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Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts

American position


Summary

American position

FieldValue
postLieutenant Governor
bodythe Commonwealth of Massachusetts
insigniaSeal of Massachusetts.svg
insigniasize110
insigniacaptionSeal of Massachusetts
imageKim Driscoll, official portrait, lieutenant governor (cropped).jpg
styleHis Honor/Her Honor
statusDeputy officer
incumbentKim Driscoll
incumbentsinceJanuary 5, 2023
departmentGovernment of Massachusetts
member_ofGovernor's Council
Cabinet
reports_toGovernor of Massachusetts
residenceNone official
seatState House, Boston, Massachusetts
nominatorNominating petition,
Political parties
appointerPopular vote
termlengthFour years, no limit
constituting_instrumentConstitution of Massachusetts
formationOriginal post:
April 30, 1629
Current form:
October 25, 1780
successionFirst
salary$165,000 (2018)
websitehttps://www.mass.gov/person/kim-driscoll-lieutenant-governor

Cabinet Political parties April 30, 1629 Current form: October 25, 1780 The lieutenant governor of Massachusetts is the first in the line to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor following the incapacitation of the governor of Massachusetts. The constitutional honorific title for the office is His, or Her, Honor.

The Massachusetts Constitution provides that when a governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the office of governor remains vacant for the rest of the four-year term. The lieutenant governor discharges powers and duties as acting governor and does not assume the office of governor. The first time this came into use was five years after the constitution's adoption in 1785, when Governor John Hancock resigned his post five months before the election and inauguration of his successor, James Bowdoin, leaving Lieutenant Governor Thomas Cushing as acting governor. Most recently, Jane Swift became acting governor when Paul Cellucci resigned in 2001 to become the U.S. Ambassador to Canada.

When the governor is outside the borders of Massachusetts, the lieutenant governor exercises the power of the governor. Historically a one-year term, the office of lieutenant governor now carries a four-year term, the same as that of the governor. The lieutenant governor is not elected independently, but on a ticket with the governor. The 1780 constitution required a candidate for either office to have lived in Massachusetts for at least seven years immediately preceding election, own at least £1,000 worth of real property and to "declare himself to be of the Christian religion". However, only the residency requirement remains in effect, and both men and women have served in the office. Amendment Article LXIV (1918) changed the election from every year to every two years, and Amendment Article LXXXII (1966) changed it again to every four years. The office is currently held by Kim Driscoll, who was inaugurated in January 2023.

Qualifications

Any person seeking to become Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts must meet the following requirements:

  • Be at least eighteen years of age
  • Be a registered voter in Massachusetts
  • Be a Massachusetts resident for at least seven years when elected
  • Receive 10,000 signatures from registered voters on nomination papers

History

The role of the lieutenant governor has its roots in the role of the deputy governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Originally the deputy, along with the governor, and the Council of Assistants were elected by freemen of the colony. They served as executives in the governance of the colony but also as executive officers of the Company of Massachusetts Bay. Originally these royal officers were to remain in London, as was the case with other royal colonial companies. However, John Humphrey and John Winthrop, the first deputy and governor respectively, traveled to the colony instead. In the colonial era the governor and deputy served as chief magistrates along with the Council, and the governor served as general of the militia and the deputy as Colonel.

In the early days of the colony the deputy governor was elected to a one year term along with the governor. With the revocation of the charter of 1629 and the establishment of the Dominion of New England, all this was changed. Now the Royal Officers were to be appointed by the King and Privy Council. They were to follow royal directive and serve the interests of the Crown. The Royal Government in Great Britain was frustrated with their lack of control of the New England colonies and sought to reassert their authority.

Now styled "Lieutenant Governor", the new royal appointees came into conflict with the colonists and General Court who wished to regain authority of provincial affairs. The last Lieutenant Governor was Thomas Oliver who served with Gen. Thomas Gage.

Constitutional role

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 or her election, and the qualifications of the electors, shall be the same as are required in the election of a governor.

The lieutenant governor also serves ex officio as a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council.

Other functions

Massachusetts law provides for the lieutenant governor to serve as the chairman of the award selection committee for the Madeline Amy Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery.

