Council of Revision
Encyclopedia
The Council of Revision was, under the provisions of the Constitution of the State of New York
of 1777, the legal body that revised all new legislation made by the New York State Legislature.
The council was composed by "the Governor, the Chancellor
, and the Justices of the Supreme Court
, or any two of them". The governor presided but, only if the other members' vote was tied, cast the deciding vote.
The Constitution said that "all bills which have passed the Senate
and the Assembly
shall, before they become laws, be presented to the said Council for their revisal and consideration; and if ... it should appear improper to the said Council, or a majority of them, that the said bill become a law of this State, that they return the same, together with their objections thereto in writing, to the Senate or House of Assembly, in whichsoever the same shall have originated, who shall ... proceed to reconsider the said bill." The bill could then be enacted as law, over the objections of the Council, by a two-thirds majority in each house of the legislature.
The whole number of bills passed by the legislature under this constitution was 6,590. The Council of Revision objected to 128, of which 17 were passed notwithstanding these objections.
The Council of Revision was abolished by the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821. At the time of its abolition, the members were Governor DeWitt Clinton
, Chancellor James Kent
, Chief Justice Ambrose Spencer
, and Associated Justices Joseph C. Yates
, Jonas Platt
, William W. Van Ness and John Woodworth
.
Since the abolition of the Council of Revision, the power of veto to new legislation has been vested in the governor alone, whose veto can be overridden by a two-third majority in the state legislature.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
of 1777, the legal body that revised all new legislation made by the New York State Legislature.
The council was composed by "the Governor, the Chancellor
New York Court of Chancery
The New York Court of Chancery was established during the colonial administration on August 28, 1701, the colonial governor acting as Chancellor. The New York State Constitution of 1777 continued the court but required a lawyer to be appointed Chancellor. It was the court with jurisdiction on cases...
, and the Justices of the Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
, or any two of them". The governor presided but, only if the other members' vote was tied, cast the deciding vote.
The Constitution said that "all bills which have passed the Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
and the Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
shall, before they become laws, be presented to the said Council for their revisal and consideration; and if ... it should appear improper to the said Council, or a majority of them, that the said bill become a law of this State, that they return the same, together with their objections thereto in writing, to the Senate or House of Assembly, in whichsoever the same shall have originated, who shall ... proceed to reconsider the said bill." The bill could then be enacted as law, over the objections of the Council, by a two-thirds majority in each house of the legislature.
The whole number of bills passed by the legislature under this constitution was 6,590. The Council of Revision objected to 128, of which 17 were passed notwithstanding these objections.
The Council of Revision was abolished by the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821. At the time of its abolition, the members were Governor DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
, Chancellor James Kent
James Kent
James Kent was an American jurist and legal scholar.-Life:...
, Chief Justice Ambrose Spencer
Ambrose Spencer
Ambrose Spencer was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He attended Yale College from 1779 to 1782, and graduated from Harvard University in 1783...
, and Associated Justices Joseph C. Yates
Joseph C. Yates
Joseph Christopher Yates was an American lawyer, politician. statesman, and founding trustee of Union College.-History:...
, Jonas Platt
Jonas Platt
Jonas Platt was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives.-Life:...
, William W. Van Ness and John Woodworth
John Woodworth (lawyer)
John Woodworth was an American lawyer and member of the Woodworth political family.-Life:...
.
Since the abolition of the Council of Revision, the power of veto to new legislation has been vested in the governor alone, whose veto can be overridden by a two-third majority in the state legislature.