Direct Democracy and Administration in New England Towns

Key Insight

In New England towns, the people are the direct source and most immediate exercisers of social power. Unlike state-level governance that uses representatives, town legislative and governmental actions do not. There is no municipal council; instead, voters, after electing officials, collectively supervise their activities, excluding only the simple execution of state laws.

Despite numerous, minutely divided town offices, most administrative authority is concentrated in 3 to 9 annually elected officials known as selectmen. These selectmen are bound by state laws, such as drawing up voting lists, and are personally accountable for compliance. In matters specific to the town, they carry out the people's will, guided by principles established by the majority.

For significant town initiatives, such as building a school, selectmen convene a town meeting. Here, voters discuss needs, resources, and funding, then approve plans, select sites, vote taxes, and delegate execution to the selectmen. Ten property owners can compel a town meeting. Annually, many other municipal officials are elected, including tax assessors, collectors, a constable, clerk, treasurer, overseer of the poor, school committee, and highway surveyors, totaling nineteen principal offices. Service is obligatory, with most positions paid per act, facilitating broad civic participation.