Election

The lieutenant governor is typically elected on a joint ticket with the governor, ensuring that they have the same political party affiliation. The primary however is separate from the governor. When the state constitution was first enacted in 1780, elections for the two offices were independent, and were held annually. Constitutional amendments enacted in 1918 extended the terms of both offices to two years, with elections in even-numbered years. In 1964 the constitution was amended again to extend the terms to four years, and in 1966 to allow for the grouping of governor and lieutenant governor on the ballot by political party. Elections are held in even-numbered years that are not presidential election years.

List of lieutenant governors

Lieutenant governors who acted as governor during a portion of their terms (due to vacancy by death or resignation in the governor's seat) are marked by asterisks (*).

No.Lieutenant GovernorTerm in officePolitical partyGovernor(s)Parties12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152535455565758596061626364656667686970717273
[[File:Thomas Cushing.jpg60px]]Thomas Cushing*1780–1788IndependentJohn Hancock (I)
James Bowdoin (I)
[[File:General Benjamin Lincoln-restored.jpg60px]]Federalist Party}};"Benjamin Lincoln1788–1789FederalistJohn Hancock (I)
[[File:Samuel Adams by John Singleton Copley (cropped).jpg60px]]Democratic-Republican Party}};"Samuel Adams1789–1794Democratic-RepublicanJohn Hancock (I)
[[File:Moses Gill - John Singleton Copley, circa 1759.jpg60px]]Moses Gill*1794–1800IndependentSamuel Adams (DR)
Increase Sumner (F)
Office vacant from May 20, 1800 – , 1801Governor's Council
Caleb Strong (F)
[[File:Judge Samuel Phillips, Jr.jpg60px]]Federalist Party}};"Samuel Phillips Jr.1801–1802FederalistCaleb Strong (F)
[[File:Edward Hutchinson Robbins.jpg60px]]Democratic-Republican Party}};"Edward Robbins1802–1806Democratic-RepublicanCaleb Strong (F)
Office vacant from , 1806 – May 29, 1807Caleb Strong (F)
[[File:Levi Lincoln Sr. (Cropped1).jpg60px]]Democratic-Republican Party}};"Levi Lincoln Sr.*1807–1809Democratic-RepublicanJames Sullivan (DR)
[[File:David Cobb.png60px]]Federalist Party}};"David Cobb1809–1810FederalistChristopher Gore (F)
[[File:William Gray.jpg60px]]Democratic-Republican Party}};"William Gray1810–1812Democratic-RepublicanElbridge Gerry (DR)
[[File:Gilbert Stuart - Portrait of William Phillips - 13.792 - Rhode Island School of Design Museum.jpg60px]]Federalist Party}};"William Phillips Jr.1812–1823FederalistCaleb Strong (F)
John Brooks (F)
[[File:Levi Lincoln, Jr.jpg60px]]Democratic-Republican Party}};"Levi Lincoln Jr.1823–1824Democratic-RepublicanWilliam Eustis (DR)
[[File:Marcus Morton(good quality).jpg60px]]Democratic-Republican Party}};"Marcus Morton*1824–1825Democratic-RepublicanWilliam Eustis (DR)
[[File:Thomas Lindall Winthrop.jpg60px]]Democratic-Republican Party}};"Thomas L. Winthrop1825–1833Democratic-RepublicanLevi Lincoln Jr. (NR, W)
[[File:Samuel Turell Armstrong.png60px]]Whig Party (United States)}};"Samuel T. Armstrong*1833–1835WhigJohn Davis (W)
Whig Party (United States)}};"George Hull1836–1843WhigEdward Everett (W)
Marcus Morton (D)
John Davis (W)
Democratic Party (United States)}};"Henry H. Childs1843–1844DemocraticMarcus Morton (D)
Whig Party (United States)}};"John Reed Jr.1844–1851WhigGeorge N. Briggs (W)
[[File:Henry W. Cushman.png60px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Henry W. Cushman1851–1853DemocraticGeorge S. Boutwell (D)
[[File:Thomas Bayley Lawson - Elisha Huntington (restored).jpg60px]]Whig Party (United States)}};"Elisha Huntington1853–1854WhigJohn H. Clifford (W)
Whig Party (United States)}};"William C. Plunkett1854–1855WhigEmory Washburn (W)
Know Nothing}};"Simon Brown1855–1856Know NothingHenry Gardner (KN)
[[File:Henry Wetherby Benchley.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Henry W. Benchley1856–1858RepublicanHenry Gardner (KN)
[[File:Eliphalet Trask.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Eliphalet Trask1858–1861RepublicanNathaniel Prentice Banks (R)
