 The Constitution of the State of New Jersey is the basic governing document of the State of New Jersey . In addition to three British Royal Charters issued for East Jersey , West Jersey and united New Jersey while they were still colonies , the state has been governed by three constitutions . The first was issued on July 2 , 1776 , shortly before New Jersey ratified the United States Declaration of Independence and the second was issued in 1844 . The current document was issued in 1947 and has been amended several times . 
