History of North Carolina |
---|
The North Carolina General Assembly of the U.S. state of North Carolina has convened many times since the state declared its independence from the British Crown and established a constitution in December 1776 during the Fifth North Carolina Provincial Congress. [1]
Prior to 1957, the General Assembly convened in January at a time fixed by the Constitution of North Carolina. From 1957 through 1967, sessions convened in February at a time fixed by the Constitution. The 1969 General Assembly was the first to convene on a date fixed by law after elimination of the constitutionally fixed date. The assembly now convenes on the third Wednesday after the second Monday in January after the November election.
The new General Assembly, which first convened in April 1777, consisted of a Senate, which had one member from each county (regardless of population), and a House of Commons, which had two members representing each county, plus one each from certain towns/districts. [2]
The following table shows when and where the North Carolina General Assembly met. The numbered order indicates a new election. [1] [9] [2] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Election Order | Assembly Link | Location | Dates of Sessions | Comments about assemblies and legislation [10] [15] [16] | Image | Last Election | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Carolina Constitution of 1776 | |||||||
1 | 1777 | New Bern |
| This assembly probably met in the Tryon Palace after it was vacated by the British. Created Burke, Camden, Caswell, Nash, and Wilkes counties. Total of 38 counties and seven Districts were represented in the assembly. The assembly elected the Councilors of State. The governor was elected in the Fifth North Carolina Provincial Congress. | |||
2 | 1778 |
| This assembly established the following counties in their last session in 1779: Franklin, Gates, Jones, Lincoln, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Rutherford, Warren, and Wayne counties. The assembly elected the governor and councilors of state per the state constitution of 1776. | ||||
3 | 1779 |
|
| ||||
4 | 1780–1781 |
|
| The journals for this assembly are missing. [18] [19] | |||
5 | 1781 | Wake Court House | June 23 – July 14, 1781 | The town of Wake Court House later became Bloomsbury, which is currently a historic district in Raleigh. | |||
6 | 1782 | Hillsboro | April 15 – May 18, 1782 | ||||
7 | 1783 | Hillsboro | April 18 – May 17, 1783 | This assembly created Davidson and Greene counties. | |||
8 | April 1784 | New Bern | April 19 – June 3, 1784 | Davidson County and Greene County sent delegates to the NC General Assembly for the first time in 1784. During 1784, the assembly created Moore County and Sampson County. These two counties also sent delegates to the NC General Assembly for the first time in 1784. | |||
9 | October 1784 | New Bern | October 25 – November 26, 1784 | ||||
10 | 1785 | New Bern | November 19 – December 29, 1785 | During 1785, the assembly created Rockingham County. | |||
11 | 1786 | Fayetteville | November 20, 1786 – January 6, 1787 | In 1786, Rockingham County sent its first delegates to the assembly. | |||
12 | 1787 | Tarboro | November 19 – December 22, 1787 | During 1786, the assembly created Hawkins County and Sumner County. These two counties sent their first delegates to the NC General Assembly in 1787. During the earlier 1786/1787 session, the assembly created Robeson County, and its first delegates showed up later in the same session. | |||
13 | 1788 | Fayetteville | November 3 – December 6, 1788 | This assembly created Iredell County and Tennessee County, North Carolina. | |||
