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53-1061: The Meadowlands Commission was established by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature in 1969, sponsored in the New Jersey Senate by Fairleigh S. Dickinson Jr . The merger with NJSEA was made effective in February 2015. The Meadowlands District is composed of 19,730 acres (79.8 km), approximately 31 mi, of 14 municipalities in Bergen and Hudson counties. They are: Carlstadt , East Rutherford , Little Ferry , Lyndhurst , Moonachie , North Arlington , Ridgefield , Rutherford , South Hackensack , and Teterboro in Bergen County ; and Jersey City , Kearny , North Bergen , and Secaucus in Hudson County . The Meadowlands District stretches mainly along

106-683: A Provincial Congress to supersede the Royal Governor . In June 1776, this congress had authorized the preparation of a constitution, which was written within five days, adopted by the Provincial Congress, and accepted by the Continental Congress . The Constitution of 1776 provided for a bicameral legislature consisting of a General Assembly with three members from each county and a legislative council with one member from each county. All state officials, including

159-530: A bicameral legislature consisting of an appointed Council and an elected General Assembly . The Provincial Council consisted of twelve members, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the British crown. With the exception of resignations and those being removed for cause, councilors often served for life. The former provinces of East and West Jersey were reorganized as the Eastern Division and

212-523: A 40-member Senate. To become a member of the Assembly, an individual must be at least 21 years old, must have resided in their district for one year and the state for two years, and must live in the represented district. To become a Senator, an individual must be 30 years old, must have lived in their district for two years and the state for four years, and again must live in the represented district. Unlike elections for most other state legislatures and for

265-853: A center for scientific investigations of the urban wetlands, their functioning, restoration, and sustainable management. As reorganized under NJSEA, the research facility is called the Meadowlands Research and Restoration Institute. The NJMC has acquired more than 1,800 acres (7 km) of the remaining wetlands in the Meadowlands District for preservation and enhancement. The Skeetkill Creek Marsh in Ridgefield, Harrier Meadow in North Arlington, and Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus have been restored or enhanced through

318-470: A committee in preparation to dismantle it. The Supreme Court ruled that it was not within his power "“to abolish independent agencies that were created by legislative action”. It also ordered COAH to come up with new regulations regarding the development of affordable housing. COAH passed new guidelines on May 1, 2014, which increase the number of units developers are permitted to build in exchange for one affordable housing unit from four to nine. When asked,

371-516: A five-year, $ 32 million funding plan. All but one landfill in the Meadowlands district have been permanently closed. In 2006, milestones for the NJMC included plans to bring 20 megawatts of renewable energy (solar, tidal, geothermal, etc.) to the Meadowlands District by the year 2020, the establishment of green building guidelines to encourage environmentally friendly development, endorsement of

424-540: A potential candidate must be at least 21 years of age, and must have lived in their district for at least one year prior to the election, and have lived in the state of New Jersey for two years. They also must be residents of their districts. Membership in the Assembly is considered a part-time job, and many members have employment in addition to their legislative work. Assembly members serve two-year terms, elected every odd-numbered year in November. Four current members of

477-462: Is considered part-time, and most legislators have other employment. In New Jersey, legislators previously could also concurrently hold another elected office at the county or municipal level. The practice, which is frequently referred to as " double dipping ", was banned by the Legislature in 2008, although the 19 legislators holding multiple offices as of February 1, 2008, were grandfathered into

530-473: Is set to meet for the first time in 2023 and submit an annual report to the legislature regarding its findings. The Legislature has the power to enact laws by a majority vote of both houses, subject to the Governor of New Jersey 's ability to veto a bill. A veto may be overridden by the Legislature if there is a two-thirds majority in favor of overriding in each House. By a three-fifths vote of each house,

583-690: The Government of New Jersey within the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs that was responsible for ensuring that all 566 New Jersey municipalities provided their fair share of low and moderate income housing The COAH was created by the New Jersey Legislature in response to the Fair Housing Act of 1985 and a series of New Jersey Supreme Court rulings that are known as the Mount Laurel doctrine . The council

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636-465: The Governor of New Jersey in the event that the governor is unable to execute the duties of that office. The Speaker decides the schedule for the Assembly, which bills will be considered, appoints committee chairmen, and generally runs the Assembly's agenda. The current Speaker is Craig Coughlin ( D - Woodbridge Township ). Council on Affordable Housing The Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) was, until its abolition in 2024, an agency of

689-501: The Kyoto Protocol to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and the release of "Birding and Wildlife Trails: Meadowlands and More," a free, 72-page color guide encouraging visitors to enjoy eco-tourism activities in the region including birding, catch-and-release fishing, hiking, canoeing, and pontoon boat cruises offered in the summer. The NJMC also advanced the sharing of services between the 14 Meadowlands municipalities to lighten

