Founding Documents – Page 10 – The Constitution • Constitution.com

Declaration for Resignation of the Charter by the Council for New England – April 25, 1635

Forasmuch as we have found by a long experience that the faithful endeavors of some of us that have sought the advancement of the plantation of New England have not been without frequent and inevitable troubles of companions to our undertakings from our first discovery of that coast to the present by great charges and […]

Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations – July 15, 1663

[Note – the 1663 charter was used as the original state constitution until they formed a new state constitution in 1842 which was ratified in 1843.] CHARLES THE SECOND, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., to all to whome these presents shall come, greeting: […]

A Declaration of the True Intent and Meaning of us the Lords Proprietors, New Jersey – 1672

A Declaration of the True Intent and Meaning of us the Lords Proprietors, and Explanation of There Concessions Made to the Adventurers and Planters of New Caesarea or New Jersey-1672 I. That as to the 6th Article, it shall be in the power of the Governor and his Council to admit of all persons to […]

Duke of York’s Confirmation to the 24 Proprietors – 14th of March 1682

THIS INDENTURE made the fourteenth day of March, in the five and thirtieth Year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second, by the Grace of God of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Anno Domini 1682. Between his Royal Highness the most illustrious Prince James, Duke of York […]

Agreement of the Settlers at Exeter in New Hampshire, 1639

July 5, 1639 Whereas it hath pleased the Lord to moue the heart of our Dread Soveraigne Charles, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France & Ireland, to grant license & liberty to sundry of his subjects to plant themselves in the westerne partes of America: Wee, his loyall subjects, brethren of […]

The Duke of York’s Release to John Lord Berkeley, and Sir George Carteret, 24th of June, 1664

THIS INDENTURE made the four and twentieth day of June, in the sixteenth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, Charles the Second, by the grace of God of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith, &c., Annoq. Domini, 1664. Between His Royal Highness, James Duke of York, and Albany, Earl […]

The Concession and Agreement of the Lords Proprietors of the Province of New Caesarea, or New Jersey – 1664

The Concession and Agreement of the Lords Proprietors of the Province of New Caesarea, or New Jersey, to and With All and Every the Adventurers and All Such as Shall Settle or Plant There – 1664 IMPRIMUS. We do consent and agree, that the Governor of the said Province hath power, by the advice of […]

The Charter of Maryland – 1632

Charles, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, king, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these Presents come, Greeting. II. Whereas our well beloved and right trusty Subject Caecilius Calvert, Baron of Baltimore, in our Kingdom of Ireland, Son and Heir of George Calvert, Knight, late Baron of […]

The Charter of Massachusetts Bay – 1691

WILLIAM & MARY by the grace of God King and Queene of England Scotland France and Ireland Defenders of the Faith &c To all to whome these presents shall come Greeting Whereas his late Majesty King James the First Our Royall Predecessor by his Letters Patents vnder the Greate Seale of England bearing date at […]

The Charter of Massachusetts Bay – 1629

CHARLES, BY THE, GRACE, OF GOD, Kinge of England, Scotland, Fraunce, and Ireland, Defendor of the Fayth, &c. To all to whome theis Presents shall come Greeting. WHEREAS, our most Deare and Royall Father, Kinge James, of blessed Memory, by his Highnes Letters-patents bearing Date at Westminster the third Day of November, in the eighteenth […]

The Charter or Fundamental Laws, of West New Jersey, Agreed Upon – 1676

CHAPTER XIII THAT THESE FOLLOWING CONCESSIONS ARE THE COMMON LAW, OR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, OF THE PROVINCE OF WEST NEW JERSEY That the common law or fundamental rights and priviledges of West New Jersey, are individually agreed upon by the Proprietors and freeholders thereof, to be the foundation of the government, which is not to be […]

The First Charter of Virginia; April 10, 1606

JAMES, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. WHEREAS our loving and well-disposed Subjects, Sir Thorn as Gales, and Sir George Somers, Knights, Richard Hackluit, Clerk, Prebendary of Westminster, and Edward-Maria Wingfield, Thomas Hanharm and Ralegh Gilbert, Esqrs. William Parker, and George Popham, Gentlemen, and […]

Concessions to the Province of Pennsylvania – July 11, 1681

Certain conditions, or concessions, agreed upon by William Penn, Proprietary and Governor of the province of Pennsylvania, find those who are the adventurers and purchasers in the same province, the eleventh of July, one thousand six hundred and eighty-one. FIRST That so soon as it pleaseth God that the abovesaid persons arrive there, a certain […]

Charter for the Province of Pennsylvania-1681

[Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland Defender of the Faith &c To our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Chancellor Heneage Lord Finch our Chancellor of England greeting Wee will and comand you that under our Great Seale of England remaining in your Custody you cause our Letters […]

Duke of York’s Second Grant to William Penn – August 6, 1680

Duke of York’s Second Grant to William Penn, Gawn Lawry, Nicholas Lucas, John Eldridge, Edmund Warner, and Edward Byllynge, for the Soil and Government of West New Jersey – August 6, 1680 THIS indenture made the sixth day of August, Anno Domini, 168O, and in the two and thirtieth year of the reign of King […]

Frame of Government of Pennsylvania – May 5, 1682

The frame of the government of the province of Pensilvania, in America: together with certain laws agreed upon in England, by the Governor arid divers freemen of the aforesaid province. To be further explained and confirmed there, by the first provincial Council, that shall be held, if they see meet. The Preface When the great […]

Mayflower Compact, 1620

In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our […]

Magna Carta, 1215

Preamble: John, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, and count of Anjou, to the archbishop, bishops, abbots, earls, barons, justiciaries, foresters, sheriffs, stewards, servants, and to all his bailiffs and liege subjects, greetings. Know that, having regard to God and for the salvation of our […]

Texas Declaration of Independence, 1836

[Note – Texas has a unique constitutional history starting with their first constitution in 1827 when they were part of Mexico. The next constitution was enacted in 1836 for the independent Republic of Texas. Texas became the 28th state in December 1845. Their first state constitution was enacted in 1845. Since that time, they have […]

Rhode Island Charter, 1663

[Note – the 1663 charter was used as the original state constitution until they formed a new state constitution in 1842 which was ratified in 1843.] Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations – July 15, 1663 CHARLES THE SECOND, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the […]

Articles of Confederation

To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the undersigned Delegates of the States affixed to our Names send greeting. Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. I. […]