14 | 1789 | Fayetteville | November 2 – December 22, 1789 | Iredell and Tennessee counties sent their first delegates to the assembly. Fayetteville was added as a city/borough with a Senator. This General Assembly ceded the lands west of the Appalachian Mountains to the U.S. Government as part of North Carolina's national debt. This assembly elected the first two U.S. senators from North Carolina and established a process for the people to elect five members to the U.S. House of Representatives in early 1790. This assembly established the University of North Carolina and appropriated funds for the initial buildings. | |||
15 | 1790 | Fayetteville | November 1 – December 15, 1790 | During 1789, the assembly created Stokes County. In 1790, Stokes County sent its first delegates to the NC General Assembly. This was also the first General Assembly that allowed the Borough Town of Fayetteville to elect and send a delegate to the House of Representatives. Also during 1789, North Carolina ceded seven counties on the western side of the Appalachian Mountains to the newly-established "Southwest Territory," which later became the state of Tennessee in 1796: Davidson, Greene, Hawkins, Sullivan, Sumner, Tennessee, and Washington. These seven counties no longer sent delegates to the NC General Assembly. | |||
16 | 1791-1792 | New Bern | December 5, 1791 – January 19, 1792 | ||||
17 | 1792-1793 | New Bern | November 15 – January 1, 1793 | During 1791, the assembly created four new counties: Buncombe, Glasgow, Lenoir, and Person. These four counties sent their first delegates to the NC General Assembly in 1792. | |||
18 | 1793-1794 | Fayetteville | December 2, 1793 – January 11, 1794 | ||||
19 | 1794-1795 | Raleigh | December 30, 1794 – February 7, 1795 | This was the first assembly to meet in the newly completed North Carolina State House in Raleigh. | |||
20 | 1795 | Raleigh | November 2 – December 9, 1795 | ||||
21 | 1796 | Raleigh | November 21 – December 25, 1796 | ||||
22 | 1797 | Raleigh | November 20 – December 23, 1797 | ||||
23 | 1798 | Raleigh | November 19 – December 24, 1798 | ||||
24 | 1799 | Raleigh | November 18 – December 23, 1799 | ||||
25 | 1800 | Raleigh | November 17 – December 20, 1800 | During 1799, the assembly created two new counties: Ashe and Washington. Also in 1799, Glasgow County was renamed to Greene County. In 1800, these three counties sent their first delegates to the NC General Assembly. | |||
26 | 1801 | Raleigh | November 16 – December 19, 1801 | ||||
27 | 1802 | Raleigh | November 15 – December 18, 1802 | ||||
28 | 1803 | Raleigh | November 21 – December 22, 1803 | ||||
29 | 1804 | Raleigh | November 19 – December 19, 1804 | ||||
30 | 1805 | Raleigh | November 18 – December 21, 1805 | ||||
31 | 1806 | Raleigh | November 17 – December 21, 1806 | ||||
32 | 1807 | Raleigh | November 16 – December 18, 1807 | ||||
33 | 1808 | Raleigh | November 21 – December 23, 1808 | Jacob Henry was the first Jewish American in the assembly, serving in the House of Commons for Buncombe County. See also, Jacob Henry House. [20] | |||
34 | 1809 | Raleigh | November 20 – December 23, 1809 | In 1808, the assembly created two new counties - Columbus and Haywood. Both sent new delegates to the General Assembly in 1809. | |||
35 | 1810 | Raleigh | November 19 – December 22, 1810 | ||||
36 | 1811 | Raleigh | November 18 – December 23, 1811 | This was the first General Assembly to meet in the newly renovated North Carolina State House in Raleigh. | |||
37 | 1812 | Raleigh | November 16 – December 25, 1812 | ||||
38 | 1813 | Raleigh | November 15 – December 25, 1813 | ||||
39 | 1814 | Raleigh | November 21 – December 27, 1814 | ||||
40 | 1815 | Raleigh | November 20 – December 21, 1815 | ||||
41 | 1816 | Raleigh | November 18 – December 28, 1816 | ||||
42 | 1817 | Raleigh | November 17 – December 24, 1817 | ||||
43 | 1818 | Raleigh | November 16 – December 26, 1818 | ||||
44 | 1819 | Raleigh | November 15 – December 25, 1819 | ||||
45 | 1820 | Raleigh | November 20 – December 25, 1820 | ||||
46 | 1821-1822 | Raleigh | November 19, 1821 – January 1, 1822 | ||||
47 | 1822 | Raleigh | November 18 – December 31, 1822 | ||||
