Government Vocabulary:
FOR NEW JERSEY
Royal- A colony that is under the DIRECT control of a King.
Self-Governing- Not under control of the King and the King did not appoint a government or council.
Proprietary- A King gives a person or group of people ownership of the land. Those people then rent out that land to pay the King. The owners act as the government.
Colonial Assembly- A representative body made up of elected officials from the colony. They would make laws and decisions on behalf of the colony.
Colonial Governor- An appointed official by the King to serve as the head of the colonial government. They would have the power to enforce laws and oversee the colony.
Charter- A formal document granted by the King, giving a colony certain rights and privileges. It outlines the framework for the colony's government and provides guidelines for its operation.
Crown Colony- A colony that is under direct control of the King. The King appoints a governor and a council to govern the colony, and they report directly to the King.
Town Meeting- A democratic gathering where residents of a town come together to discuss and make decisions on local issues. It is a form of direct democracy where everyone has a voice in shaping local policies.
County- A division of a state or territory, usually larger than a town or city, with its own government and administrative structure. Counties are responsible for providing local services and maintaining law and order within their boundaries.
State Legislature- The lawmaking branch of state government. It is typically made up of two houses (Senate and Assembly) and is responsible for creating and passing laws at the state level.
Governor- The highest-ranking official in the state government. The governor serves as the head of the executive branch and is responsible for implementing and enforcing state laws, along with managing the state's resources and representing the state to the public.
Judicial Branch- The branch of government responsible for interpreting and applying the law. It includes the courts and ensures that laws are fairly and consistently upheld.
Federalism- A system of government where power is divided between a central government and regional or state governments. Each level of government has its own powers and responsibilities, and they work together to govern the country or state.
Constitution- A set of fundamental principles or established precedents that govern the operation of a government or organization. It outlines the powers, structure, and limitations of the government and protects the rights and freedoms of individuals.
In New Jersey's government vocabulary, there are different terms that describe the type of governance.
1. Royal: A colony that is under the direct control of a King. This means that the King has authority over the colony, appoints the government, and makes important decisions.
2. Self-Governing: This term indicates that the colony is not under the control of the King. The King does not appoint a government or council, and the colony has the power to govern itself independently.
3. Proprietary: In this situation, the King grants ownership of the land to a person or a group of people. These owners then rent out the land and use the profits to pay the King. The owners also act as the government, making decisions about the colony's governance.
To understand these terms in the context of New Jersey's government history, it's important to study the colonial period when different forms of governance were prevalent.
1. Royal Colony: In the case of New Jersey, a royal colony referred to a settlement that was under the direct control of the King of England. The King appointed a government or council to oversee and govern the colony. The King had more authority and control over the affairs of the colony compared to other forms of governance.
An example of a royal colony in New Jersey was when King James II took control of the New Jersey territory in 1702, merging it with the territory of New York. From then until 1738, New Jersey was governed directly by the British monarchy.
2. Self-Governing: In contrast, self-governing colonies were not under the direct control of the King, nor did the King appoint a government or council to rule over them. These colonies enjoyed more autonomy and had the freedom to establish their own systems of government.
New Jersey experienced a self-governing period when it was initially founded. In 1664, King Charles II granted the territory to two individuals, Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. They became the owners and were responsible for governing the land. The proprietors, as they were called, acted as the government and had the authority to distribute land and set rules for the colony. During this time, the proprietors rented out the land to pay the King.
Understanding these terms helps shed light on the different forms of government that shaped New Jersey's colonial history. It highlights the varying degrees of control and autonomy that the King exerted over the colony and how different groups had ownership and governance responsibilities.