Explanatory charter
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Explanatory Charter
King George I systemized the Explanatory Charter of Massachusetts Bay on August 26, 1725. The charter modified the existing William and Mary Charter, which prolonged original rights approved to the colony of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. By name, “explanatory” means to explain.
The Province of Massachusetts Bay believed in the crown, instead of the colony, the choice of the governor, and ability to unite Nova Scotia to the royal province of Massachusetts Bay. The modification of the William and Mary Charter enabled the governor the power to suspend the House of Representatives, ability of the House of Representatives to decide on their speaker, subject to the governor’s approval, and to adjourn for no more than two days.
In 1774, the British Parliament approved the “Intolerable Acts,” due to the outcome of the Boston Tea Party. Following the approval of the “Intolerable Acts,” the Explanatory Charter of Massachusetts was adjusted again forty-nine years later, in 1774.
Soon after the modification of the Explanatory Charter, the royal governor, General Thomas Gage and the House of Representatives took a final split in the same year. The result of the split was the establishment of the first Provincial Congress.
In the year 1766, another attempt was made to further modify the Explanatory Charter of Massachusetts Bay. The result was the choice of the council and superior court judges to be taken away from the legislature, appointment of sheriffs given to the governor, the selection of juries to the sheriffs, and forbade town meetings, except for elections or by special permission of the governor.
"Charter of Massachusetts Bay, 1629." United States History Index. 8 Feb. 2007
<http://www.vlib.us/amdocs/texts/massbay_note.html>.
Galvin, William Francis. "Massachusetts Archives Collection." Massachusetts
Archives. 8 Feb. 2007 <http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arccol/
colmac.htm>.