48 | 1823-1824 | Raleigh | November 17, 1823 – January 1, 1824 | In 1822, the assembly created Davidson County. In 1823, Davidson County sent their first delegates to the NC General Assembly. | |||
49 | 1824-1825 | Raleigh | November 15, 1824 – January 5, 1825 | ||||
50 | 1825-1826 | Raleigh | November 21, 1825 – January 4, 1826 | ||||
51 | 1826-1827 | Raleigh | December 25, 1826 – February 12, 1827 | ||||
52 | 1827-1828 | Raleigh | November 19, 1827 – January 7, 1828 | ||||
53 | 1828-1829 | Raleigh | November 17, 1828 – January 10, 1829 | ||||
54 | 1829-1830 | Raleigh | November 16, 1829 – January 8, 1830 | During 1828, the assembly created Macon County. In 1829, Macon County sent their first delegates to the NC General Assembly. | |||
55 | 1830-1831 | Raleigh | November 15, 1830 – January 8, 1831 | ||||
56 | 1831-1832 | Raleigh | November 21, 1831 – January 14, 1832 | ||||
57 | 1832-1833 | Raleigh | November 18, 1832 – January 11, 1833 | ||||
58 | 1833-1834 | Raleigh | November 18, 1833 – January 13, 1834 | 1832 assembly not listed. | |||
59 | 1834-1835 | Raleigh | November 17, 1834 – January 10, 1835 | During 1833, the assembly created Yancey County. In 1834, Yancey County sent its first delegates to the NC General Assembly. | |||
60 | 1835 | Raleigh | November 16 – December 22, 1835 | This was the last assembly to have representatives from Districts, i.e. Edenton, Fayetteville, Halifax, Hillsborough, New Bern, Salisbury, and Wilmington. | |||
61 | 1836–1837 | Raleigh | November 21, 1836 – January 23, 1837 | Per the North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835, the House of Commons was authorized a total of one hundred-twenty (120) delegates. Each county was authorized a minimum of one delegate, while the most populous counties were authorized four delegates. Each delegate was elected for a two year term of office. During the 1836 session, the assembly created Davie County, but it was not until 1842 that Davie County began sending delegates to the General Assembly. | |||
62 | 1838-1839 | Raleigh | November 19, 1838 – January 8, 1839 | During the 1838 session, the assembly created Henderson County, but it was not until 1844 that Henderson County began sending delegates to the General Assembly. During the 1839 session, the assembly created Cherokee County, and they sent their first delegates to the 1840 General Assembly. | |||
63 | 1840-1841 | Raleigh | November 16, 1840 – January 12, 1841 | This assembly was the first to meet in the newly constructed North Carolina State Capitol in Raleigh, which was built after the destruction of the North Carolina State House in 1831. Although it was created in 1838, according to most sources, Cherokee County began sending its delegate to the NC General Assembly during the 1840 session. No other county giving up a delegate in this session, so Cherokee County may not have actually been authorized to send a delegate during this session - or - the NC General Assembly proceeded with 121 delegates. During the 1841 session, the assembly created Caldwell County, Cleveland County, and Stanly County. Caldwell County began sending delegates to the NC General Assembly in 1842. Cleveland County and Stanly County began sending delegates to the NC General Assembly in 1844. | |||
64 | 1842-1843 | Raleigh | November 21, 1842 – January 28, 1843 | Davie County was established in 1836, but it did not begin sending any delegates to the NC General Assembly until 1842. Caldwell County was established in 1841, and it began sending its delegates to the NC General Assembly in 1842. During 1842, the assembly created Catawba County, McDowell County, and Union County. McDowell County sent its first delegates to the NC General Assembly in 1852. Catawba County and Union County began sending their first delegates to the NC General Assembly in 1854. | |||
