Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Common card · No. 495677

The Fundamental Orders were adopted by the Connecticut Colony council on 24 January 1639 [O.S. 14 January 1638]. The Fundamental Orders describe the structure and powers of the government set up by the Connecticut River towns in a driven attempt for the folks of Connecticut to lead Godly lives. The Orders were also designed to give the government access to the open ocean for trading. The Orders are often considered to be the first example of a written constitution in America, and within the orders, there is an emphasis on the limitation of powers of certain government positions and involvement of the common folk within government rather than exclusively by the gentry. Connecticut has even earned its nickname of The Constitution State because of this. The document is also notable as it assigns supreme authority in the colony to the elected general court, omitting any reference to the authority of the British Crown or other external authority. In 1662, the colony petitioned the king for a...

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