| New York Executive Council | |
| Coa Pic: | File:Seal of ny 1767.PNG |
| House Type: | Upper house |
| Term Limits: | None |
| Authority: | Charter of Liberties and Privileges |
| Members: | 12 |
| Foundation: | October 17, 1683 |
| Disbanded: | April 3, 1775 |
| Succeeded By: | New York Provincial Congress |
| Leader1: | Speaker of the Executive Council |
The New York Executive Council (also known as the King's Council or Governor's Council), was the upper house of the supreme legislative body of the Province of New York during its period of proprietal colonialship while it was a crown colony. It was in effect until April 3, 1775, when the government disbanded after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.[1]
The Governor's Council was first convened in 1683 during the governorship of Thomas Dongan, 2nd Earl of Limerick, which passed an act entitled "A Charter of Liberties" that decreed that the supreme legislative power under the Duke of York (later King James II) shall reside in a governor, council, and the people convened in general assembly.[2]
The council, when full, consisted of twelve members, who were appointed by the King, and who enjoyed the same authority as the lords in parliament. Together with the governor, the council had an unqualified veto upon the acts of the general assembly. They acted as a privy council to the governor in matters of civil government, and held their office at the will of the Crown. Privy councils were held at the fort in New-York, at which the governor was always present, but their legislative sessions were held without his presence, at the city hall.[3] The senior member was speaker of their house; their proceedings were not published, and in their formalities they closely imitated the English House of Lords. Messages to the assembly were carried by one of their members, and the house always arose at his entrance and received him standing. Councilors received no salary. The council exercised judicial authority upon writs of error and appeal (which was composed of the Governor and the council).[4]
From 1692 forward, the English Privy Council administered the Province of New York, appointed the royal officials (Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Attorney-General and members of the Governor's Council) and served as the court of final appeal for the Province. In 1735, the New York Governor ceased to participate in Council meetings and from then on the Province's government took the familiar form of an executive (Governor), upper chamber (the Council) and lower chamber (the Assembly).[1] Towards the close of the colonial period, "their duties had devolved upon a few, and were very great."[5]