Office of the Speaker of the House – Boston, MA

Leadership of the House

The Speaker’s Role

The Office of the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives is located within the historic Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill. The Speaker is the presiding officer of the House, elected by the members of the body at the start of each two-year session. This powerful position involves managing the flow of legislation, appointing committee chairpersons, and maintaining order during debates in the House Chamber.

• Legislative Control: The Speaker plays a pivotal role in determining which bills reach the floor for a vote.
• Committee Assignments: The office oversees the appointment of members to various joint and standing committees.
• State House Operations: As the head of the House, the Speaker coordinates with the Senate President and the Governor on state governance matters.

Constituent Services

While the Speaker leads the entire House, they also represent a specific district. The Speaker’s office aids constituents with navigating state agencies and addresses local concerns. Visitors to the State House can observe sessions from the public galleries when the House is in formal session.

Visiting the State House

Public access to the State House is through the General Hooker Entrance (Beacon Street) or the Ashburton Park Entrance (Bowdoin Street). All visitors must pass through security screening, including metal detectors and x-ray machines for bags. Valid photo identification is generally required for adults.