Power is the ability to effect changes and, if possible, transform other people’s ability to make the modification. It plays a critical role in politics, and its sources vary greatly. Political power is the greatest power in society because it influences the administration of public resources and the implementation of policies. The subject of who is more powerful in Massachusetts is vital since how the individuals choose to use the power impacts the state and the quality of life of people. In Massachusetts, the governor holds tremendous power over the state legislature since he or she serves alone in the office all year-round.
The governor of Massachusetts is an elected official who assumes numerous roles once they enter the office. They become the chief executive officer of the state and their political parties, handle all decision-making during a crisis, and oversee the policy implementation process. Governors need to exhibit strong leadership traits to handle these tasks and know how to work well with cabinet officials, the state legislature, bureaucrats, and the citizens. Being the leading elected official, governors command comprehensive press coverage than other politicians. The state legislature comprises two-hundred people, forty members of the State Senate and sixteen members of the House of Representatives (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2018). These officials are elected for a two-year term and hold other jobs other than being policymakers. Governors have more power than state legislatures as the legislative members rely on the governor’s information and administration to make decisions.
Secondly, the governor influences the legislative process through vetoes, policy agendas, and executive budget proposals. According to National Conference of State Legislatures (2018), governors give a state of address to the legislative members every year to highlight the economic and political accomplishments and address other issues on the agenda. In the speech, he outlines his priorities to ensure the state members work with them to achieve their goals. A governor can hold meetings with influential policymakers to favor their legislative priorities. They can pass a bill or veto or reject it if they do not like the terms. The governor has many formal powers declared in the state laws. In addition to their ability to veto legislation, they can check the actions of their state legislatures. The line-item veto allows governors to strike out portions of a bill they do not like and pass the remaining as law. Furthermore, they can send the bill back to the state legislature to request specific amendments.
Despite the great power that comes with the job, governors also rely on State Legislature to make certain decisions. They need the cooperation of state legislators to introduce their bills and steer the lawmaking process. Governors need to prioritize their relationships with the State Senate and House of Representatives members to push their decisions (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2018). They can schedule regular meetings with legislative leaders to discuss policies, invite them to social events to help address their constituents’ issues. Additionally, the majority of the state officials’ elections are independent of the governor; therefore, he or she will not have direct control over them. Lastly, the state legislature may have many officials with a different political party affiliation to that of the governor, making it difficult to cooperate during legislative sessions.
In conclusion, the Massachusetts government system functions like systems in other states in the United States. The governors have the final say in passing bills into laws and have formal powers like line-term and amendment vetoes. In addition, they control the legislative process, influence the officials’ actions, and make budget proposals that prioritize their funding needs. Although the State members are the lawmakers, governors can influence the lawmaking process by fostering solid relationships with them and helping them manage their constituents. These points provide sufficient evidence to show that the governor is more powerful than the state legislature.
Reference
National Conference of State Legislatures. (2018). State legislative policy making in an age of political polarization. Web.