65 | 1844-1845 | Raleigh | November 18, 1844 – January 10, 1845 | The reapportioning of the North Carolina House of Commons based upon the 1840 US Census was finally completed and implemented this year, and there were plenty of changes. With the creation of new counties since the last reapportionment, many existing counties had to give up one delegate to retain the number of members as stipulated in the latest NC State Constitution (120). However, Cabarrus County added one delegate. Although Henderson County was established in 1838, and Cleveland County and Stanly County were established in 1841, all three began sending their first delegates to the NC General Assembly in 1844. | |||
66 | 1846-1847 | Raleigh | November 16, 1846 – January 18, 1847 | ||||
67 | 1848-1849 | Raleigh | November 20, 1848 – January 27, 1849 | Although Catawba County was established in 1842, it did not begin sending its first delegates to the General Assembly until 1848. | |||
68 | 1850-1851 | Raleigh | November 18, 1850 – January 29, 1851 | ||||
69 | 1852 | Raleigh | October 4 – December 27, 1852 | ||||
70 | 1854-1855 | Raleigh | November 20, 1854 – February 16, 1855 | Although McDowell County and Union County were established in 1842; Gaston County was established in 1846; Alexander County was established in 1847; Alamance, Forsyth, and Watauga Counties were established in 1849; Yadkin County was established in 1850; and, Jackson County and Madison County were established in 1851; all ten counties began sending their first delegates to the General Assembly in 1854. | |||
71 | 1856-1857 | Raleigh | November 17, 1856 – February 3, 1857 | In 1856, the Assembly eliminated the requirement to own property in order to vote; however, only tax payers could vote. [21] [3] | |||
72 | 1858-1859 | Raleigh | November 15, 1858 – February 17, 1859 | ||||
73 | 1860–1861 | Raleigh | November 19, 1860 – February 25, 1861. | Extra Session: May 1, 1861 – May 13, 1861. Extra Session: August 15, 1861 – September 23, 1861 This General Assembly decided that each county should vote for special delegates who would decide whether North Carolina should secede from the Union. On May 20, 1861, those special delegates convened in Raleigh and voted unanimously that the state would no longer be a part of the United States of America. [3] | |||
74 | 1862–1864 | Raleigh | November 17 – December 22, 1862 | Extra Sessions: January 19 – February 12, 1863; June 30 – July 7, 1863; November 23 – December 14, 1863; and May 17–30, 1864. | |||
75 | 1864-1865 | Raleigh | November 21 – December 23, 1864 | Extra Sessions: January 17 – February 7, 1865 and May 17–28, 1865. | |||
76 | 1865-1866 | Raleigh | November 27 – December 18, 1865. | Extra Session: January 18 – March 12, 1866 This was the first General Assembly to meet after the US Civil War, and Reconstruction was just beginning. Although Harnett County had been established in 1855, it was not until 1865 that Harnett County sent their first delegates to the NC General Assembly. As a result, Cumberland County had to give up one member in the House of Commons. | |||
77 | 1866-1867 | Raleigh | November 19 – December 24, 1866 | Extra Session: January 22 – March 4, 1867 On March 4, 1867, the Reconstruction Acts of the U.S. Congress stipulated that North Carolina would be part of the Second Military District until they ratified the 14th Amendment. | |||
North Carolina Constitution of 1868 | |||||||
78 | 1868–1869 | Raleigh | November 16, 1868 – April 12, 1869 | The House of Commons was renamed the House of Representatives. The assembly had extra Session from July 1 to August 24, 1868, in which they ratified the 14th Amendment. Although they had been established several years earlier, the following counties sent their first delegates to the 1868 General Assembly: Alleghany, Clay, Mitchell, Polk, Transylvania, and Wilson. This was the first assembly to have Black members in the house and senate. North Carolina was re-admitted to the Union on July 4, 1868 when they ratified the 14th Amendment. | |||
