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0— Law Publishedby WilliamFrancisGalvin SecretaryoftheCommonwealth ToursandGovernment EducationDivision IN MASSACHUSETTS DearCitizen, Oneofthemostimportantfunctionsofgovernmentisthelegislativeprocess. Yet,inmanyways,italsoappearstobeamongthemostmysterious.TheSecre- tary-oftheCommonwealthhaspublishedthisbooklet,LaivmakinginMassa- chusetts,tohelpclearupthemysteriesandprovideyouwithabasicunder- standingofhowabillbecomesalaw,andtoexplainhowyoucanbecomeinvolvedinthe 0- Of 'Ak^-^'^' process. ItfollowslawmakinginourGeneralCourtstepbystepfromtheinitialfilingofa billuntilthedaywhenthegovernorsignsthebillintolaw. Thelegislativeprocessissometimesfrustrating,oftenrewarding,alwaysfascinating. Ihope thispublicationanswersyourquestionsaboutlawmakingandincreasesyourinterestinthis essentialgovernmentalrole. ' / WilliamFrancisGalvin,SecretaryoftheCommonwealth ANOVERVIEW completelistofcommittees Thefirstreadingofafavor- Theresponsibilityforenact- onthebackcover). Each ably-reportedbillisautomatic inglawsinMassachusetts committeeiscomposedofsix andoccurswhenthecommit- restsprimarilywiththestate SenatorsandelevenRepre- tee'sreportappearsinthe legislature,formallyknownas sentatives,exceptforthe JournaloftheHouseorSen- theGeneralCourt. Itisdi- committeeonTransportation ateClerk. Mattersnotrequir- videdintotwobranches:a whichhassevenmemberson ingreferencetoanotherjoint 160-memberHouseofRepre- theSenateandthirteenmem- HouseorSenatecommittee AnOverview l sentativesanda40-member bersonthepartoftheHouse. are,followingthefirstread- TheLegislativeProcess 2 Senate.Thetwolegislative Thestandingcommittees ing,referredwithoutdebate ObservingaCommitteeMeeting 2 branchesworkconcurrently schedulepublichearingsfor totheCommitteeonSteering ObservingtheHouse onpendinglawsbroughtbe- theindividualbills,whichafford andPolicyintheSenate(ex- orSenateinSession 3 forethem. citizens,legislatorsandlobby- ceptcertainspeciallawsrela- Participatinginthe Lawmakingbeginsinthe iststheopportunitytoex- tivetoacityortown),or LegislativeProcess 3 HouseorSenateClerk'soffice presstheirviews. Committee placedintheOrdersofthe GlossaryofTerms 5 wherepetitions,accompanied membersmeetatalatertime Day(theCalendar)without LegislativeDirectory 8 bybills,resolves,etc.,arefiled inexecutivesession*toreview debate,forasecondreading AdditionalResources 8 andrecordedinadocket thepublictestimonyanddis- intheHouse. UMASS/AMHERST * bbiololsk.anTdheasscilgenrktshneummtboearp-the cbuesfosrtehemamkeirnitgstohfeierarcehcboimll- ofItfhaebCilolmamffoencwtseathlethfi,niatnicserse- propriatejointcommittees. mendationstothefullmem- ferredtotheSenateorHouse lEObb QE?fi 1 Thereare21 ofthesecom- bershipoftheHouseorSen- CommitteeonWaysandMeans mittees,eachresponsiblefor ate.Thecommitteethenissues afterthefirstreading. Ifthe studyingthebillswhichper- itsreport,recommendingthat billinvolvescountyfinances taintoaspecificarea(i.e. abill"oughttopass"oruought whenreportedintheHouse, i*sAnnot'perxievcauttei.ve"Wseespsuibolniicnmtahyeloebgsieslnaet,ure taxation,ed.ucati.on,,health nottopass"andthereportis itisthenreferredtothecom- butnotparticipatein,thesemeetings care insurance,etC.