Tuesday, November 26, 2013

What are Executive Orders?

Executive Orders are written orders of the Governor setting forth policies and procedures in furtherance of his statutory and constitutional responsibilities, including: his constitutional authority as "supreme executive magistrate," his constitutional duty to enforce state laws, his supervisory authority over the executive branch, his constitutional responsibilities as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and civil defense forces of the state, and his role in exercising powers delegated to him by statute to implement and administer particular state laws and programs.

A seach of the Executive Orders by subject and number can be found at our page Massachusetts Executive Orders.  See also the State Library's explanation and Legislative Research Council Report Relative to Gubernatorial Executive Orders (House Report No. 6557, 1981). The Governor's Office is the official source for Executive Orders. Please contact them directly with questions about the validity of any order. See also, Federal Executive Orders.