Your State Government
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Your Government
Massachusetts Government: Local Government
What are the rights of the 351 cities and
towns?
In 1966, the Home Rule Act granted cities and towns the right to
self-government and to adopt and amend their own rules of governing
called charters. The Massachusetts legislature may not pass laws
affecting only one city or town unless requested to do so by that
community, or by the governor and a two-thirds vote in each house of
the legislature.
There is no unincorporated land. This means all land is contained in
one of the 351 cities and towns. Massachusetts General Laws still
govern most town and city functions. Local bylaws cannot be in
conflict with state laws.
How is a city governed? There are several
variations.
One plan has a mayor and city council or a board of aldermen. The mayor is
the city's chief executive officer who appoints and removes boards,
commissions and department heads. The mayor may be full-time with extensive
powers.
Another plan calls for city councils to be elected from electoral districts
called wards. The councilors choose a mayor from one of their members and
appoint a city manager, who is the chief executive officer and oversees the
day-to-day business of the city. In some city plans the mayor may have
little or no more power than a city councilor.
How is a town governed?
The annual Town Meeting makes rules, adopts budgets, adopts bylaws
and does a town's business. An open Town Meeting allows all
registered voters in that town to attend, speak and vote. A
representative Town Meeting allows only representatives elected by
the voters to vote, although all registered voters may attend. The
agenda is called a warrant, and the elected town moderator conducts
the Town Meeting. An elected board of selectmen carries out the
decisions of Town Meeting and sets some town policies, and they may
employ town administrators to oversee the day-to-day business of the
town. The town charter sets up the government of the town and may be
changed.
Find the web pages of your city or town officials.
Find the address of your town or city hall