The Pennsylvania Constitution

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.

This schedule is a part of this judiciary article, and it is intended that the provisions contained herein shall have the same force and effect as those contained in the numbered sections of the article.

This article and schedule, unless otherwise stated herein, shall become effective on January 1, 1969. In this schedule where the word “now” appears it speaks from the date of adoption of this schedule; where the word “present” appears it speaks from the effective date hereof.

Arts. 6, 7 and 12 were amended and consolidated as a single article on May 17, 1966, as proposed by Joint Resolution No. 10, 1965, P.L. 1928.  The resulting article was designated as Art. 6 by proclamation of the Governor of July 14, 1966.  See Laws 1965, P.L. 1945.

Art. 18 was amended May 16, 1967, as proposed by Joint Resolution No. 6, 1967, P.L. 1052, and renumbered as Art. 11 by proclamation of the Governor July 7, 1967, P.L. 1063.

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 is hereby declared, that:

1967, MAY 16, P.L.1044, J.R.4

Schedule. Terms of State Treasurer and Auditor General.

That no inconvenience may arise from changes in Article IV of the Constitution of this Commonwealth, it is hereby declared that the State Treasurer and Auditor General first elected after this amended article becomes effective shall serve terms beginning the first Tuesday in May next following their election and expiring four years from the third Tuesday in January next ensuing their election.

Explanatory Note. Joint Resolution No.4 added section 18 and made other changes in Article IV.

1968, APRIL 23, P.L.APP.3, PROP. NO.1

Schedule. Effective date of amendment.

The foregoing amendment to Article II of the Constitution of Pennsylvania if approved by the electorate voting on April 23, 1968, shall become effective the year following that in which the next Federal decennial census is officially reported as required by Federal law.

Explanatory Note. Proposal No.1 amended and consolidated former sections 16 and 17 into present section 16 of Article II.

1968, APRIL 23, P.L.APP.3, PROP. NO.2

Schedule. Effective date of amendment.

The foregoing amendment to Article II of the Constitution of Pennsylvania if approved by the electorate voting on April 23, 1968, shall become effective the year following that in which the next Federal decennial census is officially reported as required by Federal law.

Explanatory Note. Proposal No.2 amended and renumbered former section 18 to present section 17 of Article II.

1968, APRIL 23, P.L.APP.5, PROP. NO.3

§ 4. Repeals.

Effective when the last bonds have been issued under their authority, sections 24 and 25 of Article VIII of the Constitution of Pennsylvania are hereby repealed.

References in Text. Sections 24 and 25 were renumbered to present sections 15 and 16, respectively, of Article VIII by Proposal No.5 of 1968.

1968, APRIL 23, P.L.APP.7, PROP. NO.4

§ 3. Effective date of amendments.

The following schedule is adopted: Sections 10, 12, 13 and 14 of Article VIII shall take effect as soon as possible, but no later than July 1, 1970.

1968, APRIL 23, P.L.APP.9, PROP. NO.5

§ 4. Effective date of amendments.

Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect as soon as possible, but no later than July 1, 1970. Section 4 shall take effect July 1, 1970, unless the General Assembly earlier provides enabling legislation in accordance therewith.

Explanatory Note. Proposal No.5 amended section 1, added sections 2 and 4 and renumbered or amended other sections of Article VIII.

1968, APRIL 23, P.L.APP.11, PROP. NO.6

§ 3. Effective date and interpretation of amendments.

This new article and the repeal of existing sections shall take effect on the date of approval by the electorate, except that the following sections shall take effect on the effective date of legislation adopted pursuant to the sections or the date indicated below, whichever shall first occur.

The first, third and fourth paragraphs of section 8 shall take effect two years after the effective date. The second sentence of section 1, the fourth sentence of section 2, all of section 3, the third paragraph of section 4, and the first paragraph of section 10 shall take effect four years after the effective date. The second sentence of section 1 and the first paragraph of section 8 on Uniform Legislation shall be construed so as to be consistent with the jurisdiction of this Convention.

