Massachusetts State Senate

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Massachusetts State Senate

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General Information
Type:   Upper house
Partisan control:   Democratic Party
Term limits:   None
Session start:   January 4, 2017
Website:   Official Senate Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Stanley Rosenberg
Majority Leader:   Harriette Chandler
Minority Leader:   Bruce Tarr
Structure
Members:  40
  
Length of term:   2 years
Authority:   Ch 1, Massachusetts Constitution
Salary:   $60,032.60/year + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 8, 2016 (40 seats)
Next election:  November 6, 2018 (40 seats)
Redistricting:  Massachusetts legislature has control
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house in the General Court, the state legislature of Massachusetts. There are 40 members of the Massachusetts Senate, one per district. Senators serve two-year terms, according to Article LXIV of the Massachusetts Constitution, and without term limits. Each member represents an average of 163,691 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 158,727 residents.[2]

Prior to the November 2016 general election, Massachusetts was one of 20 states under divided government and was not one of the 30 state government trifectas. A state government trifecta is a term used to describe "single party government," when one political party holds the governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house in a state's government. As a result of the 2016 election, Massachusetts became one of 19 states under divided government.

Altogether, the 2016 election saw the Democratic Party lose one trifecta while the Republican Party picked up a net gain of two trifectas. The 2017 state legislative sessions began with six Democratic trifectas, 25 Republican trifectas, and 19 states under divided government.[3] Read more about trifectas here.

See also: Massachusetts State Legislature, Massachusetts House of Representatives, Massachusetts Governor

Sessions

The Massachusetts Constitution contains provisions regarding when the Massachusetts General Court, which the Senate is a part of, is to meet. This subject has been the focus of several amendments to the Constitution. Originally, Chapter 1 of the Massachusetts Constitution called for the General Court to convene on the last Wednesday of May. Then, Amending Article X called for legislative sessions to convene yearly on the first Wednesday of January. Later, Amending Article LXXII called for the General Court to meet once every two years, but Amending Article LXXV repealed that amendment. Therefore, the rules that currently govern when the General Court is to meet are in Amending Article X.

Article X calls for the General Court to convene its regular session on the first Wednesday of January. The session does not dissolve until a new regular session convenes in the next year. Article X specifies that it does not prevent the General Court from meeting at any time that it judges necessary.

2017

See also: Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions

In 2017, the General Court will be in session from January 4 through November 15 (projected).

2016

See also: Dates of 2016 state legislative sessions

In 2016, the General Court was in session from January 6 through July 31.

Major issues

Major issues in the 2016 legislative session included charter schools, energy, early education and taxes.[4]

2015

See also: Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions

In 2015, the General Court was in session from January 7, 2015, through January 5, 2016.

Major issues

Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included the state budget deficit.[5]

2014

See also: Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions

In 2014, the General Court was in session from January 14 through August 1.

Major issues

Major issues in the 2014 legislative session included the minimum wage, unemployment insurance reform, gun control and assisted suicide.[6][7]

2013

See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions

In 2013, the General Court was in session from January 2 to December 31.

Major issues

Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included revenue shortfalls, transportation financing, gun control, and health care costs.[8]

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the Senate was in session formally from January 4 through July 31.

Major issues

Leading the agenda was a crackdown on abuses at special education collaboratives in the state. Other issues included controlling health costs and a sentencing bill that would bar parole for prisoners convicted of more than two violent crimes.[9]

Attendance

In August 2012, a list was released by the Beacon Hill Roll Call stating that through 179 votes in 2012, a total of 13 members had perfect attendance.

2011

In 2011, the Senate was in session from January 5 to November 16.[10]

2010

In 2010, the Senate convened its session on January 6th, and it remained in session throughout the 2010.[10]

Role in state budget

See also: Massachusetts state budget and finances
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The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[11][12]

  1. Budget instruction guidelines are sent to state agencies in July of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
  2. State agencies submit their budget requests in September.
  3. Agency hearings are held in August and September.
  4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature on the fourth Wednesday in January.
  5. The legislature typically adopts a budget in June. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins July 1.

