By Granite State Report
📜 Colonial Origins (1623–1776)
1623: New Hampshire was first settled by English colonists at Odiorne’s Point near present-day Rye. It was part of the Province of Massachusetts Bay for much of the 17th century, though it maintained some autonomy. In 1679, it became a separate royal province with a governor appointed by the King of England.
🗽 Revolutionary Era and Independence
January 5, 1776: New Hampshire adopted the first independent state constitution of any of the 13 colonies—six months before the Declaration of Independence. It was a temporary constitution without a bill of rights and no separate executive branch. This document gave the state a unicameral legislature and marked the beginning of independent governance in New Hampshire.
📘 The 1784 Constitution
In 1784, New Hampshire adopted a more comprehensive constitution, which still forms the basis of state government today. It established a bicameral legislature: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Created a Bill of Rights for citizens. Established a governor as a separately elected executive, with a five-member Executive Council to act as a check on executive power.
✨ Unique Features:
Executive Council: One of the few states with a body like this. The Council shares power with the Governor, particularly over appointments and state contracts. Large House of Representatives: With 400 members, it’s one of the largest legislative bodies in the world relative to population.
⚖️ Government Structure Today
🏛️ Legislative Branch – General Court of New Hampshire
Senate: 24 members House of Representatives: 400 members Members are elected every two years.
🧑⚖️ Executive Branch
Governor: Elected every two years. Holds veto power, appoints officials, oversees the National Guard, and ensures laws are faithfully executed. Executive Council: 5 members, elected by district, approve nominations and contracts over $10,000.
⚖️ Judicial Branch
Includes the New Hampshire Supreme Court, Superior Court, and other lower courts. Judges are appointed by the Governor and Executive Council and serve until age 70.
🗳️ Democratic Traditions
New Hampshire is known for direct democracy, exemplified in: Town Meetings – still widely used for local governance. First-in-the-Nation Presidential Primary – a vital part of national politics. Citizens have strong influence in state government due to small districts and accessible officials.
🛠️ Constitutional Amendments & Modernization
The Constitution can be amended either by: A 3/5 vote in both houses and approval by 2/3 of voters. A Constitutional Convention, voted on every 10 years (as per Article 100). Amendments have added protections and clarified powers, including: Rights to privacy Tax limitations Judicial reforms
🏞️ Legacy and Importance
New Hampshire’s state government is a model of small-scale representative democracy, with a strong commitment to citizen participation, fiscal conservatism, and local control. Its constitutional and institutional structures reflect a deep skepticism of concentrated power—embodied in the checks between the Governor and Executive Council and the robust legislative branch.
