Commonwealth of Massachusetts Review

The test will be on Friday 5/9. It will be worth 70 points total and will be set up as follows: 10 matching worth 3 points each 10 multiple choice worth 3 points each 1 short answer worth 10 points

State

 An alternative term for a nation or country

Delegated powers

Given or assigned authority

Reserved powers

Set aside powers

Concurrent powers

Powers shared

Municipality

A general word for the local government level that encompasses towns and cities.

Charter

 Legal instruments that create a local government.

Board of Selectmen/ Select Board

The main executive body of the town functions as the executive branch of the local government in a number of New England states.

Town meeting

A gathering of the town’s voters to conduct public business.

Town warrant

Legal document that functions as the agenda for the town meeting.

Open town meeting

Every voter who is registered has an equal chance to voice their own opinions.

Representative town meeting

 Town members are chosen by voters to cast votes on matters specified in the town warrant.

Town councils

An elected body responsible for town decision-making.

Town manager

Someone who works for a living and is responsible for running the town’s daily operations.

Mayor

 The chief executive officer is the elected or appointed head of a local government, usually a city or town.

School Committee

Chosen to manage a certain school district, chooses the candidate for school superintendent, authorizes the budget and schedule, and establish district rules.

Revenue

Earnings

County

 The state’s next smallest governmental unit, which typically consists of multiple municipalities, there are fourteen countries in Massachusetts.

What can’t state governments do?

Grant titles of nobility, things that would interfere with the federal government’s ability to exercise its own power.

What can state governments do?

Anything that the constitution doesn’t specifically have control over, to make rules about all that and much more.

How can the federal government influence states on matters that are not federal matters?

The federal government can influence states on matters that aren’t federal matters by changing the drinking age from 18 to 21, (This is a state decision, although states changed the drinking age on their own after federal money were linked to the requirement.) by attaching federal funding to compliance, incentivizing states to adopt certain policies.

Why does local government have more of an impact on your everyday life?

Local government has a direct impact on daily life because it handles essential services such as schools, police, and infrastructure, and it addresses issues like zoning regulations and local ordinances that affect community living conditions.

What types of services are provided to citizens by municipal governments?

The types of services that are provided to citizens by municipal governments include : Utilities, Education, Public Safety, Public works and transportation, Health and human services, Elections, and Land use and management.

What constitutes a town?

Municipalities with less than 12k residents are required to adopt a town form of government.

What constitutes a city?

Larger municipalities may choose to adopt a city form of government

How are town governments run?

Together with an appointed chief administrative officer known as a town manager or town administrator, elected boards of selectmen exercise executive responsibility in towns.

How are city governments run?

In places with a city system of government, city councils serve as both the policymaking body and the legislative branch.

How do municipal governments get their money to provide services to the community?

Property taxes, state aid, local receipts and other available resources.

Who are the members of the Billerica Select Board?

Michael S. Rosa

John Burrows

Jillian Pavidis

Dina Fravreau

Daniel Darris-O’Connor.

Who are the members of the Billerica School Committee?

Chairperson John Kleschinsky

Vice-Chair Annette Famolare

Secretary Michael Domina

Member Mark Efstratiou

Member Marion Depierro.

Who is Billerica’s superintendent?

Dr. Kerry Clery

What type of town meeting does Billerica have?

Representative Town Meeting

Compare and contrast the Massachusetts Constitution and U.S. Constitution

The Massachusetts Constitution was written in 1780 for the state, and the U.S. Constitution was written in 1787 for the whole country. Both talk about people’s rights and set up three branches of government to make, carry out, and judge laws. The U.S. Constitution is harder to change, but the Massachusetts one has more details and is easier to update. The U.S. Constitution was partly based on the Massachusetts one.

Using The Ladybug Story, explain the lawmaking process in Massachusetts.

First, someone has an idea, next, a bill is written, then, the bill is introduced, then, committee reviews it, the house and senate vote, governor decides, then the bill becomes law