Democracy in Delaware:
The Story of the First State's General Assembly

by Carol E. Hoffecker

The General Assembly is Delaware’s oldest and most important institution of representative government. Its origins go back to 1682 when William Penn called for the election of a General Assembly of freemen noted for their “Sobriety, Wisdom and Integrity” of equal numbers from his province of Pennsylvania and his territories, which were known as the Three Lower Counties on Delaware.

In this comprehensive history, Dr. Hoffecker recounts the story of Delaware’s General Assembly beginning with its first meeting in 1704. The composition of today’s Assembly and the electorate have changed, but in many basic ways the General Assembly of 2004 is the descendant of the assembly that met in New Castle 300 years ago.

 

2004, hard cover, 7" x 10" inches, 297 pages
ISBN 978-1-892142-23-8

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