Abstract

The later part of the sixteenth century marks the emergence of thirteen colonies that made the colonial government framework in America. English government influenced the formation of these colonies but could not actually control them. Today's state governments have incorporated much from the colonial American government. The three branches of the state government that is the executive branch, the legislative branch and the judicial branch perform some of the functions that were performed by the government structure back in the colonial government days. The authority has been divided among the three branches. Over time, the legislature and the executive have incarnated many a times giving rise to a divided government. And though the government was divided, any major action would always take place despite it. In the first continental congress that members of these colonies managed to look beyond their own jurisdictions. This was where they planned to out rule England and later in 1976 sought to vote in the congress for independence.

American Political History and the Current State Governments

Introduction to American Colonial Government

Various colonies came to the existence in America in the late sixteenth century. These were 13 in number. The colonies were not supervised by the English and were essentially a private feature. These thirteen colonies differed from one another in that their government was very different from one another. However, towards the end of the seventeenth century, they became quite similar to each other. This attributes to one reason that the colonies got grouped into three classes called the royal, the proprietary and the charter. Virginia's first charter brought a new concept of freedom from exclusive control from the outside world. The colonists had every right to take part in their own government.

The advisory council of the governor worked like the Britain's House of Lords and the Privy Council. In some of the colonies, it performed as a superior court. This was common for all the colonies except Pennsylvania where no law could pass without consent of the upper house of the legislature. The British House of Commons was modified into lower houses of colony assembly. They enjoyed the same law making power as the Commons in Britain. Even tax laws were not passed without their consent. Initially in 1964, assembly separated from the council or deputies separated from the magistrates for the first time from Massachusetts but, soon others followed the bandwagon and the governors got independent of the Crown influence.

Although, the colonies were mostly similar to each other, they differed at the local government level. Though English government had influence on the formation of colonies, it was not a controlling influence. The structure of the colonies were like a company owned by various shareholders. Most colonies had very feeble association with London authorities and thought of themselves as states in England.

Despite enjoyed freedom, the assembly still exerted influence on the governor representing the crown in that they withheld the salary of the governor and forced him to pass certain ...