Direct Democracy In Massachusetts
   HOME
*





Direct Democracy In Massachusetts
Massachusetts has several forms of direct democracy, allowing for initiative and referendums at the state level and in many municipalities. The recall of public officials is also provided for in many municipalities. History The progressive movement started discussions about adopting direct democracy across the United States, and Massachusetts developed a local branch. The state branch of the Populist Party adopted the statewide initiative and referendum in its 1895 platform. State representative Henry Stirling proposed some of the first legislation for direct democracy in 1900. It was eventually enacted in 1917 at the state constitutional convention. State government Initiatives The state allows an indirect form of initiative for laws and constitutional amendments, and the state is considered one of the most restrictive of the states that allow initiatives. Excluded subjects Initiatives must be confined to one subject and cannot relate to judges and courts, relate onl ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Initiative
In political science, an initiative (also known as a popular initiative or citizens' initiative) is a means by which a petition signed by a certain number of registered voters can force a government to choose either to enact a law or hold a public vote in the legislature in what is called indirect initiative, or under direct initiative, where the proposition is put to a plebiscite or referendum, in what is called a ''Popular initiated Referendum'' or citizen-initiated referendum. In an indirect initiative, a measure is first referred to the legislature, and then put to a popular vote only if not enacted by the legislature. If the proposed law is rejected by the legislature, the government may be forced to put the proposition to a referendum. The initiative may then take the form of a direct initiative or an indirect initiative. In a direct initiative, a measure is put directly to a referendum. The vote may be on a proposed federal level, statute, constitutional amendment, cha ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Dominion Of New England
The Dominion of New England in America (1686–1689) was an administrative union of English colonies covering New England and the Mid-Atlantic Colonies (except for Delaware Colony and the Province of Pennsylvania). Its political structure represented centralized control similar to the model used by the Spanish monarchy through the Viceroyalty of New Spain. The dominion was unacceptable to most colonists because they deeply resented being stripped of their rights and having their colonial charters revoked. Governor Sir Edmund Andros tried to make legal and structural changes, but most of these were undone and the Dominion was overthrown as soon as word was received that King James II had left the throne in England. One notable change was the introduction of the Church of England into Massachusetts, whose Puritan leaders had previously refused to allow it any sort of foothold. The Dominion encompassed a very large area from the Delaware River in the south to Penobscot Bay in the no ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Direct Democracy
Direct democracy or pure democracy is a form of democracy in which the Election#Electorate, electorate decides on policy initiatives without legislator, elected representatives as proxies. This differs from the majority of currently established democracies, which are representative democracy, representative democracies. The theory and practice of direct democracy and participation as its common characteristic was the core of work of many theorists, philosophers, politicians, and social critics, among whom the most important are Jean Jacques Rousseau, John Stuart Mill, and G. D. H. Cole, G.D.H. Cole. Overview In direct democracy, the people decide on policies without any intermediary or representative, whereas in a representative democracy people vote for representatives who then enact policy initiatives. Depending on the particular system in use, direct democracy might entail passing executive decisions, the use of sortition, making laws, directly electing or dismissing offici ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Elections In Massachusetts
This is an incomplete list of elections in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts sorted both by offices sought and by years held. Elections are administered by the individual municipalities. There is some oversight by the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Individual elections are listed with the winner. General * November 5, 1861 * November 4, 1862 * November 3, 1863 * November 8, 1864 * November 7, 1865 * November 6, 1866 * November 5, 1867 * November 3, 1868 * November 2, 1869 * November 8, 1870 * November 7, 1871 * November 5, 1872 * November 4, 1873 * November 3, 1874 * November 2, 1875 * November 7, 1876 * November 6, 1877 * November 5, 1878 * November 4, 1879 * November 2, 1880 * November 8, 1881 * November 7, 1882 * November 6, 1883 * November 4, 1884 * November 3, 1885 * November 2, 1886 * November 8, 1887 * November 6, 1888 * November 5, 1889 * November 4, 1890 * November 3, 1891 * November 8, 1892 * November 7, 1893 * November ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


2020 Massachusetts Ballot Measures
Two ballot measures were certified for the November 3, 2020, general election in the state of Massachusetts. Multiple other ballot measures that were initiated by supporters did not meet requirements, thus will not appear on the ballot. The Constitution of Massachusetts can be amended through initiative, and state statutes can be proposed through initiative. In Massachusetts, after the Attorney General determines which measure(s) will appear on the ballot, an official name is assigned to each question. The Secretary of the Commonwealth has discretion over the ordering of questions on the ballot. Measures on the ballot As of April 2020, four measures (19-06, 19–10, 19–11, and 19-14) had achieved the required number of initial signatures and were pending in the Massachusetts General Court. The measures could be passed by the legislature before May 5, 2020, or if that failed to happen, petitioners were required collect an additional 13,347 signatures in support of each measu ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


