
The State of New Jersey has had three constitutions. The first was adopted on July 2, 1776, shortly before New Jersey ratified the United States Declaration of Independence. The second came into effect in 1844, and the current constitution was adopted in 1947 and has been amended several times. The constitution outlines the basic rights and freedoms of the people of New Jersey and the relevant operations of the government.
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What You'll Learn
- The Constitution of New Jersey has been amended several times since its adoption in 1947
- It establishes the rights and freedoms of people and the relevant operation of the government
- The Governor has the ability to appoint the Secretary of State and the Attorney General
- The constitution regulates the internal affairs of municipalities and counties
- The constitution also contains unique provisions, such as regulations governing the operation of casinos

The Constitution of New Jersey has been amended several times since its adoption in 1947
The Constitution of New Jersey is the basic governing document of the State of New Jersey. The state has been governed by three constitutions. The first was adopted on July 2, 1776, shortly before New Jersey ratified the United States Declaration of Independence, making it the fourth American colony to adopt a constitution declaring independence from Great Britain. The second constitution came into effect in 1844, and the current constitution was drafted in 1947 and has been amended several times since.
The 1947 Constitution of New Jersey was drafted by a convention of delegates at Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, in New Brunswick. It establishes the rights and freedoms inherent to the people and relevant operations of the government. The rights discussed in this constitution largely mirror the Constitution of the United States, including freedom of speech, the right to a speedy and public trial, and religious freedom.
The New Jersey Constitution also contains several unique provisions, such as regulations governing the operation of casinos. For example, Article IV, Section VII, Paragraph 12, which was added in 2000, allows for the disclosure of information pertaining to the identity, whereabouts, physical characteristics, and criminal history of persons found to have committed a sex offense.
The Constitution also establishes the structure of the state government, including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. It creates the bicameral New Jersey Legislature and the office of the governor, who is responsible for supervising the executive and administrative offices, departments, and instrumentalities of the state government. The governor also has the power to appoint the Secretary of State and the Attorney General with the consent of the New Jersey Senate.
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It establishes the rights and freedoms of people and the relevant operation of the government
The Constitution of the State of New Jersey is the basic governing document of the State of New Jersey. The state has been governed by three constitutions. The first was adopted on July 2, 1776, shortly before New Jersey ratified the United States Declaration of Independence. The second came into effect in 1844, and the current constitution was adopted in 1947 and has been amended several times.
Article I of the New Jersey Constitution, as is typical for constitutions, establishes the rights and freedoms of people and the relevant operation of the government. The rights discussed in this Article largely mirror the Constitution of the United States, including freedom of speech, the right to a speedy and public trial, and religious freedom.
Article I also contains a Victims' Bill of Rights and a de facto enumeration of the rights of the common man. For example, Article I, Section I, Paragraph 21 states: "This enumeration of rights shall not be construed to impair or deny others retained by the people." This Article is similar to the U.S. Constitution's enumeration of rights, including "holdover" rights from the Revolutionary War.
Article II of the New Jersey Constitution lays out the dates for elections of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and members of the New Jersey Legislature. It establishes the qualifications necessary for voting and states that the right of suffrage may be removed from certain convicted criminals. This article also institutes the process of absentee balloting and the structure of voting for people in military service.
The New Jersey Constitution also establishes the three branches of government: executive, judicial, and legislative. The executive branch, led by the Governor, has the power to appoint the Secretary of State and the Attorney General with the consent of the New Jersey Senate. The Governor can also appoint the Lieutenant Governor to serve as Secretary of State without Senate consent. The judicial branch, established by Article VI, permits the establishment, alteration, and abolishment of any court other than the Supreme Court of New Jersey. The legislative branch is empowered to pass laws regulating the internal affairs of municipalities or counties, with the consent of two-thirds of all members of each house.
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The Governor has the ability to appoint the Secretary of State and the Attorney General
The State of New Jersey has been governed by three constitutions. The first was adopted on July 2, 1776, shortly before New Jersey ratified the United States Declaration of Independence. The second came into effect in 1844, and the current constitution was adopted in 1947 and has been amended several times.