[[File:JohnZGoodrich.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"John Z. Goodrich1861RepublicanJohn Albion Andrew (R)
[[File:John Nesmith.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"John Nesmith1862RepublicanJohn Albion Andrew (R)
Republican Party (United States)}};"Joel Hayden1863–1866RepublicanJohn Albion Andrew (R)
[[File:William Claflin - Brady-Handy.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"William Claflin1866–1869RepublicanAlexander H. Bullock (R)
[[File:Joseph Tucker (1832–1907).png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Joseph Tucker1869–1873RepublicanWilliam Claflin (R)
William B. Washburn (R)
[[File:GovThomasTalbot.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Thomas Talbot*1873–1875RepublicanWilliam B. Washburn (R)
[[File:Horatio Gates Knight.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Horatio G. Knight1875–1879RepublicanWilliam Gaston (D)
Alexander H. Rice (R)
[[File:John Davis Long.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"John D. Long1879–1880RepublicanThomas Talbot (R)
[[File:Byron Weston.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Byron Weston1880–1883RepublicanJohn Davis Long (R)
[[File:McLaurin(1902) pic.029 Governor AMES.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Oliver Ames1883–1887RepublicanBenjamin F. Butler (D, Greenback)
George D. Robinson (R)
[[File:JohnQABrackett.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"John Q. A. Brackett1887–1890RepublicanOliver Ames (R)
[[File:William H. Haile.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"William H. Haile1890–1893RepublicanJohn Q. A. Brackett (R)
William Russell (D)
[[File:RogerWolcott (cropped).jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Roger Wolcott*1893–1896RepublicanWilliam Russell (D)
Frederic T. Greenhalge (R)
[[File:Winthrop Murray Crane.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Winthrop M. Crane1897–1900RepublicanRoger Wolcott (R)
[[File:GovJohnLBates.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"John L. Bates1900–1903RepublicanWinthrop Murray Crane (R)
[[File:American forests (18142692582).jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Curtis Guild Jr.1903–1906RepublicanJohn L. Bates (R)
William Lewis Douglas (D)
[[File:Ebenezer Sumner Draper crop.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Eben S. Draper1906–1909RepublicanCurtis Guild Jr. (R)
[[File:Louis Adams Frothingham (1).png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Louis A. Frothingham1909–1912RepublicanEben S. Draper (R)
Eugene Noble Foss (D)
[[File:Robert Luce.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Robert Luce1912–1913RepublicanEugene Noble Foss (D)
[[File:WALSH, DAVID. GOVERNOR LCCN2016858784 (cropped).jpg60px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"David I. Walsh1913–1914DemocraticEugene Noble Foss (D)
[[File:Edward P. Barry.png60px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Edward P. Barry1914–1915DemocraticDavid I. Walsh (D)
[[File:Grafton Dulany Cushing.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Grafton D. Cushing1915–1916RepublicanDavid I. Walsh (D)
[[File:29 Calvin Coolidge 3x4.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Calvin Coolidge1916–1919RepublicanSamuel W. McCall (R)
[[File:Channing H Cox.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Channing H. Cox1919–1921RepublicanCalvin Coolidge (R)
[[File:Alvin T Fuller.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Alvan T. Fuller1921–1925RepublicanChanning H. Cox (R)
[[File:Frank G Allen.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Frank G. Allen1925–1929RepublicanAlvan T. Fuller (R)
[[File:William S. Youngman.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"William S. Youngman1929–1933RepublicanFrank G. Allen (R)
[[File:Gaspar Griswold Bacon, Sr in his passport application.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Gaspar G. Bacon1933–1935RepublicanJoseph B. Ely (D)
Democratic Party (United States)}};"Joseph L. Hurley1935–1937DemocraticJames Michael Curley (D)
[[File:Francis E. Kelly.png60px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Francis E. Kelly1937–1939DemocraticCharles F. Hurley (D)
