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.
History of the legislatures
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]
Only protestant men owning land (100 acres for the House of Commons, 300 acres for the Senate) could serve. Early assemblies met in multiple locations in North Carolina when there was not a state capital.
In 1789 at the Fayetteville Convention, the constitution was amended to substitute the word "Christian" for "Protestant". Fayetteville was also added as a borough/town.[3][4]
In 1792, a commission was appointed to select a site to build a permanent state capital. The commission members favored land owned by Colonel John Hinton across the Neuse River, but the night before the final vote the committee adjourned to the home of Joel Lane in Wake County for an evening of food and spirits. The next day, the vote went in Lane's favor and the capital has been in Raleigh ever since.
In the North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835, the constitution was amended to make the Governor elected by the people, but the legislature still elected all other officials. Amendments also set the number of senators at 50 and the number of commoners at 120. Senators would now be elected by districts representing approximately equal numbers of citizens, rather than by counties. Members of the House were still elected by county, but more populous counties were entitled to more representatives.[5][6][4][3]
In 1868, a new constitution changed the name of the House of Commons to the House of Representatives. It also established the office of Lieutenant Governor. Previously, the Speaker of the Senate was the constitutional successor to the Governor in case of death or resignation. Property qualifications for holding office were also abolished. This constitution also established administrative townships in every county. The power to elect executive officers and judges was taken from legislators and given to the people in this session. The House of Commons was renamed as the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the Senate was abolished and the newly-created Lt. Governor became the President of the Senate when it was in session; next in line became the President Pro Tempore elected by members.[7][3]
In 1868, African Americans were first elected to the General Assembly (fifteen representatives and two senators). But after Democrats consolidated power in the late 1890s, no African Americans were elected until Henry Frye (a Democrat) in 1968.
Lillian Exum Clement became the first female member of the General Assembly in 1921
The North Carolina Constitution was rewritten in 1971.[8]
Legislatures
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]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This was the last assembly to have representatives from Districts, i.e. Edenton, Fayetteville, Halifax, Hillsborough, New Bern, Salisbury, and Wilmington.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Notes: Prior to the Constitution of 1868: the lower house of the North Carolina Legislature was known as the House of Commons and the leader of the Senate was called the Speaker of the Senate.