FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Pa. Const. art. I, § 10 — Article I / Section 10
Pa. Const. art. I, § 10. Initiation of criminal proceedings; twice in jeopardy;
Status: in_force

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 naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service, in time of war or public danger, or by leave of the court for oppression or misdemeanor in office. Each of the several courts of common pleas may, with the approval of the Supreme Court, provide for the initiation of criminal proceedings therein by information filed in the manner provided by law. No person shall, for the same offense, be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall private property be taken or applied to public use, without authority of law and without just compensation being first made or secured.
Pa. Const. art. VI, § 6 — Article VI / Section 6
Pa. Const. art. VI, § 6. Officers liable to impeachment
Status: in_force

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 further than to removal from office and disqualification to hold any office of trust or profit under this Commonwealth. The person accused, whether convicted or acquitted, shall nevertheless be liable to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law. (May 17, 1966, 1965 P.L.1928, J.R.10) 1966 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.10 amended and renumbered former section 3 to present section 6.
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 13 — Article IX / Section 13
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 13. Abolition of county offices in Philadelphia
Status: in_force

(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 selected in such manner as may be provided by law. (b) Local and special laws, regulating the affairs of the City of Philadelphia and creating offices or prescribing the powers and duties of officers of the City of Philadelphia, shall be valid notwithstanding the provisions of section 32 of Article III of this Constitution. (c) All laws applicable to the County of Philadelphia shall apply to the City of Philadelphia. (d) The City of Philadelphia shall have, assume and take over all powers, property, obligations and indebtedness of the County of Philadelphia. (e) The provisions of section 2 of this article shall apply with full force and effect to the functions of the county government hereafter to be performed by the city government. (f) Upon adoption of this amendment all county officers shall become officers of the City of Philadelphia, and until the General Assembly shall otherwise provide, shall continue to perform their duties and be elected, appointed, compensated and organized in such manner as may be provided by the provisions of this Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth in effect at the time this amendment becomes effective, but such officers serving when this amendment becomes effective shall be permitted to complete their terms.
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 3 — Article VII / Section 3
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 3. Municipal election day; offices to be filled on election days
Status: in_force

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. All elections for judges of the courts for the several judicial districts, and for county, city, ward, borough, and township officers, for regular terms of service, shall be held on the municipal election day; namely, the Tuesday next following the first Monday of November in each odd-numbered year, but the General Assembly may by law fix a different day, two-thirds of all the members of each House consenting thereto: Provided, That such elections shall be held in an odd-numbered year: Provided further, That all judges for the courts of the several judicial districts holding office at the present time, whose terms of office may end in an odd-numbered year, shall continue to hold their offices until the first Monday of January in the next succeeding even-numbered year. (Nov. 2, 1909, P.L.948, J.R.1; Nov. 4, 1913, P.L.1477, C.R.3; May 16, 1967, P.L.1048, J.R.5)
Pa. Const. art. III, § 20 — Article III / Section 20
Pa. Const. art. III, § 20. Classification of municipalities
Status: in_force

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, and all laws passed relating to, and regulating procedure and proceedings in court with reference to, any class, shall be deemed general legislation within the meaning of this Constitution. 1967 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.3 renumbered former section 20 to present section 31 and amended and renumbered former section 34 to present section 20. 1923 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.3 added present section 20 (formerly section 34).
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 1 — Article IX / Section 1
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 1. Local government
Status: in_force

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 local government regarding procedural matters. Interpretation of Section. Section 3 of Proposal No.6 of 1968 provided that the second sentence of section 1 shall be construed so as to be consistent with the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Convention.
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 9 — Article VIII / Section 9
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 9. Municipal debt not to be assumed by Commonwealth
Status: in_force

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 of government unless such debt shall have been incurred to enable the Commonwealth to suppress insurrection or to assist the Commonwealth in the discharge of any portion of its present indebtedness.
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 10 — Article IX / Section 10
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 10. Local government debt
Status: in_force

