Each block on this histogram represents a change—e.g., a substantive change, repeal & replace, or renumbering—to an individual section rather than an amendment. Some amendments result in multiple changes, resulting in multiple blocks being attributed to one amendment. Likewise, a section may be amended more than once in an year, but these amendments will only appear as one block on the histogram. When a block or blocks are marked red in a specific year, that means that a new constitution went into effect that year.
The Constitution’s provisions are organized into articles, and each article is split into sections. Here, you can view an outline of the Constitution, see the Constitution’s full text as it stood on any date since ratification, and compare any amended provision of the Constitution to its earlier version.
Explore by Year
View the constitution’s amendments by year of adoption and historical context for significant amendments.
The Pennsylvania Constitution & Its Amendments
As one of the original thirteen colonies, Pennsylvania has a long constitutional history that begins in 1776. Sometimes described as “the most democratic (and radical) of the state constitutions” for its time, the original Pennsylvania Constitution provided for a strong unicameral legislature, created a Council of Censors tasked with evaluating the functioning and activities of state government, made all legislative proceedings open to the public, and expanded the franchise beyond property owners to all men who paid taxes, including African American men. However, contemporary critics also largely considered the 1776 Constitution a failure, with the delegates to the federal and other state constitutional conventions using it “as a model for how not to structure [a] government.” The legislature wielded too much power and were subject to few checks—the president of the Supreme Executive Council (equivalent to the governor) could not veto legislative acts, and the legislature could remove supreme court judges at any time. Subsequently, a new constitutional convention produced the 1790 Constitution, which was also described as a model constitution but, unlike its predecessor, provided for a “workable frame of government with effective checks and balances.” The 1790 Constitution included many of the features traditionally associated with republican government in the American states: an independent executive and judiciary and a prohibition against the legislature taking away the rights enumerated by the Declaration of Rights.
Including the conventions of 1776 and 1790, Pennsylvania has held a total of seven constitutional conventions throughout its history, five* of which produced new constitutions that were ultimately approved by voters. Although the Pennsylvania Constitution has never included a provision authorizing or providing the procedure for calling a constitutional convention, the power is thought to be rooted in the “power . . . inherent in the people . . . to alter, reform or abolish their government.” The Pennsylvania legislature can also place constitutional amendments on the ballot by passing a proposal in two successive legislative sessions. And in cases of a “major emergency [that] threatens or is about to threaten the Commonwealth,” the legislature may place an amendment on the ballot with a two-thirds vote during a single legislative session. If the proposal is approved by a majority of voters, the amendment is ratified.
* Although accounts widely describe Pennsylvania as having adopted five constitutions, two were actually passed as packages of amendments. However, the legislature subsequently passed a statute directing the 1874 Constitution, as amended through 1968, be called the Constitution of 1968. Accordingly, the Pennsylvania General Assembly refers to Pennsylvania as having had four constitutions. For more information see 1838 and 1968.
Pennsylvania State Capitol. Michael Plasmeier.
Additional Resources Access links to commonly referenced sources in Pennsylvania constitutional research.
Access links to commonly referenced sources in Pennsylvania constitutional research.