-See submittedtotheClerksoffice. -continued -continuedfrompage 1 ingthebilltobeengrossed." nor,orpassedbytwo-thirdsof mitteeonCountiesonthe Thebillmustthenpass bothbranchesoverhisveto, partoftheHouse(thisrule throughthreereadingsand becomesalaw. Itisusuallyef- doesnotapplytotheSenate). engrossmentinthesecond fectiveinninetydays.Theday Adversereports("ought legislativebranch. Should afterthegovernorsignsthe nottopass")arealsoreferred thatoccur,itissenttothe billisconsideredtobethe totheCommitteeonSteering LegislativeEngrossingDivi- firstday,andeachsucceeding andPolicyintheSenate1or sionwhereitistypedonspe- day,includingSundaysand placedwithoutdebateinthe cialparchmentinaccordance holidays,iscounteduntilthe OrdersoftheDayforthenext withtheGeneralLaws. ninetieth. sessionoftheHouse.Accep- However,ifthesecond Lawsconsidered"emer- tancebyeitherbranchofan branchpassesanamended gency"innaturetakeeffect adversereportisconsidered versionofthebill,thelegisla- immediatelyuponsigningif thefinalrejectionofthemat- tionreturnstotheoriginal thelegislaturehasvotedtoat- ter. However,anadversere- branchforavoteofconcur- tachan"emergencypreamble" portcanbeoverturned.A renceintheamendment. If tothebill.Adoptionofthe membermaymovetosubsti- concurrenceisrejected,a preamblerequiresatwo-thirds tutethebillforthereport, conferencecommitteecon- voteofthemembership. and,ifthemotiontosubsti- sistingofthreemembersfrom Thegovernormayalsode- tutecarries,thematteris eachlegislativebranchrepre- clareanacttobeanemer- thengivenitsfirstreading sentingbothpoliticalparties gencylawandmakeiteffec- andfollowsthesameproce- maybeformedtoeffecta tiveatonce.Aspecialact dureasifreportedfavorably compromisepieceoflegisla- takeseffectthirtydaysfrom bycommittee. tion.Whenacompromiseis thedayitissigned,unlessit Afterabilltakesitssecond reached,thebillissentto containsaprovisiontomake reading,itisopentodebate bothlegislativebranchesfor iteffectiveimmediately. onamendmentsandmotions. theirapproval. Followingdebate,avoteis Avote"toenact"thebill, THE LEGISLATIVE takenandifthebillreceivesa firstintheHouseandlaterin PROCESS:ACCES- favorablevotebythemem- theSenate,isthefinalstepin SIBLETOALL bership,itisorderedtoa thepassageofabillbythe thirdreadingandreferredto legislature. Theworkingsofthelegisla- theCommitteeonBillsinthe Followingenactment,the tureareaccessibletoyouasa ThirdReading. Thisamounts billgoestothegovernor,who citizenofMassachusetts.You tothepreliminarypassageof maysignthebillintolaw,al- arestronglyencouragedto thebillinonebranch. lowittobecomelawwithout observetheproceedingsat Thatcommitteeexamines signingit(ifthegovernorholds theStateHouse. technicalpoints,aswellas thebillfortendayswithout Observinga CommitteeHearing thelegalityandconstitutional- takinganyactionwhilethe CalltheHouseClerk'sof- ityofthemeasure,anden- legislatureisinsession,itbe- ficeat(617)722-2356orthe suresthatitdoesnotdupli- comeslawwithouthisorher SenateClerk'sofficeat(617) cateorcontradictexisting signature),vetoit,orreturnit 722-1276orcheckthenews- law. TheHousecommittee tothelegislaturewithrecom- papersfortheschedulesof onBillsintheThirdReading mendedchanges. Ifthelegis- publichearingsonlegislative isrequiredtoreportonany laturehasprorogued,concluded proposals. Mosthearingsoccur matterreferredtoitnolater itsyearlysession,andthegov- duringthemorning,Monday than45daysafterreceivingit. ernordoesnotsignthebill throughThursday,throughout Thecommitteethenissuesa withintendays,itdies.Thisis theyear,butespeciallybe- atsw'etiaTrdessheoerrenaesCtftitoeaohrmbnermleioiodsrtfhtdtseoeeudriecti,ohnoofmnnp1ar9tSit8tothe3reeriesttur,ioirengaasgednovnadficnsytoedhfneotPrahmolealtcietoSrc-ne-y-n- tratheeepofrroetrspaitenscdtthiriveretduHrroenuasdsitenhgeo.rbiASltlent-o