Governor of Massachusetts: Difference between revisions
mNo edit summary |
GoldRingChip (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
==Lieutenant Governor== |
==Lieutenant Governor== |
||
[[Image:Kerry healey.JPG|thumb|150px|Current Lieutenant Governor [[Kerry Healey]]]] |
[[Image:Kerry healey.JPG|thumb|150px|Current Lieutenant Governor [[Kerry Healey]]]] |
||
The lieutenant governor serves in place of the governor when he is away from the State House. Historically also a one-year term, the office of lieutenant governor now carries a four-year term the same as that of the governor. Noted in the article above are religious, property, and [[residency requirement]]s for both the office of governor and lieutenant governor, of which only the residency requirement remains in effect. To be eligible for either office, a candidate must have lived in Massachusetts for at least seven years immediately preceding his election, and originally also had to be a [[Christian]] owning at least [[British pound|£]]1,000 worth of [[real property]]. |
The lieutenant governor serves in place of the governor when he is away from the [[Massachusetts State House]]. Historically also a one-year term, the office of lieutenant governor now carries a four-year term the same as that of the governor. Noted in the article above are religious, property, and [[residency requirement]]s for both the office of governor and lieutenant governor, of which only the residency requirement remains in effect. To be eligible for either office, a candidate must have lived in Massachusetts for at least seven years immediately preceding his election, and originally also had to be a [[Christian]] owning at least [[British pound|£]]1,000 worth of [[real property]]. |
||
Part the Second, Chapter II, Section II, Article I of the [[Massachusetts Constitution]] reads, <blockquote>''There shall be annually elected a lieutenant governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, whose title shall be, '''His Honor''' and who shall be qualified, in point of religion, property, and residence in the commonwealth, in the same manner with the governor: and the day and manner of his election, and the qualifications of the electors, shall be the same as are required in the election of a governor.''</blockquote> |
Part the Second, Chapter II, Section II, Article I of the [[Massachusetts Constitution]] reads, <blockquote>''There shall be annually elected a lieutenant governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, whose title shall be, '''His Honor''' and who shall be qualified, in point of religion, property, and residence in the commonwealth, in the same manner with the governor: and the day and manner of his election, and the qualifications of the electors, shall be the same as are required in the election of a governor.''</blockquote> |
Revision as of 12:10, 6 March 2006
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the United States Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The current governor is Republican Mitt Romney, who will step down at the end of this term, January 4, 2007. The next Massachusetts gubernatorial election is on November 7, 2006.
Consitutional role
Part the Second, Chapter II, Section I, Article I of the Massachusetts Constitution reads,
Lieutenant Governor
The lieutenant governor serves in place of the governor when he is away from the Massachusetts State House. Historically also a one-year term, the office of lieutenant governor now carries a four-year term the same as that of the governor. Noted in the article above are religious, property, and residency requirements for both the office of governor and lieutenant governor, of which only the residency requirement remains in effect. To be eligible for either office, a candidate must have lived in Massachusetts for at least seven years immediately preceding his election, and originally also had to be a Christian owning at least £1,000 worth of real property.
Part the Second, Chapter II, Section II, Article I of the Massachusetts Constitution reads,There shall be annually elected a lieutenant governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, whose title shall be, His Honor and who shall be qualified, in point of religion, property, and residence in the commonwealth, in the same manner with the governor: and the day and manner of his election, and the qualifications of the electors, shall be the same as are required in the election of a governor.
Succession
According to the constitution, whenever the chair of the governor is vacant, the lieutenant governor shall take over as acting governor. The first time this came into use was five years after the constitution's adoption, when in 1785 Governor John Hancock resigned his post with five months remaining before the inauguration of Gov. James Bowdoin. Most recently, Jane Swift became Acting Governor upon the resignation of Paul Cellucci. It is important to note that under the system in place, the lieutenant governor never becomes governor -- only Acting Governor.
No Single Governor
Whenever both the governor and his lieutenant left their offices vacant, the Governor's Council was charged with acting as governor. Gov. Increase Sumner died in office on June 7, 1799, leaving Lt. Gov. Moses Gill as Governor of the Commonwealth. Governor Gill never received a lieutenant, and died himself on May 20, 1800.
For the ten days between Governor Gill's death and Gov. Caleb Strong's inauguration, the Governor's Council became the executive arm of the Commonwealth's government. Its chair, Thomas Dawes, was the closest person to governor during this time, but was at no point named governor.
New and Current Line of Succession
Article LV of the Constitution created a new line of succession that did not entrust the governorship to an eight-member council.
The new and current line of succession is as follows:
- Governor (Mitt Romney)
- Lieutenant Governor (Kerry Healey)
- Secretary of the Commonwealth (Bill Galvin)
- Attorney General (Tom Reilly)
- Treasurer and Receiver-General (Tim Cahill)
- State Auditor (Joe DeNucci)
At least once during the Romney administration (2003-present), both the governor and lieutenant-governor were out of the state on vacation. While never needing to act in this capacity, Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin officially assumed the role of Acting Governor of Massachusetts.
List of Governors
This is a complete list of Govenors of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Acting governors are included for historic significance.
- For colonial governors, see Massachusetts Bay Colony.