Rhode Island General Assembly
This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2014) |
Rhode Island General Assembly | |
---|---|
Bicameral | |
Houses | Senate House of Representatives |
History | |
Founded | Original Charter July 8, 1663 Modern Form January 20, 1987 |
New session started | January 3, 2023 |
Leadership | |
President of the Senate | |
Senate president pro tempore | |
Senate Majority Leader | |
Senate Minority Leader | |
Speaker of the House | |
House Majority Leader | Christopher R. Blazejweski (D) since January 5, 2021 |
House Minority Leader | |
Structure | |
Seats |
|
political groups | Majority (33)
Minority (5)
|
House of Representatives political groups | Majority (65)
Minority (10)
|
Elections | |
Last Senate election | November 8, 2022 |
Last House of Representatives election | November 8, 2022 |
Next Senate election | November 5, 2024 |
Next House of Representatives election | November 5, 2024 |
Meeting place | |
Rhode Island State House Providence | |
Website | |
Rhode Island Legislature | |
Constitution | |
Constitution of Rhode Island |
The State of Rhode Island General Assembly is the
The General Assembly meets at the
History
Early independence
On June 12, 1775, the Rhode Island General Assembly met at
A
Federal debate
Over a decade after the war, the General Assembly led by the
State constitutions
From 1663 until 1842, Rhode Island's governing
While the 1663 Charter was democratic considering its time period, rising national demands for voting suffrage in response to the Industrial Revolution put strains on the colonial document. By the early 1830s, only 40% of the state's white males could vote, one of the lowest white male voting franchise percentages in the entire United States. For its part, the General Assembly proved to be an obstacle for change, not eager to see its traditional wealthy voting base shrink.
Constitutional reform came to a head in 1841 when supporters of universal suffrage led by Thomas Wilson Dorr, dissatisfied with the conservative General Assembly and the state's conservative governor, Samuel Ward King, held the extralegal People's Convention, calling on Rhode Islanders to debate a new liberal constitution. At the same time, the General Assembly began its own constitution convention dubbed the Freeman's Convention, making some democratic concessions to Dorr supporters, while keeping other aspects of the 1663 Charter intact.
Elections in late 1841 and early 1842 led to both sides claiming to be the legitimate state government, each with their own respective constitutions in hand. In the days following the highly confusing and contentious 1842 gubernatorial and state legislature elections, Governor King declared martial law. Liberal Dorr supporters took up arms to begin the Dorr Rebellion.
The short-lived rebellion proved unsuccessful in overthrowing Governor King and the General Assembly. The Freeman's Constitution eventually was debated upon by the legislature and passed by the electorate. Although not as liberal as the People's document, the 1843 Freeman's Constitution did greatly increase male suffrage in Rhode Island, including ending the racial requirement.[1] Further revisions in the 1843 document were made by the General Assembly and passed by the electorate in 1986.
See also
References
- ^ Gregg, Katherine. "On Smith Hill, Senators-elect learn the ropes on lawmaking". providencejournal.com. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "First Navy | The Joseph Bucklin Society". bucklinsociety.net. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "History & Birth Place of the Navy | East Greenwich, RI". www.eastgreenwichri.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
External links
- The State of Rhode Island General Assembly Official Website
- General Assembly digitized records from the Rhode Island State Archives
- Guide to the Rhode Island General Assembly Reapportionment and Redistricting records from the Rhode Island State Archives
- Final Report of the Commission to Study Auto Mechanics and Repair Licensing from the Rhode Island State Archives
- Final Report of the Commission to Study Professional Boxing and Wrestling in Rhode Island from the Rhode Island State Archives
- Final Report of the Joint Special Committee to Consider Changes Relative to Divorce from the Rhode Island State Archives
- Final Report of the Special Legislative Commission to make a Comprehensive Study in the Field of Drug Addiction from the Rhode Island State Archives
- Final Report on the Special Legislative Commission to Study Foster Care in Rhode Island from the Rhode Island State Archives
- First Annual Report of the Board of Food and Drug Commissioners from the Rhode Island State Archives
- General Assembly: Petitions Failed, Withdrawn finding aid from the Rhode Island State Archives
- General Assembly Records finding aid from the Rhode Island State Archives
- General Assembly Speaker Files folder list from the Rhode Island State Archives
- Guide to the General Assembly Joint Committee on Accounts and Claims records from the Rhode Island State Archives
- House Speaker Session Files from the Rhode Island State Archives
- Private Acts of the General Assembly from the Rhode Island State Archives