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The politics of New England has long been defined by the region's political and cultural history, demographics, economy, and its loyalty to particular U.S. political parties. Within the politics of the United States, New England is sometimes viewed in terms of a single voting bloc. Same-sex marriage is permitted in all six New England states, with Rhode Island being the final state to legalise the practice in May 2013. In Maine, it was legalized by the legislature in 2009, but defeated in a referendum (53% voted to ban it versus 47% who voted to legalize it) later the same year. On January 26, 2012, supporters of a ballot initiative to repeal that decision obtained sufficient petition signatures to ensure the initiative appeared on the November 2012 ballot, where the initiative won 53-47. The national U.S. movement against nuclear power had its roots in New England in the 1970s. In 1974, activist Sam Lovejoy toppled a weather tower at the site of the proposed Montague Nuclear Power Plant in Western Massachusetts.〔 The movement "reached critical mass" with the arrests at Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant on May 1, 1977, when 1,414 anti-nuclear activists from the Clamshell Alliance were arrested at the Seabrook site. Harvey Wasserman, a Clamshell spokesman at Seabrook, and Frances Crowe of Northampton, an American Friends Service Committee member, played key roles in the movement.〔Michael Kenney. (Tracking the protest movements that had roots in New England ) ''The Boston Globe'', December 30, 2009.〕 ==Notable laws and political movements== The New England states abolished the death penalty for robbery and burglary in the 19th century, before much of the rest of the U.S.A. As of 2012, New Hampshire is the only state in New England that has retained capital punishment.〔("Death Penalty Information Center" ), Deathpenaltyinfo.org. Retrieved July 19, 2006.〕 Although New Hampshire currently has one death row inmate, it has not held an execution since 1939.〔("Supreme Court Lifts Order Blocking Connecticut Execution" ), Fox News, January 29, 2005, Retrieved July 19, 2006, "New Hampshire has not executed anyone since 1939 and has no one on death row. Seven inmates are waiting to die in Connecticut, which conducted New England's last execution in 1960."〕 Connecticut and Rhode Island were the only states in the union not to ratify the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as prohibition. Prohibition became the law of the land on January 16, 1919. New Hampshire has no seatbelt law for persons over 18 years of age,〔(State Seat Belt Laws ). Ghsa.org. Retrieved May 15, 2012.〕 no helmet law for motorcyclists,〔(New Hampshire Motorcycle Helmet Law ). Bikersrights.com. Retrieved May 15, 2012.〕 no mandatory auto-insurance law,〔(State Insurance Laws ). Autoinsuranceremedy.com. Retrieved May 15, 2012.〕 and has neither an income tax nor a sales tax.〔(Does NH have an Income Tax or Sales Tax? | Frequently Asked Questions | NH Department of Revenue Administration ). Nh.gov. Retrieved May 15, 2012.〕 Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire allow open carrying of firearms in public places without a permit; Vermont also allows concealed carrying without a permit.〔(State Information For New Hampshire ). OpenCarry.org. Retrieved May 15, 2012.〕〔(State Information For Vermont ). OpenCarry.org. Retrieved May 15, 2012.〕 Massachusetts passed a ballot initiative (question 3) in the November 2012 election that legalized medical marijuana, effective January 1, 2013. Only people with debilitating diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's disease, or Alzheimer's can obtain a medical marijuana card. Massachusetts became the 18th state in the U.S.A. to legalize the medical use of marijuana.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Return of Votes For Massachusetts State Election November 6, 2012 )〕 Similar laws are also in place in four other New England States.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=18 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Politics of New England」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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