Governor of Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Standard of the governor
Seal of the governor
Incumbent Maura Healey since January 5, 2023
Government of Massachusetts
Style	Governor (informal) Her Excellency (formal)
Member of	Governor's Council Cabinet
Residence	None official
Seat	State House, Boston, Massachusetts
Nominator	Nominating petition, Political parties
Appointer	Popular vote
Term length	Four years, no term limits
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Massachusetts
Formation	Original post: April 30, 1629 Current form: October 25, 1780
First holder	John Endecott
Deputy	Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Salary	$185,000 (2022)

The governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is like the main boss of the government of Massachusetts. This person leads the state's cabinet, which is a group of advisors. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of Massachusetts's military forces, like the Massachusetts National Guard.

Massachusetts has a government system similar to the U.S. President. The governor is the head of government. This means they have many important jobs. These include ceremonial duties, like attending events. They also have political duties, like signing new laws. The governor can also say no to a bill, which is called a veto. The governor is part of the Massachusetts Governor's Council. This group has eight elected members. They help the governor with legal matters and appointments.

The role of governor started in 1629 with the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Its powers and how governors were chosen have changed over time. The current form of the governor's job began in 1780. This was when the Constitution of Massachusetts was created. It called for a "supreme executive magistrate."

Governors of Massachusetts are chosen every four years. Elections happen on the first Tuesday of November. The newest election was in 2022. After the election, the new governor starts their job in January. There are no limits on how many terms a governor can serve. The longest-serving governor was Michael Dukakis. He served for 12 years. The current governor is Maura Healey. She is a Democrat and won the 2022 election.

Becoming Governor: What You Need

To become the governor of Massachusetts, a person must meet certain rules:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a registered voter in Massachusetts.
• Have lived in Massachusetts for at least seven years when elected.
• Collect 10,000 signatures from registered voters. These signatures are on special nomination papers.

How Governors Are Elected and Serve

The governor is chosen by the people through an election. A governor serves for four years. There is no limit to how many terms they can serve.

Elections for governor happen every four years. They take place at the same time as elections for other state leaders. These include the lieutenant governor and the attorney general. Other elected officials are the secretary of the commonwealth, state treasurer, and state auditor.

History of the Governor's Role

The role of governor in Massachusetts began in 1628. This was with the Royal Charter. At first, the governor was like the president of a company. This was the Massachusetts Bay Company. Shareholders of the company, called freemen, elected the governor. These shareholders were mostly colonists. They had to meet certain religious rules.

The governor acted like a royal representative. They oversaw how the colony was run. Originally, they were supposed to live in London. But John Winthrop became governor and lived in the colony. Governors were elected every year. They worked with a Council of Assistants. This council was a group of judges. They also acted as an upper house of the General Court. They gave advice to the governor. Early governors were strict Puritan colonists. They wanted to create a state based on religious laws.

Later, James II of England created the Dominion of New England. This combined the New England colonies with New York and New Jersey. During this time (1686–1689), Massachusetts did not have its own governor. Instead, a royal governor was appointed by the King. This governor lived in Boston. The King could remove them whenever he wanted. There was a council, but it was hard to get them together. So, the King mostly ruled through his royal governor. The King did this because he was unhappy with the Massachusetts Bay colonists. He wanted more control. He removed the old assembly system. He created a system like the Spanish model in New Spain. Colonists in British North America did not like this system. Especially in New England, where they once had some local control. The Glorious Revolution and the Boston Revolt ended the Dominion in 1689.

In 1691, the Massachusetts Charter brought back the civilian governor. Massachusetts Bay became the Province of Massachusetts Bay. It included the old Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Plymouth Colony, and parts of what is now Maine. But the governor was no longer elected by the people. The British Crown appointed them. To ease tensions, the General Court was brought back. It was given important powers. This caused arguments between governors and the General Court. The governor could stop any decision made by the assembly. They also controlled the militia. However, the General Court controlled the money. This meant if the governor disagreed with the General Court, the assembly could refuse to pay the governor and other royal officers.

From 1765, problems grew between the governor and the people. After the Stamp Act, Governor Thomas Hutchinson's home was broken into. The start of the American Revolution brought much trouble to Massachusetts Bay. When the Intolerable Acts were passed, Royal Governor Thomas Gage closed the General Court. He began to rule by himself. In 1774, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress was formed. This was a new government that opposed the royal government. Massachusetts Bay declared independence in May 1776. The governor's role was empty for four years. During this time, the Governor's Council, the Committee of Safety, and the president of the Congress handled executive duties.