Treevhfeeerrytreednda-ydtoaeyaxspceearp"itpoodScukinnedctalyvuesdteoas.n"d ttthwweoe-efyinersaFtreabGnrenunuaearrlyalsaeCnsodsuiJrotun.noefitnhe pnmoaarttttievroesn.metTthheheoSdecsnoamotmfeirtfeltsoepoeornisodinrnegtqhuteiorhesidlulcsthorer-e- tthhaetrtdiembea,tleegainsdlaatomresncdantfhuer- hafotleirdatyhse,laengdisiltabtieogninissltahideodnay HoUuspeo,ngaorrtiovatlhaetLtehgeisSltaattieve frmeearclreeisdviittntoginitgthnoeofm,tlhaaetnelrdetgbihesaflnaotri3ev0ethdieaylsastafftoerr- biinlgl,.tFhoelbloowdiyngvottheestohnir"dparsesa-d- theAgboilvlersniogrn'esddbeyskt.hegover- D42o8c)u,mwehnetrseDyiovuisciaonn(obRtoaoinma copyoftheDailyListofLegis- Publicgalleriesforobserv- Whenavoteistakenona lativeCommitteeHearings. It ingtheactivitywithinthe bill,thepresidingofficerin containsalistofbillsupon chambersarelocatedonthe eachbranchcalls,"allthosein whichtestimonywillbeheard fourthfloorandvisitorsare favor,say aye';opposed nay'." onthatday. Billsconcerning permittedtoenterandleave Heorshetheninterpretsthe thesamegeneralsubjectare freely. Thepresidingofficers consensusofthemember- usuallygroupedtogetherand ineachchamberareelected ship. Amemberdoubting heardatasinglehearing. bythefullmembershipofthe thatrulingmayrequesta Copiesofbillsundercon- respectivebranchesatthebe- standingvoteorarollcall. siderationmaybesecuredei- ginningofeachbiennialses- Thelatterisorderedifatleast therinRoom428orinthe sionofthelegislature. twentymembersoftheHouse hearingroom. Alsoavailable Thepresidingofficerinthe supportit. IntheSenate,one- toyouareBulletinsofCom- HouseistheSpeakerofthe fifthofthememberspresent mitteeWork,containingthe House;intheSenate,thepre- mustsupporttherequestfor namesofthemembersof sidingofficeristheSenate arollcall. eachcommittee,aswellasa President. Thepresidingof- IntheSenate,rollcallvotes listingandbrieflegislativehis- ficerfirsttakesupmatters areconductedorally. Each toryofallbillsassignedto whicharenotlistedinthe member'snameisreadand eachcommittee. Calendarsuchasreconsidera- thevoterecorded,withthe Mosthearingsareinformal. tionorenactmentofbills,and resultstalliedbytheclerk. An Visitorsareallowedtoenter adoptionofresolutionsand electronicvotingsystemis andleavethehearingroomat orders.Thebodythenpro- usedintheHouse.There, anytimeduringtheproceedings. ceedstothosematterslisted eachrepresentativeisas- TheSenateorHousechair- intheOrdersoftheDay(the signedadeskwitharollcall personsconducthearingson Calendar). Informalornon- box,whichisconnectedelec- mattersbeforejointcommit- calendarsessionsconsider tronicallytotherollcall tees. Billsaregenerallydis- onlynoncontroversialmatters. boards'inthefrontofthe cussedintheorderoftheir YoumayobtaintheCalendar Housechamber. Duringthe appearanceintheDailyList. fortheHouseorSenateses- vote,amemberpresseseither Customarily,thetestimonyof sionsfromtheLegislative a"yea"ora"nay"buttonon theproponentsispresented DocumentsDivision,Room hisorherdeskcorrespond- first,followedbythatofthe 428.Thisdocumentwillenable ingrespectivelytoeithera opponents. Legislatorsand youtofollowtheproceed- greenorredlightbesidethe constitutionalofficersareper- ingsofthelegislativesession. member'snameontheroll mittedtospeakoutofturn. Theclerkofeachbranch callboard. Thehearingendsfollowing readseachbillbytitlebefore Whenthevoteiscom- completionoftestimonyon anyactionistakenonit.The pleted,atallyisshownatthe thebillsunderconsideration. clerk'sstaffrecordsthepro- topoftheboardsbeneaththe Later,themembersmeetin ceedingsofeachsession.Any numberofthebillupon