Rhode Island. General Assembly (1643-)
Organization
Dates
- Existence: 1643-
Historical Note
The first governments established in Rhode Island began as written agreements between the original settlers of Providence (1636), Portsmouth (1638) Newport (1639). While such agreements were suitable early on a more organized, centralized form of government became necessary as the colony expanded. The origins of current General Assembly date from 1643, when the first Parliamentary Charter or Patent confirming uniting the three original towns under the title “the Incorporation of Providence Plantations in the Narragansett Bay in New England” was obtained from England. On or about that year a fourth settlement at Warwick was established. Convening for the first time as a single body at Portsmouth in May 1647, representatives of the several towns formulated a set rules orders for the colony including an annual meeting of a “Courte of Election”, the establishment of the office of President of the Province and the adoption of a code of laws. However this early iteration of a centralized colonial government functioned more like a town meeting than a cohesive legislative body as most of the power was still vested with the towns. Soon other factors including territorial disputes by internal external forces as well as the restoration of the Stuart dynasty in England in 1660 brought into doubt the validity of the 1643 Patent. By 1663, a second Royal Charter was obtained from King Charles II, which firmly established the "English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America." Under the Charter the title of “General Assembly” came into being which initially was organized as a unicameral body. The document provided for the election of Deputies and Assistants (former titles of current Representatives and Senators) who were chosen from among the Freeman of the colony with each having one vote to act as direct representatives of their towns. The Charter also provided for a more central governmental hierarchy with the establishment of offices of Governor, Deputy Governor and ten Assistants to manage and lead the colony. Elections were held of the first Wednesday in May and last Wednesday in October annually. In 1696 the legislature became a bicameral body with the creation of the House of Deputies or Lower House House of Magistrates or Upper House. The position of Speaker of the House of Deputies was also established at that time.
Currently, the Rhode Island legislature is still a bicameral body constituting a seventy – five (75) member House of Representatives and a thirty – eight (38) member Senate which convenes on the first Tuesday in January annually. Leadership consists of a Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate who are chosen from among their membership. The General Assembly is responsible for all proposed legislation as well as the enactment of laws both of a public and private nature. The assembly also confirms judicial nominations and the appointment of heads of various State departments boards and has general subpoena power in civil cases. Other responsibilities include the office of the Auditor General which provides independent evaluations of government programs, Legislative Council which is charged with obtaining information on the operation of state government and of making studies concerning legislative issue and the office of Law Revision which is responsible for consolidating, compiling, editing, printing binding the public laws, acts resolutions. There are currently twelve (12) permanent committees established within the House of Representatives including: Constituent Services, Corporations, Environment Natural Resources, Finance, Health, Education Welfare, Judiciary, Labor, Municipal Government, Rules, Separation of Powers Veteran Affairs. Senate committees number seven (7) and include Constitutional Regulatory Issues, Commerce, Education, Environment Agriculture, Finance, Government Oversight Health Human Services. Permanent joint committees number eleven (11) and include Accounts Claims, Water Resources, Highway Safety, Environment Energy, Naming New Buildings, Bridges, Edifices Other State Constructions, Retirement, Small Business, Strategic Development, Veterans’ Affairs, Economic Development Legislative Services.
