Massachusetts General Court

The Massachusetts General Court, formally the General Court of Massachusetts, is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts located in the state capital of Boston. The name "General Court" is a holdover from the earliest days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, when the colonial assembly, in addition to making laws, sat as a judicial court of appeals. Before the adoption of the state constitution in 1780, it was called the Great and General Court, but the official title was shortened by John Adams, author of the state constitution. It is a bicameral body. The upper house is the Massachusetts Senate which is composed of 40 members. The lower body, the Massachusetts House of Representatives, has 160 members; until 1978, the state house had 240 members. It meets in the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill in Boston.

Since 1959, Democrats have controlled both houses of the Massachusetts General Court, often by large majorities. The Democrats enjoyed veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers for part of the 1990s (i.e., enough votes to override vetoes by a governor) and also currently hold supermajorities in both chambers.

State senators and representatives both serve two-year terms. There are no term limits; a term limit was enacted by initiative in Massachusetts in 1994 but in 1997 was struck down by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which ruled that it was an unconstitutional attempt to provide additional qualifications for office by statute, rather than constitutional amendment.

The legislature is a full-time legislature, although not to the extent of neighboring New York or some other states. Provided by Wikipedia

5
by Chauncy, Charles
Published 1747
Printed by order of the Honourable House of Representatives
...Massachusetts General Court...

6
by Sewall, Joseph
Published 1762
Printed by John Draper, printer to His Excellency the governor, and the Honourable His Majesty's Council: and, by Edes and Gill, printers to the Honourable House of Representatives
...Massachusetts General Court...

7
by Tappan, David
Published 1792
At the State Press, by Thomas Adams, printer to the Honourable the General Court
...Massachusetts General Court...

8
by Belcher, Joseph
Published 1701
Printed by B. Green, and J. Allen. Sold by Samuel Sewall Junior
...Massachusetts General Court...

10
by Appleton, Nathaniel
Published 1757
Printed by John Draper, printer to the Honourable His Majesty's Council
...Massachusetts General Court...

11
by Williams, John
Published 1707
Printed by B. Green. Sold by Samuel Gerrish at his shop near the Old-Meeting-House
...Massachusetts General Court...

12
by Webb, John
Published 1731
Printed by Thomas Fleet, printer to the Honourable House of Representatives
...Massachusetts General Court...

13
by Colman, Benjamin
Published 1707
Printed by B. Green, for Nicholas Boone, at his shop near the corner of School-house Lane
...Massachusetts General Court...

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by Rawson, Grindal
Published 1709
Printed by B. Green, for Benj. Eliot, sold at his shop at the head of King Street
...Massachusetts General Court...

16
by Moodey, Samuel
Published 1721
Printed by Nicholas Boone, printer to the Honourable House of Representatives
...Massachusetts General Court...

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by Webb, John
Published 1722
Printed by B. Green, printer to His Excellency the governour and Council
...Massachusetts General Court...

18
by Wise, John
Published 1720
Printed by J. Franklin, for B. Gray, over against the Brick Church, where all gentlemen, tradesmen and others, may be supply'd with all the pamphlets lately published
...Massachusetts General Court...

19
by Mather, Cotton
Published 1727
Printed and sold by T. Fleet, in Pudding-Lane, near the Town-House
...Massachusetts General Court...

20
by Stoddard, Solomon
Published 1703
Printed by Bartholomew Green and John Allen, for Benj. Eliot, and are to be sold at his shop under the west end of the Town-House
...Massachusetts General Court...