executivesessiontodiscuss memberdesiringtodebatea whichthevotewastaken. thebillasdescribedinPart specificitemontheCalendar Oneofthispublication. callsout"pass"whentheitem PARTICIPATING IIV isreadbytheclerk.Theitem THE LEGISLATIVE ObservingtheHouseorSenatein PROCESS isthen"passed"fordebate. Session TheHouseofRepresenta- Afterallnoncontroversial tivesandtheSenateusually itemsaredisposedof,the Massachusettscitizensare -passed"itemsaretakenup. permittedandencouragedto meetMondaythrough Wednesdayat1:00pminfor- duDrienbgatteheonseacobinlldmaanydothcicrudr tmaakkeianngapcrtoicveesrsoloefitnhethsetaltaew- msFao1iaonn1olrd:lnm0osS0ac(eealswalnsimasitt.toeehnlesio,esnuvaiaitroansenniadsobicnTroanh(oflfuCaeotrhdnrhascdmenadaansraHle)tyo.lsluaei4tssv4-ee). rtiiasenhvageaodlttbilihenloegliwsscbe.todyanTkttchieoltenlub.esecibgloeiennfr.koorfieFddoedelnebltbaiofatwiet-e,es lfpsReotregrrepiorsasneelgpsnalteetyunrrhtsaeiao.bstnoioIuvwtrteihhsaoeonarrfiSgieesodenseloausadtesotrito.doeaa aMtbmmi'hlnaoeeTepgjamhmhorepbcbardahebeirreartroottlymssnyilbcmcootemaaefhflrelmeltmtbochhrbberoeeioedrngeaslmtrhretrhaisainidsdcnopaieoosr,rdrnnieesttthbhiotliyeenifhpgspu.enttiaiehlannrdeTengtmfhtbiyceeonehsslnglairetodmoeaoewwbdfmieeaotttmrrifhhh-.nee- -continued shipandtheirmembersfollow. -continuedfrompriorpage namesofthepetitioners,the petitionerisservingasa Thatpersonmaydiscover subjectmatterofthebilland spokespersonforagroup,he thatthoseconcernshaveal- thenumberthebillhasbeen orsheshouldmentionthatto readybeenformulatedintoa givenforthelegislativeses- thecommitteepriortotesti- billwhichisawaitinglegisla- sion.Thebooksareespe- fying. Veryoften,onlywritten tiveaction. Ifnot,thecitizen ciallyusefulwhenoneistry- testimonyisacceptedon isallowedtofilelegislation ingtolocatevariouspiecesof refiledbills. addressingthesubject. Mas- legislationofasimilarnature Attheconclusionofthe sachusettsisoneofthefew beforetheLegislativeBulletin presentation,committeemem- statestoallowitscitizensto ispublishedortheformallist- bersmayrequestfurtherin- doso.Thisaccessiscalled ingofalllegislationappears formationorclarification.Af- the"rightoffreepetition." inthesubjectindex. (Apar- teralltestimonyisheard,the Althoughitisnotmandatory tialsubjectindexisavailable hearingiscompleteandthe thataRepresentativeorSena- intheClerk'sofficeshortlyaf- committeewillmeet,inex- torsponsoracitizen'sbill,the teralllegislationhasbeen ecutivesession,eitherthatday rulesoftheHouseandSenate filedintheGeneralCourt;a oratalatertime,todecide providethatapetitionmust morecompleteversionis whethertoissueafavorable beendorsedforpresentation availableusuallybymidyear. orunfavorablereport. byamemberbeforeitcanbe The"carryover"provisionsof Thecommitteereportis consideredbytheGeneral pendinglegislationfromthe crucialtothesurvivalofabill, Court. Obtainingthesupport firsttermintothesecondan- sincetherecommendationsof ofindividuallegislators,then, nualsessionbecameeffective allcommitteereportsaregen- ismostadvisable. withthe1995-1996sessionof erallyfollowedbythelegislature. Legislationmustbefiledin theGeneralCourt.) "Money"bills(billsimpos- eithertheHouseorSenate Thepetitionermaywantto ingastatetax)mustbefirst Clerk'sofficebythefirst contactotherpetitioners reportedintheHouse. Fol- WednesdayinDecemberpre- whoselegislationaddresses lowingthefirstreadingof cedingthefirstannualses- thesameissueastheonein suchabillitisreferredtothe sionofthetwo-yearGeneral whichheorsheisinterested. HouseCommitteeonWays