FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 9 — Article IX / Section 9
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 9. Appropriation for public purposes
Status: in_force

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 appropriate money for, or to loan its credit to, any corporation, association, institution or individual. The General Assembly may provide standards by which municipalities or school districts may give financial assistance or lease property to public service, industrial or commercial enterprises if it shall find that such assistance or leasing is necessary to the health, safety or welfare of the Commonwealth or any municipality or school district. Existing authority of any municipality or incorporated district to obtain or appropriate money for, or to loan its credit to, any corporation, association, institution or individual, is preserved.
Pa. Const. art. II, § 10 — Article II / Section 10
Pa. Const. art. II, § 10. Quorum
Status: in_force

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 members.
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 11 — Article IV / Section 11
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 11. Messages to the General Assembly
Status: in_force

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 as he may judge expedient.
Pa. Const. art. VI, § 2 — Article VI / Section 2
Pa. Const. art. VI, § 2. Incompatible offices
Status: in_force

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, shall at the same time hold or exercise any office in this State to which a salary, fees or perquisites shall be attached. The General Assembly may by law declare what offices are incompatible. (May 17, 1966, 1965 P.L.1928, J.R.10) 1966 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.10 renumbered former section 2 of this article to present section 5 and renumbered section 2 of former Article XII to present section 2.
Pa. Const. art. III, § 14 — Article III / Section 14
Pa. Const. art. III, § 14. Public school system
Status: in_force

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 Commonwealth. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1037, J.R.3) 1967 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.3 renumbered former section 14 to present section 10 and amended and renumbered section 1 of former Article X (Education) to present section 14.
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 8 — Article IV / Section 8
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 8. Appointing power
Status: in_force

(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 the Secretary of Education and of such other officers as may be specified by law, shall be subject to the consent of two-thirds or a majority of the members elected to the Senate as is specified by law. (b) The Governor shall fill vacancies in offices to which he appoints by nominating to the Senate a proper person to fill the vacancy within 90 days of the first day of the vacancy and not thereafter. The Senate shall act on each executive nomination within 25 legislative days of its submission. If the Senate has not voted upon a nomination within 15 legislative days following such submission, any five members of the Senate may, in writing, request the presiding officer of the Senate to place the nomination before the entire Senate body whereby the nomination must be voted upon prior to the expiration of five legislative days or 25 legislative days following submission by the Governor, whichever occurs first. If the nomination is made during a recess or after adjournment sine die, the Senate shall act upon it within 25 legislative days after its return or reconvening. If the Senate for any reason fails to act upon a nomination submitted to it within the required 25 legislative days, the nominee shall take office as if the appointment had been consented to by the Senate. The Governor shall in a similar manner fill vacancies in the offices of Auditor General, State Treasurer, justice, judge, justice of the peace and in any other elective office he is authorized to fill. In the case of a vacancy in an elective office, a person shall be elected to the office on the next election day appropriate to the office unless the first day of the vacancy is within two calendar months immediately preceding the election day in which case the election shall be held on the second succeeding election day appropriate to the office. (c) In acting on executive nominations, the Senate shall sit with open doors. The votes shall be taken by yeas and nays and shall be entered on the journal. (Nov. 2, 1909, P.L.948, J.R.1; May 16, 1967, P.L.1044, J.R.4; May 20, 1975, P.L.619, J.R.1; May 16, 1978, 1977 P.L.365, J.R.4)
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 2 — Article IX / Section 2
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 2. Home rule
Status: in_force

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 by referendum. The General Assembly shall provide the procedure by which a home rule charter may be framed and its adoption, amendment or repeal presented to the electors. If the General Assembly does not so provide, a home rule charter or a procedure for framing and presenting a home rule charter may be presented to the electors by initiative or by the governing body of the municipality. A municipality which has a home rule charter may exercise any power or perform any function not denied by this Constitution, by its home rule charter or by the General Assembly at any time. Cross References. Section 2 is referred to in section 13 of this article.
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 5 — Article IX / Section 5
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 5. Intergovernmental cooperation
Status: in_force

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 in the exercise of any function, power or responsibility with, or delegate or transfer any function, power or responsibility to, one or more other governmental units including other municipalities or districts, the Federal government, any other state or its governmental units, or any newly created governmental unit.
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 8 — Article VII / Section 8
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 8. Witnesses in contested elections
Status: in_force

