Government and politics

Massachusetts has a long political history; earlier political structures included the Mayflower Compact of 1620, the separate Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth colonies, and the combined colonial Province of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Constitution was ratified in 1780 while the Revolutionary War was in progress, four years after the Articles of Confederation was drafted, and eight years before the present United States Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788. Drafted by John Adams, the Massachusetts Constitution is currently the oldest functioning written constitution in continuous effect in the world.^{[232][233][234]}
Massachusetts politics since the second half of the 20th century have generally been dominated by the Democratic Party, and the state has a reputation for being the most liberal state in the country.^[235] In 1974, Elaine Noble became the first openly lesbian or gay candidate elected to a state legislature in US history.^[236] The state housed the first openly gay member of the United States House of Representatives, Gerry Studds, in 1972^[237] and in 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to allow same-sex marriage.^[57]

Government

Main article: Government of Massachusetts

See also: Commonwealth (U.S. state)

Charlie Baker (R), the 72nd and current Governor of Massachusetts

The Government of Massachusetts is divided into three branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The governor of Massachusetts heads the executive branch; duties of the governor include signing or vetoing legislation, filling judicial and agency appointments, granting pardons, preparing an annual budget, and commanding the Massachusetts National Guard.^[238] Massachusetts governors, unlike those of most other states, are addressed as His/Her Excellency.^[238] The current governor is Charlie Baker,^[239] a Republican from Swampscott.^[240] The executive branch also includes the Executive Council, which is made up of eight elected councilors and the Lieutenant Governor seat,^[238] which is currently occupied by Karyn Polito.^[239]
Abilities of the Council include confirming gubernatorial appointments and certifying elections.^[238] The Massachusetts House of Representatives and Massachusetts Senate comprise the legislature of Massachusetts, known as the Massachusetts General Court.^[238] The House consists of 160 members while the Senate has 40 members.^[238] Leaders of the House and Senate are chosen by the members of those bodies; the leader of the House is known as the Speaker while the leader of the Senate is known as the President.^[238] Each branch consists of several committees.^[238] Members of both bodies are elected to two-year terms.^[241]
The Judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Judicial Court, which serves over a number of lower courts.^[238] The Supreme Judicial Court is made up of a chief justice and six associate justices.^[238] Judicial appointments are made by the governor and confirmed by the executive council.^[238]
The Congressional delegation from Massachusetts is entirely Democratic.^[242] Currently, the US senators are Democrats Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey. The members of the state's delegation to the US House of Representatives are Richard Neal, Jim McGovern, Niki Tsongas, Joseph Kennedy III, Katherine Clark, Seth Moulton, Mike Capuano, Stephen Lynch, and Bill Keating.^[243]
Federal court cases are heard in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and appeals are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.^[244] In U.S. presidential elections since 2012, Massachusetts has been allotted 11 votes in the electoral college, out of a total of 538.^[245] Like most states, Massachusetts's electoral votes are granted in a winner-take-all system.^[246]