Massachusetts is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[12]

The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature is legally required to pass a balanced budget.[12]

Cost-benefit analyses

See also: Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative Cost-Benefit Study
Map showing results of the Pew-MacArthur cost-benefit study

The Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative released a report in July 2013 indicating that cost-benefit analysis in policymaking led to more effective uses of public funds. Looking at data from 2008 through 2011, the study's authors found that some states were more likely to use cost-benefit analysis, while others were facing challenges and lagging behind the rest of the nation. The challenges states faced included a lack of time, money, and technical skills needed to conduct comprehensive cost-benefit analyses. Massachusetts was one of 29 states with mixed results regarding the frequency and effectiveness of its use of cost-benefit analysis.[13]

Ethics and transparency

Following the Money report

See also: "Following the Money" report, 2015

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a consumer-focused nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., released its annual report on state transparency websites in March 2015. The report, entitled "Following the Money," measured how transparent and accountable state websites are with regard to state government spending.[14] According to the report, Massachusetts received a grade of A and a numerical score of 95.5, indicating that Massachusetts was "Leading" in terms of transparency regarding state spending.[14]

Open States Transparency

See also: Open States' Legislative Data Report Card

The Sunlight Foundation released an "Open Legislative Data Report Card" in March 2013. Massachusetts was given a grade of F in the report. The report card evaluated how adequate, complete, and accessible legislative data was to the general public. A total of 10 states received an A: Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.[15]

Elections

2018

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate will take place in 2018. The general election will be held on November 6, 2018.

2016

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 8, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 7, 2016.

All 40 seats in the Massachusetts State Senate were up for election in 2016. No changes occurred to the partisan balance of the chamber.

2014

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election was held on September 9, 2014, and a general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014.

2012

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate were held on November 6, 2012. A total of 40 seats were up for election. The signature filing deadline was May 29, 2012, and the primary date was September 18, 2012.

The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election.

2010

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate were held on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was May 4, 2010, for partisans and August 3, 2010, for independents. The primary election was held on September 14, 2010.

During the 2010 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $8,982,549. The top 10 donors were:[16]

2008

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2008

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 16, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008.

During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $7,993,572. The top 10 contributors were:[17]

2006

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2006

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 19, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006.

During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $7,948,867. The top 10 contributors were:[18]

2004

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2004

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 14, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004.

During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $12,267,971. The top 10 contributors were:[19]

2002

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2002

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 17, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002.

During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $6,865,146. The top 10 contributors were:[20]

2000

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2000

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 19, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000.

During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $8,944,038. The top 10 contributors were:[21]

Qualifications

Article LXXI of the Massachusetts Constitution states: Every representative, for one year at least immediately preceding his election, shall have been an inhabitant of the district for which he is chosen and shall cease to represent such district when he shall cease to be an inhabitant of the commonwealth.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
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If there is a vacancy in the chamber, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. The election must be held on the next regularly scheduled date on the election calendar.[22] Local governments who conduct special elections receive reimbursement from the State Treasurer's office for all costs incurred.[23]

Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, the state legislature has control over the redistricting process. In 2011, the General Court adopted a Special Joint Committee on Redistricting, which includes seven senators and 21 representatives. The partisan composition was 23 Democrats and five Republicans.[24]

2010

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Massachusetts experienced a 3.1 percent increase in population between 2000 and 2010. Specifically, the population rose from approximately 6.35 million to 6.55 million. However, the nation as a whole saw a population increase of 9.7 percent, a much faster rate than Massachusetts, and Massachusetts lost a Congressional seat as a result of the relatively slow growth.[25][26][27]

The Special Joint Committee on Redistricting was generally recognized as a relatively open process compared to past redistricting efforts.[28] Some towns petitioned for having one representative, rather than being split between two state legislative districts.[29] Other citizen groups expressed strong interests in having more minority-majority districts.[30][31] In October 2011, the Committee produced and approved a map that increased the number of minority-majority districts in the state Senate from two to three, and split the town of Winchester into two Senate districts.[32][33]

Senators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$60,032/year$10–$100/day, depending on the distance from the State House; set by the legislature.

