Simone Lawson
New Jersey's constitution has been ratified three times. The first constitution was adopted on July 2, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. The second came into effect in 1844 and restricted suffrage to white males. The current constitution was adopted in 1947 and has been amended several times.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times ratified | 3 |
| Number of British Royal Charters | 3 |
| Date of first ratification | 2 July 1776 |
| Date of second ratification | 29 June 1844 |
| Date of third ratification | 1947 |
| Number of amendments | Several |
| Word count | 26,159 |
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What You'll Learn
New Jersey's first state constitution was adopted on 2 July 1776
The state of New Jersey has been governed by three constitutions. The first was adopted on 2 July 1776, shortly before New Jersey ratified the United States Declaration of Independence. The second came into effect in 1844, and the current document was adopted in 1947. The 1844 constitution restricted suffrage to white males and separated the government's powers into judicial, legislative, and executive branches. It also formally limited state debt. The 1947 constitution has been amended several times and reinforces the basic rights found in the United States Constitution. It also contains several unique provisions, such as regulations governing the operation of casinos.
At 26,159 words, the New Jersey Constitution is slightly shorter than the average American state constitution (about 28,300 words). It granted unmarried women and blacks who met property requirements the right to vote.
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The second constitution came into effect in 1844
New Jersey's first state constitution was adopted on 2 July 1776, shortly before the state ratified the United States Declaration of Independence. The second constitution came into effect in 1844. It restricted suffrage to white males, separated the government's powers into judicial, legislative, and executive branches, and granted the people (as opposed to the legislature) the ability to elect a governor. It also formally limited state debt, a predecessor of many contemporary "debt ceiling" clauses. The constitution was amended in 1875, mainly to conform to the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments.
The second constitution was composed in a span of five days and ratified only two days later. It served as the charter document for the state's government for 68 years. The current document was adopted in 1947 and has been amended several times. The state constitution reinforces the basic rights found in the United States Constitution, but also contains several unique provisions, such as regulations governing the operation of casinos.
At 26,159 words, the document is slightly shorter than the average American state constitution (about 28,300 words). Three fundamental documents have governed the territory now known as New Jersey, in addition to three British Royal Charters issued for East Jersey, West Jersey, and united New Jersey while they were still colonies.
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The current constitution was adopted in 1947
New Jersey's current constitution was adopted in 1947 and has been amended several times since. This is the third constitution the state has had. The first was adopted on 2 July 1776, shortly before New Jersey ratified the United States Declaration of Independence. The second came into effect in 1844.
The 1947 constitution is 26,159 words long, which is slightly shorter than the average American state constitution (about 28,300 words). It reinforces the basic rights found in the United States Constitution, but also contains several unique provisions, such as regulations governing the operation of casinos. The constitution has never been directly updated, but instead has been amended. Amendments include the abolishment of the New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals and Chancery, transferring the cases before them and offices under the other courts, such as the New Jersey Supreme Court.
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The constitution has been amended several times
New Jersey has had three constitutions. The first was adopted on 2 July 1776, the second in 1844, and the third in 1947. The current constitution has been amended several times.
The first constitution was adopted during the American Revolutionary War, with George Washington having recently been defeated in New York, putting New Jersey in imminent danger of invasion. Composed in a span of five days and ratified only two days later, the constitution was designed to provide a basic governmental framework that would preempt New Jersey's fall into anarchy. It served as the charter document for the state's government for the next 68 years.
The second constitution, adopted on 29 June 1844, restricted suffrage to white males. It separated the government's powers into judicial, legislative, and executive branches and granted the people (as opposed to the legislature) the right to elect a governor. It also formally limited state debt, a predecessor of many contemporary "debt ceiling" clauses. The constitution was amended in 1875, mainly to conform to the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. The state's amendments also required that the legislature provide for a free public school system.
The third and current constitution, adopted in 1947, has been amended several times. It reinforces the basic rights found in the United States Constitution, but also contains several unique provisions, such as regulations governing the operation of casinos. At 26,159 words, the document is slightly shorter than the average American state constitution (about 28,300 words).
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The document is shorter than the average American state constitution
New Jersey's constitution has been ratified three times. 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 restricted suffrage to white males. The current constitution was adopted in 1947 and has been amended several times.
At 26,159 words, the current document is slightly shorter than the average American state constitution (about 28,300 words). The constitution was composed in five days and ratified two days later. Its primary objective was to provide a basic governmental framework that would preempt New Jersey's fall into anarchy. The constitution served as the charter document for the state's government for the next 68 years.
The 1844 constitution separated the government's powers into judicial, legislative, and executive branches and granted the people (as opposed to the legislature) the ability to elect a governor. It also formally limited state debt, a predecessor of many contemporary "debt ceiling" clauses. The 1844 constitution was amended in 1875, mainly to conform to the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. Additionally, the state's amendments required that the legislature provide for a free public school system.
The 1947 constitution reinforces the basic rights found in the United States Constitution, but also contains several unique provisions, such as regulations governing the operation of casinos. It also granted unmarried women and blacks who met property requirements the right to vote.
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Frequently asked questions
New Jersey's constitution has been ratified three times.
The first constitution was ratified on July 2, 1776.
The primary objective of the first constitution was to provide a basic governmental framework that would preempt New Jersey's fall into anarchy.
The second constitution was ratified in 1844.
The second constitution restricted suffrage to white males and separated the government's powers into judicial, legislative, and executive branches.