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 and school districts. For such purposes, the debt limit base shall be a percentage of the total revenue, as defined by the General Assembly, of the unit of local government computed over a specific period immediately preceding the year of borrowing. The debt limit to be prescribed in every such case shall exclude all indebtedness (1) for any project to the extent that it is self-liquidating or self-supporting or which has heretofore been defined as self- liquidating or self-supporting, or (2) which has been approved by referendum held in such manner as shall be provided by law. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to the City or County of Philadelphia. Any unit of local government, including municipalities and school districts, incurring any indebtedness, shall at or before the time of so doing adopt a covenant, which shall be binding upon it so long as any such indebtedness shall remain unpaid, to make payments out of its sinking fund or any other of its revenues or funds at such time and in such annual amounts specified in such covenant as shall be sufficient for the payment of the interest thereon and the principal thereof when due.
Pa. Const. art. II, § 16 — Article II / Section 16
Pa. Const. art. II, § 16. Legislative districts
Status: in_force

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 population as practicable. Each senatorial district shall elect one Senator, and each representative district one Representative. Unless absolutely necessary no county, city, incorporated town, borough, township or ward shall be divided in forming either a senatorial or representative district. 1968 Amendment. Proposal No.1 amended and consolidated former sections 16 and 17 into present section 16. The schedule to Proposal No.1 provided that section 16, 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.
Pa. Const. art. III, § 17 — Article III / Section 17
Pa. Const. art. III, § 17. Appointment of legislative officers and employees
Status: in_force

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 made from the State Treasury, or be in any way authorized, to any person, except to an acting officer or employee elected or appointed in pursuance of law. Prior Provisions. Former section 17 was renumbered to present section 30 and present section 17 was renumbered from former section 10 by amendment of May 16, 1967, P.L.1037, J.R.3.
Pa. Const. art. VI, § 3 — Article VI / Section 3
Pa. Const. art. VI, § 3. Oath of office
Status: in_force

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 or affirmation before a person authorized to administer oaths. "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity." The oath or affirmation shall be administered to a member of the Senate or to a member of the House of Representatives in the hall of the House to which he shall have been elected. Any person refusing to take the oath or affirmation shall forfeit his office. (May 17, 1966, 1965 P.L.1928, J.R.10) 1966 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.10 renumbered former section 3 to present section 6 and added present section 3.
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 18 — Article IV / Section 18
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 18. Terms of office of Auditor General and State Treasurer; number of terms; eligibility
Status: in_force

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 election. They shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the Commonwealth at general elections but shall not be eligible to serve continuously for more than two successive terms. The State Treasurer shall not be eligible to the office of Auditor General until four years after he has been State Treasurer. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1044, J.R.4) 1967 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.4 repealed former section 18 and added present section 18. The subject matter of present section 18 was contained in former section 21. Initial Terms of Office. For terms of office of State Treasurer and Auditor General first elected under present section 18, see the schedule to Joint Resolution No.4 of 1967 in the appendix to the Constitution.
Pa. Const. art. II, § 3 — Article II / Section 3
Pa. Const. art. II, § 3. Terms of members
Status: in_force

Senators shall be elected for the term of four years and Representatives for the term of two years.
Pa. Const. art. V, § 9 — Article V / Section 9
Pa. Const. art. V, § 9. Associate judges
Status: in_force

The office of associate judge not learned in the law is abolished, but a present associate judge may complete his term.
Pa. Const. art. I, § 23 — Article I / Section 23
Pa. Const. art. I, § 23. Quartering of troops
Status: in_force

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 a manner to be prescribed by law.
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 1 — Article VIII / Section 1
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 1. Uniformity of taxation
Status: in_force

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 and collected under general laws. (Nov. 6, 1923, P.L.1117, J.R.1; Nov. 4, 1958, 1957 P.L.1021, J.R.3; Nov. 7, 1961, P.L.1785, J.R.6; Nov. 2, 1965, P.L.1908, J.R.2; Apr. 23, 1968, P.L.App.9, Prop. No.5) 1968 Amendment. Section 4 of Proposal No.5 provided that the amendment to section 1 shall take effect as soon as possible but no later than July 1, 1970.
Pa. Const. art. I, § 905 — Article I / Section 905
Pa. Const. art. I, § 905. Explanation of Amendment Notes
Status: in_force

