Guide to the 1964-1969 Rhode Island Constitutional Convention, 1964-1969

Preliminary Material, 1961-1964
(7 folders)

Prior to to the call of the Constitutional Convention , the Rhode Island General Assembly empowered a blue-ribbon commission to study the State's existing constitution and make recommendations to the Assembly. Chaired by the prominent barrister, William H. Edwards, the Commission reviewed the entire process of constitution-making and issued a far reaching report.

The Commission's minutes, final report, and miscellaneous files are included in this section. Additionally, these folders contain listings of the delegates elected to the Convention and the rosters of the standing committee.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

Journal of the Constitutional Convention, 1964-1967
(103 folders)

The Journal of the Constitutional Convention contains the official synopsis of the sessions, beginning on December 8, 1964, and concluding on February 17, 1969. In all, there were over ninety separate meetings. The Journals provide a record of delegate votes, including divisions of the house attendance figures, and committee and special reports. Official correspondence from Convention Chairman Dennis J. Roberts is also included.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

General Orders, 1965-1967
(47 folders)

The General Orders served as an agenda for each meeting and contained a brief listing of all the proposals offered by the delegates with recommendations for or against passage by the various committees.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

Committee on the Adminstration of the Convention, 1965-1968
(6 folders)

This series contains resolutions, financial reports, and meeting minutes from the Committe on the Administration of the Convention. This committee was formed to help guide the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

Committee on Education, 1965-1966
(19 folders)

This series contains proposals, research staff analyses, and reports submitted by private groups. Additionally, the series includes correspondences, meeting minutes, and public hearings

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

Committee on Elections and Right to Vote, 1961-1966
(55 folders)

This series includes various proposals and analyses drawn up by the Committee on Elections and Right to Vote. Also, included are substitute proposals offered as refinements of original proposals, research staff analyses and Committee memoranda to the Convention.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

Committee on Executive Department, 1961-1965
(80 folders)

This series contains various proposals in reference to the role of the Executive Department. In addition, research staff analyses, public testimony, and committee memoranda are in cluded in this series.

Arrangement:

The series is arranged chronologically

Committee on Judiciary, 1960-1967
(41 folders)

This series includes proposals, research staff analyses, and various substitute proposals. Additionally, it includes miscellaneous reports and studies on the judicial system, including the Condon Commission Report reviewing the Rhode Island judicial system, and minutes and reports of the Committee meetings and public hearings for 1965-1967.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

Committee on Legislative Department, 1961-1966
(50 folders)

This series contains various proposals, research staff analyses, and substitute versions of the proposals. Additionally, it contains material relating to the status of the proposals before committee and research staff reports and reports and studies on various aspects of the legislative branch, minutes, reports, and public hearings.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

Sub-Committee on Unicameralism, 1964-1970
(12 folders)

These files contain the minutes and/or reports of meetings, public hearings, and informal discussions of the sub-committee from years 1965-1966. Additionally, this series contains various printed articles on unicameralism.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

Committee on Local Government, 1951-1967
(30 folders)

This series contains various proposals along with pertinent research staff analyses and various substitute versions. In this series, a proposal of special importance is Proposal 155 on General Local Government Provisions. Additionally, published reports, studies, Committee meeting minutes, hearings, and newspaper clippings are included.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

Committe on Personal Liberties, 1965-1968
(63 folders)

This series contains various proposals, accompanying research staff analyses, substitute versions and correspondences. Additionally, it contains committee action on proposals, reports, meeting minutes, public hearings, and miscellaneous items.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically

Public Information Committee, 1965-1967
(38 folders)

These files contain press releases, weekly newspaper column suplied by the Committee to the press, convention reports and miscellaneous correspondence.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

Committee on Resolutions, 1965-1966
(28 folders)

This series contains proposals, substitute proposals, and memoranda to the Convention. Additionally, it includes resolutions, research staff reports,, meeting minutes, and reports of public hearings.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically

Committee on Rules and Credentials, 1964-1965
(27 folders)

This series includes various proposals and resolutions. Additionally, the series contains committee action on the resolutions and rules for the Rhode Island Constitutional Convention.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically

Committee on Style and Drafting, 1963-1967
(39 folders)

This series contains materials relating to Proposal Number 25. The Convention referred only one proposal to the Committee, but the Committee did review every proposal submitted to the Convention.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

Committee of the Whole, 1965-1967
(18 folders)

These files contain minutes and/or reports of the Committee meetings and debates from 1965-1967.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

Research Staff, 1960-1966
(21 folders)

This series contains staff guidelines, worksheets, and various correspondences. Additionally, it includes general staff studies, reports on the origin of Rhode Island Constitution, model constitutions, and preparing state constitutions.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

General Items, 1957-1969
(31 folders)

This series includes materials that pertain to topics such as, declarations to the Convention by religious leaders and correspondence of delegates Stephen A. Fanning, Jr., Donald E. McKiernan, and Patrick T. Conley. Also notes on various drafts of the proposed constitution are included in this series.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.

Committee for Adoption of the Proposed Rhode Isand Constitution, 1962-1969
(61 folders)

This series includes material relating to the formation of the Committee formed by Patrick Conley to spearhead the drive for ratification. Included are a listing of its members, its speakers’ group, statements defending the proposed constitution, and other miscellaneous items. Additionally, this series contains Dr. Conley’s correspondence with various elected officials, Democratic State Committee, as well as miscellaneous items pertaining to the referendum and Dr. Conley’s appointment book. Also, there are a number of recordings from radio and television interviews of Dr. Conley and debates held during the ratification drive.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged chronologically.