[[File:1935 Horace Cahill Massachusetts House of Representatives.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Horace T. Cahill1939–1945RepublicanLeverett Saltonstall (R)
[[File:Robert F. Bradford (Massachusetts Governor) (3x4a).jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Robert F. Bradford1945–1947RepublicanMaurice J. Tobin (D)
[[File:1945 Arthur Coolidge senator Massachusetts (3x4a).jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Arthur W. Coolidge1947–1949RepublicanRobert F. Bradford (R)
[[File:1945 Charles F Jeff Sullivan senator Massachusetts.jpg60px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Charles F. Sullivan1949–1953DemocraticPaul A. Dever (D)
[[File:SumnerWhittier.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Sumner G. Whittier1953–1957RepublicanChristian Herter (R)
[[File:Robert F. Murphy Massachusetts (cropped).png60px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Robert F. Murphy1957–1960DemocraticFoster Furcolo (D)
Office vacant from October 6, 1960 – January 5, 1961Foster Furcolo (D)
[[File:Edward F. McLaughlin Jr.png60px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Edward F. McLaughlin Jr.1961–1963DemocraticJohn A. Volpe (R)
[[File:Francis X. Bellotti 1960s (cropped).jpg60px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Francis Bellotti1963–1965DemocraticEndicott Peabody (D)
[[File:Elliot L. Richardson.png60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Elliot Richardson1965–1967RepublicanJohn A. Volpe (R)
[[File:Governor Francis Sargent (cropped).jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Francis Sargent*1967–1971RepublicanJohn A. Volpe (R)
[[File:1971 Donald Dwight Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Donald Dwight1971–1975RepublicanFrancis W. Sargent (R)
[[File:Thomas P O'Neill III.jpg60px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Thomas P. O'Neill III1975–1983DemocraticMichael Dukakis (D)
Edward J. King (D)
[[File:John Kerry (9504751924).jpg60px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"John Kerry1983–1985DemocraticMichael Dukakis (D)
Office vacant from January 2, 1985 – January 8, 1987Michael Dukakis (D)
[[File:Evelyn Murphy (9501950881).jpg60px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Evelyn Murphy1987–1991DemocraticMichael Dukakis (D)
[[File:Cellucci Paul (3x4a).jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Paul Cellucci*1991–1999RepublicanWilliam Weld (R)
[[File:Jane Swift gubernatorial photo (3x4q).jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Jane Swift*1999–2003RepublicanPaul Cellucci (R)
[[File:Kerry Healey official Lieutenant Governor portrait.jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Kerry Healey2003–2007RepublicanMitt Romney (R)
[[File:Tim Murray 8x10 (1).jpg60px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Tim Murray2007–2013DemocraticDeval Patrick (D)
Office vacant from June 2, 2013 – January 8, 2015Deval Patrick (D)
[[File:Karyn Polito official photo (cropped).jpg60px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Karyn Polito2015–2023RepublicanCharlie Baker (R)
[[File:Kim Driscoll, official portrait, lieutenant governor (3x4).jpg60px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Kim Driscoll2023–presentDemocraticMaura Healey (D)

References

References

  1. Hall, Van Beck. (1972). "Politics Without Parties: Massachusetts 1780–1791". University of Pittsburgh Press.
  2. "April 9 letters to the editor".
  3. Amendments: Article VII removed the religious oath, Article XXXIV removed the property requirement,
  4. [https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Candidates-Guide-generic.pdf Candidate Guide]sec.state.ma.us {{Webarchive. link. (April 25, 2021)
  5. "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts". Massachusetts General Court.
  6. "General Laws: Chapter 6, Section 214". Massachusetts General Court.
  7. Mass. Const. Amendments Art. LXIV
  8. Mass. Const. Amendments Art. LXXVI
  9. (October 7, 1960). "Furcolo Surrenders; Murphy Heads MDC". The Boston Globe.
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