Massachusetts_Secretary_of_the_Commonwealth

Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Government office in Massachusetts

The secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Originally appointed under authority of the English Crown pursuant to the Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company, the office of secretary of the Commonwealth (equivalent to "secretaries of state" in other U.S. jurisdictions) became an elective one in 1780.[lower-alpha 1] Twenty-seven individuals have occupied the office of secretary of the Commonwealth over the ensuing centuries. The incumbent is William F. Galvin, a Democrat who has held the office since 1995.

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Election

Term of office

The secretary of the Commonwealth is elected by the people on Election Day in November to four-year terms, and takes office on the third Wednesday of the January following a general election. There is no limit to the number of terms a secretary may hold.[2] Institutionally speaking, the secretary of the Commonwealth is thus completely independent of both the governor and General Court for the purpose of performing their official duties. These constitutional protections notwithstanding, the secretary may still be impeached for misconduct or maladministration by the House of Representatives and, if found guilty, removed from office by the Senate.[3]

Qualifications

Any person seeking election to the office of secretary of the Commonwealth must meet the following requirements:

  1. Be at least eighteen years of age;
  2. Be a registered voter in Massachusetts;
  3. Be a Massachusetts resident for at least five years when elected; and
  4. Receive 5,000 signatures from registered voters on nomination papers.[4]

Vacancies

In the event of a vacancy in the office of secretary of the Commonwealth, the General Court is charged, if in session, with electing from among the eligible citizens of the Commonwealth a successor to serve the balance of the prior secretary's term in office.[lower-alpha 2] If, however, the vacancy occurs while the General Court is not in session, then responsibility for appointing a successor falls to the governor. The appointment is not valid without the advice and consent of the Governor's Council.[7]

Powers and duties

The Secretary of the Commonwealth oversees the Corporations Division, the Elections Division, the Massachusetts Archives, the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the Public Records Division, the Securities Division, as well as the State Records Center.

List of secretaries of the Commonwealth (1780 to present)

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See also

Notes

  1. Massachusett's Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth is therefore the oldest operating secretary of state's office in the United States.
  2. Citizens of the Commonwealth of the Massachusetts are officially designated as "Bay Staters". Being a Bay Stater implies concurrent U.S. citizenship, which is required in order to vote in Massachusetts and to run for any public office, including that of secretary of the Commonwealth.[5][6]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Secretaries of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  1. [1]
    "Records of the governor and company of the Massachusetts bay in New England. Printed by order of the legislature". Boston, W. White, printer to the commonwealth. 1853.
  2. [2]
    "Article LXIV, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts". General Court of Massachusetts. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  3. [3]
    "Article VIII, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts". General Court of Massachusetts. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  4. [4]
    "How to Run for Office in Massachusetts" (PDF). Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. March 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  5. [5]
    "Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 2, Section 35: Designation of citizens of commonwealth". General Court of Massachusetts. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  6. [6]
    "Registering to Vote". Elections Division, Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  7. [7]
    "Article XVII, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts". General Court of Massachusetts. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  8. [8]
    Roberts, Oliver Ayer (1901), History of the Military company of the Massachusetts, now called the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts 1637-1888. Vol. II - 1738-1821, Boston, MA: Alfred Mudge & Son, Printers, p. 196
  9. [9]
    William B. Calhoun at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on October 6, 2007.
  10. [10]
    Dexter, Franklin Bowditch (1912), Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College With Annals of the College History, Vol. VI September; 1805 - September; 1815, New Haven, Ct: Yale University Press, p. 629
  11. [11]
    Boston Daily Globe (April 29, 1911), LANGTRY IN NEW OFFICE. The Netherlands Club Pays Him a Visit and Presents Him a Bunch of Roses., Boston, Mass: Boston Daily Globe, p. 9
  12. [12]
    Boston Daily Globe (April 18, 1911), HOUSE RECORDED FOR INCOME TAX Walker Asks Reconsideration--- Senate Adopts 54-Hour Bill. Insane Hospital Inquiry Killed--- Anti-Lorimer Resolution. IMPORTANT EVENTS AT STATE HOUSE YESTERDAY., Boston, MA: The Boston Daily Globe, p. 1
  13. [13]
    "FOSS AND FROTHINGHAM WIN" (PDF). The New York Times. September 27, 1911. p. 2. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
  14. [14]
    "MANY SEEK OFFICE IN MASSACHUSETTS". The New York Times. August 9, 1922. p. 6. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
  15. [15]
    "In Memoriam". Holy Cross Magazine. Archived from the original on September 5, 2004. Summer 2003. Retrieved on October 6, 2007.
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