Lawmaking in Massachusetts

8 Pages·1996·0.56 MB·English

by  Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. Tours and Government Education Division

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. Inaddition,the
updated4/'J6 BookstorecarriesACitizen'sGuideforDraftingLegislation,astepbystepguidetofilingabill.