ferting their just rights; all civil authority under him is neceflarily at an end, and a diffolution of government in each Colony has confequently taken place.

And whereas in the prefent deplorable fituation of these Colonies, expofed to the fury of a cruel and relentless enemy, fome form of government is abfolutely neceffary, not only for the prefervation of good order, but also the, more effectually to unite the people, and enable them to exert their whole force in their own: neceffary defence; and as the honourable the Continental Congrefs, the fupreme council of the American Colonies, has advised such of the Colonies as have not yet gone into the meafure, to adopt for themselves respectively fuch government as fhall beft conduce to their own. happiness and safety, and the well-being of America in general: We, the Reprefentatives of the Colony of New-Jersey, having been elected by all the counties in the freest manner, and in Congress affembled, have, after mature deliberations, agreed upon a fett of charter. rights, and the form of a Conftitution, in manner following, viz.

I. That the government of this Province

fhall be vested in a Governor, Legislative Council, and General Affembly.

II. That the Legislative Council and General Affembly shall be chofen, for the first time, on the fecond Tuesday in Auguft next; the Members whereof fhall be the fame in number and qualifications as is herein after mentioned; and shall be and remain vefted with all the powers and authority to be held by any future Legislative Council and Affembly of this Colony, until the second Tuesday in October which shall be in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven.

III. That on the fecond Tuesday in October yearly, and every year forever (with the privilege of adjourning from day to day, as occafion may require) the counties fhall feverally choose one person to be a Member of the Legislative Council of this Colony, who fhall be and have been for one whole year next before the election, an inhabitant and freeholder in the county in which he is chofen, and worth at least one thousand pounds, proclamation money, of real and perfonal eftate within the fame county that, at the fame time, each county fhall also choose three Members of Affembly; provided, that no perfon fhall be entitled to a feat

feat in the faid Affembly, unless he be and have been for one whole year next before the election, an inhabitant of the county he is to reprefent, and worth five hundred pounds, proclamation money, in real and perfonal estate, in the fame county that on the fecond Tuesday next after the day of election, the Council and Affembly fhall feparately meet; and that the confent of both Houfes fhall be neceffary to every law; provided, that feven shall be a Quorum of the Council for doing business, and that no law fhall pafs, unless there be a majority of all the Reprefentatives of each body perfonally prefent, and agreeing thereto, Provided always, that if a majority of the Reprefentatives of this Province, in Council and General Affembly convened, fhall, at any time or times hereafter, judge it equitable and proper to add to or diminish the number or proportion of the Members of Affembly for county or counties in this Colony, then, and in fuch case, the fame may, on the principles of more equal representation, be lawfully done, any thing in this charter to the contrary notwithstanding, fo that the whole number of Representatives in Affembly fhall not at any time be less than thirty-nine.

any

IV. That

? IV. That all inhabitants of this Colony of full age, who are worth fifty pounds, proclamation money, clear eftate in the fame, and have refided within the county in which they claim a vote, for twelve months immediately preceding the election, fhall be entitled to vote for Reprefentatives in Council and Affembly; and also for all other public officers that shall be elected by the people of the county at large.

V. That the Affembly, when met, shall have power to choofe a Speaker, and other their officers; to be judges of the qualifications and elections of their own Members; fit

upon their own adjournments; prepare bills to be paffed into laws; and to empower their Speaker to convene them, whenever any extraordinary occurrence fhall render it neceffary.

VI. That the Council fhall have power to prepare bills to pass into laws, and have other like powers as the Affembly, and in all refpects to be a free and independent branch of the legislature of this Colony; fave only, that they shall not prepare or alter any money bill, which fhall be the privilege of the Affembly. That the Council fhall from time to time

be

be convened by the Governor or Vice-Prefident, but must be convened at all times when the Affembly fits; for which purpose the Speaker of the House of Affembly fhall always immediately after an adjournment give notice to the Governor or Vice-Prefident of the time and place to which the House is adjourned..

VII. That the Council and Affembly jointly, at their first meeting after each annual election, shall, by a majority of votes, elect fome fit perfon within the Colony to be Governor for one year, who fhall be conftant Prefident of the Council, and have a cafting vote in their proceedings, and that the Council themselves shall choose a Vice-Prefident, who fhall act as fuch in the absence of the Governor.

VIII. That the Governor, or, in his abfence, the Vice-prefident of the Council, shall have the fupreme executive power, be Chancellor of the Colony, and act as Captaingeneral and Commander in Chief of all the militia and other military force in this Colony; and that any three or more of the Council shall, at all times, be a Privy-council to confult them; and that the Governor be Ordinary, or Surrogate-general.

IX. That