Related Resources:
The State of Rhode Island General Assembly website
General Assembly Meetings Agendas
Currently, the Rhode Island legislature is still a bicameral body constituting a seventy – five (75) member House of Representatives and a thirty – eight (38) member Senate which convenes on the first Tuesday in January annually. Leadership consists of a Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate who are chosen from among their membership. The General Assembly is responsible for all proposed legislation as well as the enactment of laws both of a public and private nature. The assembly also confirms judicial nominations and the appointment of heads of various State departments boards and has general subpoena power in civil cases. Other responsibilities include the office of the Auditor General which provides independent evaluations of government programs, Legislative Council which is charged with obtaining information on the operation of state government and of making studies concerning legislative issue and the office of Law Revision which is responsible for consolidating, compiling, editing, printing binding the public laws, acts resolutions. There are currently twelve (12) permanent committees established within the House of Representatives including: Constituent Services, Corporations, Environment Natural Resources, Finance, Health, Education Welfare, Judiciary, Labor, Municipal Government, Rules, Separation of Powers Veteran Affairs. Senate committees number seven (7) and include Constitutional Regulatory Issues, Commerce, Education, Environment Agriculture, Finance, Government Oversight Health Human Services. Permanent joint committees number eleven (11) and include Accounts Claims, Water Resources, Highway Safety, Environment Energy, Naming New Buildings, Bridges, Edifices Other State Constructions, Retirement, Small Business, Strategic Development, Veterans’ Affairs, Economic Development Legislative Services.
Related Resources:
The State of Rhode Island General Assembly website
General Assembly Meetings Agendas
Found in 370 Collections and/or Records:
Registered State Debt with Certificates report
Item — Volume: Registered State Debt with Certificates report, 1849
Identifier: C#00618
Abstract
Report of committee appointed by General Assembly to investigate the origin and worth of certificates and notes of state debt issued approximately 50 years earlier. Includes report of committee findings, samples of certificates, copies of legislation and other documents related to the state debt.
Dates:
1849
Report No. 1: Study Commission on Medical Care for the Aged, 1964
Item — Folder: 25. Report No. 1: Study Commission on Medical Care for the Aged, 1964
Identifier: 1636-283
Dates:
1964
Report of examination and supplementary data: State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, June 30, 1961
Item — Folder: 3-4 Report on Examination of Accounts For Fiscal Year Ended 1941-1947
Identifier: 1636-143
Dates:
June 30, 1961
Report of Findings and Recommendations concerning Civil Defense and Disaster Legislation
Item — Folder: 2 Report of Findings and Recommendations concerning Civil Defense and Disaster Legislation 1973
Identifier: 1636-845
Report of J.N. Arnold, Commissioner to Inquire into the Present Condition of the Governor Benedict Arnold Burial Place, and the Title Thereto Made to the General Assembly at Its January Session
Item — Folder: 28. Report of J.N. Arnold, Commissioner to Inquire into the Present Condition of the Governor Benedict Arnold Burial Place, and the Title Thereto Made to the General Assembly at Its January Session, 1901
Identifier: 1636-1147
Report of the Board of Control and Supply of Rhode Island
Series — Folder: 20 Annual Reports of the Board of Control and Supply 1914-1916
Identifier: 1636-479
Dates:
1912-1916
Report of the Board of State Valuation made to the General Assembly, at its January Session A.D.
Item — Folder: 38 Report of the Board of State Valuation made to the General Assembly, at its January Session A.D. 1847
Identifier: 1636-818
Report of the Clerk of the Court of Magistrates to the General Assembly at their January Session, 1850
Item
Identifier: C#00495
Dates:
1850
Report of the Commission on the Relocation of Monuments in the City of Providence, Made to the General Assembly at its January Session
Item — Folder: 17. Report of the Commission on the Relocation of Monuments in the City of Providence, 1908
Identifier: 1636-200
Report of the Commission to Arrange and Consolidate the Statues, Made to the General Assembly at its January Session, 1909
Item — Folder: 13 Arrange and Consolidate the Statutes 1909
Identifier: 1992-32-1428-1636-616
Report of the Commission to Draft and Report An Act Providing for a House of Representatives, 1910
Item — Folder: 27 Report of Commission to Draft and Report an Act Providing for a House of Representatives 1910
Identifier: 1636-657
Dates:
1910
Report of the Commission to Select and Purchase a Site and Erect Thereon a Building for the State Normal School, May Session, 1899
Item — Folder: 2 Report of the Commission..to...erect...a Building for the State Normal School 1899
Identifier: 1636-577
Dates:
1899
Report of the Commissioner on the Boundary Line between the State of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, made to the General Assembly, at its May session, 1867
Item — Folder: 10. Report of the Commissioner on the Boundary Line between the State of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, made to the General Assembly, at its May session, 1867
Identifier: 1636-171
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
This series includes records relating to boundary issues between Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including the work of various boundary commissions formed to address the issue.
