This book contains over 500 pages of the text of the laws of the Northwest Territory, followed by a detailed index. The editor provided a historical context in a 25-page introduction. First he discussed how events and individuals in U.S. congress helped shape the text of the Ordinance of 1787 and expedite its passage, and then he did much the same for the legislative process in the Territorial Government. The contents of the book are organized as follows:

-Laws passed in the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio from commencement of the government to Dec 31, 1791.
-Laws passed in the Territory July to December 1792.
-Laws of the Territory adopted from May to August, 1795.
-Laws of the Territory adopted April 1798
-Laws of the Territory passed September 1799, and certain laws enacted by the Governor and Judges from the commencement of the government to December 1792, with an appendix.