79 | 1869-1870 | Raleigh | November 15, 1869 – March 28, 1870 | ||||
80 | 1870-1872 | Raleigh | November 21, 1870 – April 6, 1871 | Extra Session: November 20, 1871 – February 18, 1872. Governor William Woods Holden was impeached by the House on December 14, 1870 and convicted by the Senate on March 22, 1871. Governor Holden was the first governor to be convicted and removed from office in the United States. | |||
81 | 1872-1874 | Raleigh | November 18, 1872 – March 3, 1873 | Extra Session: November 17, 1873 – February 16, 1874 Dare County and Swain County sent their first delegates to this General Assembly. | |||
82 | 1874-1875 | Raleigh | November 16, 1874 – March 22, 1875 | ||||
83 | 1876-1877 | Raleigh | November 20, 1876 – March 12, 1877 | Pender County was established in 1875, and it sent their first delegates to the 1876 NC General Assembly. As a result, New Hanover County had to give up one member in the House of Representatives. | |||
84 | 1879-1880 | Raleigh | January 8, 1879 – March 14, 1879 | Extra Session: March 15 – March 29, 1880. | |||
85 | 1881 | Raleigh | January 5 – March 14, 1881 | Durham County was established in 1881 and it sent their first delegates to this NC General Assembly. Orange County had to give up one member of the House of Representatives as a result. | |||
86 | 1883 | Raleigh | January 3 – March 12, 1883 | Although Graham County and Pamlico County were established in 1872, and Vance County was established in 1881, all three sent their first delegates to the 1883 NC General Assembly. | |||
87 | 1885 | Raleigh | January 7 – March 11, 1885 | ||||
88 | 1887 | Raleigh | January 5 – March 7, 1887 | ||||
89 | 1889 | Raleigh | January 9 – March 11, 1889 | ||||
90 | 1891 | Raleigh | January 7 – March 9, 1891 | ||||
91 | 1893 | Raleigh | January 4 – March 6, 1893 | ||||
92 | 1895 | Raleigh | January 9 – March 13, 1895 | ||||
93 | 1897 | Raleigh | January 6 – March 9, 1897 | ||||
94 | 1899–1900 | Raleigh | January 4 – March 8, 1899 | ||||
95 | 1901 | Raleigh | January 9 – March 15, 1901 | Scotland County was established in 1899 and it sent their first delegates to the 1901 General Assembly. As a result, Richmond County had to give up one member in the House of Representatives. | |||
96 | 1903 | Raleigh | January 7 – March 9, 1903 | ||||
97 | 1905 | Raleigh | January 4 – March 6, 1905 | ||||
98 | 1907-1908 | Raleigh | January 9-March 11 | Extra Session: January 21 – February 1, 1908. | |||
99 | 1909 | Raleigh | January 6 – March 9, 1909 | ||||
100 | 1911 | Raleigh | January 4 – March 8, 1911 | ||||
101 | 1913 | Raleigh | January 8 – March 12, 1913 | Extra Session: September 24, 1913 Although Lee County was established in 1907, and Avery County and Hoke County were established in 1911, all three began sending their first delegates to this General Assembly. | |||
102 | 1915 | Raleigh | January 6 – March 9, 1915 | ||||
103 | 1917 | Raleigh | January 3 – March 7, 1917 | ||||
104 | 1919-1920 | Raleigh | January 8 – March 11, 1919 | Extra Session: August 10–26, 1920. | |||
105 | 1921 | Raleigh | January 5 – March 9, 1921 | First female representative in the House of Representatives, Lillian Exum Clement. | |||
106 | 1923-1924 | Raleigh | January 3 – March 6, 1923 | Extra Session: August 7–23, 1924. | |||
107 | 1925 | Raleigh | January 7 – March 10, 1925 | ||||
108 | 1927 | Raleigh | January 5 – March 9, 1927 | ||||
109 | 1929 | Raleigh | January 9 – March 19, 1929 | ||||
110 | 1931 | Raleigh | January 7 – May 27, 1931 | Gertrude Dills McKee was the first female Senator. | |||
111 | 1933 | Raleigh | January 4 – May 15, 1933 | ||||
112 | 1935-1936 | Raleigh | January 9 – May 11, 1935 | Extra Session: December 10–16, 1936. | |||
113 | 1937-1938 | Raleigh | January 6 – March 23, 1937 | Extra Session: March 8 – August 13, 1938. | |||
114 | 1939 | Raleigh | January 4 – April 4, 1939 | ||||
115 | 1941 | Raleigh | January 8 – March 15, 1941 | ||||
