Constitution Of Pennsylvania

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CONSTITUTION OF PENNSYLVANIA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

§ 1. Inherent rights of mankind.
All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and ...
§ 2. Political powers.
All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness. For ...
§ 3. Religious freedom.
All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; no man can of right ...
§ 4. Religion.
No person who acknowledges the being of a God and a future state of rewards and punishments shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be ...
§ 5. Elections.
Elections shall be free and equal; and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right ...
§ 6. Trial by jury.
Trial by jury shall be as heretofore, and the right thereof remain inviolate. The General Assembly may provide, however, by law, that a verdict may ...
§ 7. Freedom of press and speech; libels.
The printing press shall be free to every person who may undertake to examine the proceedings of the Legislature or any branch of government, and ...
§ 8. Security from searches and seizures.
The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions from unreasonable searches and seizures, and no warrant to search any place or ...
§ 9. Rights of accused in criminal prosecutions.
In all criminal prosecutions the accused hath a right to be heard by himself and his counsel, to demand the nature and cause of the ...
§ 10. Initiation of criminal proceedings; twice in jeopardy; eminent domain.
Except as hereinafter provided no person shall, for any indictable offense, be proceeded against criminally by information, except in cases arising in the land or ...
§ 11. Courts to be open; suits against the Commonwealth.
All courts shall be open; and every man for an injury done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation shall have remedy by due ...
§ 12. Power of suspending laws.
No power of suspending laws shall be exercised unless by the Legislature or by its authority. ...
§ 13. Bail, fines and punishments.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel punishments inflicted. ...
§ 14. Prisoners to be bailable; habeas corpus.
All prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for capital offenses or for offenses for which the maximum sentence is life imprisonment or unless ...
§ 15. Special criminal tribunals.
No commission shall issue creating special temporary criminal tribunals to try particular individuals or particular classes of cases. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1035, J.R.1) ...
§ 16. Insolvent debtors.
The person of a debtor, where there is not strong presumption of fraud, shall not be continued in prison after delivering up his estate for ...
§ 17. Ex post facto laws; impairment of contracts.
No ex post facto law, nor any law impairing the obligation of contracts, or making irrevocable any grant of special privileges or immunities, shall be ...
§ 18. Attainder.
No person shall be attainted of treason or felony by the Legislature. ...
§ 19. Attainder limited.
No attainder shall work corruption of blood, nor, except during the life of the offender, forfeiture of estate to the Commonwealth. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1035, ...
§ 20. Right of petition.
The citizens have a right in a peaceable manner to assemble together for their common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers ...
§ 21. Right to bear arms.
The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned. ...
§ 22. Standing army; military subordinate to civil power.
No standing army shall, in time of peace, be kept up without the consent of the Legislature, and the military shall in all cases and ...
§ 23. Quartering of troops.
No soldier shall in time of peace be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in ...
§ 24. Titles and offices.
The Legislature shall not grant any title of nobility or hereditary distinction, nor create any office the appointment to which shall be for a longer ...
§ 25. Reservation of powers in people.
To guard against transgressions of the high powers which we have delegated, we declare that everything in this article is excepted out of the general ...
§ 26. No discrimination by Commonwealth and its political subdivisions.
Neither the Commonwealth nor any political subdivision thereof shall deny to any person the enjoyment of any civil right, nor discriminate against any person in ...
§ 27. Natural resources and the public estate.
The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. ...
§ 28. Prohibition against denial or abridgment of equality of rights because of sex.
Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania because of the sex of the individual. (May ...