742-748: The U.S. state of New Jersey . In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947 , the Legislature consists of two houses : the General Assembly and the Senate . The Legislature meets in the New Jersey State House , in the state capital of Trenton . The New Jersey Legislature was established in 1702 upon the surrender by the Proprietors of East Jersey and those of West Jersey of

795-524: The United States Congress , New Jersey legislative elections are held in November of every odd-numbered year. Assembly members serve two-year terms, while Senators serve four-year terms, except in the first term of a new decade, which only lasts two years. This "2-4-4" cycle was put into place so Senate elections can reflect changes made to district boundaries following the decennial United States Census . If this cycle were not in place, then

848-604: The Whigs (which dominated South Jersey and Essex, Hudson, and Middlesex Counties), and the Democratic Party (which was prominent in the northwest, the Shore region, and Bergen County). The New Jersey Constitution of 1844 provided for a direct popular election of the governor, and gave him the power to veto bills passed by the legislature. The General Assembly was expanded to 60 members, elected annually, and apportioned to

901-585: The governor , were to be appointed by the Legislature under this constitution. The Vice-President of Council would succeed the governor (who was the President of the Council) if a vacancy occurred in that office. Accordingly, the first session of the legislature convened on August 27, 1776. Legislative politics was defined in the following years by an intense rivalry between the Federalists , and later

954-587: The Assembly hold other elective office, as they are grandfathered in under a New Jersey law that banned multiple office holding in 2007. The Assembly is led by the Speaker of the Assembly, who is elected by the membership of the chamber. After the Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey and the President of the New Jersey Senate , the Speaker of the Assembly is third in the line of succession to replace

1007-457: The Assembly was reapportioned; Burlington and Perth Amboy would retain their two seats each; the Town of Salem had two, and two for each of the nine counties . The number of members remained at 24, with a total of twelve from each division. In his instructions to Governor William Burnet , King George I recommended the reapportionment of Salem's seats to the recently formed Hunterdon County ; this

1060-612: The Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council . There are 40 legislative districts, representing districts with average populations of 232,225 (2020 figure). Each district has one senator and two members of the New Jersey General Assembly , the lower house of the legislature. Prior to the election in which they are chosen, senators must be a minimum of 30 years old and a resident of

1113-534: The Legislature may propose an amendment to the Constitution of New Jersey . Alternatively, it may propose an amendment by a majority vote two consecutive years. In either case, the amendment is placed on the ballot and must be approved in a referendum to become a part of the constitution. The Legislature is also empowered to ratify amendments to the U.S. Constitution , appoint the State Auditor, judge

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1166-746: The Legislature: the increase in the importance of legislative committees and the development of longer tenures for the legislative leadership. In 2022, the legislature passed the New Jersey Legislative Youth Council Act, which established the New Jersey Youth Council, a youth advisory body to the New Jersey Legislature made up of 40 public members aged 15 to 23, each from one of the state's legislative districts. The council

1219-533: The Meadowlands District. In order to support its land use management and other policies with scientific data, the NJMC established the Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute (MERI). MERI has placed comprehensive air and water quality monitoring systems throughout the Meadowlands District, and has developed geographic information system digital mapping technology for the Meadowlands municipalities. MERI functions as

1272-470: The Meadowlands. Many of these species can be seen from the 100 acres (0.4 km) of park lands and eight miles (13 km) of trails that have been constructed by the NJMC for public access, environmental education, conservation and enhancement. These parks include Richard W. DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst, home to a butterfly garden, World Trade Center Memorial, overlook of New York City , several trails,

1325-430: The NJMC authored a new Master Plan for the Meadowlands District in 2004 to target development to brownfield and greyfield sites, revitalizing formerly blighted areas into places of economic and community growth and preserving 8,400 acres (34 km) of wetlands and open space. The new Master Plan anticipates a market value of $ 5.6 billion and the creation of 56,250 new permanent jobs in the Meadowlands District through

1378-778: The NJSEA Meadowlands Environment Center , an educational facility, and the William D. McDowell Observatory. Other parks in the region include Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus , Kearny Marsh in Kearny, River Barge Park and Marina in Carlstadt and the Richard P. Kane Natural Area. New Jersey Legislature The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of

1431-537: The New Jersey Legislature until January 3, 1776, but it never met again. On May 30, 1776, Franklin attempted to convene the legislature, but was met instead with an order by the New Jersey Provincial Congress for his arrest. On July 2, 1776, the Provincial Congress approved a new constitution which ordered new elections; on August 13 an entirely new legislature was elected. In 1775, representatives from New Jersey's 13 counties established