116 | 1943 | Raleigh | January 6 – March 10, 1943 | ||||
117 | 1945 | Raleigh | January 3 – March 12, 1945 | ||||
118 | 1947 | Raleigh | January 8 – April 5, 1947 | ||||
119 | 1949 | Raleigh | January 5 – April 23, 1949 | ||||
120 | 1951 | Raleigh | January 3 – April 14, 1951 | ||||
121 | 1953 | Raleigh | January 7 – April 30, 1953 | ||||
122 | 1955-1956 | Raleigh | January 5 – May 26, 1955 | Extra Session: July 23–27, 1956. | |||
123 | 1957 | Raleigh | February 6 – June 12, 1957 | ||||
124 | 1959 | Raleigh | February 4 – June 20, 1959 | ||||
125 | 1961 | Raleigh | February 8 – June 22, 1961 | This General Assembly was the last to meet in the North Carolina State Capital building in Raleigh. | |||
126 | 1963 | Raleigh | February 6 – June 26, 1963 | This was the first assembly to meet in the newly completed North Carolina State Legislative Building in Raleigh. | |||
127 | 1965-1966 | Raleigh | February 3 – June 17, 1965 | Extra Session: November 15–17, 1965. Second Extra Session: January 10–14, 1966. | |||
128 | 1967 | Raleigh | February 8 – July 6, 1967 | ||||
129 | 1969 | Raleigh | January 15 – July 2, 1969 | ||||
130 | 1971 | Raleigh | January 13 – October 30, 1971 | ||||
North Carolina Constitution of 1971 | |||||||
131 | 1973-1974 | Raleigh |
| Beginning at this General Assembly, the assembly met in both years from henceforth. | |||
132 | 1975-1976 | Raleigh |
| ||||
133 | 1977-1978 | Raleigh |
| ||||
134 | 1979-1980 | Raleigh |
| ||||
135 | 1981-1982 | Raleigh |
| Extra Sessions: October 29–30, 1981; February 9–11, 1982; June 2–28, 1982. | |||
136 | 1983-1984 | Raleigh |
| Extra Session: August 26, 1983 (one day). | |||
137 | 1985-1986 | Raleigh |
| ||||
138 | 1987-1988 | Raleigh |
| ||||
139 | 1989-1990 | Raleigh |
| Extra Session: December 7, 1989 (one day). | |||
140 | 1991-1992 | Raleigh |
| Extra Session: December 30, 1991 – February 3, 1992. | |||
141 | 1993-1994 | Raleigh |
| Extra Session February 8 – March 26, 1994. | |||
142 | 1995-1996 | Raleigh |
| Daniel F. McComas was the first Hispanic member of the House of Representatives. Extra Session: February 21, 1996 (one day). | |||
143 | 1997-1998 | Raleigh |
| Extra Session: March 24 – April 30, 1998. | |||
144 | 1999-2000 | Raleigh |
| Extra Session: April 5, 2000 | |||
145 | 2001–2002 | Raleigh |
| Beverly Eaves Perdue was the first female North Carolina Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate. Extra Session: May 14 – November 26, 2002. | November 2000: House, Senate | ||
146 | 2003–2004 | Raleigh |
| Extra Sessions: November 24–25, 2003; December 9–10, 2003; November 4, 2004 (one day). | November 2002: House, Senate | ||
147 | 2005–2006 | Raleigh |
| November 2004: House, Senate | |||
148 | 2007–2008 | Raleigh |
| Extra Sessions: September 10–11, 2007; March 20, 2008 (one day). | November 2006: House, Senate | ||
149 | 2009–2010 | Raleigh |
| November 2008: House, Senate | |||
150 | 2011–2012 | Raleigh |
| Extra Session: January 4 – February 18, 2012. | November 2010: House, Senate | ||
151 | 2013–2014 | Raleigh |
| Extra Session: September 3–4, 2013. | November 2012: House, Senate | ||
152 | 2015–2016 | Raleigh |
| November 2014: House, Senate | |||
153 | 2017–2018 | Raleigh |
| November 2016: House, Senate | |||
154 | 2019–2020 | Raleigh | January 9 – July 12, 2019 [2] | November 2018: House, Senate | |||
155 | 2021–2022 | Raleigh | January 13 – | November 2020: House, Senate | |||
156 | 2023–2024 | Raleigh | January 11 – | November 2022: House, Senate | |||
157 | 2025–2026 | November 2024: House, Senate |
Several state conventions were held to ratify state and national constitutions: [1] [10]
The North Carolina General Assembly is the bicameral legislature of the state government of North Carolina. The legislature consists of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The General Assembly meets in the North Carolina State Legislative Building in Raleigh.
