Guide to the New Jersey Legislature Records 1751-1808 MG 46
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 1751-1808 The New Jersey Historical Society Finding aid encoded by Julia Telonidis. August 2005. Production of the EAD 2002 version of this finding aid was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Finding aid written in English. Biographical NoteThe New Jersey Assembly had similar functions both before and after the American Revolution. In colonial days, the representatives, who were elected by adult white males over the age of 21, were sworn in, and then chose the speaker. The Governor could veto the assembly’s choice for speaker but most of the time he gave his approval. To hold a meeting of the Assembly at least two members and the speaker had to be present, however, they needed sixteen votes to enact ordinary legislation and eighteen or twenty to pass a money bill. If a bill passed its third and final reading it was sent to the Council, which then made amendments and sent the bill with suggested changes back to the assembly for approval. If the Assembly approved then the bill was sent to the governor for his signature. If the bill was not approved then committees from both houses were appointed to confer. If they failed to agree then the bill was thrown out. The governor had no power of amendment but his assent was required. The assembly was re-established with the writing of the New Jersey Constitution in 1776. It provided three-quarters of the votes for the governor and chief officials, chose its own officers, and had the sole right to draw up all money bills. The assembly and council passed all laws. Return to the Table of Contents Scope and Content NoteThis collection consists of seven volumes of original minutes from the New Jersey Assembly, kept by William Paterson (1745-1806) dating from 1751 to 1808 and measuring 0.9 linear feet. The attending assemblymen are listed at the beginning of each volume. The minutes were published in Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, General Assembly of the State of New-Jersey (Trenton, 1779-1808) and The Minutes of the Provincial Congress and the Council of Safety of the State of New Jersey (Trenton, 1879). The subject of the bills varies from landownership, acts regarding violence, dog ownership to the building of inter-county turnpikes. A number of the bills discussed from 1776-1781 are in regard to the Revolution and how to handle Tories. A few noteworthy bills discussed include one passed in May 1787 for a tax to discourage dog ownership and one in 1782, which was not passed, calling for the cessation of the plundering of Staten Island properties by New Jerseyans. Return to the Table of Contents RestrictionsAccess RestrictionsThere are no access restrictions on this collection. Photocopying of materials is limited and no materials may be photocopied without permission from library staff. Use RestrictionsResearchers wishing to publish, reproduce, or reprint materials from this collection must obtain permission. The New Jersey Historical Society complies with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code), which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions and protects unpublished materials as well as published materials. Return to the Table of Contents Return to the Table of Contents Related MaterialThis is a selective list of related collections at the New Jersey Historical Society. Manuscript Group 239, Colony of New Jersey: Samuel Smith (1720-1760) Records Manuscript Group 23, Peter Wilson (1746-1826) Papers Return to the Table of Contents Administrative InformationCustodial HistoryThe source of this collection is unknown. Preferred CitationThis collection should be cited as: Manuscript Group 46, New Jersey Legislature Records, The New Jersey Historical Society. Return to the Table of Contents BibliographyKemmerer, Donald L. Path to Freedom: The Struggle for Self-Government in Colonial New Jersey, 1703-1776.Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University, 1940. Return to the Table of Contents Container List |
