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Government of Massachusetts
Seal of Massachusetts.svg
Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Polity type Presidential republic
Federated state
Constitution Constitution of Massachusetts
Legislative branch
Name General Court
Type Bicameral
Meeting place Massachusetts State House
Upper house
Name Senate
Presiding officer Karen Spilka, President
Lower house
Name House of Representatives
Presiding officer Ronald Mariano, Speaker
Executive branch
Head of State and Government
Title Governor
Currently Maura Healey
Appointer Election
Cabinet
Name 9 Executive Agencies
Leader Governor
Deputy leader Lieutenant Governor
Headquarters State House
Judicial branch
Name Judiciary of Massachusetts
Chief Justice Kimberly S. Budd
Courts Courts of Massachusetts
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Chief judge Kimberly S. Budd
Seat Suffolk County Courthouse, Boston

Massachusetts is a state in the United States with its own government. This government follows rules set out in the state constitution. The main parts of the government are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

The legislative branch makes laws. It's called the General Court and has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The executive branch carries out the laws. It's led by the Governor and other elected officials. The judicial branch explains the laws. This branch includes the Supreme Judicial Court and other courts.

The capital city of Massachusetts is Boston. The main government buildings are on Beacon Hill.

How Massachusetts Connects to the U.S. Government

Massachusetts in Congress

Massachusetts sends people to the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. This is how the state is represented in the national government.

Each state elects two senators to the Senate. Massachusetts also elects a number of representatives to the House of Representatives. The number of representatives depends on the state's population. Based on the 2010 U.S. Census, Massachusetts has nine representatives. Currently, all these officials are from the Democratic Party.

Seal of the United States Congress.svg
Massachusetts Members of Congress
Part of Congress District Official Party Term Started Term Ends
Senate Statewide Elizabeth Warren Democrat 2019 2025
Ed Markey Democrat 2021 2027
House of Representatives 1st Richard Neal Democrat 2023 2025
2nd Jim McGovern Democrat
3rd Lori Trahan Democrat
4th Jake Auchincloss Democrat
5th Katherine Clark Democrat
6th Seth Moulton Democrat
7th Ayanna Pressley Democrat
8th Stephen Lynch Democrat
9th Bill Keating Democrat

Federal Courts in Massachusetts

For federal legal cases, Massachusetts is part of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Appeals from this court go to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Electoral College Votes

Massachusetts has 11 votes in the Electoral College. These votes help choose the President. The state gives all its votes to the candidate who wins the most votes in Massachusetts.

Executive Branch

The Executive Branch of Massachusetts is led by the Governor. The Governor is in charge of many state departments and agencies. There are also other elected officials who work in the executive branch.

Elected Officials

These officials are chosen by voters and have important jobs in the state government.

Seal of Massachusetts.svg
Key Elected Officials
Person Office Main Role Took Office
Maura Healey
(born 1971)
Governor Leads the state government 5 January 2023
(2 years ago)
 (2023-01-05)
Kim Driscoll
(born 1966)
Lieutenant Governor Helps the Governor 5 January 2023
(2 years ago)
 (2023-01-05)
William F. Galvin
(born 1950)
Secretary of the Commonwealth Manages elections and public records 1 January 1995
(30 years ago)
 (1995-01-01)
Andrea Campbell
(born 1982)
Attorney General Chief lawyer for the state 18 January 2023
(2 years ago)
 (2023-01-18)
Deb Goldberg
(born 1954)
Treasurer and Receiver-General Manages state money 21 January 2015
(10 years ago)
 (2015-01-21)
Diana DiZoglio
(born 1983)
State Auditor Checks how state money is spent 18 January 2023
(2 years ago)
 (2023-01-18)

Governor's Council

The Governor's Council helps the Governor. It has eight members elected from different areas, plus the Lieutenant Governor. This council approves important appointments, like judges, and helps with other state decisions. The Governor leads the council, but doesn't vote.

Cabinet and State Agencies

The Governor has a team of eleven secretaries, called the cabinet. Each secretary leads an "Executive Office" that manages many state agencies. These agencies handle different parts of government, like health, education, and public safety.

Main Executive Offices of Massachusetts
Office Secretary Website
Executive Office of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz https://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-for-administration-and-finance
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper https://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-energy-and-environmental-affairs
Executive Office of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh https://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-health-and-human-services
Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development Yvonne Hao https://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-housing-and-economic-development
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones https://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-labor-and-workforce-development
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy https://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-public-safety-and-security
Executive Office of Technology Services and Security Jason Snyder https://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-technology-services-and-security
Executive Office of Education Patrick Tutwiler https://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-education
Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works Gina Fiandaca https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-transportation

Legislative Branch

USA State House 4 MA
State House interior

The state legislature is called the Massachusetts General Court. It makes the laws for Massachusetts. It has two parts:

  • The Senate has 40 members.
  • The House of Representatives has 160 members.

Members of both houses serve for two years. The leader of the House is called the Speaker. The leader of the Senate is called the President.

For a bill to become a law, it must be approved by both parts of the General Court and signed by the Governor. If the Governor doesn't sign it, the General Court can still make it a law if two-thirds of both houses vote for it again.