Richard Caswell was an American politician and lawyer who served as the first and fifth governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1776 to 1780 and from 1785 to 1787. He also served as a senior officer of militia in the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War. As a delegate to the First Continental Congress, he was a signatory of the 1774 Continental Association.
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1779 met in three sessions in three locations in the years 1779 and 1780. The first session was held in Smithfield from May 3 to May 15, 1779; the second session in Halifax, from October 18 to November 10, 1779; the third and final session in New Bern, from January to February, 1780.
John Baptist Ashe was an American politician and military officer from Halifax, North Carolina.
The president pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate is the highest-ranking officer of one house of the North Carolina General Assembly. The president of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, but the president pro tempore actually holds most of the power and presides in the absence of the Lt. Governor. The president pro tempore, a senior member of the party with a majority of seats, appoints senators to committees and also appoints certain members of state boards and commissions. From 1777 to 1868, North Carolina had no Lieutenant Governor, and the highest-ranking officer of the Senate was known as the "Speaker". The Speaker of the Senate was next in line if the office of Governor became vacant. This occurred on two occasions.
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1780-1781 was the fourth elected legislative body of the State of North Carolina. The assembly consisted of a Senate and House of Commons that met in three sessions in at least two locations in the years 1780 and 1781. Each of the existing 50 North Carolina counties were authorized to elect one Senator and two members of the House of Commons. In addition, six districts also elected one House member each. The first two sessions were probably held in New Bern, North Carolina in April and September 1780. The third session met in Halifax from January 27, 1781 – February 13, 1781.
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1836–1837 met in the Government House in Raleigh from November 21, 1836 to January 23, 1837. The assembly consisted of the 120 members of the North Carolina House of Commons and 50 senators of North Carolina Senate elected by the voters in August 1836. During the 1836 session, the legislature created Davie County, but it was not until 1842 that Davie County began sending delegates to the General Assembly. William H. Haywood, Jr was elected speaker of the House of Commons and Charles Manley was elected clerk. Hugh Waddell was elected President of the Senate and Thomas G. Stone was elected Clerk. Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. was the Governor in 1835 and 1836. He was elected by the previous legislature. In 1837, the Governor of North Carolina, Edward Bishop Dudley from New Hanover County, was elected, for the first time, by the people vice the legislature. The Whigs would control North Carolina politics until 1850. While in power, their notable achievements included funding railroads and roads, public education, and State chartered banks.
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1781 met in Wake Court House from June 23 to July 14, 1781. Each of the 50 North Carolina counties were allowed one Senator and two members of the House of Commons; 6 districts/boroughs towns also elected one House member each.
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1860–1861 met in Raleigh, North Carolina in regular session from November 19, 1860, to February 25, 1861. They met in extra sessions from May 1, 1861, to May 13, 1861, and from August 15, 1861, to September 23, 1861. This General Assembly decided that each county should vote for special delegates who would decide whether North Carolina should secede from the Union. On May 20, 1861, those special delegates convened in Raleigh and voted unanimously that the state would no longer be a part of the United States of America.
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1782 was the state legislature that first convened in Hillsborough, North Carolina, on April 15, 1782, and concluded on May 18, 1782. Members of the North Carolina Senate and the North Carolina House of Commons were elected by eligible North Carolina voters.
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1783 was the state legislature that convened in Hillsboro, North Carolina from April 18, 1783, to May 17, 1783. Members of the North Carolina Senate and the North Carolina House of Commons were elected by eligible North Carolina voters. This was the last assembly to meet during the American Revolution. Much of their time was devoted to taking care of the North Carolina soldiers that fought in the war.
The Second North Carolina Provincial Congress was the second extra-legal unicameral body of the North Carolina Provincial Congress that met beginning in 1774. They were modeled after the colonial lower house. These congresses created a government structure, issued bills of credit to pay for the movement, and organized an army for defense, in preparation for the state of North Carolina. These congresses paved the way for the first meeting of the North Carolina General Assembly on April 7, 1777 in New Bern, North Carolina. The second Congress met in New Bern from April 3 to April 7, 1775.
