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Legal Aspects of Doing Business in North America - 2nd Edition - Loose leaf
Legal Aspects of Doing Business in North America - 2nd Edition - Electronic
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Massachusetts
James J Myers and Janet E Josselyn
McCarter & English LLP
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Introduction
Massachusetts State Government
The Massachusetts state government is comprised of both an executive branch and a
legislative branch. The Governor is the chief of the Executive Branch and is assisted by an
appointed cabinet and an elected Governor’s Council. The Governor is elected every four
years by the state voters. Each cabinet secretary is appointed by the Governor and is
responsible for the implementation of programs and policies in the departments under his
control. Each of the eight members of the Governor’s Council is elected from her or his
respective district every two years. The primary functions of the eight-member Governor’s
Council is to approve gubernatorial judicial appointments and pardons as well as
expenditures from the Treasury.
The Massachusetts Legislature, or General Court, as it is also called, consists of two bodies,
the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives has 160
members and is headed by the Speaker of the House. The Senate is made up of 40 members
and is headed by the Senate President. The legislators serve as the elected representatives of
the cities and towns and serve for a two-year period. Themajority of legislativework is carried
out by the 21 Joint Legislative Committees consisting of six senators and 11
representatives named by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House.
Abill can originate in either branch except for budget documents and other money bills,
which must originate in the House. Bills may be introduced by a legislator. In addition, the
citizens of Massachusetts have the right of free petition and may file a citizen’s bill, provided
they obtain the support of a legislator. As a result of this special privilege, the
citizens play an active role in the lawmaking process and are responsible for a large percentage
of the over 10,000 bills which are introduced each year. All bills are referred to the
appropriate committee for a public hearing and then, after favorable report by the committee,
are read, debated, and enacted first by the House and then by the Senate before
being forwarded to the Governor. The Governor has 10 days to veto a bill, or it is deemed
approved. A Governor’s veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of either branch.
Massachusetts
Introduction
Incentives and Special Programs to Assist Foreign Businesses
Requirements for Foreign Enterprises to Qualify to Do Business
Restrictions on Foreign Corporations
Restrictions on Alien Ownership
Labor Laws Applicable to Foreign Corporations
Environmental Protection
Consumer Protection Laws
Products Liability
James J Myers and Janet E Josselyn
McCarter & English LLP
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
