The Fundamental Orders of 1638 were a set of laws that established a framework for government in the colony of Connecticut. They are often considered one of the first written constitutions in the Western tradition. The Orders outlined the structure of government, including the roles of the General Court and the rights of the colonists. These laws were created by a group of settlers who sought to create a more organized and representative government. The Fundamental Orders emphasized the importance of consent from the governed and laid the groundwork for future democratic principles in America.