Omar Bennett
New Jersey has a long history of constitutional governance, dating back to its time as a proprietary colony jointly owned by Sir George Carteret and John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton. The colony was divided into East and West Jersey, with each region adopting its own constitution in the 17th century. The constitutions of West Jersey and East Jersey guaranteed religious freedom and established a governing council, respectively. New Jersey's first state constitution was drafted and ratified in 1776, during a period of war and collapsing royal authority. This constitution aimed to provide a basic governmental framework and granted suffrage to unmarried women and African-Americans who met certain property requirements. The state's constitution has since undergone revisions, with the most recent version enacted in 1947, building upon the political structure established in the 1844 constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Objective | To provide a basic governmental framework to assume control of the territory after the collapse of royal authority and maintain civil order |
| Suffrage rights | Granted to unmarried women and African-Americans who met the requirements of possessing sufficient assets or property as "freeholders" |
| Legislature | Elected each year and selected the state's governor |
| Term of office for Representatives, Senators, and Governors | Fixed at one year |
| Office of Councillor | Not mentioned |
| Right to vote for House electors or for Legislative Council | Required personal wealth of 50 pounds as well as freedom from debt |
| Right to be a candidate for the House or for the Legislative Council | Required personal and real estate wealth of 500 pounds |
| Governor | Elected by joint ballot of both chambers of the legislature |
| Legislative Council | Had the role of Executive Council |
| New Jersey Plan | Consisted of nine resolutions, including continuing the unicameral system of legislature, expanding the scope of Congress's powers, establishing the three-fifths rule, adding an executive branch, and providing for a federal judiciary |
| Religious freedom | Guaranteed in the Concession and Agreement of the Lords Proprietors of New Jersey |
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What You'll Learn
The New Jersey Plan
Firstly, the New Jersey Plan advocated for a unicameral legislature, with each state having equal representation, regardless of its population. This was in contrast to the Virginia Plan, which called for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population. The second resolution expanded the powers of Congress, granting it the authority to collect import duties, raise taxes, and regulate interstate commerce. The third resolution established the three-fifths rule, which counted three-fifths of the number of enslaved people in a state for the purpose of determining its population and assessing funding requests.
The fourth resolution proposed an executive branch made up of multiple individuals, who could be removed by a majority vote of the states. The fifth resolution provided for a federal judiciary appointed by the executive branch. The sixth resolution stated that all Acts of Congress made pursuant to the Articles of Confederation should be the supreme law of the land. The seventh resolution called for the admission of new states into the Union, while the eighth resolution proposed a uniform rule of naturalization. Finally, the ninth resolution stated that citizens of each state should be treated equally in state criminal courts.
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Religious freedom
The Constitution of New Jersey has undergone several iterations, with the current version being enacted in 1947. The state's first constitution was drafted in 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, and was replaced in 1844. The 1844 constitution was carried into the 1947 document, which was further amended in 1961.
The 1947 Constitution of New Jersey states:
> We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
This statement emphasizes the importance of religious liberty for the people of New Jersey, who express gratitude for their freedom to worship according to their beliefs. The constitution further asserts that no person shall be deprived of the "inestimable privilege of worshipping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience". This provision guarantees the freedom to practice one's religion without interference from the state, a principle often referred to as the separation of church and state.
The history of New Jersey demonstrates a commitment to religious freedom. The Concession and Agreement, written in 1665 by the colony's proprietors, included provisions for religious freedom. When New Jersey was divided into West and East Jersey, each colony adopted its own constitution in 1681 and 1683, respectively, with the two reuniting in 1702. The 1776 constitution, drafted during a turbulent period of war and political conflict, aimed to prevent anarchy and establish a basic governmental framework. It granted voting rights to unmarried women and blacks who met property requirements, reflecting a more inclusive society.
The First Amendment of the US Constitution also protects religious freedom, stating that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion". This clause ensures that the government does not impose a particular religious orthodoxy, allowing for the coexistence of diverse beliefs in a pluralistic society.
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Equality for small states
New Jersey has a long history of constitutional governance, dating back to its time as a proprietary colony jointly held by Sir George Carteret and John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton. Over the years, the state has been governed by several constitutional documents, reflecting its evolving political landscape.
