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 ofhers 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 ofher 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 systm was inaugurated.

In the early years oil 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 (Archiv. 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.

Dates. Place. Adjourned.
1634-5 .........................St. Mary's. ...........No record.
1637-8 January 25...............St. Mary's. .......... .March 24.
1638-9 February 25.. ........... St. Mary's, adjourned

same day to St. John's, Mar, 19.
1641 August 2................ St. John's. ........... .October 24.
1640 October 12............... St. Mary's. .......... .March 23.
1641-21 March 21................ St. Mary's. .......... .August 12.
1642 July 18.................. St. Mary's. .......... .August 2.

September 5..............St. Mary's. .......... .Sept. 13.
16432 .........................

1644-5 February II............. .St. Mary's. .......... .February II.
16443 .........................

1646 December 29.... ..........St. Inigoe's. ......... .March 4.
1647-8 January 7................ St. John's.............March 4.

lit was declared by the House at this session that the House of Assembly
may net be adjourned or prorogued but by and with the consent of the
House. (.Archives, 1:117.)

2 Proclamatlon Issued tor Assembly on February 3d, but it was recalled by
later proclamation. Another proclamation was Issued for April 3d, but no
record of meeting exists. (Archives, 1:201.)

3 Proclamatlon for Assembly to be held on December 3d. No record of meet-
ing. (Archives, 1:201.)