Guide to the Rhode Island Constitutional Convention of 1973 collection, 1973 Sep 4 - 1973 Oct 4


Phillips Memorial Library
Archives and Special Collections
1 Cunningham Square
Providence, RI 02918
Tel: 401-865-2578
Fax: 401-865-1578
Email: pcarchives@providence.edu
Website: https://pml.providence.edu/

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title: Guide to the Rhode Island Constitutional Convention of 1973 collection
Date range: 1973
Creator: General Assembly of Rhode Island
Extent: 3 linear feet
Abstract: The Rhode Island Constitutional Convention of 1973 was convened to amend the state's constitution. The collection contains convention rules and other administrative documents, session journals, publicity, and research on the issues considered.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Phillips Memorial Library
Collection number: rppc_ricc73

Scope & content

In 1973 the Rhode Island electorate voted to call a convention to discuss amending specific sections of the State Constitution. Several amendments were adopted by voters during the general election of November 6, 1973. Included here are convention rules and other administrative documents, session journals, publicity, and research on the issues considered.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Organizations Subject Topics Geographical Names Subject Topics Document Types

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in three series

  • Sessions, 1973
  • Committes, 1973
  • Subject Files, 1973

Historical note

In January of 1973 an act was passed by the General Assembly of Rhode Island to convene a Constitutional Convention to amend the state's constitution. It was the eleventh convention to gather in the state and only the fifth to be held in a limited form. A limited convention is called to restrict the proceedings to specific prearranged constitutional questions. These included the revision of election laws, the repeal of the prohibition of lotteries, the review of legislator compensation, and the reform of Grand Jury functions in the Judicial System.

The convention opened on September 4, 1973 and the delegates began working on producing an item by item referendum to be voted upon during the Nov. 6th general election of that year. During the month the convention was in session a total of ninety-one proposals were submitted as amendments to the constitution. Of those proposals only seven were approved to be on the election ballot. On November 6, 1973 voters passed five of those seven amendments.

The most important amendments that passed dealt with the reforming of election laws, the procedures for amending the state's basic law, and the procedures for calling future open conventions at regular intervals. The two proposals that were rejected in close voter races, were reforms increasing legislative pay to $2,000 per year and giving four year terms to the state's general officers

The 1973 Rhode Island Constitutional Convention can be called one the more productive gatherings in Rhode Island's Constitutional history producing some of the greatest changes in the state's basic law.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: Collection is open for research by appointment. Materials do not circulate. Some materials may be restricted, for further information contact the Archives and Special Collections, Phillips Memorial Library, Providence College.
Use of the materials: Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Phillips Memorial Library. Although Providence College has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: Rhode Island Constitutional Convention of 1973, Providence College, Phillips Memorial Library, Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information: Phillips Memorial Library
Archives and Special Collections
1 Cunningham Square
Providence, RI 02918
Tel: 401-865-2578
Fax: 401-865-1578
Email: pcarchives@providence.edu
Website: https://pml.providence.edu/

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The collection was donated in 1974 by Patrick T. Conley.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Russell M. Franks.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Russell M. Franks 2009 July 01
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

Series I. Sessions, 1973
(16 folders)

This series contains the typed manuscripts and the published journals detailing each session of the convention. The published journal for the September 25th session (vol. 1, no. 6) is missing, however, the typed manuscript for that session is available.

Arrangement:

The series is arranged chronologically.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1 Act for calling a Constitutional Convention
 1973 Jan
Box 1, Folder 2 Journal of the 1973 Constitutional Convention, vol.1, no.1
 1973 Sep 4
Box 1, Folder 3 Journal of the 1973 Constitutional Convention, vol.1 no.2
 1973 Sep 6
Box 1, Folder 4 Manuscript of the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1973 Sep 12
Box 1, Folder 5 Journal of the 1973 Constitutional Convention, vol.1 no.3
 1973 Sep 12
Box 1, Folder 6 Manuscript of the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1973 Sep 18
Box 1, Folder 7 Journal of the 1973 Constitutional Convention, vol.1, no.4
 1973 Sep 18
Box 1, Folder 8 Manuscript of the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1973 Sep 20
Box 1, Folder 9 Journal of the 1973 Constitutional Convention, vol.1, no.5
 1973 Sep 20
Box 1, Folder 10 Manuscript of the 1973 Constitutional Convention (vol.1, no.6)
 1973 Sep 25
Box 1, Folder 11 Manuscript of the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1973 Sep 27
Box 1, Folder 12 Journal of the 1973 Constitutional Convention, vol.1, no.7
 1973 Sep 27
Box 1, Folder 13 Manuscript of the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1973 Oct 2
Box 1, Folder 14 Journal of the 1973 Constitutional Convention, vol.1, no.8
 1973 Oct 2
Box 1, Folder 15 Manuscript of the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1973 Oct 4
Box 1, Folder 16 Journal of the 1973 Constitutional Convention, vol.1, no.9
 1973 Oct 4