The Fourth North Carolina Provincial Congress was one of five extra-legal unicameral bodies that met beginning in the summer of 1774 through 1776. They were modeled after the colonial lower house. These congresses created a government structure, issued bills of credit to pay for the movement, organized an army for defense, wrote a constitution and bill of rights that established the state of North Carolina, and elected their first acting governor in the fifth congress that met in 1776. These congresses paved the way for the first meeting of the North Carolina General Assembly on April 7, 1777 in New Bern, North Carolina. The Fourth Congress met in Halifax from April 4 to May 14, 1776. Samuel Johnston served as president, with Allen Jones as vice-president.
The North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835 was a meeting of delegates elected by eligible voters in counties in the United States state of North Carolina to amend the Constitution of North Carolina written in 1776 by the Fifth North Carolina Provincial Congress. They met in Raleigh, North Carolina from June 4, 1835, to July 11, 1835, and approved several amendments to the constitution that were voted on and approved by the voters of North Carolina on November 9, 1835. These amendments improved the representation of the more populous counties in the Piedmont and western regions of the state and, for the first time, provided for the election of the governor by popular vote rather than election by the members of the General Assembly.
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1835 met in Raleigh from November 16, 1835 to December 22, 1835. The assembly consisted of the 137 members of the North Carolina House of Commons and 65 senators of North Carolina Senate elected by the voters in August 1835. This was the last assembly elected before the amendments to the Constitution of North Carolina from the North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835 took effect. Thus, the House of Commons included representatives from towns and the number of members of the house was greater than 120. William H. Haywood, Jr was elected speaker of the House of Commons and Charles Manley was elected clerk. William D. Mosely was elected President of the Senate and William J. Cowan was elected Clerk. Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. was elected the Governor by the assembly and served from December 10, 1835 to December 31, 1836. He was the last governor of North Carolina to be elected by the General Assembly.
The North Carolina General Assembly of April to June 1784 met in New Bern from April 19 to June 3, 1784. The assembly consisted of the 120 members of the North Carolina House of Commons and 50 senators of North Carolina Senate elected by the voters in April 1784. As prescribed by the 1776 Constitution of North Carolina, the General Assembly elected Alexander Martin to continue as Governor of North Carolina. In addition, the assembly elected members of the Council of State.
The North Carolina General Assembly of October 1784 met in New Bern from October 25, 1784 to November 26, 1784. The assembly consisted of the 116 members of the North Carolina House of Commons and 55 senators of North Carolina Senate elected by the voters on August 20, 1784. As prescribed by the 1776 Constitution of North Carolina the General Assembly elected Richard Caswell as Governor of North Carolina and members of the Council of State.
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1785 met in New Bern from November 18, 1785, to December 29, 1785. The assembly consisted of the 114 members of the North Carolina House of Commons and 54 senators of North Carolina Senate elected by the voters on August 19, 1785. During the 1785 session, the legislature created Rockingham County. As prescribed by the 1776 Constitution of North Carolina the General Assembly elected Richard Caswell to continue as Governor of North Carolina and members of the Council of State.
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1868–1869 met in Raleigh from November 16, 1868, to April 12, 1869, with a special session from July 1, 1868, to August 24, 1868. This was the first assembly to meet after the approval of the new Constitution of North Carolina in 1868. As prescribed in this constitution, the assembly consisted of the 120 members in the North Carolina House of Representatives and 43 senators in the North Carolina Senate elected by the voters on August 6, 1868. This assembly was in control of the Republican Party and was dominated by reconstruction era politics.
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1862–1864 met in Raleigh from November 17, 1862, to December 22, 1862. Extra sessions were held on January 19, 1863 – February 12, 1863; June 30, 1863 – July 7, 1863; November 23, 1863 – December 14, 1863; and May 17–30, 1864. The assembly consisted of the 120 members of the North Carolina House of Commons from 82 counties and 50 senators representing one or more counties in North Carolina Senate elected by the voters in October 1862. Zebulon Baird Vance was Governor of North Carolina during this assembly. This assembly met during the American Civil War as part of the Confederate States of America. Much of the legislation passed by this assembly dealt with the managing the state and its population during wartime.
Research guide about resources and strategies for researching North Carolina legislative history