Court. Thejointrules,as Workingcooperativelyrather andMeansforfurtherstudy. changedandadoptedin1995, thanindependentlycanin- WaysandMeansissuesare- providethatanymatterpend- creasetheimpactofthepro- portwhichissenttothe ingbeforethelegislatureat ponents'arguments. House;thebillisthenreada theendofthefirstannualses- Apetitionershouldbewell- secondtimeandcontinues sionshallcarryoverintothe preparedbeforetestifyingata throughthelegislativepro- secondannualsessionatthe publichearing.Wellorganized, cess.Thesameprocedureis samelegislativestatus,except well-researched presentation followedwhenthebill AppropriationBillsrecom- statementsnaturallyhavea reachestheSenate. Petition- mendedbytheGovernor. positiveinfluenceoncommit- ersshouldremainincontact Otherpiecesoflegislation teemembers. Ifunabletoat- withtheClerk'sofficeorthe thatdonothavelocalap- tendapublichearing,apeti- appropriatecommitteeto provalofacityortownand tionershouldpreparewritten findoutwhenthebillwillre- whicharefiledatanyother testimonywhichcanbeac- ceiveareadingbeforethefull timewouldbeconsidered ceptedbyacommitteebefore body. Petitionersshouldalso latefiledpetitionsandthus thescheduledhearing. trytoattendthatlegislative starttheircourseinthere- Petitionersshouldprepare sessionsothattheycanen- spectiveRulescommitteesof asummaryoftheplannedtes- couragesupportoflegislators thetwobranches.Thelegisla- timonyandmakeanumberof tospeakinfavorofthebill. If tureiselectedbienniallyin copiesfordistributionto thebillsurvivesthedebatein even-numberedyears. committeemembers,staff thesecondreading,avote Whenabillisfiled,itisre- membersandanymediarep- willbetaken"orderingthe cordedinadocketbookin resentativespresent.Thisal- billtoathirdreading,"and theClerk'soffice.Thebook lowsmemberstomakenotes theprocesscontinuesasde- providesthenameoftheleg- onthetestimonywhilethe scribedinPartOne. islatorfilingthebill,the petitionerisspeaking. Ifthe GLOSSARY OF Asthebillcontinues DailyList throughthelegislativepro- TERMS Listofcommitteehearings cess,thepetitionershould givingthecommittee,itsmat- Act wtoorskuptpoorctonitv.iTnhceelseugrivsilvaatlorosf intAobliallwtbhyatthhaesgobveeernnosri.gned nteursm,baenrdotfheeatcihmeheaarnidngr.oom anybilldependsoncontin- Dissolved uedfavorablevotesinboth ActsandResolves branchesofthelegislature. Acompilationofthebills Terminationofanannual sessionoftheGeneralCourt abrnaIdfnctthhheeesnb,itiltloipstahsseesneStsetnioanttebhoeftoHhroause apsiangsdnseerdedsbobylyvtethsheeegnolaevgceirtsnelodart.aurnBedoaunndd W(tehdendeasydapyreicneJdainnugartyh)e.first "votetoenact"thebill. Enact- inavolumeonayearlybasis. EmergencyPreamble mentisusuallyaformalitybut Apreambletoabillsetting Adjournment itdoesrepresentthefinalpas- Terminationofdailysession. forththefactsconstitutingan sageofabillbythelegislature. emergency,andthestatement Thelaststepintheprocess AdverseReport thatthelawisnecessaryfor isactionbythegovernor. Let- Acommitteerecommendation theimmediatepreservationof ter-writingcampaignsand thatamatteroughtnottopass. thepublicpeace,health,safety telegramsareoftenutilizedto orconvenience. Matterswith acquaintthegovernorwith Bill emergencypreamblesbecome Documentaccompanyinga citizensupportoropposition. lawimmediatelyuponap- petition,usuallyaskingfor tushuAeafgltoleyvreterfhnfeoercb,tiliilvteibseisnciongimnneeedstbylyaw, lneegnitslantaitvuerea.ctionofaperma- ptmrhaoeyvgaaoltvtbeayrcnhtoharepogrroevtaehmrebnlolere..gisEliatthuerre days. However,theremaybe CommitteeonBills