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Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
January 14, 1639
Forasmuch as it hath pleased the Allmight God by the wise disposition
of his divyne pruvidence so to Order and dispose of things that we the
Inhabitants and Residents of Windsor, Harteford and Wethersfield are
now cohabiting and dwelling in and uppon the River of Conectecotte
and the Lands thereunto adioyneing; And well knowing where a people
are gathered togather the word of God requires that to mayntayne the
peace and union of such a people there should be an orderly and decent
Government established according to God, to order and dispose of the
affayres of the people at all seasons as occation shall require; doe therefore assotiate and conioyne our selves to be as one Publike State or Commonwelth; and doe, for our selves and our Successors and such as shall
be adioyned to us att any tyme hereafter, enter into Combination and
Confederation togather, to mayntayne and presearve the liberty and purity of the gospell of our Lord Jesus which we now professe, as also the
disciplyne of the Churches, which according to the truth of the said gospell is now practised amongst us; As also is our Civell Affaires to be
guided and governed according to such Lawes, Rules, Orders and decrees as shall be made, ordered & decreed, as followeth:—
1. It is Ordered . . . that there shall be yerely two generall Assemblies
or Courts, the one the second thursday in September, following; the first
shall be called the Courte of Election, wherein shall be yerely Chosen . . .
soe many Magestrats and other publike Officers as shall be found requisitte: Whereof one to be chosen Governour for the yeare ensueing and untill another be chosen, and noe other Magestrate to be chosen for more
than one yeare; provided allwayes there be sixe chosen besids the Governour; which being chosen and sworne according to an Oath recorded
for that purpose shall have power to administer justice according to the
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