ARTICLE II. THE LEGISLATURE

§ 1. Legislative power.
The legislative power of this Commonwealth shall be vested in a General Assembly, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives. ...
§ 2. Election of members; vacancies.
Members of the General Assembly shall be chosen at the general election every second year. Their term of service shall begin on the first day ...
§ 3. Terms of members.
Senators shall be elected for the term of four years and Representatives for the term of two years. ...
§ 4. Sessions.
The General Assembly shall be a continuing body during the term for which its Representatives are elected. It shall meet at 12 o'clock noon on ...
§ 5. Qualifications of members.
Senators shall be at least 25 years of age and Representatives 21 years of age. They shall have been citizens and inhabitants of the State ...
§ 6. Disqualification to hold other office.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under this Commonwealth to which a ...
§ 7. Ineligibility by criminal convictions.
No person hereafter convicted of embezzlement of public moneys, bribery, perjury or other infamous crime, shall be eligible to the General Assembly, or capable of ...
§ 8. Compensation.
The members of the General Assembly shall receive such salary and mileage for regular and special sessions as shall be fixed by law, and no ...
§ 9. Election of officers; judge of election and qualifications of members.
The Senate shall, at the beginning and close of each regular session and at such other times as may be necessary, elect one of its ...
§ 10. Quorum.
A majority of each House shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance of absent ...
§ 11. Powers of each house; expulsion.
Each House shall have power to determine the rules of its proceedings and punish its members or other persons for contempt or disorderly behavior in ...
§ 12. Journals; yeas and nays.
Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings and from time to time publish the same, except such parts as require secrecy, and the ...
§ 13. Open sessions.
The sessions of each House and of committees of the whole shall be open, unless when the business is such as ought to be kept ...
§ 14. Adjournments.
Neither House shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the ...
§ 15. Privileges of members.
The members of the General Assembly shall in all cases, except treason, felony, violation of their oath of office, and breach or surety of the ...
§ 16. Legislative districts.
The Commonwealth shall be divided into 50 senatorial and 203 representative districts, which shall be composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in ...
§ 17. Legislative Reapportionment Commission.
(a) In each year following the year of the Federal decennial census, a Legislative Reapportionment Commission shall be constituted for the purpose of reapportioning the ...

ARTICLE III. LEGISLATION

§ 1. Passage of laws.
No law shall be passed except by bill, and no bill shall be so altered or amended, on its passage through either House, as to ...
§ 2. Reference to committee; printing.
No bill shall be considered unless referred to a committee, printed for the use of the members and returned therefrom. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1037, J.R.3) ...
§ 3. Form of bills.
No bill shall be passed containing more than one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title, except a general appropriation bill or a ...
§ 4. Consideration of bills.
Every bill shall be considered on three different days in each House. All amendments made thereto shall be printed for the use of the members ...
§ 5. Concurring in amendments; conference committee reports.
No amendment to bills by one House shall be concurred in by the other, except by the vote of a majority of the members elected ...
§ 6. Revival and amendment of laws.
No law shall be revived, amended, or the provisions thereof extended or conferred, by reference to its title only, but so much thereof as is ...
§ 7. Notice of local and special bills.
No local or special bill shall be passed unless notice of the intention to apply therefor shall have been published in the locality where the ...
§ 8. Signing of bills.
The presiding officer of each House shall, in the presence of the House over which he presides, sign all bills and joint resolutions passed by ...
§ 9. Action on concurrent orders and resolutions.
Every order, resolution or vote, to which the concurrence of both Houses may be necessary, except on the question of adjournment, shall be presented to ...
§ 10. Revenue bills.
All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose amendments as in other bills. Prior Provisions. Former ...
§ 11. Appropriation bills.
The general appropriation bill shall embrace nothing but appropriations for the executive, legislative and judicial departments of the Commonwealth, for the public debt and for ...
§ 12. Legislation designated by Governor at special sessions.
When the General Assembly shall be convened in special session, there shall be no legislation upon subjects other than those designated in the proclamation of ...
§ 13. Vote denied members with personal interest.
A member who has a personal or private interest in any measure or bill proposed or pending before the General Assembly shall disclose the fact ...

§ 14. Public school system.
The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the ...
§ 15. Public school money not available to sectarian schools.
No money raised for the support of the public schools of the Commonwealth shall be appropriated to or used for the support of any sectarian ...

§ 16. National Guard to be organized and maintained.
The citizens of this Commonwealth shall be armed, organized and disciplined for its defense when and in such manner as may be directed by law. ...

