Massachusetts has arepublican system of government that is akin to apresidential system. The governor acts as thehead of government while having a distinct role from that of thelegislative branch. The governor has far-reaching political obligations, including ceremonial and political duties. The governor also signs bills into law and hasveto power. The governor is a member of theMassachusetts Governor's Council, a popularly elected council with eight members who provideadvice and consent on certain legal matters and appointments.[3]
Beginning with theMassachusetts Bay Company in 1629, 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 the1780 Constitution of Massachusetts, which called for the position of a "supreme executive magistrate".[4]
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, the most recent Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held in2022. Following each gubernatorial election, the elected governor is inaugurated on the Thursday after the first Wednesday in January following the election.[5] There are noterm limits restricting how long a governor may serve.[6][7][8] The longest-serving Massachusetts governor isMichael Dukakis, who served 12 years; Dukakis was in office from 1975 to 1979 and from 1983 to 1991. The current governor isMaura Healey, a Democrat who won the2022 gubernatorial election.
The role of governor has existed in Massachusetts since theRoyal Charter of 1628. The original role was one of a president of the board of ajoint-stock company, namely theMassachusetts Bay Company. The governor would be elected byfreemen, who wereshareholders of the company. These shareholders were mostly colonists themselves who fit certain religious requirements. The governor acted in avice-regal manner, overseeing the governance and functioning of the colony. Originally they were supposed to reside inLondon, as was the case with other colonial company governors, although this protocol was broken whenJohn Winthrop was appointed governor. The governor served as the executive of the colony, originally elected annually, and were joined by a Council of Assistants. This council was a group of magistrates who performed judicial functions, acted as an upper house of the General Court, and providedadvice and consent to the governor. The early governors of Massachusetts Bay were staunchlyPuritan colonists who wished to form a state that coincided with religious law.[10]
With the founding of theDominion of New England byJames II of England, theNew England colonies were combined with theProvince of New York,Province of West Jersey, and theProvince of East Jersey. During this period (1686–1689) Massachusetts had no governor of its own. Instead there existed a royally appointed governor who resided inBoston 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 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 theKingdom 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 inNew Spain. This model of government 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 theGlorious Revolution and theBoston Revolt the Dominion was abolished in 1689.[11]
With the creation of theMassachusetts Charter in 1691, the role of civilian governor was restored in Massachusetts Bay. Now theProvince of Massachusetts Bay, the colony then encompassed the territory of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, thePlymouth Colony, and areas of what is now the state ofMaine. 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 theGeneral Court was reestablished and given significant powers. This created acrimony between the governors and the assembly of the General Court. The governor could veto any decision made by the assembly and had control over themilitia, 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 the governor and other Royal Officers.[12]
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 theStamp Act GovernorThomas Hutchinson had his home broken into and ransacked. The early stages of theAmerican Revolution saw political turmoil in Massachusetts Bay. With the passage of theIntolerable Acts the then Royal GovernorThomas Gage dissolved the General Court and began to govern the province by decree. In 1774 theMassachusetts 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 was filled by the Governor's Council, the Committee of Safety, and the president of the Congress when in session.[12]
With the adoption of theConstitution 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.[12]
There shall be 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 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 theProvince of Massachusetts Bay. The first governor to use the title wasRichard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont, in 1699; since he was anEarl, it was thought proper to call him "Your Excellency." The title was retained until 1742, when an order fromKing 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.[13]
The governor also serves ascommander-in-chief of the commonwealth's armed forces.
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 the governor is vested with, when personally present.[14]
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.[15]
Despite this terminology, 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.[citation needed]
The first use of the succession provision occurred in 1785, five years after the constitution's adoption, when GovernorJohn Hancock resigned the post, leaving Lieutenant GovernorThomas Cushing as acting governor. Most recently,Jane Swift became acting governor upon the resignation ofPaul Cellucci.
When the constitution was first adopted, theGovernor'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 GovernorIncrease Sumner died in office on June 7, 1799, leaving Lieutenant GovernorMoses Gill as acting governor. Acting Governor Gill never received a lieutenant and died on May 20, 1800, between that year's election and the inauguration of Governor-electCaleb 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 a portion of the government under direct administration (as opposed to independent executive agencies). SeeGovernment 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 the ceremonial door originated when departing governorBenjamin 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, 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 thePresident of the Senate before a joint session of the House and Senate.[16]
Upon completion of their term, the departing governor takes a "lone walk" down the Grand Staircase, through the House of Flags, into Doric Hall, out the central doors, and down the steps of theMassachusetts State House. The governor then crosses the street intoBoston Common, thereby symbolically rejoining the commonwealth as a private citizen.Benjamin Butler started the tradition in 1884.[17] Some walks have been modified with some past governors having their wives, friends, or staff accompany them.[18] A19-gun salute is offered during the walk, and frequently the steps are lined by the outgoing governor's friends and supporters.[19]
In January 1991, outgoing lieutenant governorEvelyn Murphy, the first woman elected to statewide office in Massachusetts, walked down the stairs before GovernorMichael Dukakis. In a break from tradition, the January 2007 inauguration of GovernorDeval Patrick took place the day after outgoing governorMitt Romney took the lone walk down the front steps.[19]
Despite several proposals for establishing anofficial residence for the governor of Massachusetts, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not have a governor's mansion.
