* Passed in 1665, the Duke's Laws were the first comprehensive legal code for the New York Colony.
* They were based on the laws of England, but they also included some provisions that were specific to the colony.
Some of the key provisions of the Duke's Laws included:
* The establishment of a governor, council, and assembly
* The requirement that all laws be passed by the assembly and approved by the governor
* The establishment of a court system
* The definition of crimes and punishments
* The regulation of trade and commerce
* The protection of religious freedom
The Duke's Laws remained in effect until the English Revolution of 1688, when they were replaced by the Charter of Liberties and Privileges.
The Charter of Liberties and Privileges
* The Charter of Liberties and Privileges was granted to the New York Colony by King William and Queen Mary in 1691.
*It confirmed many of the rights that had been established under the Duke's Laws, but it also included some new provisions, such as the right to trial by jury and the freedom of the press.
The Charter of Liberties and Privileges remained in effect until the American Revolution, when it was replaced by the Constitution of the United States.