§ 17. Appointment of legislative officers and employees.
The General Assembly shall prescribe by law the number, duties and compensation of the officers and employees of each House, and no payment shall be ...
§ 18. Compensation laws allowed to General Assembly.
The General Assembly may enact laws requiring the payment by employers, or employers and employees jointly, of reasonable compensation for injuries to employees arising in ...
§ 19. Appropriations for support of widows and orphans of persons who served in the armed forces.
The General Assembly may make appropriations of money to institutions wherein the widows of persons who served in the armed forces are supported or assisted, ...
§ 20. Classification of municipalities.
The Legislature shall have power to classify counties, cities, boroughs, school districts, and townships according to population, and all laws passed relating to each class, ...
§ 21. Land title registration.
Laws may be passed providing for a system of registering, transferring, insuring of and guaranteeing land titles by the State, or by the counties thereof, ...
§ 22. State purchases.
The General Assembly shall maintain by law a system of competitive bidding under which all purchases of materials, printing, supplies or other personal property used ...
§ 23. Change of venue.
The power to change the venue in civil and criminal cases shall be vested in the courts, to be exercised in such manner as shall ...
§ 24. Paying out public moneys.
No money shall be paid out of the treasury, except on appropriations made by law and on warrant issued by the proper officers; but cash ...
§ 25. Emergency seats of government.
The General Assembly may provide, by law, during any session, for the continuity of the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of the government of the ...
§ 26. Extra compensation prohibited; claims against the Commonwealth; pensions.
No bill shall be passed giving any extra compensation to any public officer, servant, employee, agent or contractor, after services shall have been rendered or ...
§ 27. Changes in term of office or salary prohibited.
No law shall extend the term of any public officer, or increase or diminish his salary or emoluments, after his election or appointment. Prior Provisions. ...

§ 28. Change of permanent location of State Capital.
No law changing the permanent location of the Capital of the State shall be valid until the same shall have been submitted to the qualified ...
§ 29. Appropriations for public assistance, military service, scholarships.
No appropriation shall be made for charitable, educational or benevolent purposes to any person or community nor to any denominational and sectarian institution, corporation or ...
§ 30. Charitable and educational appropriations.
No appropriation shall be made to any charitable or educational institution not under the absolute control of the Commonwealth, other than normal schools established by ...
§ 31. Delegation of certain powers prohibited.
The General Assembly shall not delegate to any special commission, private corporation or association, any power to make, supervise or interfere with any municipal improvement, ...
§ 32. Certain local and special laws.
The General Assembly shall pass no local or special law in any case which has been or can be provided for by general law and ...

ARTICLE IV. THE EXECUTIVE

§ 1. Executive Department.
The Executive Department of this Commonwealth shall consist of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor General, State Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction and ...
§ 2. Duties of Governor; election procedure; tie or contest.
The supreme executive power shall be vested in the Governor, who shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed; he shall be chosen on ...
§ 3. Terms of office of Governor; number of terms.
The Governor shall hold his office during four years from the third Tuesday of January next ensuing his election. Except for the Governor who may ...
§ 4. Lieutenant Governor.
A Lieutenant Governor shall be chosen jointly with the Governor by the casting by each voter of a single vote applicable to both offices, for ...

§ 5. Qualifications of Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.
No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor or Attorney General except a citizen of the United States, who shall have ...
§ 6. Disqualification for offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.
No member of Congress or person holding any office (except of attorney-at-law or in the National Guard or in a reserve component of the armed ...
§ 7. Military power.
The Governor shall be commander-in-chief of the military forces of the Commonwealth, except when they shall be called into actual service of the United States. ...
§ 8. Appointing power.
(a) The Governor shall appoint a Secretary of Education and such other officers as he shall be authorized by law to appoint. The appointment of ...
§ 9. Pardoning power; Board of Pardons.
(a) In all criminal cases except impeachment the Governor shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures, to grant reprieves, commutation of sentences and pardons; ...
§ 10. Information from department officials.
The Governor may require information in writing from the officers of the Executive Department, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices. ...
§ 11. Messages to the General Assembly.
He shall, from time to time, give to the General Assembly information of the state of the Commonwealth, and recommend to their consideration such measures ...
§ 12. Power to convene and adjourn the General Assembly.
He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the General Assembly, and in case of disagreement between the two Houses, with respect to the time of adjournment, ...
§ 13. When Lieutenant Governor to act as Governor.
In the case of the death, conviction on impeachment, failure to qualify or resignation of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor shall become Governor for the ...
§ 14. Vacancy in office of Lieutenant Governor.
In case of the death, conviction on impeachment, failure to qualify or resignation of the Lieutenant Governor, or in case he should become Governor under ...
§ 15. Approval of bills; vetoes.
Every bill which shall have passed both Houses shall be presented to the Governor; if he approves he shall sign it, but if he shall ...
§ 16. Partial disapproval of appropriation bills.
The Governor shall have power to disapprove of any item or items of any bill, making appropriations of money, embracing distinct items, and the part ...
§ 17. Contested elections of Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General; when succeeded.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside upon the trial of any contested election of Governor, Lieutenant Governor or Attorney General and shall ...
§ 18. Terms of office of Auditor General and State Treasurer; number of terms; eligibility of State Treasurer to become Auditor General.
The terms of the Auditor General and of the State Treasurer shall each be four years from the third Tuesday of January next ensuing his ...
§ 19. State seal; commissions.
The present Great Seal of Pennsylvania shall be the seal of the State. All commissions shall be in the name and by authority of the ...