One of the key aspects of New Jersey's support for the Constitution was the concept of equality for small states. The New Jersey Plan, proposed by William Paterson, the head of the New Jersey delegation at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, aimed to benefit small states like New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. The plan advocated for a unicameral system of legislature with an equal number of representatives per state, regardless of population. This ensured that smaller states had a proportional representation in the Senate, while the House represented states based on their population size.
The New Jersey Plan's approach to representation addressed the concerns of smaller states, which feared being overshadowed by larger states in a purely population-based representation system. By guaranteeing each state an equal number of representatives in the Senate, the plan promoted equality and balanced representation. This aspect of the plan was particularly appealing to New Jersey, as it ensured that their interests and those of other small states would be effectively represented and protected in the legislative process.
Additionally, the New Jersey Plan expanded the powers of Congress, granting it the authority to collect import duties, raise taxes, and establish an executive branch accountable to the states. These provisions strengthened the federal government's ability to govern effectively and provided a mechanism for removing executives through a majority vote of the states. The plan also included the three-fifths rule, which counted three-fifths of the enslaved population for determining state population and, consequently, representation and taxation.
Overall, the New Jersey Plan's focus on equality for small states played a significant role in shaping the state's support for the Constitution. By guaranteeing equal representation and addressing the unique concerns of smaller states, the plan fostered a sense of fairness and inclusion in the legislative process, aligning with New Jersey's interests and values.
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Basic governmental framework
The New Jersey Plan, one of two major competing proposals for the structure and functioning of the United States government, was introduced at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 in Philadelphia. It was put forth by William Paterson, the head of the New Jersey delegation, and intended to benefit smaller states such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. The plan consisted of nine resolutions, which included:
- Continuing the unicameral system of the legislature outlined under the Articles, while allowing for revisions.
- Expanding Congress's powers to include the authority to collect import duties and raise taxes, including via a stamp tax and postage.
- Establishing the three-fifths rule, whereby three-fifths of the number of enslaved people in a state would be counted toward its population for determining proportional funding requests from Congress.
- Adding an executive branch made up of multiple individuals, who could be removed by a majority vote of the states.
- Providing for a federal judiciary appointed by the executive branch.
The New Jersey Plan provided for both Paterson's legislative body with an equal number of representatives per state, regardless of population, and Madison's bicameral system, with proportional representation based on state population in the House. This compromise mollified states of all sizes and became a crucial component of the United States Constitution.
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Suffrage rights
The New Jersey State Constitution of 1776 granted suffrage rights to unmarried women and African Americans who met the requirements of possessing sufficient assets or property as "freeholders". The document provisioned suffrage to citizens without regard to gender or race, stating that "all inhabitants of this colony, of full age, who are worth fifty pounds, and have resided within the county for twelve months" could vote. This made New Jersey the first and only state to legally enfranchise women in 1790, when state legislatures reformed the New Jersey State Constitution's election law to include the words "he or she".
However, in 1807, the New Jersey Legislature stripped women of their voting rights, limiting the ballot to white male citizens who paid taxes. This was done to give the Democratic-Republican Party an advantage in the 1808 presidential election, as women often voted for the opposing Federalist Party. The 1807 Electoral Reform Law abolished the property requirement and restricted voting rights to free white male citizens, disenfranchising women, people of color, and immigrants.
The fight for women's suffrage in New Jersey continued, with women across the nation drawing inspiration from New Jersey's early women voters. In 1912, New Jersey held legislative hearings that led to a suffrage referendum, which was defeated. Finally, in 1920, the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution was passed, granting women the right to vote nationwide.
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Frequently asked questions
The New Jersey Plan was one of two major competing proposals for the structure and functioning of the United States government, introduced at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 in Philadelphia.
The New Jersey Plan consisted of nine resolutions, including the advocacy for a unicameral system of legislature, the expansion of Congress's powers, the establishment of the three-fifths rule, the addition of an executive branch, and the provision for a federal judiciary.
The New Jersey Plan was intended to benefit small states such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland by providing for a legislative body with an equal number of representatives per state, regardless of population.
New Jersey adopted its first constitution in 1776, which served as the charter document for the State's government for the next 68 years.
The 1776 constitution provided a basic governmental framework, granting suffrage rights to unmarried women and African-Americans who met certain property requirements. It also fixed the terms of office for Representatives, Senators, and Governors at one year.