Senate Leaders House Leaders
Karen E. Spilka (cropped).jpg President
Karen Spilka
(D)
Speaker Ronald Mariano.jpg Speaker of the House
Ronald Mariano
(D)
William N. Brownsberger (cropped).jpg President pro tempore
Will Brownsberger
(D)
Kate Hogan (cropped).jpg Speaker pro tempore
Kate Hogan
(D)
Cynthia S. Creem (cropped).jpg Majority Leader
Cynthia Stone Creem
(D)
Michael J. Moran.jpg Majority Leader
Michael Moran
(D)
Bruce-tarr (cropped).jpg Minority Leader
Bruce Tarr
(R)
Bradley H. Jones, Jr (cropped).jpg Minority Leader
Bradley Jones Jr.
(R)

Judicial Branch

OldSuffolkCMaCourt
The John Adams Courthouse, home of the Supreme Judicial Court

The judicial branch explains and applies the laws of Massachusetts. It makes sure everyone gets fair treatment under the law. The court system includes the Supreme Judicial Court, the Appeals Court, and several trial courts.

Supreme Judicial Court

The Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in Massachusetts. It oversees the entire court system. Besides hearing appeals, it also sets rules for how courts operate and for lawyers. It can also give advice to the Governor and legislature on legal questions.

Position Name Born Started Service Appointed by Law School
Chief Justice Budd, Kimberly S.Kimberly S. Budd (1966-10-23) October 23, 1966 (age 58) December 1, 2020 Charlie Baker Harvard
Senior Associate Justice Gaziano, FrankFrank Gaziano (1963-09-08) September 8, 1963 (age 61) August 18, 2016 Charlie Baker Suffolk
Associate Justice Kafker, Scott L.Scott L. Kafker (1959-04-24) April 24, 1959 (age 66) August 21, 2017 Charlie Baker Chicago
Associate Justice Wendlandt, Dalila ArgaezDalila Argaez Wendlandt 1968/1969 (age 55–56) December 4, 2020 Charlie Baker Stanford
Associate Justice Georges Jr., SergeSerge Georges Jr. 1969/1970 (age 54–55) December 16, 2020 Charlie Baker Suffolk
Associate Justice Dewar, BessieBessie Dewar (1980-07-04) July 4, 1980 (age 44) January 16, 2024 Maura Healey Yale
Associate Justice Wolohojian, GabrielleGabrielle Wolohojian (1960-12-16) December 16, 1960 (age 64) Designate Maura Healey Columbia

Appeals Court

The Appeals Court reviews decisions made by the lower trial courts. It has a chief justice and twenty-four other justices.

Trial Courts

These are the courts where cases are first heard. Massachusetts has several types of trial courts:

  • Superior Court
  • District Court
  • Land Court
  • Housing Court
  • Juvenile Court
  • Probate and Family Court
  • Boston Municipal Court

County Government

Most county governments in Massachusetts were removed in the 1990s and 2000s. However, some parts of county government still exist, mainly in the southeastern part of the state. For example, District Attorneys and Sheriffs are elected based on county areas. Sheriffs run jails and help with legal paperwork.

Sheriffs

Sheriffs in Massachusetts
County Sheriff Party Website
Barnstable Donna D. Buckley Democrat Link
Berkshire Thomas Bowler Democrat Link
Bristol Paul Heroux Democrat Link
Dukes Robert Ogden Democrat Link
Essex Kevin Coppinger Democrat Link
Franklin Christopher Donelan Democrat Link
Hampden Nick Cocchi Democrat Link
Hampshire Patrick Cahillane Democrat Link
Middlesex Peter Koutoujian Democrat Link
Nantucket James Perelman Democrat Link
Norfolk Patrick W. McDermott Democrat Link
Plymouth Joseph McDonald, Jr. Republican Link
Suffolk Steven Tompkins Democrat Link
Worcester Lewis Evangelidis Republican Link

District Attorneys

District attorneys are elected in 11 districts. They act as public lawyers for the state in criminal cases. Most district attorneys work within one county.

District Attorneys of Massachusetts
District (Counties) District Attorney Party Website
Berkshire District Andrea Harrington Democrat Link
Bristol District Thomas Quinn, III Democrat Link
Cape and Islands District (Barnstable, Dukes, Nantucket) Michael O'Keefe Republican Link
Eastern District (Essex) Jonathan Blodget Democrat Link
Hampden District Anthony Gulluni Democrat Link
Middle District (Worcester) Joseph Early Democrat Link
Norfolk Michael Morrissey Democrat Link
Northern (Middlesex) Marian Ryan Democrat Link
Northwestern (Hampshire, Franklin) David Sullivan Democrat Link
Plymouth Timothy Cruz Republican Link
Suffolk Kevin Hayden Democrat Link

Registry of Deeds

Every county in Massachusetts has at least one registry of deeds. This office keeps records of property ownership, like deeds and titles. Each registry is run by an elected official called a register of deeds, who serves a six-year term.

Local Government

Boston city hall
Boston City Hall

Massachusetts has a unique way of organizing local government, shared with other New England states. All land in Massachusetts belongs to either a city or a town. There are no areas that are not part of a city or town.

Cities and towns have the power to make their own local rules, but these rules must follow state laws. The state constitution gives cities and towns the right to govern themselves on local issues.

Elections and Politics

Massachusetts is known for its progressive politics. This means many people in the state support ideas that aim to improve society and protect individual rights. It is a strong area for the Democratic Party.

Transparency in Government

Massachusetts has laws to make sure government information is open to the public. These include an open-meeting law and a public-records law. These laws help people see what their government is doing. A new law in 2017 made it easier and cheaper for people to get government records.

See also

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