ARTICLE V. THE JUDICIARY

§ 1. Unified judicial system.
The judicial power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a unified judicial system consisting of the Supreme Court, the Superior Court, the Commonwealth Court, ...
§ 2. Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court (a) shall be the highest court of the Commonwealth and in this court shall be reposed the supreme judicial power of the ...
§ 3. Superior Court.
The Superior Court shall be a statewide court, and shall consist of the number of judges, which shall be not less than seven judges, and ...
§ 4. Commonwealth Court.
The Commonwealth Court shall be a statewide court, and shall consist of the number of judges and have such jurisdiction as shall be provided by ...
§ 5. Courts of common pleas.
There shall be one court of common pleas for each judicial district (a) having such divisions and consisting of such number of judges as shall ...
§ 6. Community courts; Philadelphia Municipal Court and Traffic Court.
(a) In any judicial district a majority of the electors voting thereon may approve the establishment or discontinuance of a community court. Where a community ...
§ 7. Justices of the peace; magisterial districts.
(a) In any judicial district, other than the City of Philadelphia, where a community court has not been established or where one has been discontinued ...
§ 8. Other courts.
The General Assembly may establish additional courts or divisions of existing courts, as needed, or abolish any statutory court or division thereof. ...
§ 9. Right of appeal.
There shall be a right of appeal in all cases to a court of record from a court not of record; and there shall also ...
§ 10. Judicial administration.
(a) The Supreme Court shall exercise general supervisory and administrative authority over all the courts and justices of the peace, including authority to temporarily assign ...
§ 11. Judicial districts; boundaries.
The number and boundaries of judicial districts shall be changed by the General Assembly only with the advice and consent of the Supreme Court. Cross ...
§ 12. Qualifications of justices, judges and justices of the peace.
(a) Justices, judges and justices of the peace shall be citizens of the Commonwealth. Justices and judges, except the judges of the traffic court in ...
§ 13. Election of justices, judges and justices of the peace; vacancies.
(a) Justices, judges and justices of the peace shall be elected at the municipal election next preceding the commencement of their respective terms of office ...
§ 14. Judicial Qualifications Commission.
(a) Should the method of judicial selection be adopted as provided in section 13 (d), there shall be a Judicial Qualifications Commission, composed of four ...
§ 15. Tenure of justices, judges and justices of the peace.
(a) The regular term of office of justices and judges shall be ten years and the regular term of office for judges of the municipal ...
§ 16. Compensation and retirement of justices, judges and justices of the peace.
(a) Justices, judges and justices of the peace shall be compensated by the Commonwealth as provided by law. Their compensation shall not be diminished during ...
§ 17. Prohibited activities.
(a) Justices and judges shall devote full time to their judicial duties, and shall not engage in the practice of law, hold office in a ...
§ 18. Suspension, removal, discipline and other sanctions.
(a) There shall be an independent board within the Judicial Branch, known as the Judicial Conduct Board, the composition, powers and duties of which shall ...

§ 1. The Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court shall exercise all the powers and, until otherwise provided by law, jurisdiction now vested in the present Supreme Court and, until otherwise ...
§ 2. The Superior Court.
Until otherwise provided by law, the Superior Court shall exercise all the jurisdiction now vested in the present Superior Court. The present terms of all ...
§ 3. Commonwealth Court.
The Commonwealth Court shall come into existence on January 1, 1970. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this article, the General Assembly shall stagger the ...
§ 4. The courts of common pleas.
Until otherwise provided by law, the several courts of common pleas shall exercise the jurisdiction now vested in the present courts of common pleas. The ...
§ 5. Orphans' court judges.
In those judicial districts having separate orphans' courts, the present judges thereof shall become judges of the orphans' court division of the court of common ...
§ 6. Courts of common pleas in multi-county judicial districts.
Courts of common pleas in multi-county judicial districts are abolished as separate courts and are hereby constituted as branches of the single court of common ...
§ 7. Community courts.
In a judicial district which establishes a community court, a person serving as a justice of the peace at such time: (a) May complete his ...