intheThird Enactment an"emergencypreamble"at- Reading tachedtosomelaws,making Acommitteeofthreewhich Finalpassageofabillbythe HouseorSenate. themeffectiveimmediately,as isempoweredtoexamine explainedinPartOne. andcorrectbillsandresolves Engrossed Bill orResolve Theprocessofbringinga priortotheirfinalreadingin Finalversionofabillforen- billtofruitionasalawinMas- theSenateorHouse,resolu- actmentorresolveforpas- sachusettsisalong,oftente- tionsforadoption,and sagebeforetheHouseorSen- dious,one. However,itisalso amendmentstobills,resolves ate afterbeingtypedonspe- veryexcitingandextremely andresolutionsadoptedby cialparchmentbytheLegisla- worthwhile. Itbringstheav- theotherbranchandbefore tiveEngrossingDivisionand eragecitizenoftheCommon- thebodyforconcurrence. certifiedbytheclerk. wealthmuchclosertostate Concurrence FavorableReport government.And,quitelikely, Agreementbyonebranch Acommitteerecommenda- ifapetitionerissuccessfulin withanactionoriginatingin tionthatamatteroughtto gleagiinsilnatgioanc,ctehpattalnacwewfiolrltbheein theotherbranch. pass.Amattertakesitsfirst existencelongafterheorshe Conference Committee readingatthistime. andallthelegislatorswho Committeeconsistingof Formal Session passedithavedepartedfrom threemembersfromeach Meetingtoconsiderandact thescene. body(onesenatorandone uponreportsofcommittees, representativeactingaschair- messagesfromthegovernor, men)appointedbythelegis- petitions,orders,enactment lativeleaderstoresolvediffer- papersfromtheotherbranch, encesbetweenthetwobod- mattersintheOrdersofthe ieswithregardtoaspecific Day,andvariousothermatters matter. Failureofthecommit- whichmaybecontroversialin teetoagreeorfailureofone natureandduringwhichroll bodytoacceptthecommittee's callvotesmaybetaken. recommendationresultsin -continued theappointmentofanew conferencecommittee. -continuedfrompriorpage JointCommittees LegislativeRecord GeneralLaw Twenty-onecommittees, Numericallistingofallnum- Legislativeactapplyinggen- consistingofsixSenatorsand beredmattersfiledforconsid- erallytotheCommonwealth elevenRepresentatives,respon- erationbytheGeneralCourt. anditscitizens. sibleforholdingpublichearings Includesabriefdescriptionof andreportingonalllegislative thematteranditsfulllegisla- HouseandSenateRules mattersreferredtothem. tivehistory. Rulesoforderandproce- dureadoptedbythatbranch JointRule10 MassachusettsGeneral Laws atthebeginningofeachbien- Rulerequiringthatallmat- AllofthelawsofMassachu- nialsession. tersreferredtojointcommit- settsofageneralandperma- teesbereportedoutofcommit- nentnatureasembodiedin Informal Sessions teesbythelastWednesdayin theOfficialEditionoftheMas- Meetingdesignatedbythe Juneofthefirstannualsession. sachusettsGeneralLaws(which SpeakeroftheHouseand Ifamatterisreferredtocom- areupdatedonamonthlyba- SenatePresidenttoconsider mitteeafterJune15inthe sis),togetherwithallamend- reportsofcommittees,enact- firstannualsessionofthetwo- ingandrelatedgeneralstat- ments,papersfromtheother branch,amendments,matters yreeaprorGteenderoaultwCioutrhti,ni1t0mudasyts,be udtoewsnsutbhsreoquugehnttlhyeecnuarrcetnetdses- intheOrdersoftheDay,and excludingSundaysandholidays. sionoftheGeneralCourt. variousothermatterswhich areofanoncontroversialna- JointRule33 MoneyBill ture.Anysessionmaybede- Ruleallowingthealteration, Abillthattransfersmoney claredaninformalsession suspensionorrecisionofjoint orpropertyfromthepeople withpriornoticegiven,orin rulesbyaconcurrent2/3vote totheCommonwealth,i.e.,a