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of February 2017
     Democratic Party 34
     Republican Party 6
Total 40

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Massachusetts State Senate from 1992 to 2013.
Partisan composition of the Massachusetts State Senate.PNG

Leadership

The Senate elects its President, who then appoints majority floor leaders and whips. The minority party elects its leaders in a party caucus.[34][35]

Current leadership

Stanley Rosenberg.jpg

Senate President

Stanley Rosenberg

Harriette Chandler.jpg

Majority Leader

Harriette Chandler

Bruce Tarr.jpg

Minority Leader

Bruce Tarr

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Massachusetts legislators assume office the first Wednesday in January after the election.

Current members

Current members, Massachusetts State Senate
District Senator Party Assumed office
Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Adam G. Hinds Electiondot.png Democratic 2017
Bristol and Norfolk James Timility Electiondot.png Democratic 2004
First Bristol and Plymouth Michael Rodrigues Electiondot.png Democratic 2011
Second Bristol and Plymouth Mark Montigny Electiondot.png Democratic 1993
Cape and Islands Julian Andre Cyr Electiondot.png Democratic 2017
First Essex Kathleen O'Connor Ives Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
Second Essex Joan Lovely Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
Third Essex Thomas McGee Electiondot.png Democratic 2002
First Essex and Middlesex Bruce Tarr Ends.png Republican 1995
Second Essex and Middlesex Barbara L'Italien Electiondot.png Democratic 2015
Hampden James Welch Electiondot.png Democratic 2011
First Hampden and Hampshire Eric Lesser Electiondot.png Democratic 2015
Second Hampden and Hampshire Donald F. Humason, Jr. Ends.png Republican 2013
Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester Stanley Rosenberg Electiondot.png Democratic 1991
First Middlesex Eileen Donoghue Electiondot.png Democratic 2011
Second Middlesex Patricia Jehlen Electiondot.png Democratic 2005
Third Middlesex Mike Barrett Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
Fourth Middlesex Kenneth Donnelly Electiondot.png Democratic 2009
Fifth Middlesex Jason Lewis Electiondot.png Democratic April 2014
First Middlesex and Norfolk Cynthia Stone Creem Electiondot.png Democratic 1999
Second Middlesex and Norfolk Karen Spilka Electiondot.png Democratic 2004
Middlesex and Suffolk Sal DiDomenico Electiondot.png Democratic 2010
Middlesex and Worcester James Eldridge Electiondot.png Democratic 2009
Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex Richard Ross Ends.png Republican 2010
Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth Walter Timilty Electiondot.png Democratic 2017
Norfolk and Plymouth John Keenan Electiondot.png Democratic 2011
Norfolk and Suffolk Michael Rush Electiondot.png Democratic 2011
Plymouth and Barnstable Vinny deMacedo Ends.png Republican 2015
First Plymouth and Bristol Marc Pacheco Electiondot.png Democratic 1993
Second Plymouth and Bristol Michael Brady Electiondot.png Democratic 2015
Plymouth and Norfolk Patrick O'Connor Ends.png Republican 2016
First Suffolk Linda Dorcena Forry Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
Second Suffolk Sonia Chang-Diaz Electiondot.png Democratic 2009
First Suffolk and Middlesex Joseph Boncore Electiondot.png Democratic 2016
Second Suffolk and Middlesex William Brownsberger Electiondot.png Democratic 2012
First Worcester Harriette Chandler Electiondot.png Democratic 2001
Second Worcester Michael Moore Electiondot.png Democratic 2008
Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex Anne Gobi Electiondot.png Democratic 2015
Worcester and Middlesex Jennifer Flanagan Electiondot.png Democratic 2008
Worcester and Norfolk Ryan Fattman Ends.png Republican 2015

Standing committees

The Massachusetts Senate has 11 standing committees:

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

Who Runs the States Project
See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Massachusetts
Partisan breakdown of the Massachusetts legislature from 1992-2013

During every year from 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Massachusetts State Senate. The Massachusetts State Senate is one of 16 state senates that were Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992 and 2013. During the last seven years of the study, Massachusetts was under Democratic trifectas.

Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state Senates from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts State Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Partisan composition of Massachusetts state government(1992-2013).PNG

SQLI and partisanship

To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Massachusetts state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Massachusetts had a period of divided government between 1992 and 2006 before electing a Democratic trifecta in 2007. Between the years 1992 and 2004, Massachusetts remained in the top-10 in the SQLI ranking, hitting its highest spot (3rd) in 2000 under divided government. The state had its lowest ranking (24th) in 2006, also under divided government. During the years 2005 and 2006, Massachusetts fell eleven spots in the SQLI ranking under divided government, which was its largest drop in the ranking during the period of the study. The state has never had a Republican trifecta.

  • SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 14.17
  • SQLI average with Republican trifecta: N/A
  • SQLI average with divided government: 7.20
Chart displaying the partisanship of Massachusetts government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Population Distribution and Change: 2000 to 2010," April 2011
  2. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "States Ranked by Population," April 2, 2001
  3. ↑ This includes Connecticut and Delaware where the senates began the 2017 legislative sessions with Democrats in control through tie-breaking votes.
  4. ↑ The Associated Press, "Legislative leader to outline goals for 2016 session," January 29, 2016
  5. ↑ State House News Service, "DeLeo, Rosenberg won't rule out tax increases in face of budget deficit," January 8, 2015
  6. ↑ The Washington Post, "Massachusetts session preview: A full policy plate for 2014," January 9, 2014
  7. ↑ The Boston Globe, "Minimum wage battles are shifting to the states," January 13, 2014
  8. ↑ Boston.com, "Mass. formally opens legislative session," January 2, 2013 (dead link)
  9. ↑ Washington Examiner, "Mass. lawmakers to weigh bill on special ed groups," January 4, 2012 (dead link)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Massachusetts Legislature, "Events Archive," accessed July 21, 2014
  11. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Experiences with Annual and Biennial Budgeting," updated April 2011
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Summer 2008," accessed February 21, 2014
  13. ↑ Pew Charitable Trusts, "States’ Use of Cost-Benefit Analysis," July 29, 2013
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 U.S. Public Interest Research Group, "Following the Money 2015 Report," accessed April 4, 2016
  15. ↑ Sunlight Foundation, "Ten Principles for Opening Up Government Information," accessed June 16, 2013
  16. ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2010 - Candidates," accessed July 21, 2014
  17. ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2008 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
  18. ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2006 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
  19. ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2004 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
  20. ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2002 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
  21. ↑ Follow the Money, "Massachusetts 2000 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
  22. ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed May 22, 2014 (Referenced Section Chapter 50, Section 6A)
  23. ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed December 16, 2013 (Referenced Section Chapter 3: Section 10A)
  24. ↑ Beacon Hill Roll Call, "Senate approves redistricting commission," February 11, 2011
  25. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census: Massachusetts Profile," 2011
  26. ↑ Belmont Citizen-Herald, "Census preparing to deliver redistricting data to states," January 13, 2011
  27. ↑ Boston Globe, "Census begins fight on districts," March 23, 2011
  28. ↑ Boston Herald, "Lawmakers launch Mass. redistricting process," March 16, 2011 (Archived)
  29. ↑ Wicked Local Randolph, "Officials push for only one state rep for Randolph," January 27, 2011
  30. ↑ Eagle Tribune, "Proposal would create Latino-heavy legislative districts — and make targets out of Baddour and Finegold," June 26, 2011 (Archived)
  31. ↑ Boston Globe, "Advocates seek boost in Mass. minority voter clout," October 5, 2011
  32. ↑ Mass Live, "Massachusetts legislators release maps of proposed new seats for state Senate, House," October 18, 2011
  33. ↑ Wicked Local Winchester, "Redrawn legislative map makes Lexington one House district," October 19, 2011
  34. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Massachusetts Facts - Part One: Concise Facts," accessed July 2, 2010
  35. ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "Legislative Leadership," accessed July 21, 2014
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Democrat majority Current members of the Massachusetts State Senate
Senate President: Stanley Rosenberg (D) • Majority Leader: Harriette Chandler (D) • Minority Leader: Bruce Tarr (R)
   
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