1484-620: The Secaucus Transit Village, Belleville Turnpike Redevelopment Area, and other redevelopment projects. Following the Master Plan's adoption, the NJMC focused its goals into four policy areas: improving environmental stewardship, fostering economic success with an eye on business growth, aiding municipalities, and expanding special services, educational and cultural programs. These policies are backed by MAGNET (Meadowlands Area Grants for Natural and Economic Transformation),

1537-471: The Senate has consisted of 40 senators, who are elected in a "2-4-4" cycle. Senators serve a two-year term at the beginning of each decade, with the rest of the decade divided into two four-year terms. The "2-4-4" cycle was put into place so that Senate elections can reflect the changes made to the district boundaries on the basis of the decennial United States Census . If the cycle were not put into place, then

1590-609: The Western Division, respectively, of the Province of New Jersey. Councilors were apportioned that six would come from each of the two divisions. In practice, however, this was not always followed. The Assembly initially consisted of 24 members with two each elected in the Cities of Burlington and Perth Amboy , and ten at-large from each of the two divisions. As this system proved unwieldy for holding elections, in 1709

1643-545: The agency refused to provide the contract for the Rutgers University professor who prepared the plan and claimed that the documents used to calculate the new guidelines had been lost, leading an affordable housing group to offer a $ 1,000 reward. In July 2014, a superior judge ruled that the contract must be released and search conducting for the missing documents. In October 2014 the COAH Board failed to meet

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1696-730: The agency's efforts. Goals of restorations include increased tidal flow, the reduction of phragmites , and greater use of the site by estuarine species of fish, waterfowl, and shorebirds. According to a report by the New Jersey Audubon Society , the Meadowlands is a major part of the Atlantic Flyway migration route. Two hundred and sixty five species of birds including great and snowy egrets , tree swallow , peregrine falcon , osprey , black-crowned night heron , ruddy duck , red-tailed hawk , double-crested cormorant , and American bald eagle have been spotted in

1749-413: The boundaries could at times be up to four years out of date before being used for Senate elections. Under the current system, the boundaries are only ever two years out of date. The New Jersey Constitution provides that each Legislature is constituted for a term of two years, split into two annual sessions. Because the Constitution also specifies that all business from the first year may be continued into

1802-410: The boundaries would sometimes be four years out of date before being used for Senate elections. Rather, with the varied term, the boundaries are only two years out of date. Thus elections for Senate seats take place in years ending with a "1", "3", or "7" (i.e. next elections in 2023, 2027, and 2031). Interim appointments are made to fill vacant legislative seats by the county committee or committees of

1855-518: The control of the governor. Senators' terms were extended to four years; assemblymen's terms to two years. In 1966, the Senate was expanded from 21 to 40 members and the General Assembly from 60 to 80. Following a United States Supreme Court decision in 1964 and a New Jersey Supreme Court decision in 1972, the state's legislative districts were reapportioned into the current arrangement . Two more modern developments have also helped shape

1908-524: The counties at large, rather than from election districts of unequal population. Regardless of any changes, the legislature met infrequently, had high turnover among its members, and was far from being the most influential or powerful organ of state government. New Jersey adopted its current constitution in 1947. Under this constitution, the governor was given additional veto powers and the ability to serve two terms. Hundreds of independent agencies were consolidated into 20 principal executive departments under

1961-617: The counties based on population. The Legislative Council was renamed the Senate, and was to be composed of one member from each of the state's 19 counties, serving a three-year term. During the Civil War , party allegiance became entrenched. Democrats usually won both houses until the Republicans gained control in 1893. A court ruling obtained by the Republicans provided that members of the General Assembly were to be elected from

2014-478: The court's jurisdiction. There were at least two COAH municipalities in each of the state's 21 counties. Bergen County had 42 of its 70 municipalities involved, the highest number in the state, with Morris County's 29 municipalities ranking second. Municipalities originally were allowed to enter into a Regional Contribution Agreement (RCA), which allows them to pay a fee to another municipality that agrees to provide affordable housing units to fulfill up to half of

2067-676: The delta of the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers as they flow into Newark Bay ; tributaries of the Hackensack include Berrys Creek and Overpeck Creek . The District is bordered by U.S. Route 46 on the north, Routes U.S. Route 1/9 (Tonnelle Avenue) and the freight rail line owned by Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation Corp. (the former Conrail main line) on the east, the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) commuter rail lines and Pulaski Skyway on

