Fundamental Orders

The Fundamental Orders, adopted in 1638-1639, were a set of laws that established a framework for the government of the Connecticut River colony. Often considered the first written constitution in the Western tradition, they aimed to create a government based on the consent of the governed, stipulating the powers of officials and how they would be elected. The Orders emphasized the importance of a representative government and allowed for greater participation in governance by ordinary citizens, laying a foundational principle for democracy in America.