§ 8. Justices, judges and justices of the peace.
Notwithstanding any provision in the article, a present justice, judge or justice of the peace may complete his term of office. ...
§ 9. Associate judges.
The office of associate judge not learned in the law is abolished, but a present associate judge may complete his term. ...
§ 10. Retention election of present justices and judges.
A present judge who was originally elected to office and seeks retention in the 1969 municipal election and is otherwise eligible may file his declaration ...
§ 11. Selection of president judges.
(a) Except in the City of Philadelphia, section 10(d) of the article shall become effective upon the expiration of the term of the present president ...

§ 12. Magistrates, aldermen and justices of the peace.
An alderman, justice of the peace or magistrate: (a) May complete his term, exercising the jurisdiction provided by law and with the method of compensation ...
§ 13. Magisterial districts.
So that the provisions of this article regarding the establishment of magisterial districts and the instruction and examination of justices of the peace may be ...
§ 14. Magisterial districts.
Effective immediately upon establishment of magisterial districts and until otherwise prescribed the civil and criminal procedural rules relating to venue shall apply to magisterial districts; ...

§ 15. Prothonotaries, clerks of courts, clerks of orphans' courts.
Until otherwise provided by law, the offices of prothonotary and clerk of courts shall become the offices of prothonotary and clerk of courts of the ...

§ 16. Courts and judges.
Until otherwise provided by law: (a) the court of common pleas shall consist of a trial division, orphans' court division and family court division. (b) ...

§ 17. Courts.
Until otherwise provided by law: (a) The court of common pleas shall consist of a trial division, an orphans' court division and a family court ...
§ 18. Judges.
Until otherwise provided by law, the present judges of the court of common pleas shall continue to act as the judges of that court; the ...
§ 19. President judges.
The present president judge of the court of common pleas may complete his term as president judge; the present president judge of the orphans' court ...
§ 20. President judges; court divisions.
Until otherwise provided by law, the trial division, the orphans' court division and the family court division of the court of common pleas shall each ...

§ 21. Inferior courts.
Upon the establishment of magisterial districts pursuant to this article and schedule, and unless otherwise provided by law, the police magistrates, including those serving in ...

§ 22. Causes, proceedings, books and records.
All causes and proceedings pending in any abolished court or office of the justice of the peace shall be determined and concluded by the court ...

§ 23. Judicial Qualifications Commission.
The selection of the first members of the Judicial Qualifications Commission provided for in section 14 (a) of this article shall be made as follows: ...
§ 24. Judicial discipline.
(a) The members of the Judicial Inquiry and Review Board shall vacate their offices 90 days after the adoption of the amendment to section 18 ...

§ 25. Dispensing with trial by jury.
Until otherwise provided by law, the parties, by agreement filed, may in any civil case dispense with trial by jury, and submit the decision of ...
§ 26. Writs of certiorari.
Unless and until changed by rule of the Supreme Court, in addition to the right of appeal under section 9 of this article, the judges ...
§ 27. Judicial districts.
Until changed in accordance with section 11 of this article, the number and boundaries of judicial districts shall remain as at present. Suspension by Statute. ...
§ 28. Referendum.
The officer of the Commonwealth who under law shall have supervision over elections shall cause the question provided for in section 13 (d) of this ...
§ 29. Persons specially admitted by local rules.
Any person now specially admitted to practice may continue to practice in the court of common pleas or in that division of the court of ...

ARTICLE VI. PUBLIC OFFICERS

§ 1. Selection of officers not otherwise provided for in Constitution.
All officers, whose selection is not provided for in this Constitution, shall be elected or appointed as may be directed by law. (Nov. 2, 1909, ...
§ 2. Incompatible offices.
No member of Congress from this State, nor any person holding or exercising any office or appointment of trust or profit under the United States, ...
§ 3. Oath of office.
Senators, Representatives and all judicial, State and county officers shall, before entering on the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe the following oath ...
§ 4. Power of impeachment.
The House of Representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment. (May 17, 1966, 1965 P.L.1928, J.R.10) 1966 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.10 renumbered former section ...
§ 5. Trial of impeachments.
All impeachments shall be tried by the Senate. When sitting for that purpose the Senators shall be upon oath or affirmation. No person shall be ...
§ 6. Officers liable to impeachment.
The Governor and all other civil officers shall be liable to impeachment for any misbehavior in office, but judgment in such cases shall not extend ...
§ 7. Removal of civil officers.
All civil officers shall hold their offices on the condition that they behave themselves well while in office, and shall be removed on conviction of ...

