Final answer:
The power in the Massachusetts Bay Colony rested with an elected governor, selected by freemen who were themselves church members from among the Assistants of the General Court.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the charter of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, power initially rested with a governor, an assistant governor, and a legislative body known as the General Court. The charter, which emerged in 1629, allowed only "freemen", who were also required to be church members, to participate in governance by voting or holding public office. Despite the King of England granting the charter, his involvement in day-to-day governance was minimal, as the colony was largely self-regulating. Over time, structural changes allowed freemen to elect the governor from among the Assistants to the General Court, reflecting a slightly more democratic approach within the constraints of the Puritan-led society.
Therefore, the answer to the question is B) Elected governor, though it's important to note that this was within the context of a limited democracy, where only a subset of the colonists—the freemen and church members—held electoral power.