Series II. Committees ( 1973)
(22 folders)

This series contains the typed minute notes of committee meetings, hand written minute notes of meetings, research materials collected, and reports completed by individual committees.

Arrangement:

The series is arranged alphabetically.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 17 Committee on Administration - Meeting Minutes
 1973 Sep 6 - 1973 Sep 11
Box 1, Folder 18 Committee of Administration - Expenditures of the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1973
Box 1, Folder 19 Committee of Administration - Journal Distribution and Expenditures
 1973
Box 1, Folder 20 Committee of Elections - Meeting Minutes and Notes
 1973 Sep 10 - 1973 Oct 1
Box 2, Folder 21 Committee of Elections - Election Laws and Reports
 1973
Box 2, Folder 22 Committee on Grand Jury - Notes
 1973 Sep
Box 2, Folder 23 Committee on Grand Jury - System Information and Reports
 1973
Box 2, Folder 24 Committee on Legislative Compensation - Minutes and Notes
 1973 Sep 10
Box 2, Folder 25 Committee on Legislative Compensation - Research, Reports and Proposals
 1967 -1973
Box 2, Folder 26 Committee on Lotteries - Minutes and Notes
 1973 Sep
Box 2, Folder 27 Committee on Lotteries- Connecticut
 1971
Box 2, Folder 28 Committee on Lotteries - Maryland
 1972 - 1973
Box 2, Folder 29 Committee on Lotteries - Massachusetts
 1971
Box 2, Folder 30 Committee on Lotteries - Michigan
 1972
Box 2, Folder 31 Committee on Lotteries - New Hampshire
 1963
Box 2, Folder 32 Committee on Lotteries - New Jersey
1968 - 1973
Box 2, Folder 33 Committee on Lotteries - New York
 1967 - 1972
Box 2, Folder 34 Committee on Lotteries - Ohio
 1972 - 1973
Box 2, Folder 35 Committee on Lotteries - Pennsylvania
 1971
Box 2, Folder 36 Committee on Lotteries - Reports and Notes
 1973
Box 2, Folder 37 Committee of Public Information
 1973 Sep
Box 2, Folder 38 Committee on Resolutions - Minutes and Notes
 1973 Sep - 1973 Oct

Series III. Subject Files ( 1973)
(9 folders)

This series contains the final proposals and resolutions of the 1973 Rhode Island Constitutional Convention, newspaper clippings, and lists of delegates and officers who attended the convention. The collection also contains correspondence and public statements by Patrick T. Conley concerning the convention.

Arrangement:

This series has no special arrangement.

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 39 Proposals of the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1973 Sep 12 - 1974 Mar 26
Box 2, Folder 40 Resolutions of the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1973 Sep 12 - 1973 Oct 2
Box 3, Folder 41 Preliminaries to the 1973 Constitutional Convention
1973 Jan - 1973 Aug 23
Box 3, Folder 42 Malinou Brief Regarding Open Sessions of the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1973 Sep 6
Box 3, Folder 43 Correspondence of Patrick T. Conley
 1973
Box 3, Folder 44 Public Statements Concerning the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1973
Box 3, Folder 45 Newspaper Clippings Regarding the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1973 May 16 - 1973 Nov 14
Box 3, Folder 46 Rules of the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1965 - 1973
Box 3, Folder 47 List of Delegates, Officers and Roll During the 1973 Constitutional Convention
 1973