Research: Topics: Education: Guide to Records Relating to Native Americans
Guide to Records Relating to Native Americans
STATE LAWS
These records series relate to bills passed by the State Legislature and forwarded to the Governor (or before 1823, to the Council of Revision) for approval or veto.
13036. Enrolled Acts of the State Legislature, 1778-2009. ca. 255 cubic feet.
Arrangement: chronological by year and then by chapter number.
This series consists of the original copies of all laws passed by the Legislature and approved by the Governor. Laws relating to Native Americans can be located by using the indexes.
Indexing: the acts are published annually as "session laws" with indexes. There is also a General Index to the Laws of the State of New York, 1777-1901, (Albany: J.B. Lyon, 1902.)
A0027. Minutes of the Council of Revision, 1778-1824. 5 volumes.
Arrangement: chronological by meeting date.
The Council was established under the First (1777) State Constitution and consisted of the Governor, the Chancellor, and the Justices of the Supreme Court of Judicature. It had the power to review all bills passed by the Legislature and to veto those which it did not approve. The Council was abolished by the Second Constitution adopted in 1822, which vested veto powers with the Governor.
The series consists of minutes of each Council meeting, giving date and place, members present, and action taken on each bill. When the Council disapproved a bill, its objections are recorded in detail. The last volume includes a record of bills transmitted to the Governor from 1822 to 1824 and his action on each bill.
Indexing: volumes 3-5 (1798-1824) are indexed. The texts of veto messages are published in Alfred B. Street, The Council of Revision of the State of New York, (Albany: 1859), which is indexed.
12590. Legislative Bill and Veto Jackets, 1905, 1921-1982. 1,316 cubic feet.
Arrangement: chronological by year and thereunder numerical by chapter or veto number.
For each bill forwarded by the Legislature to the Governor for approval or veto, the Governor's counsel compiled a file, or "jacket," containing supporting or opposing memoranda and correspondence from Executive Chamber staff, legislators and legislative committees, State agencies, local governments, associations, lobbying groups and individuals. The memoranda contain analyses of the purpose and possible impact of proposed legislation and recommendations for action by the Governor. Also in the jackets are the record of the legislature's vote on the bill, the Assembly and/or Senate sponsor's supporting memoranda and the Governor's message of approval or veto, if one was issued. These records can be used to trace the history and intent of legislative proposals on important issues relating to American Indians. (except for veto jackets dating from 1959 to 1974)
Available on microfilm.
Indexing: the New York Legislative Record and Index, published annually, can be used to identify bills by Senate or Assembly introduction number and by subject.