ARTICLE VII. ELECTIONS

§ 1. Qualifications of electors.
Every citizen 21 years of age, possessing the following qualifications, shall be entitled to vote at all elections subject, however, to such laws requiring and ...
§ 2. General election day.
The general election shall be held biennially on the Tuesday next following the first Monday of November in each even- numbered year, but the General ...
§ 3. Municipal election day; offices to be filled on election days.
All judges elected by the electors of the State at large may be elected at either a general or municipal election, as circumstances may require. ...
§ 4. Method of elections; secrecy in voting.
All elections by the citizens shall be by ballot or by such other method as may be prescribed by law: Provided, That secrecy in voting ...
§ 5. Electors privileged from arrest.
Electors shall in all cases except treason, felony and breach or surety of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance on elections and ...
§ 6. Election and registration laws.
All laws regulating the holding of elections by the citizens, or for the registration of electors, shall be uniform throughout the State, except that laws ...
§ 7. Bribery of electors.
Any person who shall give, or promise or offer to give, to an elector, any money, reward or other valuable consideration for his vote at ...
§ 8. Witnesses in contested elections.
In trials of contested elections and in proceedings for the investigation of elections, no person shall be permitted to withhold his testimony upon the ground ...
§ 9. Fixing election districts.
Townships and wards of cities or boroughs shall form or be divided into election districts of compact and contiguous territory and their boundaries fixed and ...
§ 10. Viva voce elections.
All elections by persons in a representative capacity shall be viva voce or by automatic recording device publicly indicating how each person voted. (May 16, ...
§ 11. Election officers.
District election boards shall consist of a judge and two inspectors, who shall be chosen at municipal elections for such terms as may be provided ...
§ 12. Disqualifications for service as election officer.
No persons shall be qualified to serve as an election officer who shall hold, or shall within two months have held any office, appointment or ...
§ 13. Contested elections.
The trial and determination of contested elections of electors of President and Vice-President, members of the General Assembly, and of all public officers, whether State, ...
§ 14. Absentee voting.
(a) The Legislature shall, by general law, provide a manner in which, and the time and place at which, qualified electors who may, on the ...

ARTICLE VIII. TAXATION AND FINANCE

§ 1. Uniformity of taxation.
All taxes shall be uniform, upon the same class of subjects, within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax, and shall be levied ...
§ 2. Exemptions and special provisions.
(a) The General Assembly may by law exempt from taxation: (i) Actual places of regularly stated religious worship; (ii) Actual places of burial, when used ...
§ 3. Reciprocal exemptions.
Taxation laws may grant exemptions or rebates to residents, or estates of residents, of other States which grant similar exemptions or rebates to residents, or ...
§ 4. Public utilities.
The real property of public utilities is subject to real estate taxes imposed by local taxing authorities. Payment to the Commonwealth of gross receipts taxes ...
§ 5. Exemption from taxation restricted.
All laws exempting property from taxation, other than the property above enumerated, shall be void. Prior Provisions. Former section 5 was repealed by amendment of ...
§ 6. Taxation of corporations.
The power to tax corporations and corporate property shall not be surrendered or suspended by any contract or grant to which the Commonwealth shall be ...
§ 7. Commonwealth indebtedness.
(a) No debt shall be incurred by or on behalf of the Commonwealth except by law and in accordance with the provisions of this section. ...
§ 8. Commonwealth credit not to be pledged.
The credit of the Commonwealth shall not be pledged or loaned to any individual, company, corporation or association nor shall the Commonwealth become a joint ...
§ 9. Municipal debt not to be assumed by Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth shall not assume the debt, or any part thereof, of any county, city, borough, incorporated town, township or any similar general purpose unit ...
§ 10. Audit.
The financial affairs of any entity funded or financially aided by the Commonwealth, and all departments, boards, commissions, agencies, instrumentalities, authorities and institutions of the ...
§ 11. Gasoline taxes and motor license fees restricted.
(a) All proceeds from gasoline and other motor fuel excise taxes, motor vehicle registration fees and license taxes, operators' license fees and other excise taxes ...
§ 12. Governor's budgets and financial plan.
Annually, at the times set by law, the Governor shall submit to the General Assembly: (a) A balanced operating budget for the ensuing fiscal year ...
§ 13. Appropriations.
(a) Operating budget appropriations made by the General Assembly shall not exceed the actual and estimated revenues and surplus available in the same fiscal year. ...
§ 14. Surplus.
All surplus of operating funds at the end of the fiscal year shall be appropriated during the ensuing fiscal year by the General Assembly. (Apr. ...
§ 15. Project "70".
In addition to the purposes stated in Article VIII, section 7 of this Constitution, the Commonwealth may be authorized by law to create debt and ...
§ 16. Land and Water Conservation and Reclamation Fund.
In addition to the purposes stated in Article VIII, section 7 of this Constitution, the Commonwealth may be authorized by law to create a debt ...
§ 17. Special emergency legislation.
(a) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Constitution to the contrary, the General Assembly shall have the authority to enact laws providing for tax rebates, credits, ...