Unless otherwise noted, amendments are referred to by date of adoption by the electorate together with a reference to the applicable joint resolution (J.R.) or, in rare cases, concurrent resolution (C.R.) adopted by the General Assembly and the page in the Laws of Pennsylvania (P.L.) in which the joint resolution or concurrent resolution was published. PREAMBLE 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. ARTICLE I DECLARATION OF RIGHTS Sec. 1. Inherent rights of mankind. 2. Political powers. 3. Religious freedom. 4. Religion. 5. Elections. 6. Trial by jury. 7. Freedom of press and speech; libels. 8. Security from searches and seizures. 9. Rights of accused in criminal prosecutions. 10. Initiation of criminal proceedings; twice in jeopardy; eminent domain. 11. Courts to be open; suits against the Commonwealth. 12. Power of suspending laws. 13. Bail, fines and punishments. 14. Prisoners to be bailable; habeas corpus. 15. Special criminal tribunals. 16. Insolvent debtors. 17. Ex post facto laws; impairment of contracts. 18. Attainder. 19. Attainder limited. 20. Right of petition. 21. Right to bear arms. 22. Standing army; military subordinate to civil power. 23. Quartering of troops. 24. Titles and offices. 25. Reservation of powers in people. 26. No discrimination by Commonwealth and its political subdivisions. 27. Natural resources and the public estate. 28. Prohibition against denial or abridgment of equality of rights because of sex. 29. Prohibition against denial or abridgment of equality of rights because of race and ethnicity. Adoption. Unless otherwise noted, the provisions of Article I were adopted December 16, 1873, 1874 P.L.3, effective January 1, 1874. That the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and unalterably established, WE DECLARE THAT--
Pa. Const. art. I, § 16 — Article I / Section 16
Pa. Const. art. I, § 16. Insolvent debtors
Status: in_force

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 the benefit of his creditors in such manner as shall be prescribed by law.
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 10 — Article IV / Section 10
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 10. Information from department officials
Status: in_force

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. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1044, J.R.4)
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 3 — Article IV / Section 3
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 3. Terms of office of Governor; number of terms
Status: in_force

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 be in office when this amendment is adopted, he shall be eligible to succeed himself for one additional term. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1044, J.R.4)
Pa. Const. art. III, § 3 — Article III / Section 3
Pa. Const. art. III, § 3. Form of bills
Status: in_force

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 bill codifying or compiling the law or a part thereof. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1037, J.R.3)
Pa. Const. art. III, § 7 — Article III / Section 7
Pa. Const. art. III, § 7. Notice of local and special bills
Status: in_force

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 matter or the thing to be effected may be situated, which notice shall be at least 30 days prior to the introduction into the General Assembly of such bill and in the manner to be provided by law; the evidence of such notice having been published, shall be exhibited in the General Assembly, before such act shall be passed. Prior Provisions. Former section 7 was renumbered to present section 32 and present section 7 was renumbered from former section 8 by amendment of May 16, 1967, P.L.1037, J.R.3.
Pa. Const. art. V, § 17 — Article V / Section 17
Pa. Const. art. V, § 17. Courts
Status: in_force

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 division; the courts of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery and quarter sessions of the peace, the county court, the orphans' court, and the juvenile court are abolished and their present jurisdiction shall be exercised by the court of common pleas. Until otherwise provided by rule of the court of common pleas and, except as otherwise provided in this schedule, the court of common pleas shall exercise the jurisdiction of the present court of common pleas and the present county court through the trial division. Until otherwise provided by rule of the court of common pleas, the jurisdiction of the present orphans' court, except as otherwise provided in this schedule, shall be exercised by the court of common pleas through the orphans' court division. (b) Until otherwise provided by rule of the court of common pleas, the court of common pleas shall exercise jurisdiction in the following matters through the family court division: (i) Domestic Relations: Desertion or nonsupport of wives, children and indigent parents, including children born out of wedlock; proceedings, including habeas corpus, for custody of children; divorce and annulment and property matters relating thereto. (ii) Juvenile Matters: All matters now within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. (iii) Adoptions and Delayed Birth Certificates. Suspension by Statute. Section 17 was superseded and suspended by section 26(b) of the act of July 9, 1976 (P.L.586, No.142), known as the Judiciary Act of 1976, effective upon the date upon which the provision is or was suspended by general rule.
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 4 — Article IV / Section 4
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 4. Lieutenant Governor
Status: in_force

