Two Years in the Making - The Massachusetts Legislative Cycle

The Massachusetts state legislature used to have a really ridiculous name.  Prior to 1780, it was known as the Great and General Court of Massachusetts. Thanks to John Adams, however, it is now less ridiculously called: the General Court. 

Like the United States Legislative Branch, the General Court is bicameral: a 160-member House of Representatives and a 40-member Senate.  Even though Massachusetts has an annual budget process, Massachusetts lawmaking runs on a two-year cycle.  Every two years, the legislative slate is wiped clean and old bills are re-filed or go gently into that good night.  

A good policy advocacy plan is designed around the two-year cycle. That doesn't necessarily mean passge in two years! There are thousands of pieces of legislation that - after many legislative cycles - are still building the political capital for passage.  The current General Court, the 186th, will end on June 30, which means that a lot of political jockeying for position will take place over the next 80 days.

I thought you might want to know.