The Constitution of Massachusetts was adopted in 1780. It brought back the elected civilian governor. John Hancock was chosen as the first governor. He started his job on October 25, 1780.

The Governor's Constitutional Role

The Massachusetts Constitution states that there will be a "supreme executive magistrate." This person is called "The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." Their formal title is "Her Excellency" (or "His Excellency").

The governor is the chief leader of Massachusetts. Many other officers support them. At first, the governor was elected every year. In 1918, this changed to a two-year term. Since 1966, the governor serves a four-year term. The governor of Massachusetts does not have an official mansion. They live in their own home. However, they do get money for housing. The title "His Excellency" comes from the royal governors. The first governor to use this title was Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont, in 1699. He was an Earl, so people called him "Your Excellency." King George II later stopped this title in 1742. But the people who wrote the state constitution brought it back. They thought it was a good way to honor the governor.

The governor also leads the state's armed forces. They are the commander-in-chief.

Who Takes Over if the Governor Can't Serve?

If the governor's position becomes empty, the lieutenant governor takes over. This happens if the governor dies, leaves the state, or for other reasons. The lieutenant governor then performs all the governor's duties. They have all the governor's powers.

The Constitution does not use the term "acting governor." But in Massachusetts, the lieutenant governor keeps their title. They become the "lieutenant-governor, acting governor." Even with this name, the courts have said that the lieutenant governor gets all the governor's powers. They must carry out all the responsibilities. Only death, resignation, or impeachment can remove them from these duties.

The first time this happened was in 1785. Governor John Hancock resigned. Lieutenant Governor Thomas Cushing became acting governor. More recently, Jane Swift became acting governor when Paul Cellucci resigned.

When the constitution was first made, the Governor's Council would act as governor. This was if both the governor and lieutenant governor positions were empty. This happened in 1799. Governor Increase Sumner died. Lieutenant Governor Moses Gill became acting governor. Acting Governor Gill also died before a new lieutenant governor was chosen. The Governor's Council then led the state for ten days. The council's leader, Thomas Dawes, was never called governor.

In 1918, a new rule was added to the Constitution. It created a clear line of succession:

The Governor's Cabinet

The governor has a cabinet of 10 people. Each person leads a part of the government. These parts are directly managed by the governor. You can find a full list at Government of Massachusetts.

Special Traditions of the Governor

The front doors of the State House are usually closed. They only open for special events. These include when a governor leaves office. They also open when a head of state or the U.S. President visits. Or when flags from Massachusetts military groups return after wars. This tradition started in 1884. Governor Benjamin Butler kicked open the front door and walked out alone.

New governors often choose a portrait of a past governor. They hang it in their office.

Before being sworn in, the new governor gets four special items. The old governor gives them these symbols. They are a pewter "Key" for the office door. There's also the Butler Bible and a "Gavel." Finally, a two-volume set of Massachusetts General Statutes. The old governor writes a personal note in the back. Then, the new governor is led to the House Chamber. The President of the Senate swears them in. This happens before a joint meeting of the House and Senate.

The Lone Walk Tradition

When a governor finishes their term, they take a "lone walk." They walk down the Grand Staircase. They go through the House of Flags. Then into Doric Hall. They walk out the central doors and down the steps of the Massachusetts State House. Then, they cross the street into Boston Common. This walk shows they are rejoining the state as a regular citizen. Benjamin Butler started this tradition in 1884. Sometimes, governors have had family or friends walk with them. A 19-gun salute is given during the walk. Often, the steps are lined with supporters.

In January 1991, Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Murphy took the walk. She was the first woman elected to a statewide office in Massachusetts. In 2007, Governor Mitt Romney took his lone walk. The new governor, Deval Patrick, was sworn in the next day.

Where the Governor Lives

Massachusetts does not have an official home for its governor. There have been ideas to create one.

In 1955, Governor Foster Furcolo said no to a plan. The plan was to make the Shirley–Eustis House the official residence. This house was built by royal Governor William Shirley.

