Final answer:
The Massachusetts Bay Puritans established a theocratic government based on the Massachusetts Bay Charter, where only church members ('freemen') could vote or hold office. Over time, the government evolved to include freemen from various towns in the legislative body, the General Court, guided by Puritan religious principles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Puritans in Massachusetts Bay established a government system crafted under the Massachusetts Bay Charter of March 1629. This charter formed a foundational government comprising a Governor, an Assistant Governor, and the General Court, which was the legislative body responsible for lawmaking in the colony. Initially, governance was restricted to 'freemen', who were essentially church members, giving them the exclusive right to vote and hold public office. Over time, the Puritan leadership wielded substantial control over the colony by planning a government of the 'elect'. The governor was elected from among the Assistant Governors, who themselves were elected from the General Court membership.
Over the years, the structure evolved as freemen representing various towns came to participate in the government, expanding the General Court's membership. This gradual democratization process culminated in the Book of Laws and Liberties, which compiled the adjusted laws and regulations governing the colony's inhabitants. These changes indicate a dynamic system of government influenced by the Puritan's theological views and their desire to create a 'Bible Commonwealth' that reflected their Calvinist beliefs, as captured by their intent to 'purify' the Church of England.