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 that it may criminate himself or subject him to public infamy; but such testimony shall not afterwards be used against him in any judicial proceedings except for perjury in giving such testimony. Prior Provisions. Former section 8 was renumbered to present section 7 and present section 8 was renumbered from former section 10 by amendment of May 16, 1967, P.L.1048, J.R.5.
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 9 — Article VII / Section 9
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 9. Fixing election districts
Status: in_force

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 changed in such manner as may be provided by law. Prior Provisions. Former section 9 was repealed and present section 9 was renumbered from former section 11 by amendment of May 16, 1967, P.L.1048, J.R.5.
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 12 — Article VIII / Section 12
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 12. Governor's budgets and financial plan
Status: in_force

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 setting forth in detail (i) proposed expenditures classified by department or agency and by program and (ii) estimated revenues from all sources. If estimated revenues and available surplus are less than proposed expenditures, the Governor shall recommend specific additional sources of revenue sufficient to pay the deficiency and the estimated revenue to be derived from each source; (b) A capital budget for the ensuing fiscal year setting forth in detail proposed expenditures to be financed from the proceeds of obligations of the Commonwealth or of its agencies or authorities or from operating funds; and (c) A financial plan for not less than the next succeeding five fiscal years, which plan shall include for each such fiscal year: (i) Projected operating expenditures classified by department or agency and by program, in reasonable detail, and estimated revenues, by major categories, from existing and additional sources, and (ii) Projected expenditures for capital projects specifically itemized by purpose, and the proposed sources of financing each. 1968 Amendment. Proposal No.4 added present section 12. Section 3 of Proposal No.4 provided that section 12 shall take effect as soon as possible but no later than July 1, 1970. Prior Provisions. Former section 12 was repealed by amendment of April 23, 1968, P.L.App.5, Prop. No.3.
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 16 — Article IV / Section 16
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 16. Partial disapproval of appropriation bills
Status: in_force

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 or parts of the bill approved shall be the law, and the item or items of appropriation disapproved shall be void, unless re-passed according to the rules and limitations prescribed for the passage of other bills over the Executive veto.
Pa. Const. art. III, § 2 — Article III / Section 2
Pa. Const. art. III, § 2. Reference to committee; printing
Status: in_force

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)
Pa. Const. art. III, § 23 — Article III / Section 23
Pa. Const. art. III, § 23. Change of venue
Status: in_force

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 be provided by law.
Pa. Const. art. XI, § 1 — Article XI / Section 1
Pa. Const. art. XI, § 1. Proposal of amendments by the General Assembly and their adoption
Status: in_force

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 of the members elected to each House, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be entered on their journals with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall cause the same to be published three months before the next general election, in at least two newspapers in every county in which such newspapers shall be published; and if, in the General Assembly next afterwards chosen, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each House, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall cause the same again to be published in the manner aforesaid; and such proposed amendment or amendments shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the State in such manner, and at such time at least three months after being so agreed to by the two Houses, as the General Assembly shall prescribe; and, if such amendment or amendments shall be approved by a majority of those voting thereon, such amendment or amendments shall become a part of the Constitution; but no amendment or amendments shall be submitted oftener than once in five years. When two or more amendments shall be submitted they shall be voted upon separately. (a) In the event a major emergency threatens or is about to threaten the Commonwealth and if the safety or welfare of the Commonwealth requires prompt amendment of this Constitution, such amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the Senate or House of Representatives at any regular or special session of the General Assembly, and if agreed to by at least two-thirds of the members elected to each House, a proposed amendment shall be entered on the journal of each House with the yeas and nays taken thereon and the official in charge of statewide elections shall promptly publish such proposed amendment in at least two newspapers in every county in which such newspapers are published. Such amendment shall then be submitted to the qualified electors of the Commonwealth in such manner, and at such time, at least one month after being agreed to by both Houses as the General Assembly prescribes. (b) If an emergency amendment is approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon, it shall become part of this Constitution. When two or more emergency amendments are submitted they shall be voted on separately. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1052, J.R.6) 1967 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.6 added subsecs. (a) and (b).
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 3 — Article VIII / Section 3
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 3. Reciprocal exemptions
Status: in_force

