New England was settled by Puritans. They based their government
on their religious organization which included secrete meetings and
representative government. Following the Salem Witch Trials, John
Owen wrote a Book on The New Testament Church. As a result number
of them read changed their religion and government from
Presbyterian with its secret meetings to Congregationalist with
open meetings. Church decisions were made by vote by church
members. Government decisions were likewise made by popular
decisions. The popular decisions were made in Town Meetings,
The administration and courts remained the same except that
trials became open to the public.
In other places in New England the government remained a copy of
Presbyterian representationalism except that meetings became open
to public scrutiny.