The Constitution of Pennsylvania is the supreme law within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. All acts of the General Assembly, the governor, and each governmental agency are subordinate to it. Since 1776, Pennsylvania's Constitution has undergone five versions. The current Constitution entered into force in 1968, and has been amended numerous times.
The Constitution may only be amended if a proposed modification receives a majority vote of two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly and then is approved by the electorate. Emergency amendments are permitted by a vote of two-thirds of the General Assembly and an affirmative vote by the electorate within one month. In such emergency situations, commonwealth election officials are required to publish notice of the referendum on a proposed amendment in a minimum of two newspapers in every county. In an event that more than one emergency amendment is proposed, each additional amendment is to be voted on separately.[1]
The current Constitution of Pennsylvania comprises the following concise Preamble, and Articles and Schedules:
Preambleedit
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
Articles and schedulesedit
Article I: Declaration of Rights
Article II: The Legislature
Article III: Legislation
Article IV: The Executive
Article V: The Judiciary
Article VI: Public Officers
Article VII: Elections
Article VIII: Taxation and Finance
Article IX: Local Government
Article X: Private Corporations
Article XI: Amendments
Schedule NO. 1 (Adopted with the Constitution)
Schedule NO. 2 (Amendments of November 2, 1909)
Appendix
Historyedit
Pennsylvania has had five constitutions during its statehood:[2]1776, 1790, 1838, 1874, and 1968. Prior to that, the colonial Province of Pennsylvania was governed for a century by a book titled Frame of Government, written by William Penn, of which there were four versions: 1682, 1683, 1696, and 1701.[3]
^23 hi bill 2010-01-13 at the Wayback MachineLaw Weekly 324 (March 27, 2000). Jenkinslaw.org. Retrieved on December 31, 2011.
^23 Pennsylvania Law Weekly 324 (March 27, 2010) PHP The unicameral legislature established in 1776 was abolished in 1790 in favor of a bicameral legislature. 2010-01-13 at the Wayback Machine
External linksedit
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Constitution Web Page
Text of 1776 Constitution
November 30, 2023
pennsylvania, constitution, constitution, pennsylvania, supreme, within, commonwealth, pennsylvania, acts, general, assembly, governor, each, governmental, agency, subordinate, since, 1776, pennsylvania, constitution, undergone, five, versions, current, consti. The Constitution of Pennsylvania is the supreme law within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania All acts of the General Assembly the governor and each governmental agency are subordinate to it Since 1776 Pennsylvania s Constitution has undergone five versions The current Constitution entered into force in 1968 and has been amended numerous times The Pennsylvania House of Representatives chamber in Harrisburg Pennsylvania with the portrait Apotheosis of Pennsylvania visible on the far wall of the chamberThe Constitution may only be amended if a proposed modification receives a majority vote of two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly and then is approved by the electorate Emergency amendments are permitted by a vote of two thirds of the General Assembly and an affirmative vote by the electorate within one month In such emergency situations commonwealth election officials are required to publish notice of the referendum on a proposed amendment in a minimum of two newspapers in every county In an event that more than one emergency amendment is proposed each additional amendment is to be voted on separately 1 Contents 1 The Constitution 1968 as amended 1 1 Preamble 1 2 Articles and schedules 2 History 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksThe Constitution 1968 as amended editThe current Constitution of Pennsylvania comprises the following concise Preamble and Articles and Schedules Preamble edit nbsp The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776WE the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty and humbly invoking His guidance do ordain and establish this Constitution Articles and schedules edit Article I Declaration of Rights Article II The Legislature Article III Legislation Article IV The Executive Article V The Judiciary Article VI Public Officers Article VII Elections Article VIII Taxation and Finance Article IX Local Government Article X Private Corporations Article XI Amendments Schedule NO 1 Adopted with the Constitution Schedule NO 2 Amendments of November 2 1909 AppendixHistory editPennsylvania has had five constitutions during its statehood 2 1776 1790 1838 1874 and 1968 Prior to that the colonial Province of Pennsylvania was governed for a century by a book titled Frame of Government written by William Penn of which there were four versions 1682 1683 1696 and 1701 3 See also editPennsylvania Constitution of 1776 Law of PennsylvaniaReferences edit Pennsylvania Constitution Ballotpedia Retrieved 2016 12 09 23 hi bill Archived 2010 01 13 at the Wayback Machine Law Weekly 324 March 27 2000 Jenkinslaw org Retrieved on December 31 2011 23 Pennsylvania Law Weekly 324 March 27 2010 PHP The unicameral legislature established in 1776 was abolished in 1790 in favor of a bicameral legislature Archived 2010 01 13 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editThe Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania s Constitutions and the Amendment Process Where it Began Where it is Now Pennsylvania Constitution Web Page Text of 1776 Constitution Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pennsylvania Constitution amp oldid 1167571867, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