At one time, GovernorJohn A. Volpe accepted the donation of theEndicott Estate inDedham from the heirs ofHenry Bradford Endicott. He intended to renovate the 19th-century mansion into a splendid governor's residence.[21] After Volpe resigned to becomeUnited States Secretary of Transportation in theNixon administration, the plan was aborted by his successor in consideration of budgetary constraints and because the location was considered too far from the seat of power, the State House in Boston.
Prior to their respective demolitions in 1922 and 1863, theProvince House and theHancock Manor[21] 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 ametonym for the office of governor. This refers instead to the governor's office on the third floor of the State House.[22]
Since 1780, 65 people have been elected governor, six to non-consecutive terms (John Hancock,Caleb Strong,Marcus Morton,John Davis,John Volpe, andMichael Dukakis), and sevenlieutenant governors have acted as governor without subsequently being elected governor.Thomas Talbot served a stint as acting governor, but 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 theGovernor's Council.
Colonial governors of Plymouth and the Massachusetts Bay Colony were elected annually by a limited subset of the male population (known asfreemen), while Dominion officials and those of the 1692 province were appointed by the British crown. In 1774 GeneralThomas Gage became the last royally appointed governor of Massachusetts. He was recalled to England after theBattle of Bunker Hill in June 1775, by which time theMassachusetts Provincial Congress exercisedde facto control of Massachusetts territory outside British-occupiedBoston. Between 1775 and the establishment of theMassachusetts State Constitution in 1780 the state was governed by the provincial congress and an executive council.
The constitution of Massachusetts created the offices of governor[23] and lieutenant governor,[24] to be elected annually.[25] 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.[26] This was changed to the Thursday following the first Wednesday in the January after the election in 1950,[27] and terms were lengthened to four years in 1966.[28]
^Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
^Hancock resigned abruptly in a "winter of increasing economic distress, political controversy, and social discord",[33] and was suffering ill health, particularly gout.[34] He announced his intention to resign on January 29, and left office on February 18.[35]
^Modern sources say Hancock took office on May 30,[29] but a contemporary source says it was June 1.[31]
^"Which States Have Term Limits On Governor?".Term Limits.com. Washington, DC: U.S. Term Limits. June 3, 2020. RetrievedDecember 3, 2020.Thirty-six states have some form of term limit on the office of governor. Fourteen states do not. They are: Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
^"Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 11 April 1785", Founders Online, National Archives,https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-06-02-0028. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Adams Family Correspondence, vol. 6, December 1784 – December 1785, ed. Richard Alan Ryerson. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1993, pp. 81–82.] Accessed March 6, 2023
^"James Warren to John Adams, 28 January 1785", Founders Online, National Archives,https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-16-02-0295. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 16, February 1784–March 1785, ed. Gregg L. Lint, C. James Taylor, Robert Karachuk, Hobson Woodward, Margaret A. Hogan, Sara B. Sikes, Sara Martin, Sara Georgini, Amanda A. Mathews, and James T. Connolly. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012, pp. 498–500.] Accessed March 8, 2023
^"Increase Sumner". National Governors Association. January 3, 2019. RetrievedMarch 6, 2023.
^"To George Washington from Moses Gill, 15 May 1793", Founders Online, National Archives,https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-12-02-0460. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 12, 16 January 1793 – 31 May 1793, ed. Christine Sternberg Patrick and John C. Pinheiro. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2005, pp. 576–577.] Accessed March 7, 2023
^ab"Caleb Strong". National Governors Association. January 3, 2019. RetrievedMarch 6, 2023.
^"none".The Recorder. June 7, 1800. p. 3. RetrievedMarch 8, 2023.The Committee appointed to wait on the Governor elect, reported that he would wait upon the Legislature in the Representative's Chamber, tomorrow at 12 o'clock, to be qualified.
^"Christopher Gore". National Governors Association. January 3, 2019. RetrievedMarch 6, 2023.
^"none".The Pittsfield Sun. June 10, 1809. p. 2. RetrievedMarch 8, 2023.... when His Excellency Christopher Gore, Esq. and His Honor David Cobb, Esq. Governor and Lt. Governor Elect, came in, and took and subscribed the Oaths and declarations made necessary by the Constitution of this Commonwealth to qualify them for exercising the Offices to which they have been elected.
Lincoln, William, ed. (1838).Journals of each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775 and of the Committee of Safety, with an Appendix containing the Proceedings of the County Conventions_Narratives of the Events of the Nineteenth of April, 1775-Paper relating to Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and other documents. Dutton and Wentworth, Printers to the State.
Hart, Albert Bushnell, ed. (1927).Commonwealth History of Massachusetts. New York: The States History Company.OCLC1543273. (five volume history of Massachusetts until the early 20th century; volume 3 deals with the provisional period and post-independence history until 1820)
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