ARTICLE IX. LOCAL GOVERNMENT

§ 1. Local government.
The General Assembly shall provide by general law for local government within the Commonwealth. Such general law shall be uniform as to all classes of ...
§ 2. Home rule.
Municipalities shall have the right and power to frame and adopt home rule charters. Adoption, amendment or repeal of a home rule charter shall be ...
§ 3. Optional plans.
Municipalities shall have the right and power to adopt optional forms of government as provided by law. The General Assembly shall provide optional forms of ...
§ 4. County government.
County officers shall consist of commissioners, controllers or auditors, district attorneys, public defenders, treasurers, sheriffs, registers of wills, recorders of deeds, prothonotaries, clerks of the ...
§ 5. Intergovernmental cooperation.
A municipality by act of its governing body may, or upon being required by initiative and referendum in the area affected shall, cooperate or agree ...
§ 6. Area government.
The General Assembly shall provide for the establishment and dissolution of government of areas involving two or more municipalities or parts thereof. ...
§ 7. Area-wide powers.
The General Assembly may grant powers to area governments or to municipalities within a given geographical area in which there exists intergovernmental cooperation or area ...
§ 8. Consolidation, merger or boundary change.
Uniform Legislation.--The General Assembly shall, within two years following the adoption of this article, enact uniform legislation establishing the procedure for consolidation, merger or change ...
§ 9. Appropriation for public purposes.
The General Assembly shall not authorize any municipality or incorporated district to become a stockholder in any company, association or corporation, or to obtain or ...
§ 10. Local government debt.
Subject only to the restrictions imposed by this section, the General Assembly shall prescribe the debt limits of all units of local government including municipalities ...
§ 11. Local reapportionment.
Within the year following that in which the Federal decennial census is officially reported as required by Federal law, and at such other times as ...
§ 12. Philadelphia debt.
The debt of the City of Philadelphia may be increased in such amount that the total debt of said city shall not exceed 13 1/2% ...
§ 13. Abolition of county offices in Philadelphia.
(a) In Philadelphia all county offices are hereby abolished, and the city shall henceforth perform all functions of county government within its area through officers ...
§ 14. Definitions.
As used in this article, the following words shall have the following meanings: "Municipality" means a county, city, borough, incorporated town, township or any similar ...

ARTICLE X. PRIVATE CORPORATIONS

§ 1. Certain unused charters void.
The charters and privileges granted prior to 1874 to private corporations which had not been organized in good faith and commenced business prior to 1874 ...
§ 2. Certain charters to be subject to the Constitution.
Private corporations which have accepted or accept the Constitution of this Commonwealth or the benefits of any law passed by the General Assembly after 1873 ...
§ 3. Revocation, amendment and repeal of charters and corporation laws.
All charters of private corporations and all present and future common or statutory law with respect to the formation or regulation of private corporations or ...
§ 4. Compensation for property taken by corporations under right of eminent domain.
Municipal and other corporations invested with the privilege of taking private property for public use shall make just compensation for property taken, injured or destroyed ...

ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS

§ 1. Proposal of amendments by the General Assembly and their adoption.
Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the Senate or House of Representatives; and if the same shall be agreed to by a majority ...

SCHEDULE NO. 1 (ADOPTED WITH THE CONSTITUTION)