The Governor of New Jersey has the ability to appoint the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, with the consent of the New Jersey Senate. The Secretary of State is the state's chief election official, the head of the Department of State, and has authority over the Department of Archives and Records Management, which maintains the state's vital records. Additionally, the Secretary of State oversees artistic, cultural, and historical programs and sets tourism policies in the state. The Attorney General is the state's chief law enforcement officer and legal advisor. They are a member of the executive cabinet of the state and head of the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety. The Attorney General serves a four-year term that is concurrent with that of the Governor.
The Governor can also appoint the Lieutenant Governor to serve as Secretary of State without the consent of the Senate. The Governor can initiate inquiries into the conduct of officers and employees. The Governor also has the power to remove the Attorney General "for cause" or by legislative impeachment.
The New Jersey Constitution establishes the rights and freedoms inherent to the people and the relevant operations of the government. These rights include freedom of speech, a speedy and public trial, and religious freedom. The constitution also establishes the qualifications necessary for voting and states that the right of suffrage may be removed from certain convicted criminals.
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The constitution regulates the internal affairs of municipalities and counties
The State of New Jersey has been governed by three constitutions. The first was adopted on July 2, 1776, shortly before New Jersey ratified the United States Declaration of Independence. The second came into effect in 1844, and the current constitution was adopted in 1947 and has been amended several times since.
The New Jersey Constitution establishes the rights and freedoms inherent to the people and the relevant operation of the government. These rights include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and a speedy and public trial. The constitution also lays out the dates for elections of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and members of the New Jersey Legislature. It establishes the qualifications necessary for voting and the right of suffrage for those in military service.
The constitution also regulates the internal affairs of municipalities and counties. The powers of counties and municipal corporations include those granted in express terms and those of necessary or fair implication, or incident to the powers expressly conferred or essential to them. The constitution allows the Legislature to pass laws regulating the internal affairs of municipalities or counties upon petition by the governing body of any municipal corporation formed for local government, or of any county, and by a two-thirds vote of all the members of each house.
The Legislature is also responsible for passing general laws providing for the cases enumerated and all other cases that may be provided for by general laws. They are, however, prohibited from passing any special act conferring corporate powers. The constitution further outlines the process for filling vacancies in the legislative district and the quorum required to do business.
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The constitution also contains unique provisions, such as regulations governing the operation of casinos
The State of New Jersey has been governed by three constitutions. The first was adopted on July 2, 1776, shortly before New Jersey ratified the United States Declaration of Independence. The second came into effect in 1844, and the current constitution was adopted in 1947 and has since been amended several times. The New Jersey Constitution reinforces the basic rights found in the United States Constitution, but it also contains several unique provisions, including regulations governing the operation of casinos.
The New Jersey Constitution establishes the rights and freedoms inherent to the people and the relevant operation of the government. The rights discussed in Article I of the constitution largely mirror the Constitution of the United States. These rights include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, a speedy and public trial, and a Victims' Bill of Rights.
Article II lays out the dates for elections of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and members of the New Jersey Legislature. It also establishes the qualifications necessary for voting and states that the right of suffrage may be removed from certain convicted criminals. The process of absentee balloting is instituted, along with the structure of voting for those in military service.
The New Jersey Constitution also establishes the three branches of government: executive, judicial, and legislative. The executive and administrative offices, departments, and instrumentalities of the state government are placed under the supervision of the Governor, who has the power to appoint the Secretary of State and the Attorney General with the consent of the New Jersey Senate. The constitution also permits the establishment, alteration, and abolishment of any court other than the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
One of the unique provisions of the New Jersey Constitution is the inclusion of regulations governing the operation of casinos. The Casino Control Act (CCA) was established to regulate the casino industry in the state and is administered by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. The CCA has helped create a business-friendly atmosphere for the casino industry, attracting interest from mainstream investors. The Act ensures that casino licenses are restricted to major hotel and convention facilities, preserving the existing nature and tone of the hospitality industry in New Jersey. It also contributes to public confidence and trust in the regulatory process, with comprehensive law enforcement supervision. The success and viability of the gaming industry are linked to the public's confidence in the good character, honesty, and integrity of people in the industry.
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Frequently asked questions
New Jersey has had three constitutions. The first was adopted in 1776, the second in 1844, and the current constitution was adopted in 1947.
The first constitution lasted 68 years, from 1776 until 1844.
The current New Jersey constitution is 26,159 words, which is slightly shorter than the average American state constitution (approximately 28,300 words).

























