Not only was it the first municipality chartered in the colonies (by Queen Anne, in 1708), for a brief period of time, Annapolis was the capital of colonial America. George Washington resigned his commission as Commander in Chief of the Army here, and relinquished control of the new nation to a civilian style of government.
Annapolis is the county seat of Anne Arundel County, and Maryland’s capital. Lawmakers meet for the annual 90-day General Assembly Session in Annapolis. Elected leaders begin the legislative process at the State House on the second Wednesday in January.