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 the same term, and subject to the same provisions as the Governor; he shall be President of the Senate. As such, he may vote in case of a tie on any question except the final passage of a bill or joint resolution, the adoption of a conference report or the concurrence in amendments made by the House of Representatives. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1044, J.R.4) 00c404.1s
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 7 — Article IV / Section 7
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 7. Military power
Status: in_force

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. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1044, J.R.4)
Pa. Const. art. X, § 3 — Article X / Section 3
Pa. Const. art. X, § 3. Revocation, amendment and repeal of charters and
Status: in_force

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 prescribing powers, rights, duties or liabilities of private corporations or their officers, directors or shareholders may be revoked, amended or repealed.
Pa. Const. art. II, § 6 — Article II / Section 6
Pa. Const. art. II, § 6. Disqualification to hold other office
Status: in_force

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 salary, fee or perquisite is attached. No member of Congress or other person holding any office (except of attorney-at-law or in the National Guard or in a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States) under the United States or this Commonwealth to which a salary, fee or perquisite is attached shall be a member of either House during his continuance in office. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1036, J.R.2)
Pa. Const. art. X, § 4 — Article X / Section 4
Pa. Const. art. X, § 4. Compensation for property taken by corporations under
Status: in_force

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 by the construction or enlargement of their works, highways or improvements and compensation shall be paid or secured before the taking, injury or destruction.
Pa. Const. art. III, § 4 — Article III / Section 4
Pa. Const. art. III, § 4. Consideration of bills
Status: in_force

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 before the final vote is taken on the bill and before the final vote is taken, upon written request addressed to the presiding officer of either House by at least 25% of the members elected to that House, any bill shall be read at length in that House. No bill shall become a law, unless on its final passage the vote is taken by yeas and nays, the names of the persons voting for and against it are entered on the journal, and a majority of the members elected to each House is recorded thereon as voting in its favor. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1037, J.R.3)
Pa. Const. art. III, § 29 — Article III / Section 29
Pa. Const. art. III, § 29. Appropriations for public assistance, military service, scholarships
Status: in_force

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 association: Provided, That appropriations may be made for pensions or gratuities for military service and to blind persons 21 years of age and upwards and for assistance to mothers having dependent children and to aged persons without adequate means of support and in the form of scholarship grants or loans for higher educational purposes to residents of the Commonwealth enrolled in institutions of higher learning except that no scholarship, grants or loans for higher educational purposes shall be given to persons enrolled in a theological seminary or school of theology. (Nov. 7, 1933, P.L.1557, J.R.1; Nov. 2, 1937, P.L.2875, J.R.3-A; Nov. 5, 1963, P.L.1401, J.R.2) Prior Provisions. Former section 29 was repealed and present section 29 was renumbered from former section 18 by amendment of May 16, 1967, P.L.1037, J.R.3. Cross References. Section 29 is referred to in section 17 of Article VIII (Taxation and Finance).
Pa. Const. art. III, § 1 — Article III / Section 1
Pa. Const. art. III, § 1. Passage of laws
Status: in_force

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 change its original purpose.
Pa. Const. art. III, § 19 — Article III / Section 19
Pa. Const. art. III, § 19. Appropriations for support of widows and orphans of persons who served in the armed
Status: in_force

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, or the orphans of persons who served in the armed forces are maintained and educated; but such appropriations shall be applied exclusively to the support of such widows and orphans. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1037, J.R.3)
Pa. Const. art. II, § 14 — Article II / Section 14
Pa. Const. art. II, § 14. Adjournments
Status: in_force

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 two Houses shall be sitting.