How did the stamp act differ from previous taxes imposed on the colonies?

The Stamp Act was a Direct Tax on the Colonists.
It was also the First Act Levied on the Colonists.

Assemblies do not have written codes of laws. laws are matters for magistrates and courts, not assemblies. codes of law are things such as civil law, criminal law, and constitutional law. what assemblies have are procedures regarding debating, voting and other business they might carry out.  also note that rome had three assemblies: the assembly of the soldiers, the assembly of the tribes, and the plebeian councils.