Excerpt from An Ordinance and Constitution of the Virginia Company in England, July 24, 1621
We therefore, the said treasurer, council, and company, by authority directed to us from his majesty under the great seal, upon mature deliberation, do hereby order and declare, that, from hence forward, there shall be two supreme councils in Virginia, for the better government of the said colony aforesaid.
The one of which councils, to be called the council of state (and whose office shall chiefly be assisting, with their care, advice, and circumspection, to the said governor) shall be chosen, nominated, placed, and displaced, from time to time, by us the said treasurer, council and company, and our successors:
The other council, more generally to be called by the governor, once yearly, and no oftener, but for very extraordinary and important occasions, shall consist for the present, of the said council of state, and of two burgesses out of every town, hundred, or other particular plantation, to be respectively chosen by the inhabitants: which council shall be called The General Assembly, wherein (as also in the said council of state) all matters shall be decided, determined, and ordered by the greater part of the voices then present; reserving to the governor always a negative voice. And this general assembly shall have free power, to treat, consult, and conclude, as well of all emergent occasions concerning the publick weal of the said colony and every part thereof, as also to make, ordain, and enact such general laws and orders, for the behoof of the said colony, and the good government thereof, as shall, from time to time, appear necessary or requisite;
Whereas in all other things, we require the said general assembly, as also the said council of state, to imitate and follow the policy of the form of government, laws, customs, and manner of trial, and other administration of justice, used in the realm of England, as near as may be even as ourselves, by his majesty's letters patent, are required. Provided, that no law or ordinance, made in the said general assembly, shall be or continue in force or validity, unless the same shall be solemnly ratified and confirmed, in a general quarter court of the said company here in England, and so ratified, be returned to them under our seal; it being our intent to afford the like measure also unto the said colony, that after the government of the said colony shall once have been well framed, and settled accordingly, which is to be done by us, as by authority derived from his majesty, and the same shall have been so by us declared, no orders of court afterwards, shall bind the said colony, unless they be ratified in like manner in the general assemblies.
In 1619, the House of Burgesses convened in Virginia. Two years later, English authorities issued this set of instructions to guide the conduct of the assembly and other institutions of colonial governance. Using the excerpt above, answer (A) and (B).
In 2-3 sentences, describe TWO ways that this text provides for limited forms of self-government and representative government in the Virginia Colony.
In 2-3 sentences, describe TWO efforts made to establish limited forms of self-government and representative government in other English colonies.
The lower house was elected by the people and helped make laws for the colony. The legislatures were involved in self-taxation for each individual colony
(A) Two ways that this text provides for limited forms of self-government and representative government in the Virginia Colony are:
1. The establishment of two supreme councils, the council of state and the General Assembly, which were responsible for the government of the colony. The members of these councils were appointed or elected by the inhabitants, providing a form of representation.
2. The General Assembly had the power to make laws and ordinances for the colony, as well as the authority to consult and conclude on matters concerning the public welfare. The governor had a negative voice, ensuring a balance of power.
(B) Two efforts made to establish limited forms of self-government and representative government in other English colonies are:
1. The Mayflower Compact (1620) in Plymouth Colony, which was an agreement among the colonists to create a government and abide by its laws. The signatories pledged to establish a representative government and make laws for the general good of the colony.
2. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639), which was the first written constitution in America. It established a representative government with a General Assembly, giving power to the people to elect their leaders and make decisions through popular consent.
(A) This text provides for limited forms of self-government and representative government in the Virginia Colony by establishing two supreme councils - the council of state and the general assembly. The council of state is chosen by the treasurer, council, and company, while the general assembly consists of the council of state and two burgesses chosen by the inhabitants, giving the colonists the opportunity to participate and have a say in the decision-making process.
(B) Two efforts made to establish limited forms of self-government and representative government in other English colonies include the Mayflower Compact in 1620 and the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut in 1639. The Mayflower Compact was a document signed by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower, which established a form of self-government and majority rule among themselves. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was the first written constitution in America and established a government based on the consent of the governed and the election of officials by freemen. Both of these efforts aimed to provide a system of representative government and limited self-governance in their respective colonies.