Acts of Assembly of the State of NC April 1777
The Session Laws are the ratified (agreed upon) bills and resolutions in a given session of the North Carolina General Assembly arranged in the order in which they became law. The laws are published in the official Session Laws of North Carolina volumes. From 1975-2005, Executive Orders from the Governor were also included in each volume. Each volume has a subject index.
Why use the Session Laws
The Session Laws offer a window into history, giving us a look at the laws that shaped North Carolina and affected the daily life of citizens from our early history to the present. In addition, the Session Laws contain many laws not included in the General Statutes, such as local laws and appropriations bills.
Genealogists may find the Session Laws of interest for a number of reasons. Until the early 19th century (~1820), before they gave the authority to the county courts, the North Carolina legislature had to approve divorces, changes of name, and the freeing of slaves. Well into the 20th century, the General Assembly passed laws naming specific individuals to corporate boards, county and city offices, and even benevolent societies. Some laws provided relief from debts. In addition, information about the location of specific roads, county, city and even farm property borders, and early industrial works like mills and timber farms can be found in the Session Laws.
How the Session Laws are Organized
The General Assembly in North Carolina operates on a biennial (2-year) schedule. Regular (or "long") sessions begin in odd years, typically starting in January, and lasting several months. Short sessions are held in even years and typically start in May or June and last from a few weeks to a few months. The short session is a continuation of the long session, primarily addressing budget matters and unfinished business.
The organization and continuous numbering of Session Laws begun in the long session continue to be followed in the short session. If, for instance, the last law passed in the long session was Chapter 1220, the first law passed in the short session would be Chapter 1221. An extra session (or "special session") may be held if three-fifths of the legislators or the governor calls for one. In an extra session, the Session Laws follow the organization of the previous session, but the numbering of the laws starts over.
Up until 1945, public and private laws were published in separate volumes, and were numbered separately. Thus, there would be a Private Law Chapter 1, and a Public Law Chapter 1. Since 1945, all ratified laws are in a single numeric sequence.
A public law affects the public at large throughout North Carolina, and/or affects at least 15 counties. A private law governs individual persons, property, and relationships (or affects fewer than 15 counties). A local law applies to a limited number of municipalities or counties. From 1903-1943, Private Laws were subdivided into Private Laws "affecting specific individuals or entities" and Public-Local Laws, which affected everyone within a specific jurisdiction, such as a city or county.
Alternate Names: Acts of Assembly of the State of North Carolina; Laws of North Carolina; Acts Passed by the General Assembly of North Carolina; Laws of the State of North Carolina, Passed by the General Assembly; Public Laws of the State of North Carolina, passed by the General Assembly; Private Laws of the State of North Carolina, passed by the General Assembly; Laws and Resolutions of the State of North Carolina, passed by the General Assembly, Session Laws and Resolutions Passed by the General Assembly.
Paper: 1831 to current (call number Z2 1:)
Full text: April 1777 to current
Full text General Assembly website: 1959/60 to current