The secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Originally appointed under authority of the English Crown pursuant to the Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company, the office of secretary of the Commonwealth (equivalent to "secretaries of state" in other U.S. jurisdictions) became an elective one in 1780. Twenty-seven individuals have occupied the office of secretary of the Commonwealth over the ensuing centuries. The incumbent is William F. Galvin, a Democrat who has held the office since 1995.

Election Term of office The secretary of the Commonwealth is elected by the people on Election Day in November to four-year terms, and takes office on the third Wednesday of the January following a general election. There is no limit to the number of terms a secretary may hold. Institutionally speaking, the secretary of the Commonwealth is thus completely independent of both the governor and General Court for the purpose of performing their official duties. These constitutional protections notwithstanding, the secretary may still be impeached for misconduct or maladministration by the House of Representatives and, if found guilty, removed from office by the Senate.

Qualifications Any person seeking election to the office of secretary of the Commonwealth must meet the following requirements: Be at least eighteen years of age; Be a registered voter in Massachusetts; Be a Massachusetts resident for at least five years when elected; and Receive 5,000 signatures from registered voters on nomination papers.

Vacancies In the event of a vacancy in the office of secretary of the Commonwealth, the General Court is charged, if in session, with electing from among the eligible citizens of the Commonwealth a successor to serve the balance of the prior secretary's term in office. If, however, the vacancy occurs while the General Court is not in session, then responsibility for appointing a successor falls to the governor. The appointment is not valid without the advice and consent of the Governor's Council.

Powers and duties The Secretary of the Commonwealth oversees the Corporations Division, the Elections Division, the Massachusetts Archives, the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the Public Records Division, the Securities Division, as well as the State Records Center.

List of secretaries of the Commonwealth (1780–present) No. Secretary of the Commonwealth Party Years Electoral/appointed history 1 John Avery, Jr. Pro-Administration/Federalist January 1, 1780 –June 7, 1806 Succeeded Samuel Adams, who had been Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts Bay from August 15, 1776, until January 1, 1780. Avery died in office, June 7, 1806. 2Jonathan L. Austin Democratic-Republican 1806 –1808 3William Tudor Federalist 1808 –1810 4Benjamin Homans Democratic-Republican 1810 –1812 5 Alden Bradford Federalist/National Republican 1812 –1824 6 Edward D. Bangs National Republican/Whig 1824 –1836 7 John P. Bigelow Whig 1836 –1843 8John A. Bolles Whig 1843 –1844 9 John G. Palfrey Whig 1844 –1848 10 William B. Calhoun WhigWilliam B. Calhoun at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on October 6, 2007. January 1848 –1851 11 Amasa Walker Whig 1851 –1853 12Ephraim M. Wright Whig 1853 –1856 13Francis De Witt Know Nothing 1856 –1858 14Oliver Warner Republican 1858 –1876 15 Henry B. Pierce Republican 1876 –1891 16 William M. Olin Republican 1891 –April 15, 1911 Died in office April 15, 1911. ActingIsaac H. Edgett Republican April 15, 1911 –April 28, 1911. Edgett, was the First Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth under William M. Olin. As the First Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth Edgett became the acting Secretary of the Commonwealth upon Olin's death. Edgett served as the acting Secretary of the Commonwealth until Albert P. Langtry was elected by the Massachusetts legislature to serve out the remainder of Olin's term. 17 Albert P. Langtry Republican April 28, 1911 -1913 Elected by the Legislature, on April 26, 1911, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William M. Olin. Langtry assumed the office of Secretary of the Commonwealth on April 28, 1911. 18 Frank J. Donahue Democratic January 15, 1913 –1915 19 Albert P. Langtry Republican 1915 –1921 20 Frederic W. Cook Republican 1921 –1949 21 Edward J. Cronin Democratic 1949 –November 24, 1958 Died in office on November 24, 1958. ActingJ. Henry Goguen Democratic December 1, 1958 –January 20, 1959 22Joseph D. Ward Democratic Summer 2003. Retrieved on October 6, 2007. January 20, 1959 –1961 23 Kevin H. White Democratic 1961 – December 20, 1967 First elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Re-elected in 1964 to a four-year term after the length of terms was extended.Resigned to become Mayor of Boston. 24 Jack Davoren Democratic 1967 –1974 25 Paul H. Guzzi Democratic 1975 –1978 26 Michael J. Connolly Democratic 1979 –1994 27 William F. Galvin Democratic January 1, 1995 –present

See also Massachusetts Attorney General Political party strength in Massachusetts

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References

External links Official site . (Various documents).