2018 Massachusetts Ballot Measures
Three ballot measures were certified for the November 6, 2018, general election in the state of Massachusetts. The Constitution of Massachusetts can be amended through initiative, and state statutes can be proposed through initiative. The first and second certified measures, "Nurse-Patient Assignment Limits" and "Advisory Commission for Amendments to the U.S. Constitution Regarding Corporate Personhood and Political Spending", were both initiated state statutes. The third measure, "Gender Identity and Anti-Discrimination", was a veto referendum. In Massachusetts, after the state determines which measure(s) will appear on the ballot, an official name is assigned to each question. The Secretary of the Commonwealth has discretion over the ordering of questions on the ballot. Binding statewide questions VR = veto referendum ISS = initiated state statute Vote percentages as of November 8, with 100% reporting Endorsements Question 1 On October 23, 2018, ''The Boston Globe'' editor ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  




2016 Massachusetts Ballot Measures
The Massachusetts general election, 2016 was held on November 8, 2016, throughout Massachusetts. All 160 seats of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and all 40 seats of the Massachusetts Senate were up for election. The primary election for state offices was held on September 8. Early voting was used for the first time, and took place from October 24 through November 4. Federal Elections Presidential election Official state results from the Massachusetts Secretary of State are as follows U.S. House General Court Summary Senate House of Representatives State Senate House of Representatives ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

2014 Massachusetts Ballot Measures
The Massachusetts general election, 2014 was held on November 4, 2014, throughout Massachusetts. Primary elections took place on September 9, 2014. Governor and lieutenant governor Incumbent Democratic Governor Deval Patrick did not seek re-election to a third term in office. The office of Lieutenant Governor had been vacant since the resignation of Tim Murray on June 2, 2013. Primary elections for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were conducted separately on September 9, 2014, with the Democrats nominating Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and former CEO of the Democratic National Convention Steve Kerrigan, and the Republicans nominating former state cabinet secretary and 2010 gubernatorial nominee Charlie Baker and former State Representative Karyn Polito. Three Independent candidates also ran: healthcare executive Evan Falchuk and his running mate Angus Jennings; evangelical pastor Scott Lively and his running mate Shelly Saunders; and businessman Jeff McCor ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


2012 Massachusetts Ballot Measures
The Massachusetts general election, 2012 was held on November 6, 2012, throughout Massachusetts. Primary elections took place on September 6, 2012. Federal United States Senate United States House of Representatives Ballot measures There were three statewide ballot questions, all initiatives. Source: References External links * Elections Divisionof the Massachusetts Secretary of StateMassachusettsat BallotpediaMassachusetts judicial elections, 2012at JudgepediaMassachusetts 2012campaign finance data from OpenSecretsMassachusetts Congressional Races in 2012campaign finance data from OpenSecretsOutside spendingat the Sunlight FoundationLocal politicsat ''The Boston Herald'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Massachusetts General Election, 2012 Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in th ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

2010 Massachusetts Ballot Measures
The Massachusetts general election, 2010 was held on November 2, 2010 throughout Massachusetts. Primary elections took place on September 14, 2010. Governor and Lieutenant Governor Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray sought re-election. Republicans nominated former Harvard Pilgrim Health Care CEO Charlie Baker for Governor and Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei for Lieutenant Governor. State Treasurer Tim Cahill left the Democratic Party in September 2009 ran as an independent candidate. Patrick and Murray were re-elected to a second term in office. Secretary of the Commonwealth Democratic incumbent William F. Galvin sought re-election. Republicans nominated Woburn City Clerk William Campbell. Galvin was also challenged by independent candidate James D. Henderson. General election Galvin was re-elected to a fourth term in office with 64% of the vote. Attorney General Attorney General Martha Coakley sought re-election. Republican primary Th ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


2008 Massachusetts Ballot Measures
The Massachusetts general election, 2008 were held on November 4, 2008 throughout Massachusetts. Among the elections which took place were those for the office of President of the United States, John Kerry's seat in the Senate, all ten seats in the Massachusetts delegation to the House of Representatives, all eight seats in the Massachusetts Governor's Council, and all of the seats of the Massachusetts Senate and Massachusetts House of Representatives. There were also three ballot questions: to eliminate the commonwealth's income tax; to decriminalize possession of a small amount of marijuana; and to prohibit greyhound racing. Numerous local elections also took place throughout the state. President United States Senate U.S. Senator John Kerry (D) defeated Democratic challenger Edward O'Reilly in the primary on September 16, 2008. He defeated Republican Jeff Beatty and Libertarian Robert Underwood in the general election. The seat was considered safe for John Kerr ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

2002 Massachusetts Ballot Measures
A Massachusetts general election was held on November 5, 2002 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The election included: * statewide elections for U.S. Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, and Auditor; * district elections for U.S. Representatives, State Representatives, State Senators, and Governor's Councillors; and * ballot questions at the state and local levels. Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held September 17, 2002. Governor & Lieutenant Governor Republicans Mitt Romney and Kerry Healey were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively, over Democratic candidates Shannon O'Brien and Chris Gabrieli, Green-Rainbow candidates Jill Stein and Tony Lorenzen, Libertarian candidates Carla Howell and Rich Aucoin, and independent candidates Barbara C. Johnson and Joe Schebel. Secretary of the Commonwealth Democrat William F. Galvin was re-elected Secr ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]