Talk:Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

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Ummmm first written constitution which created a government? You may argue that Herykian articles from 1576 were first... Szopen 14:22, 14 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Looking at the Yale Avalon Project [1], I cannot see why this is the first written constitution which created a government, even within North America. --Dlatimer 14:31, 29 October 2005 (UTC)

For example, this article from Britannica 1911 [2]:

the first representative assembly in North America, the Virginia House of Burgesses, a meeting of planters sent from the plantations to assist the governor in reforming and remaking the laws of the colony. In 1621 a constitution was granted whereby the London Company appointed the governor and a council, and the people were to choose annually from their counties, towns, hundreds and plantations delegates to the House of Burgesses ... in 1624 the king took the place and exercised the authority of the London Company

Strictly speaking, the document referred to in the Britanica quote would be a charter, not a constitution, as it was granted by a higher authority, not drafted by representatives of the populace of the state.

It's the same difference between say, the Constitution of the State of New York, and the Charter of the City of New York. The latter exists at the whims of the State legislature and can be changed unilaterally, whereas a true constitution exists a priori, whithout any higher law making body promulgating it.--oknazevad 22:16, 14 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] About the section named "See also"

There's a large chunk of it which is the same exact writing as the section above it, so I'm going to remove it.

[edit] Disputing the accuracy of this article...

...because even according to the U.S. Library of Congress, San Marino has the oldest constitution still in effect in the world: http://www.loc.gov/law/guide/sanmarino.html Viciouspiggy (talk) 04:18, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

I think that the article as it is now phrased is perhaps more accurate. Would you consider removing the tag? —Elipongo (Talk contribs) 00:38, 25 January 2008 (UTC)

I have a problem with the Jon Roland blog being considered a reliable source. Hopefully this can be compromised, otherwise I need to add back the tag. Thanks. SaltyBoatr (talk) 19:49, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Fair enough. I concede it's use for the verification of the "first written constitution" assertion as that's well enough explained by the citation from the Connecticut State Register, but I'd like to leave in it's explanation of Old Style Vs the New Style dating- it's a simple and clear explanation for something that I had to correct well meaning editors over a few times before it's addition. —Elipongo (Talk contribs) 20:11, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Is there another way to get that info? The Old Style V and Julian calendar info must certainly be able to be sourced elsewhere and just directly written into the article. I have a problem with using websites which run against WP:SPS policy. SaltyBoatr (talk) 21:17, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

I just put a suggested edit to this effect into the article, not set in stone, but to show you what I am thinking. Again, I can compromise this somewhat. SaltyBoatr (talk) 21:26, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Looks good to me, thanks! —Elipongo (Talk contribs) 02:11, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Liberalism

The section title 'Individual Rights' seems a bit 'original'. This concept, a precursor to the Age of Enlightenment I think is better known in scholarly circles as classic Political Liberalism. I suggest we call it that. SaltyBoatr (talk) 22:11, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Liberalism would likely have different connotations to the non-academic reader. The entire analysis could be labeled as original research since there isn't a single citation in the section, and I'm tagging it as such. I would venture that a properly referenced re-write is in order. —Elipongo (Talk contribs) 02:22, 1 February 2008 (UTC)