Massachusetts Governor's Council
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Massachusetts Governor's Council (also known as the Executive Council) is a popularly-elected body that provides advice and consent in varied matters, such as judicial nominees, pardons, and commutations, to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The composition and duties of the Council are set forth in the Massachusetts Constitution.
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[edit] Composition
Eight councillors are elected every four years, one each from eight special councillor districts.[2] Each Governor's Council district consists of the entirety of five contiguous Massachusetts Senate districts. The governor or lieutenant governor preside over the council. The Massachusetts Constitution specifies that "the governor, and in his absence the lieutenant governor, shall be president of the council, but shall have no vote in council: and the lieutenant governor shall always be a member of the council except when the chair of the governor shall be vacant."[3]
In the event of a council vacancy, the General Court may, by concurrent vote, select some person from the relevant councillor district to fill the vacancy.[4] If the General Court is not in session, the Governor may select the new councillor, with the advice and consent of the existing Council.
[edit] Duties
The Council generally meets at noon on Wednesdays in its State House Chamber, next to the Governor's Office. Pursuant to the Massachusetts Constitution, the Governor may, in general and at his discretion, from time to time assemble the council for the ordering and directing the affairs of the commonwealth.[5] In addition, the Governor must seek the advice and consent of the council with respect to nominations of judicial officers,[6] appointment and removal of notaries public and justices of the peace,[7] issuance of pardons and communtations,[8] and payment of monies from the treasury.[9]
[edit] Historical role in Gubernatorial succession
Originally, the Massachusetts Constitution placed the Governor's Council in the line of executive succession. If the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor were simultaneously vacant, the Council would act as chief executive.[10] This occurred four times, the last being in 1800, when its chairman was Thomas Dawes. The Constitutional line of succession subsequently was amended to remove the council and insert the "secretary, attorney-general, treasurer and receiver-general, and auditor," in that order.[11]
[edit] Current Councillors
| District | Councillor |
|---|---|
| First | Carole A. Fiola |
| Second | Kelly A. Timilty |
| Third | Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney |
| Fourth | Christopher A. Iannella |
| Fifth | Mary-Ellen Manning |
| Sixth | Michael J. Callahan |
| Seventh | Thomas J. Foley |
| Eighth | Thomas Merrigan |
[edit] References
- ^ As provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth web page (last visited 9/8/2007).
- ^ Massachusetts Constitution, pt. II, c. 2, § 3, arts. 1 & 2, as amended by art. XIV.
- ^ Massachusetts Constitution, pt. II, c. 2, § 2, art. 2.
- ^ Massachusetts Constitution, pt. II, c. 2, § 3, art. 7, as amended by art. XXV.
- ^ Massachusetts Constitution, pt. II, c. 2, § 1, art. 4.
- ^ Massachusetts Constitution, pt. II, c. 2, § 1, art. 9, as amended.
- ^ Massachusetts Constitution, Articles of Amendment, Arts. IV & XXXVII.
- ^ Massachusetts Constitition, pt. II, c. 2, § 1, art. 8, as amended by art. LXXIII
- ^ Massachusetts Constitition, pt. II, c. 2, § 1, art. 11, as amended.
- ^ Massachusetts Constitition, pt. II, c. 2, § 3, art. VI.
- ^ Massachusetts Constitution, Articles of Amendment art. LV.
[edit] External links
- Official site via Mass.gov
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Stoughton (Acting Governor, died) |
Acting Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony July 10, 1701 — June 11, 1702 |
Succeeded by Joseph Dudley |
| Preceded by Joseph Dudley |
Acting Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony February 4, 1715 — March 21, 1715 |
Succeeded by Joseph Dudley |
| Preceded by Spencer Phips (Acting Governor, died) |
Acting Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony April 5, 1757 — August 3, 1757 |
Succeeded by Thomas Pownall |
| Preceded by Moses Gill (Acting Governor, died) |
Acting Governor of Massachusetts May 20, 1800 — May 30, 1800 |
Succeeded by Caleb Strong (elected governor) |
