SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND.

PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLIES

The earliest Provincial legislative bodies were primary assemblies,
the Governor issuing; personal writs of summons to the members of
the Council and a few others, as often as he thought wise Some of
those thus summoned in person, such as commanders of hundreds,
were directed to encourage the attendance of such persons as they saw
fit, and to give all other freemen of the hundred the privilege to attend
in person or to choose delegates As a result many proxies were given,
and complaint arose that the Governor and Secretary were able to con
trol the Assembly Until 1650 the Proprietary claimed the sole right
of directing how the Assembly should be constituted, but in that year
and ever afterward each of the hundreds elected from one to three dele-
gates Thus the representative system was inaugurated

In the early years, all freemen, as well as freeholders, were not only
entitled to a seat in the Assembly, but were liable to fine for failure to
attend in person or by proxy. A property qualification was imposed in
1670 (Archly 5 77). and was required under the Constitution of 1776.
It was removed by an amendment to the Constitution, Act of 1801, ch
90, confirmed by Act of 1802, ch 20

By ch I of the Acts of 1650 the Assembly was divided into two
houses—the Upper House to stand for the rights and interests of the
Proprietary, while the Lower House stood for the rights and interests
of the People

The local unit of representation was the hundred until 1654, when
the county became the unit and the writs of election summoned from
one to four delegates from each county

Date Place Adjourned

1634/5 St Mary's ...No record
1637/8 January 25th St Mary's March 24th
1638/9 February 25th St Mary's, adjourned
same day to St John's March 19th

1640 October 12th St John's ......October 24th
1641/2' March 21st St Mary's March 23d

1641 August 2d St Mary's August 12th

1642 July l8th St Mary's August 2d
September 5th St Mary's September 13th

1643"
1644/5 February 11th St Mary's February 11th

1644"

1646 December 29th St Inigoe's Jan 2d, 1646-7
1647/8 January 7th St John's, March 4th

1 It was declared by the House at this session that the House of Assembly may
not be adjourned or prorogued but by and with the consent of the House (Arch
ives 1117 )

2 Proclamation issued for Assembly on February 3d but it was recalled by later
proclamation Another proclamation was issued for April id but no record of
meeting exists (Archives 1201)

3 Proclamation for Assembly to be held on December 3d No record of meeting
(Archives, 1 901 )

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