Senate Majority Leader Frederick Berry, D-Peabody, presides today over the opening ceremonies of the 184th session of the Legislature.

Berry, who has the duty because he is the longest-serving senator, will oversee the events leading up to the swearing in of the lawmakers and the election of the Senate president. This is the fourth time that Berry, who has been in the Senate since 1983, will perform the function.

Senate Clerk William Welch will begin the session and handed the gavel to Berry.

The lawmakers will then appoint a committee to escort Gov. Mitt Romney into the chamber so he can swear them in, as required by the state constitution. Paul Dooley, the chamber's chief court officer, will precede the committee, carrying a mace, a tradition that dates back to Europe before the United States was even established.

"In the early days, there were no technologically advanced ways to communicate so that was the only way to do it and we have kept that way of informing the governor," Ann Dufresne, a spokeswoman for Senate President Robert Travaglini, D-Boston, said about the formation of the escort committee.

After Romney swears in the lawmakers, there will be a roll call vote for Senate president. The outcome is not in doubt as the Democrats have a 34-6 majority and Travaglini is all but certain to defeat Senate Minority Leader, R-East Longmeadow. Once the president is elected, a committee of his colleagues escorts him to the rostrum and he will make a speech giving a broad outline of his goals for the upcoming session.

The legislators will then elect other officers, including clerk and chaplain.

When those functions are completed, they will elect a committee to inform the House that they are organized and ready to begin work.

The ceremonies are similar in the House, where Rep. David Flynn, D-Bridgewater, will preside until a new speaker is elected. Speaker DiMasi, who has held the job since September, is seeking a full term.

House Minority Leader Bradley Jones, R-North Reading, will also seek the job but voting is expected to follow party lines. The chamber has 149 Democrats and 21 Republicans.