USI.17

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** Topics on the Page **

 * Governor **
 * Lieutenant Governor **
 * Legislature **
 * Judiciary **
 * ** Same-Sex Marriage **
 * Historical Formation of the Massachusetts Government **
 * ** The Massachusetts State Constitution **

**[[image:rotating gif.gif width="43" height="43"]]For more information, see United States Government.3.2**


The Massachusetts state government is comprised of three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary.
 * Massachusetts State Government Organizational Chart**

Go here for an listing of Massachusetts State Agencies

**Structure**

 * Head of Executive branch, elected every four years with two term limit
 * Must be Massachusetts resident for seven years before election

**Roles**

 * Commander-in-chief of Massachusetts State Militia
 * Appoints eight people to be members of his cabinet
 * Makes political appointments, such as, judges and notaries
 * Makes budget recommendations to the Massachusetts State Legislature
 * Can convene special sessions of the legislature
 * Power to grant pardons
 * Annually presents budget to legislature

Click here for a list and short biography of every Massachusetts Governor.

[|Click here] for an overview of the duties, history, etc. of the Massachusetts Governor.

The Lieutenant Governor

 * First person in line to take the Governor's duties under the title "Acting Governor" if the Governor is unable to perform them
 * Chairs the Governor's Council which evaluates judicial appointments
 * Elected with the Governor on the same ticket



Watch this video to view a round table debate on the role of the Lt. Governor from CBS 3 Springfield.

Read this article to learn more about the role of the Lt. Governor in Massachusetts and why the position is an important one.

[|Click here] for an overview of the duties, history, etc. of the Massachusetts Lt. Governor.

The Legislature

 * [|Massachusetts State Legislature]**

**Structure**
 * The Legislature is split in two parts: The House of Representatives and the State Senate
 * Senate: 40 members, two year terms
 * House of Representatives: 160 members, two year terms

Roles

 * Send ideas for laws to the governor for his signature
 * If the governor vetoes the bill, the House and Senate can override the veto with a 2/3 majority

Learn how An Idea Becomes a Law.
 * Use this tool to find your legislator!

The symbol for Massachusetts Government

Read about the leaders in the House and Senate here.

Click here to lean more about the role of Massachusetts Legislature committees

Click here for an online tour of the Massachusetts State House, Senate, and House of Representatives

**Judiciary**

 * Go here for a listing of Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Justices**



**Structure**

 * Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is the state's highest court, and also the oldest appellate court in America
 * The court is made up of one Chief Justice and six associate Justices, all appointed by the Governor

Roles

 * Hold trials for civil and criminal cases
 * Give legal advice to the Governor
 * Set rules and regulations for all state courts

Read more about the Supreme Judicial Court here!

Click here for a list of landmark decisions made by the Massachusetts Supreme Court.




 * Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, the most recent one to occur in 2003 that allowed same-sex marriages in Massachusetts.
 * Massachusetts Arrives at Moment for Same-Sex Marriage, New York Times (May 17, 2004)

**History of the Formation of the Massachusetts State Government**

 * John Adams first drafted the Massachusetts state Constitution in 1779 and it was ratified in 1780.
 * Massachusetts leaders decided to create a state-wide political system after the problems the state encountered with only having a town-based government system during the Revolutionary War.
 * This served as a model for the US Constitution



Read or listen to this explanation of how the Massachusetts Constitution came to be the world's oldest written constitution still in use!

Click here to learn more about John Adams and the role he played in the initial drafting of the document

Click here to learn about the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention.



Click here to view the Massachusetts Constitution (1780)
 * The Massachusetts Constitution was a model for the Federal Constitution