casesofanemergency. ofmemberspresentandvot- billthatimposesatax.These ing. Somerulesaresuspended billsmustbetakenupinthe InitiativePetition onlybya4/5voteandavery HouseofRepresentativesfirst. Requestbyaspecifiednum- fewbyunanimousconsent. berofvoterstosubmitacon- Order stitutionalamendmentorlaw JointRules Formalmotioninwriting, tothepeopleforapprovalor Rulesforthegoverningof notrequiringthegovernor's rejection.Thepetitionisin- thetwobodiesadoptedby signature,whichistemporary troducedintotheGeneral bothbranches. innatureandisusedtoestab- Courtifsignedbyanumber LayonTable lishinvestigativecommittees, ofcitizensequalingthreeper- Totemporarilylayasidethe tochangerulesandforother centoftheentirevotefor parliamentaryactions. considerationofaspecific governorintheprecedinggu- bill,resolve,report,amend- OrdersottheDay(Calendar) bernatorialelection. Ifapro- mentormotion. Ifanitemis Listingofmostmattersto posedinitiativelawfailsto laidonthetable,consider- beconsideredbytheSenate passtheGeneralCourt,addi- ationispostponeduntilasub- andtheHouseateachsitting. ttpioroopnpalloascseeidgitniaontinutriteahsteivaberaelcloronetsq.tuiitArue-d simteoeqtmuieoonnftftmtoholetaiytoaobnnlettashkueicntcgaebtelhdees.caAn OveTroriodveerturnthegovernor's tbiyonaatllaeamsetnodnmeeqnutaratpeprroofvtehde bemadeonlyintheSenate. vmeetmobbeyrsa2p/r3esveontteionfbtohtehthe GeneralCourt,sittinginjoint LegislativeBulletinonCommit- HouseandtheSenate. sessionsbytwoconsecutively teeWork electedGeneralCourts,shall Acompletelistingofall PaiPrriongceodfuVroeteasllowedinthe bpreovpallacbeydthoenvottheersb.allotforap- mtoatwtheirschantdhetyhearceoamsmsiitgtneede.sA Sbeern,abteefoonrley,thwehevorteebyisatamkeenm,- shortdescriptionofeachmat- announcestotheSenatethat ter,itsnumber,hearingdate heorshehaspairedhisorher andcommitteereportcan votewithanopposingvoteof alsobefoundhere. anabsentmember.Thetwo votesdonotaffectoutcome ofthefinaltally. PassaResolve Reconsideration SpecialLaw Finalpassageofaresolveby Motiontoreconsideravote Legislativeactapplyingtoa theHouseorSenate. onactionpreviouslytaken. particularcounty,city,town Anymembermayproposere- ordistrict,individualorgroup PetAitiroenquestdescribingthena- considerationandifthemo- ofindividualsandnotgeneral tureoftheproposedlegisla- vtiootnedproevnaialgsa,int.heMmuastttebreis innature. tionandtheobjectssoughtby movedpriortoenteringupon StandingCommitteesofthe it,signedbythepetitioner, theOrdersoftheDayonthe SenateandHouse andaccompaniedbyadraftof Eightpermanentcommit- nextlegislativesession. thebillorresolveembodying teesintheSenate(Administra- thelegislationproposed. Referendum Petition tion,Rules,WaysandMeans, Petitionsignedbyaspecified BillsinThirdReading,Ethics, PoAckevtetVoetroesultingfromthe numberofvoterstorepeala PostAuditandOversight,Sci- lawenactedbythelegislators, enceandTechnology,Steering governor'sfailuretosignabill andrequestingthatthelegis- andPolicy)andintheHouse followingprorogationordis- lationbesuspendeduntila (Rules,WaysandMeans,Bills solutionofthesecondannual voteistakenbythepeopleat inThirdReading,Ethics,Coun- sessionsoftheGeneralCourt. thenextstateelection. ties,PostAuditandOversight, Becausethesessionhas PersonnelandAdministration, ended,thebillwillnotauto- Refile ScienceandTechnology) mtaetnidcaalylsyabnedctohmeeGelnaewraaflter waAspperteitsieonntseidmiltaortthoeonGeenwehriaclh whichservetheirrespective legislativebodiesseparately. Courthasnoopportunityto Courtinapreviousyear. overridetheveto. SubstitutionforanAdverseReport