Massachusetts law about town meetings

Laws, rules, and web sources on Massachusetts town meeting law.

If you are unable to find the information you are looking for, or if you have a specific question, please contact our law librarians for assistance.

Best bet

Citizen's guide to town meetings, Secretary of the Commonwealth (2008).
"This booklet outlines the forms and procedures used in Massachusetts Town Meetings." Includes procedures and frequently asked questions such as who may speak, types of town meetings and other topics.

Massachusetts laws

Massachusetts Constitution, Amendment LXXXIX 
Draws the distinction between cities and towns, and allows for home-rule charters.

MGL c.39, §§ 9-18 Municipal government; city government and town meetings

MGL c.43A Standard form of representative town meeting government

Rules of procedure

Most Massachusetts town meetings use one or both of the following:

Robert's Rules of Order

• Official site with ordering information as well as frequently asked questions about the rules
• 1915 edition online, Bartleby
• Print source from our law libraries
• Roberts Rules in plain English (print) 
  "Abbreviated essential parliamentary rules condensed from Robert's Rules of order newly revised."
• Roberts Rules of Order in the courts (print) provides citations to court cases about the rules

Town Meeting Time

• Mass. Moderators Association, ordering information
• Print source from our law libraries

Web sources

About town meeting, Lexington.
A nice explanation of how a representative town meeting works in one town.

Guides to citizens' petitions for town meetings
Guides from the towns of Hamilton, Hingham, Hull, Lexington, and Weston.

Information about the town meeting process, Concord.  
An introduction to the open town meeting process in one town.

Massachusetts Moderators Association
Provides information for both moderators and the general public, including informational videos and downloadable materials.

Updated guidance on holding meetings pursuant to the Act Extending Certain COVID-19 Measures, Mass. Attorney General, regarding St.2023, c.2, which extended the temporary provisions regarding remote and hybrid meetings in COVID-19 Order #1 to March 31, 2025.

Last updated:	February 21, 2024