History of the New Jersey State Constitution facts for kids
New Jersey started as a single British colony called the Province of New Jersey. After a big war in England, King Charles II gave New Jersey to two friends, Sir George Carteret and John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton. They were like landlords, and New Jersey became a "proprietary colony," meaning they owned and managed it.
But collecting money from settlers was hard. So, in 1673, Sir George Carteret sold his part to a group called the Quakers. After this, New Jersey was split into two parts: East Jersey and West Jersey. Each part even got its own set of rules, or "constitution," in 1681 (for West Jersey) and 1683 (for East Jersey).
Later, in 1702, the two Jerseys were joined back together by Queen Anne. New Jersey then became a "Crown colony," directly controlled by the British King or Queen. When the American Revolution began, New Jersey was still under British rule.
The last British governor, William Franklin, lost his power as the people of New Jersey started to govern themselves. In June 1776, they arrested Governor Franklin and created their very first state constitution on July 2, 1776. This made New Jersey an independent state. William Livingston became its first governor in August 1776.
Contents
New Jersey's First Rules: The Colonial Period
New Jersey has had several important documents that set up its government.
The Concession and Agreement (1665)
The very first set of rules for the colony was called the Concession and Agreement. It was written in 1665 by the colony's owners, Sir George Carteret and John Berkeley. This document was important because it promised things like religious freedom to settlers. It was like an early constitution, guaranteeing rights to the people who moved there.
West Jersey's Constitution (1681)
After New Jersey was split, West Jersey created its own constitution in 1681. This document helped set up how West Jersey would be governed.
East Jersey's Constitution (1683)
Just like West Jersey, East Jersey also adopted its own constitution in 1683. This constitution described how a "Great Council" would run the colony. It also listed some basic rights for the people. Interestingly, it said that only Christians could be part of this council.
The Constitution of 1776: A Time of War
Creating the First State Constitution
New Jersey's first state constitution was approved on July 2, 1776. This was a very busy and dangerous time because the American Revolutionary War was happening. George Washington's army had just lost a battle in New York, meaning New Jersey was in danger.
People in New Jersey were divided, with some supporting the Revolution (Patriots) and others still loyal to Britain (Tories). The state was almost in a civil war. This first constitution was written very quickly, in just five days, and approved two days later. Its main goal was to create a basic government to keep order and prevent chaos. Even though it was made during a war, this constitution lasted for 68 years!
Voting Rights for All (Almost)
One amazing thing about the 1776 New Jersey Constitution was that it allowed some women and African Americans to vote. New Jersey was special because most other states at that time only let white men vote.
To vote in New Jersey, you had to be:
- An adult (of "full age").
- Own property worth at least "fifty pounds."
- Have lived in the county for at least 12 months before the election.
This meant that if women or African Americans met these requirements, they could vote.
The constitution stated:
That all inhabitants of this Colony, of full age, who are worth fifty pounds proclamation money, clear estate in the same, and have resided within the county in which they claim a vote for twelve months immediately preceding the election, shall be entitled to vote for Representatives in Council and Assembly; and also for all other public officers, that shall be elected by the people of the county at large.
Women's Voting Rights Confirmed (1797)
Some people wondered if the gender-neutral language in the 1776 constitution was a mistake. However, most historians agree that it was meant to allow some women and African Americans to vote.
While married women often couldn't own property in their own name, single women who met the property requirements could vote. Many single women actively voted and spoke about politics in New Jersey in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
Any doubts about women's voting rights were cleared up in 1797. A new voting law was passed that specifically used the words "he or she" when talking about voters. This made it very clear that both men and women could vote in New Jersey.
Voting Rights Taken Away (1807)
Between 1797 and 1807, many women voted in New Jersey elections. But in 1807, the state's lawmakers changed the rules. They ignored the constitution and decided that only white men who paid taxes could vote.
This change happened mostly because of political reasons. One political party wanted to make sure they won the 1808 presidential election. Women often voted for the opposing party, so taking away their vote was a way to gain an advantage.
New Jersey's unique experiment with women's voting rights ended. No other state had followed New Jersey's lead in allowing women to vote. By 1807, the excitement of the Revolutionary era had faded. New Jersey fell in line with what other states were doing.
The Constitution of 1844
New Jersey adopted its second constitution on June 29, 1844. This new document made some big changes:
- It clearly separated the government into three parts: the executive (governor), legislative (lawmakers), and judicial (courts). This is called "separation of powers".
- It limited voting rights only to white men.
- It gave the people the right to directly elect the governor, instead of the lawmakers choosing him.
- It also limited how much debt the state government could take on.
The Constitution of 1947
Writing the Current Constitution
New Jersey's current constitution was written in 1947. A special meeting, called a Constitutional Convention, was held at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Many ideas from the 1844 constitution were kept in this new document. One change was that the governor's term was extended from three years to four years.
Later Changes to the Constitution
Over the years, the 1947 constitution has been changed several times.
- In 1966, another convention was held at Rutgers University. This was to fix how legislative districts were set up. The U.S. Supreme Court said that states had to create districts based on population, not just county borders. This led to a new system with 40 legislative districts, each with one state senator and two state assembly members.
- In 2005, the constitution was changed to create the job of Lieutenant Governor. This was done because two governors had resigned, and the state was being led by people who also held other jobs, like the head of the state senate. Creating a Lieutenant Governor helped make sure there was always a clear leader for the state.
See also
- New Jersey's 1927 biannual elections proposal, an attempt to change the 1844 constitution that didn't pass.
Images for kids
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A plaque describing the 1947 constitutional convention at Rutgers University.
