History of the New Jersey State Constitution

Originally, the state of New Jersey was a single British colony. After the English Civil War, Charles II assigned New Jersey as a proprietary colony to be held jointly by Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley. Eventually, the collection of land fees, or quit-rents, from colonists proved inadequate for colonial profitability. Sir George Carteret sold his share of the colony to the Quakers in 1673. Following the sale, the land was divided into East and West Jersey. In 1681, West Jersey adopted a constitution. In 1683, East Jersey adopted one as well. In 1702, the colonies were united again under Anne of Great Britain, and adopted a constitution in 1776.

Constitutions

Concession and Agreement

Concession and Agreement was a legal document that guaranteed rights; including, but not only, religious freedom. It served as the basic governing document of the colony of New Jersey. Although the document is most commonly recognized as an enticement for settlers, it is in the basic form of any colonial charter or constitution, and guarantees such rights.

West Jersey Constitution

The constitution of the proprietary colony of West Jersey was adopted in 1681, eight years after the sale of the colony to the Quakers. The constitution was preceded by the charter, which consisted only of the equivalent of the Bill of Rights. :Preamble:The charter, when instantiated, was essentially an enumeration of rights; this constitution would be the equivalent of Articles II-V. It created the executive offices and the General Assembly and enumerated some of the powers of office. The charter had already created an enumeration of the peoples' rights.

East Jersey Constitution

The constitution of East Jersey, unlike West Jersey's, did not seemingly have a section of the traditional colonial constitution missing. Within their constitution was a detailed creation of a great Council, who would control the colony. The constitution also created a somewhat abbrieviated enumeration of rights. The constitution also bans the admission of any non-Christian into the council. A vestige from the Stamp Act, Article XVIII is an archaic section of a since-repealed act.

1776 Constitution

1844 Constitution

1947 Constitution

Amendments > 1947

References

* [http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/states/nj02.htm Original New Jersey Constitution]
* [http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/states/nj05.htm West Jersey Charter]
* [http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/states/nj08.htm West Jersey Constitution]
* [http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/states/nj10.htm East Jersey Constitution]
* [http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/states/nj15.htm NJ Constitution of 1776]