Proprietary charter of Pennsylvania

Quarrels between Penns and Calverts; Mason and Dixon’s line

Other proprietary governments

They generally became unpopular

At the time of the Revolution there were three forms of colonial government:  1.  Republican; 2.  Proprietary; 3.  Royal

(After 1692 the government of Massachusetts might be described as
Semi-royal)

In all three forms there was a representative assembly, which alone could impose taxes

The governor’s council was a kind of upper house

The colonial government was much like the English system in miniature

The Americans never admitted the supremacy of parliament

Except in the regulation of maritime commerce

In England there grew up the theory of the imperial supremacy of parliament

And the conflict between the British and American theories was precipitated by becoming involved in the political schemes of George III.

QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT

Section 2. The Transition from Colonial to State Governments.

Dissolution of assemblies and parliaments

Committees of correspondence; provincial congresses

Provisional governments; “governors” and “presidents”

Origin of the senates

Likenesses and differences between British and American systems

QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT

Section 3. The State Governments.

Later modifications

Universal suffrage

Separation between legislative and executive departments; its advantages and disadvantages as compared with the European plan

In our system the independence of the executive is of vital importance

The state executive

The governor’s functions:  1.  Adviser of legislature; 2.  Commander of state militia; 3.  Royal prerogative of pardon; 4.  Veto power

Importance of the veto power as a safeguard against corruption In building the state, the local self-government was left unimpaired

Instructive contrast with France

Some causes of French political incapacity

Vastness of the functions retained by the states in the American Union

Illustration from recent English history

Independence of the state courts

Constitution of the state courts

Elective and appointive judges

QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS AND DIRECTIONS

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

CHAPTER VII.

WRITTEN CONSTITUTIONS.

In the American state there is a power above the legislature