2120-528: The elections and qualifications of its members, and institute and conduct impeachment proceedings against State officials. The Senate has the sole authority to confirm or reject gubernatorial nominees for judicial and some executive positions. The current organization of the Legislature is outlined by Article IV ("Legislative") of the New Jersey State Constitution of 1947. The Legislature is composed of an 80-member General Assembly and

2173-405: The following general election. Since the election of 1967 (1968 Session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average populations of 232,225 (2020 figures), with deviation in each district not exceeding 3.21% above and below that average. To be eligible to run,

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2226-411: The municipalities’ individual tax burdens. The agency has established a municipal equipment pool, offered financial and technical assistance with New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) planning, and allocated $ 1 million to investigate additional shared services programs. The agency is also leading regional efforts to improve stormwater management and create a comprehensive transportation plan for

2279-418: The party of the vacating person (since a constitutional amendment passed on November 8, 1988). The office is on the ballot for the next general election, even if the other Senate seats are not up for election in that year (such as in years ending with a "5" or "9", such as 2009 or 2015). The sole exception to this is if the vacancy occurred within 51 days of the election, in which case the appointment stands until

2332-469: The right of government to Queen Anne . Anne's government united the two colonies as the Province of New Jersey , a royal colony , establishing a new system of government. The instructions from Queen Anne to Viscount Cornbury , the first royal governor of New Jersey, outlined a fusion of powers system, which allowed for an overlap of executive , legislative and judicial authority. It provided for

2385-459: The second year, the distinction between the two annual sessions is more ceremonial than actual. The two-year legislative term begins at noon on the second Tuesday in January of each even-numbered year. For example, the two-year term of the 215th Legislative session began on noon on Tuesday, January 10, 2012. At the end of the second year, all unfinished business expires. Service in the Legislature

2438-499: The sending municipality's COAH obligations. The sending municipality must pay a negotiated fee for each unit transferred. For example, Marlboro Township signed an agreement in June 2008 that will have Trenton build or rehabilitate 332 housing units (out of Marlboro's 1,600-unit obligation), with Marlboro paying $ 25,000 per unit, a total of $ 8.3 million to Trenton for taking on the responsibility for these units. RCAs were suppressed by

2491-597: The south, and Route 17 , the Pascack Valley Line , and the Kingsland rail line on the west. Prior to the establishment of the NJMC, the Meadowlands region was viewed as a dumping ground, and the Hackensack River and its marshes were often seen as places to fill for commercial and industrial development. Through cooperation with environmentalists, businesses, mayors, state and federal agencies,

2544-478: The state for four years to be eligible to serve in office. From 1844 until 1965 (when the Reynolds v. Sims US Supreme Court decision mandated all state legislators be elected from districts of roughly equal population), each county was an electoral district electing one senator. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years, which was changed to four years with the 1947 Constitution. Since 1968

2597-523: The state's housing laws on July 17, 2008. On March 10, 2015, the New Jersey Supreme Court divested COAH of jurisdiction of municipal housing plans. Towns must now petition the lower court for approval of their housing plans. Builders, developers and other interested parties may intervene in such proceedings, which are known as declaratory judgment actions. On February 9, 2010, Governor Chris Christie had suspended COAH and appointed

2650-477: The system. The General Assembly is headed by a Speaker, while the Senate is headed by a President. Each house also has a Majority Leader, a Minority Leader, assistant leaders, and whips . Members of the New Jersey Legislature are chosen from 40 electoral districts. Each district elects one Senator and two Assemblymen. New Jersey is one of seven U.S. states (with Arizona , Idaho , Maryland , North Dakota , South Dakota , and Washington ) in which districts for

2703-559: The upper and lower house of the legislature are coterminous. Districts are redefined decennially by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission following each U.S. Census , as provided by Article IV, Section III of the State Constitution. The sitting Legislature is the 221st New Jersey Legislature . The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by

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2756-455: Was made up of 12 members appointed by the Governor of New Jersey and approved by the New Jersey Senate . COAH defined housing regions, estimated the needs for low/moderate income housing, allocated fair share numbers by municipality and reviewed plans to fulfill these obligations. As of January 2006, 287 of New Jersey's 566 municipalities were part of the COAH process, and another 78 were under

2809-452: Was passed into law on February 10, 1727/28. Membership continued at 24 until 1768, when it was expanded to 30 by the addition of two representatives each from Morris , Cumberland and Sussex Counties. This apportionment remained until superseded by the Constitution of 1776. The Governor had the authority to summon the Legislature, and dissolve the Assembly and call new elections. On December 6, 1775, Governor William Franklin prorogued

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