Government of Massachusetts facts for kids

The form of Massachusetts government is provided by the Constitution of the Commonwealth. The legislative power is exercised by the bicameral General Court, composed of the Senate and House of Representatives. The executive power generally is exercised by the Governor, along with other independently elected officers, the Attorney General, Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Auditor. The judicial power is reposed in the Supreme Judicial Court, which superintends the entire system of courts. Cities and towns also act through local governmental bodies that possess only the authority granted to them by the Commonwealth over local issues, including limited home rule authority. Most county governments were abolished in the 1990s and 2000s, although a handful remain.

The capital of Massachusetts is Boston. The seat of power is Beacon Hill, which is home to the legislative and executive branches. The Supreme Judicial Court occupies nearby Pemberton Hill.

Executive

There are 151 departments or agencies in Massachusetts, and over 700 independent boards and commissions. The Governor exercises direct control over many of the largest agencies, but only indirect control over independent entities through appointments.

Elected officials

The statewide elected officials are:

Charlie Baker (R)
Governor
Karyn Polito (R)
Lieutenant Governor
Maura Healey (D)
Attorney General
William Galvin (D)
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Suzanne Bump (D)
State Auditor
Deb Goldberg (D)
Treasurer and Receiver-General

Other elected officials are:

Massachusetts Governor's Council Elected every two years
District attorneys - Independently elected by district
Sheriffs - Independently elected by district

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

Governor's cabinet

The governor has a cabinet of ten secretaries. In general, they supervise the state agencies which are under the direct control of the governor. Eight of the secretaries preside over the "Executive Office of" their respective areas.

Secretary of Housing and Economic Development
- Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
- Department of Business Development
- Department of Housing and Community Development
- Department of Telecommunications and Cable
- Division of Banks
- Division of Insurance
- Division of Professional Licensure
- Division of Standards
- State Racing Commission
Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Office of Health Services
  - Department of Public Health
  - Department of Mental Health
  - Division of Medical Assistance
  - Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction
- Office of Children, Youth, and Family Services
  - Department of Children and Families
  - Department of Transitional Assistance
  - Department of Youth Services
  - Child Abuse Prevention Board
  - Office for Refugees and Immigrants
- Office of Disabilities and Community Services
  - Department of Developmental Services
  - Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
  - Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
  - Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
  - Soldiers' Home in Massachusetts
  - Soldiers' Home in Holyoke
- Managed Care Oversight Board
- Health Facilities Appeals Board
- Department of Elder Affairs (independent Secretary)
- Department of Veterans' Services (independent Secretary)
Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs
- Department of Agricultural Resources
- Department of Conservation and Recreation
- Department of Environmental Protection
- Department of Energy Resources
- Department of Fish and Game
  - Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
- Department of Public Utilities
- State Reclamation Board
Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development
- Department of Industrial Accidents
- Department of Labor
- Department of Workforce Development

Secretary of Public Safety
- Criminal History Systems Board
- Department of Correction
- Department of Fire Services
- Department of Public Safety
- Department of State Police
- Department of the Military / Massachusetts National Guard
- Emergency Management Agency
- Merit Rating Board
- Municipal Police Training Committee
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
- Parole Board
- State 911 Department
Secretary of Administration and Finance
- Office of the Comptroller - Comptroller is appointed by governor for co-terminous term
- Appellate Tax Board
- Bureau of State Office Buildings
- Civil Service Commission
- Department of Revenue
- Developmental Disabilities Council
- Division of Administrative Law Appeals
- Division of Capital Asset Management
- George Fingold Library
- Group Insurance Commission
- Human Resources Division
- Information Technology Division
- Office on Disability
  - Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission
- Teachers' Retirement Board
Secretary of Transportation (reorganized in 2009)
- Department of Transportation (independent Board of Directors, but Secretary is CEO)
- Massachusetts Port Authority (Secretary chairs the independent Board of Directors)
Secretary of Education
- Department of Early Education and Care
- Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
- Department of Higher Education
Secretary of Elder Affairs
- Department of Elder Affairs - part of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Veterans Services
- Department of Veterans Services - part of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services

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 50 states for government transparency, and gave it a failing grade of "F" taking into account 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 make access easier. The governor claims to be exempt from the Public Records Law.

A reform law was signed on June 3, 2016, which will take effect on January 1, 2017, putting stricter limits on time and reducing costs.

Images for kids

The John Adams Courthouse, home to the Supreme Judicial Court
The interior of the State House
Boston City Hall