registry Boardhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-public-safety-and-security
Executive Office of Technology Services and SecurityCurtis M. Woodhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-technology-services-and-security
Executive Office of EducationJames PeyserDepartment of Early Education and Carehttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-education
Executive Office of EducationJames PeyserDepartment of Elementary and Secondary Educationhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-education
Executive Office of EducationJames PeyserDepartment of Higher Educationhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-education
Executive Office of EducationJames PeyserPublic Colleges and Universitieshttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-education
Executive Office of Transportation and Public WorksStephanie Pollackhttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-transportation

Legislature

The state legislature is formally known as the Massachusetts General Court, reflecting its colonial-era judicial duties. It has two houses: the 40-member Senate and the 160-member House of Representatives. Members of both houses have two-year terms. The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives and controls the flow of legislation. The President is the presiding officer of the Senate.
The General Court is responsible for enacting the state's laws. A bill signed by the governor, or passed by two-thirds of both houses over his or her veto, becomes law. Its session laws are published in the Acts and Resolves of Massachusetts, which are codified as the General Laws of Massachusetts. On June 9, 2017, S&P Global Ratings downgraded Massachusetts' bond rating to AA due to the legislature's inability to replenish the state's rainy day fund in the face of above-average economic growth.

Judiciary

The judiciary is the branch of the government that interprets and applies state law, ensures equal justice under law, and provides a mechanism for dispute resolution. The Massachusetts court system consists of the Supreme Judicial Court, the Appeals Court, and seven trial-court departments.

Supreme Judicial Court

Judicial power is centered in the Supreme Judicial Court, which oversees the court system. In addition to its appellate functions, the Supreme Judicial Court is responsible for the governance of the judiciary and the bar, makes rules for the operation of the courts and, on request, provides advisory opinions to the governor and legislature on legal issues. The Supreme Judicial Court also oversees affiliated judicial agencies, including the Board of Bar Overseers, the Board of Bar Examiners, the Clients' Security Board, the Massachusetts Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee, and Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services.
JusticeBegan active serviceAppointed byReaches age 70
2009
2014 		Deval Patrick 2024
2011Deval Patrick2020
2016Charlie Baker2034
2016Charlie Baker2031
2016Charlie Baker2036
2017Charlie Baker2029
2017Charlie Baker2029

Appeals Court

The Appeals Court the state appellate court, which means that the justices review decisions made in the Trial Courts. The Appeals Court also has jurisdiction over appeals from final decisions of three State agencies: the Appellate Tax Board, the Industrial Accident Board and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. The Appeals Court consists of a chief justice and twenty-four associate justices.

Trial Courts

County Government

Only the southeastern third of the state has county governments; in western, central, and northeastern Massachusetts, traditional county-level government was eliminated during the late 1990s. District attorneys and sheriffs are elected by constituencies which mainly follow county boundaries, and are funded by the state budget. Although most county governments have been abolished, all counties still have a sheriff's department which operates correctional facilities and service of process in the county.

Sheriffs

District Attorney

are elected in 11 districts and serve as a public prosecutor representing the Commonwealth during criminal prosecutions. Most district attorneys are elected within the boundaries of a single county, and the district courts they operate in are within that county. The exception is Hampshire and Franklin Counties and the Town of Athol which make up the Northwestern District; and Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Counties which make up the Cape and Islands District. Some districts that follow traditional county lines are officially known by a different name than the county, but they may also informally be called by the county name.
District District AttorneyPartyWebsite
Berkshire DistrictAndrea HarringtonDemocrat
Bristol DistrictThomas Quinn, IIIDemocrat
Cape and Islands District Michael O'KeefeRepublican
Eastern District Jonathan BlodgetDemocrat
Hampden DistrictAnthony GulluniDemocrat
Middle District Joseph EarlyDemocrat
NorfolkMichael MorrisseyDemocrat
Northern Marian RyanDemocrat
Northwestern David SullivanDemocrat
PlymouthTimothy CruzRepublican
SuffolkRachael RollinsDemocrat

Registry of Deeds

All counties in Massachusetts have at least one registry of deeds, which is responsible for recording and holding copies of deeds, titles, and other land records within their district. Each registry is run by an elected register of deeds, who serves for 6 year terms. Most counties have one registry, but some are divided into separate districts with their own registry. There are 21 registries.
CountyRegistryRegisterPartyWebsite
BarnstableBarnstableJohn F. MeadRepublican
BerkshireNorth BerkshireMaria T. ZiembaDemocrat
BerkshireMiddle BerkshirePatsy HarrisDemocrat
BerkshireSouth BerkshireMichelle L. Laramee-JenneyUnenrolled
BristolNorth BristolBarry J. AmaralDemocrat
BristolFall RiverBernard J. McDonald, IIIDemocrat
BristolSouth BristolFrederick M. Kalisz, Jr.Democrat
DukesDukesPaulo C. DeoliveiriaDemocrat
EssexNorth EssexM. Paul IannuccilloDemocrat
EssexSouth EssexJohn L. O'Brien, Jr.Democrat
FranklinFranklinScott A. CoteDemocrat
HampdenHampdenCheryl A. Coakley-RiveraDemocrat
HampshireHampshireMary K. OlberdingDemocrat
MiddlesexNorth MiddlesexRichard P. Howe, Jr.Democrat
MiddlesexSouth MiddlesexMaria C. CuratoneDemocrat
NantucketNantucketJennifer H. FerreiraUnenrolled
NorfolkNorfolkWilliam P. O'DonnellDemocrat
PlymouthPlymouthJohn R. Buckley, Jr.Democrat
SuffolkSuffolkStephen J. MurphyDemocrat
WorcesterNorth WorcesterKathleen Reynolds DaigneaultDemocrat
WorcesterSouth WorcesterKathryn A. ToomeyDemocrat

Municipal Government

Massachusetts shares with the five other New England states the New England town form of government. All land in Massachusetts is divided among cities and towns and there are no unincorporated areas, population centers, or townships. Massachusetts has four kinds of public-school districts: local schools, regional schools, vocational-technical schools, and charter schools.

Elections and politics

Massachusetts is known for its progressive politics, and is a stronghold of American Liberalism and the Democratic Party. In a 2018 Gallup poll Massachusetts was the state with the highest percentage of its population identifying as liberal and the lowest percentage identifying as conservative, at 35% and 21% respectively. This and the high profile of well known politicians from Massachusetts such as the Kennedy family has led to the derogatory political phrase "Massachusetts Liberal".

Transparency

The state has an open-meeting law enforced by the attorney general, and a public-records law enforced by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. A 2008 report by the Better Government Association and National Freedom of Information Coalition ranked Massachusetts 43rd out of the 50 US states in government transparency. It gave the state a grade of "F," based on the time, cost, and comprehensiveness of access to public records. Access to government records and the actions of the Secretary in enforcing the law became an issue in the 2014 campaign for the office. Incumbent William Galvin cited his previous requests that the legislature revise the Public Records Law to facilitate access. According to the governor, he is exempt from the Public Records Law. A reform law was signed on June 3, 2016 and took effect on January 1, 2017, imposing stricter time limits and lower costs.