§ 1. When to take effect.
This Constitution shall take effect on the first day of January, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy- four, for all purposes not ...
§ 2. Former laws remain in force.
All laws in force in this Commonwealth at the time of the adoption of this Constitution not inconsistent therewith, and all rights, actions, prosecutions and ...
§ 3. Election of Senators.
At the general election in the years one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four and one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, Senators shall be elected in ...
§ 4. Election of Senators (continued).
§ 4. Election of Senators (continued). At the general election in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, Senators shall be elected from even- ...
§ 5. Election of Governor.
The first election of Governor under this Constitution shall be at the general election in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, when a ...
§ 6. Election of Lieutenant Governor.
At the general election in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, a Lieutenant Governor shall be elected according to the provisions of this ...
§ 7. Secretary of Internal Affairs.
The Secretary of Internal Affairs shall be elected at the first general election after the adoption of this Constitution; and, when the said officer shall ...
§ 8. Superintendent of Public Instruction.
When the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be duly qualified the office of Superintendent of Common Schools shall cease. ...
§ 9. Eligibility of present officers.
Nothing contained in this Constitution shall be construed to render any person now holding any State office for a first official term ineligible for re-election ...
§ 10. Judges of Supreme Court.
The judges of the Supreme Court in office when this Constitution shall take effect shall continue until their commissions severally expire. Two judges in addition ...
§ 11. Courts of record.
All courts of record and all existing courts which are not specified in this Constitution shall continue in existence until the first day of December, ...
§ 12. Register's courts abolished.
The register's courts now in existence shall be abolished on the first day of January next succeeding the adoption of this Constitution. ...
§ 13. Judicial districts.
The General Assembly shall, at the next session after the adoption of this Constitution, designate the several judicial districts as required by this Constitution. The ...
§ 14. Decennial adjustment of judicial districts.
The General Assembly shall, at the next succeeding session after each decennial census and not oftener, designate the several judicial districts as required by this ...
§ 15. Judges in commission.
Judges learned in the law of any court of record holding commissions in force at the adoption of this Constitution shall hold their respective offices ...
§ 16. President judges; casting lots; associate judges.
After the expiration of the term of any president judge of any court of common pleas, in commission at the adoption of this Constitution, the ...
§ 17. Compensation of judges.
The General Assembly, at the first session after the adoption of this Constitution, shall fix and determine the compensation of the judges of the Supreme ...
§ 18. Courts of Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties; organization in Philadelphia.
The courts of common pleas in the counties of Philadelphia and Allegheny shall be composed of the present judges of the district court and court ...
§ 19. Organization of courts in Allegheny County.
In the county of Allegheny, for the purpose of first organization under this Constitution, the judges of the court of common pleas, at the time ...
§ 20. When re-organization of courts to take effect.
The organization of the courts of common pleas under this Constitution for the counties of Philadelphia and Allegheny shall take effect on the first Monday ...
§ 21. Causes pending in Philadelphia; transfer of records.
The causes and proceedings pending in the court of nisi prius, court of common pleas, and district court in Philadelphia shall be tried and disposed ...
§ 22. Causes pending in Allegheny County.
The causes and proceedings pending in the court of common pleas in the county of Allegheny shall be tried and disposed of in the court ...
§ 23. Prothonotary of Philadelphia County.
The prothonotary of the court of common pleas of Philadelphia shall be first appointed by the judges of said court on the first Monday of ...
§ 24. Aldermen.
In cities containing over fifty thousand inhabitants, except Philadelphia, all aldermen in office at the time of the adoption of this Constitution shall continue in ...
§ 25. Magistrates in Philadelphia.
In Philadelphia magistrates in lieu of aldermen shall be chosen, as required in this Constitution, at the election in said city for city and ward ...
§ 26. Term of present officers.
All persons in office in this Commonwealth at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, and at the first election under it, shall hold ...
§ 27. Oath of office.
The seventh article of this Constitution prescribing an oath of office shall take effect on and after the first day of January, one thousand eight ...
§ 28. County commissioners and auditors.
The terms of office of county commissioners and county auditors, chosen prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, which shall not have ...
§ 29. Compensation of present officers.
All State, county, city, ward, borough and township officers in office at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, whose compensation is not provided ...
§ 30. Renewal of oath of office.
All State and judicial officers heretofore elected, sworn, affirmed, or in office when this Constitution shall take effect, shall severally, within one month after such ...
§ 31. Enforcing legislation.
The General Assembly at its first session, or as soon as may be after the adoption of this Constitution, shall pass such laws as may ...
§ 32. An ordinance declared valid.
The ordinance passed by this Convention, entitled "An ordinance for submitting the amended Constitution of Pennsylvania to a vote of the electors thereof," shall be ...
§ 33. City commissioners of Philadelphia.
The words "county commissioners," wherever used in this Constitution and in any ordinance accompanying the same, shall be held to include the commissioners for the ...

SCHEDULE NO. 2 (AMENDMENTS OF NOVEMBER 2, 1909)

§ 1. Adjustments of terms of public officers.
That no inconvenience may arise from the changes in the Constitution of the Commonwealth, and in order to carry the same into complete operation, it ...

Last modified: November 22, 2007

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