Explanatory Note. Proposal No.6 added present Article IX and repealed sections in Articles VIII, XIII, XIV and XV.

1968, APRIL 23, P.L.APP.16, PROP. NO.7

§ 2. Repeals.

Article V of the Constitution of Pennsylvania is repealed in its entirety, and those provisions of Schedules No. 1 and No. 2 are repealed to the extent they are inconsistent with this article and attached schedule.

Explanatory Note. Proposal No.7 added present Article V.

1972, NOVEMBER 7, 1ST SP.SESS., P.L.1970, J.R.1

§ 1. Preamble.

Millions of Pennsylvanians have suffered greatly from the ravages of the most disastrous flood in the history of the Commonwealth. This flood has left devastation in its wake. Thousands of people have been left homeless and countless industrial and commercial establishments and public facilities have been damaged or destroyed.

It is imperative that the victims of this disaster immediately receive the fullest possible aid from both the public and private sectors in order to clean up and rebuild the affected areas of the Commonwealth.

In addition, many Pennsylvanians suffered greatly as a result of the Great Storm or Flood of September, 1971.

The General Assembly desires to alleviate such storm or economic deprivation caused by the flood, but is limited in its efforts by rigid restrictions in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The safety and welfare of the Commonwealth requires prompt amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The following amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with the emergency provisions contained in subsections (a) and (b) of section one of the eleventh article thereof:

That article eight of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania be amended by adding a new section to read:

* * *

Explanatory Note. Joint Resolution No.1 added section 17 of Article VIII.

1975, NOVEMBER 4, P.L.622, J.R.2

§ 1. Preamble.

Many Pennsylvanians have suffered greatly from the ravages of great storms or floods in the last few years. The great storms or floods of 1974 and 1975 are additional major disasters causing loss of life and great damage and destruction to property of individuals, industrial and commercial establishments and public facilities.

It is imperative that the victims of these disasters immediately receive the fullest possible aid from both the public and private sectors in order to clean up and rebuild the affected areas of the Commonwealth and that persons in the Commonwealth be eligible for the maximum available aid from the government of the United States.

The General Assembly desires to alleviate such storm or economic deprivation caused by the floods but is limited in its efforts by rigid restrictions in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The safety and welfare of the Commonwealth requires prompt amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The following amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with the emergency provisions contained in subsections (a) and (b) of section one of the eleventh article thereof:

That section seventeen of article eight of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania be amended to read:

* * *

1977, NOVEMBER 8, P.L.362, J.R.2

§ 1. Preamble.

Many Pennsylvanians have suffered greatly from the ravages of Great Storms and Floods in recent years. The Great Storms or Floods of 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977 were additional major disasters causing loss of life and great damage and destruction to property of individuals, industrial and commercial establishments and public facilities.

It is imperative that the victims of these disasters receive the fullest possible aid from both the Federal Government and the Commonwealth in order to accomplish a speedy recovery.

The Congress of the United States, through enactment of the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, Public Law 93-288, has authorized the making of certain disaster relief grants. The General Assembly wishes to make such Federal disaster relief grants, or other grants made available from Federal programs hereafter enacted, available to eligible individuals and families in order to alleviate the deprivation caused by storms or floods which have occurred in the past and seeks to address those emergencies of future years. However, the General Assembly is limited by rigid restrictions in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The safety and welfare of the Commonwealth requires the prompt amendment to the Constitution to aid those already inflicted by the Great Storms of 1976 or 1977 and any future emergency that may strike Commonwealth citizens.

Therefore, the following amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with the emergency provisions of Article XI thereof:

That section 17 of Article VIII be amended to read:

* * *

1978, MAY 16, 1977 P.L.365, J.R.4

§ 2. Vacancy in existing office of Attorney General.

Upon approval of this amendment by the electors, there shall be a vacancy in the office of Attorney General which shall be filled as provided herein.

Explanatory Note. Joint Resolution No.4 added section 4.1 and amended sections 5, 6, 8 and 17 of Article IV.