Dates:
1867
Report of the Committee on Community Property
Digital Record
Identifier: 1636-595
Dates:
1948
Found in:
Rhode Island State Archives
Report of the Committee on the Abolishment of Capital Punishments, 1838
Item — Folder: 13b Report of the Committee on the Abolishment of Capital Punishment 1838
Dates:
1838
Report of the Committee on the Subject of an Extension of Suffrage, 1829
Item — Folder: 29. Report of the Committee on the Subject of an Extension of Suffrage, 1829
Dates:
1829
Report of the Joint Select Committee to Consider Drug Addiction in Rhode Island, 1926
Item — Folder: 26 Report of the Joint Select Committee to Consider Drug Addiction in RI 1926
Dates:
1926
Report of the Joint Special Committee on Erection of Monument at Andersonville, Ga., 1903
Item — Folder: 10 Report of the Joint Special Committee on the Erection of Monument at Andersonville, Ga. 1903
Dates:
1903
Report of the Joint Special Committee on Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, made to the General Assembly at its January Session, 1896, 1896
Item — Folder: 9 Report of the Joint Special Committee on Rhode Island College of Agriculture 1896
Identifier: 1636-507
Dates:
1896
Report of the Joint Special Committee on State Sanatorium for Consumptives to the General Assembly, 1904
Item — Folder: 6 State Sanatorium for Consumptives 1901, 1904
Dates:
1904
Report of the Joint Special Committee on State Sanatorium for Consumptives to the General Assembly, 1901
Item — Folder: 6 State Sanatorium for Consumptives 1901, 1904
Dates:
1901
Report of the Joint Special Committee on the State Asylum for the Insane Made to the General Assembly at its January Session, 1868
Item — Multiple Containers
Dates:
1868
Report of the Select Committee On Petitions relating to the Abolition of Slavery, 1839
Archival Record
Dates:
1839
Report of the Special Committee of the Senate Appointed to Investigate the Management of the State Institutions at Cranston
Digital Record
Identifier: 1636-622
Dates:
1888
Found in:
Rhode Island State Archives
Report of the Special Committee on a Site for a New State House made to the General Assembly at the January Session
Item — Folder: 42 Report of the Special Committee on a Site for a New State House made to the General Assembly at the January Session 1873
Identifier: 1636-822
Report of the Special Committee on Woman Suffrage, Etc. Made to the General Assembly at its January Session A.D., 1874
Item — Folder: 55 Report of the Special Committee on Woman Suffrage, Etc. Made to the General Assembly at its January Session A.D. 1874
Dates:
1874
Report Upon Public Schools and Education in Rhode Island, 1854
Item — Folder: 25. Report Upon Public Schools and Education in Rhode Island, 1854 (1636-1116)
Identifier: 1636-1116
Dates:
1854
Reports to the General Assembly, 1825-1890
Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Scope and Contents
From the Sub-Series:
Records received or reviewed during legislative sessions as submitted by members of the general assembly, federal, state or local officials, agencies & departments, civil, business or religious groups, private citizens or foreign governments. Includes proposed acts & resolutions, petition requests, memorials, annual reports of boards and commissions, official correspondence and communications received, committee appointments, transcripts of testimony, accounts & expenditures,...
Dates:
1825-1890
Reports to the General Assembly
Series — Box: Reports to the General Assembly index, 1901-1966
Identifier: C#00643
Abstract
Listing of reports to the General Assembly and miscellaneous papers that were housed in Room 333 and 314 of the State House when the State Archives were housed in those rooms.
Dates:
1901-1965
- Rhode Island Department of State
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