ReportofaCommittee Procedurebywhicha PointotOrder Recommendationonalegis- brCehaaclhloefngoerdteoraoprorsuslieb.le ltaeteivteomwahtitcehrbitywtahserceofmermrietd-. oncvoeemwrmtibuturttneeevd'e.sryTahsdivemeiorlrsaiergibrnielalpl,orroetr-ais Proposal Resolutions solveorresolutionissubsti- Documentaccompanyinga Documentswhichmayor tutedfortheadversereport. petitionintroducinglegislative maynotaccompanyapetition amendmentstotheConstitu- expressinganopinionorthe Veto tionoftheCommonwealth. sentimentofoneorboth Governor'sobjectionin writingtolegislationenacted branchesoftheGeneralCourt, Prorogation bytheGeneralCourt.The usedforcongratulations,for Terminationofalegislative memorializingtheCongress legislationisreturnedtoits yearbyagreementoftheGov- branchoforigin. oftheUnitedStatesregarding ernor,withtheadviceofthe publicquestions,etc. Resolu- Governor'sCouncilandboth tionsdonotrequirethe legislativebodies. governor'ssignature. Quorum Resolve SenTawteen,teyi-gohntey-moenembmeermsbeirnsthe Documentaccompanyinga intheHouse. Quorumisset petition,usuallyaskingfor legislativeactionofatempo- bytheConstitutionandalso byruleineachbranchofthe raryorimmediatenature;e.g., establishingtemporaryinves- GeneralCourt. tigative commissions. Recess Senateand HouseJournals Temporarydelayinpro- Recordofproceedingsin ceedings. eachchamberforeachlegis- lativedayincludingmatters considered,amendmentsof- feredandvotestaken. LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORY 8 Room Telephone SenateClerk 335 722-1276 Addressallmailto: HouseClerk 145 722-2356 StateHouse,RoomNo. SenateCounsel 200 722-1470 Boston,MA02133 HouseCounsel 139 722-2360 LegislativeDocumentRoom 428 722-2860 Committees BanksandBanking 42 722-2370 BillsinThirdReading(House) 20 722-2410 BillsinThirdReading(Senate) 200 722-1470 CommerceandLabor 43 722-2030 Counties 33 722-2060 CriminalJustice 166 722-2900 Education,ArtandHumanities 473G 722-2070 ElectionLaws 26 722-2080 Energy 540 722-2090 Ethics(House) 163 722-2040 Ethics(Senate) 410 722-1350 FederalFinancialAssistance 156 722-2110 GovernmentRegulations 472 722-2120 HealthCare 130 722-2130 HousingandUrban Development 38 722-2470 HumanServicesandElderlyAffairs 22 722-2140 Insurance 254 722-2220 Judiciary(HouseStaff) 138 722-2396 Judiciary(SenateStaff) 213C 722-1222 LocalAffairs 134 722-2400 NaturalResourcesandAgriculture 473F 722-2210 PersonnelandAdministration(House) 450 722-2582 PostAuditandOversight(House) 146 722-2560 PostAuditandOversight(Senate) 312D 722-1555 PublicSafety 473B 722-2230 PublicService 40 722-2240 Rules(House) 167 722-2692 Rules(Senate) 210 722-1520 ScienceandTechnology(House) 155 722-2883 ScienceandTechnology(Senate) 413A 722-1640 StateAdministration 34 722-2320 SteeringandPolicy(Senate) 413B 722-1555 Taxation 236 722-2430 Transportation 443 722-2460 WaysandMeans(House) 237 722-2380 WaysandMeans(Senate) 212 722-1481 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Publishedby WilliamFrancisGalvin CitizenInformationServiceat(617)727-7030(inGreaterBostonarea)or1-800-392-6090 (withinMassachusettsonly)hascomputeraccesstoinformationonpendinglegislation.The SecretaryoftheCommonwealth StateBookstore(StateHouse,Room 116)hasahelpfulbooklettitledYourStateLegislators, ToursandGovernment whichcontainstheaddress,telephonenumberandcommitteeassignmentsofeachlegislator, EducationDivision aswellasotherStateHouseandlegislativeaddressesandtelephonenumbers. 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