Another time, Governor John A. Volpe accepted a gift. It was the Endicott Estate in Dedham. He wanted to fix up the old mansion. He planned to make it a grand governor's home. But Governor Volpe left to become a U.S. Secretary. His successor stopped the plan. They thought it was too expensive. They also thought it was too far from the State House in Boston.

In the past, the Province House and the Hancock Manor were also suggested. But they were torn down.

Since there is no official home, people often say "corner office." This means the governor's office. It is on the third floor of the State House.

List of Governors

Since 1780, 65 people have been elected governor. Six of them served terms that were not in a row. These include John Hancock and Michael Dukakis. Seven lieutenant governors have acted as governor. But they were not later elected governor themselves. Thomas Talbot was an acting governor. He was elected governor years later. Before 1918, both the governor and lieutenant governor offices were empty once. The state was then led by the Governor's Council.

Colonial Massachusetts: Early Leaders

The history of Massachusetts begins with the Plymouth Colony in 1620. Then came the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1628. The Dominion of New England combined these colonies in 1686. But it ended in 1689. In 1692, the Province of Massachusetts Bay was created. It joined Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay. It also included parts of present-day Maine.

Colonial governors of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay were elected every year. Only certain men, called "freemen," could vote. Later, officials for the Dominion and the 1692 province were chosen by the British King. In 1774, General Thomas Gage was the last royal governor. He was called back to England after the Battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775. By then, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress controlled most of Massachusetts. Between 1775 and 1780, the state was led by the provincial congress and an executive council.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts: From 1780 to Today

The Massachusetts Constitution created the jobs of governor and lieutenant governor. They were elected every year. In 1918, terms became two years long. In 1966, they became four years.

Governors of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1			John Hancock (1737–1793)	October 25, 1780 – February 18, 1785 (resigned)	None	1780		Cushing, ThomasThomas Cushing
						1781
						1782
						1783
						1784
70			Mitt Romney (b. 1947)	January 2, 2003 – January 4, 2007 (did not run)	Republican	2002		Healey, KerryKerry Healey
71			Deval Patrick (b. 1956)	January 4, 2007 – January 8, 2015 (did not run)	Democratic	2006		Murray, TimTim Murray
						2010
							Vacant
72			Charlie Baker (b. 1956)	January 8, 2015 – January 5, 2023 (did not run)	Republican	2014		Polito, KarynKaryn Polito
						2018
73			Maura Healey (b. 1971)	January 5, 2023 – Incumbent	Democratic	2022		Driscoll, KimKim Driscoll

Images for kids

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  Thomas Cushing

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  James Bowdoin

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  Samuel Adams

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  Increase Sumner

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  Moses Gill

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  Caleb Strong

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  James Sullivan

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  Levi Lincoln Sr.

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  Christopher Gore

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  Elbridge Gerry

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  John Brooks

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  William Eustis

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  Marcus Morton

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  Levi Lincoln Jr.

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  John Davis

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  Samuel Turell Armstrong

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  Edward Everett

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  George N. Briggs

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  George S. Boutwell

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  John H. Clifford

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  Emory Washburn

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  Henry Gardner

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  Nathaniel P. Banks

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  John Albion Andrew

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  Alexander Bullock

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  William Claflin

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  William B. Washburn

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  Thomas Talbot

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  William Gaston

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  Alexander H. Rice

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  John Davis Long

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  Benjamin Butler

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  George D. Robinson

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  Oliver Ames

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  John Q. A. Brackett

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  William E. Russell

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  Frederic T. Greenhalge

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  Roger Wolcott

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  Winthrop M. Crane

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  John L. Bates

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  William Lewis Douglas

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  Curtis Guild Jr.

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  Eben Sumner Draper

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  Eugene Foss

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  David I. Walsh

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  Samuel W. McCall

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  Calvin Coolidge

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  Channing H. Cox

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  Alvan T. Fuller

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  Frank G. Allen

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  Joseph B. Ely

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  James Michael Curley

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  Charles F. Hurley

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  Leverett Saltonstall

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  Maurice J. Tobin

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  Robert F. Bradford

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  Paul A. Dever

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  Christian Herter

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  Foster Furcolo

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  John A. Volpe

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  Endicott Peabody

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  Francis Sargent

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  Michael Dukakis

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  Edward J. King

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  Michael Dukakis

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  Bill Weld

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  Paul Cellucci

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  Jane Swift