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 estates of residents, of Pennsylvania. 1928 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.12 added present section 3 (formerly section 1B). Prior Provisions. Former section 3 was renumbered to present section 6 and present section 3 was renumbered from section 1B by amendment of April 23, 1968, P.L.App.9, Prop. No.5.
Pa. Const. art. II, § 4 — Article II / Section 4
Pa. Const. art. II, § 4. Sessions
Status: in_force

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 the first Tuesday of January each year. Special sessions shall be called by the Governor on petition of a majority of the members elected to each House or may be called by the Governor whenever in his opinion the public interest requires.
Pa. Const. art. X, § 2 — Article X / Section 2
Pa. Const. art. X, § 2. Certain charters to be subject to the Constitution
Status: in_force

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 governing the affairs of corporations shall hold their charters subject to the provisions of the Constitution of this Commonwealth.
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 11 — Article VIII / Section 11
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 11. Gasoline taxes and motor license fees restricted
Status: in_force

(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 imposed on products used in motor transportation after providing therefrom for (a) cost of administration and collection, (b) payment of obligations incurred in the construction and reconstruction of public highways and bridges shall be appropriated by the General Assembly to agencies of the State or political subdivisions thereof; and used solely for construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair of and safety on public highways and bridges and costs and expenses incident thereto, and for the payment of obligations incurred for such purposes, and shall not be diverted by transfer or otherwise to any other purpose, except that loans may be made by the State from the proceeds of such taxes and fees for a single period not exceeding eight months, but no such loan shall be made within the period of one year from any preceding loan, and every loan made in any fiscal year shall be repayable within one month after the beginning of the next fiscal year. (b) All proceeds from aviation fuel excise taxes, after providing therefrom for the cost of administration and collection, shall be appropriated by the General Assembly to agencies of the State or political subdivisions thereof and used solely for: the purchase, construction, reconstruction, operation and maintenance of airports and other air navigation facilities; aircraft accident investigation; the operation, maintenance and other costs of aircraft owned or leased by the Commonwealth; any other purpose reasonably related to air navigation including but not limited to the reimbursement of airport property owners for property tax expenditures; and costs and expenses incident thereto and for the payment of obligations incurred for such purposes, and shall not be diverted by transfer or otherwise to any other purpose. 1981 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.2 amended and lettered existing provisions subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b). 1945 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.1 added present section 11 (formerly section 18). Prior Provisions. Former section 11 was repealed by amendment of April 23, 1968, P.L.App.5, Prop. No.3, and present section 11 was renumbered from former section 18 by amendment of April 23, 1968, P.L.App.9, Prop. No.5.
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 10 — Article VIII / Section 10
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 10. Audit
Status: in_force

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 Commonwealth, shall be subject to audits made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Any Commonwealth officer whose approval is necessary for any transaction relative to the financial affairs of the Commonwealth shall not be charged with the function of auditing that transaction after its occurrence. 1968 Amendment. Proposal No.4 amended and renumbered former section 14 to present section 10. Section 3 of Proposal No.4 provided that section 10 shall take effect as soon as possible but no later than July 1, 1970. Prior Provisions. Former section 10 was repealed by amendment of April 23, 1968, P.L.App.11, Prop. No.6.
Pa. Const. art. V, § 18 — Article V / Section 18
Pa. Const. art. V, § 18. Judges
Status: in_force

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 present judges of the county court shall become judges of the court of common pleas; the present judges of the orphans' court shall become judges of the orphans' court division of the court of common pleas; the present judges of the juvenile court shall become judges of the family court division of the court of common pleas. Suspension by Statute. Section 18 was superseded and suspended by section 26(a) of the act of July 9, 1976 (P.L.586, No.142), known as the Judiciary Act of 1976.
Pa. Const. art. V, § 20 — Article V / Section 20
Pa. Const. art. V, § 20. President judges; court divisions
Status: in_force

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 be presided over by a president judge, who shall be one of the judges of such division and shall be elected for a term of five years by a majority vote of the judges of that division. He shall assist the president judge of the court of common pleas in supervising the judicial business of the court and shall be responsible to him. Subject to the foregoing, the judges of the court of common pleas shall prescribe rules defining the duties of the president judges. The president judge of the court of common pleas shall have the power to assign judges from one division to another division of the court when required to expedite the business of the court. The exercise of these supervisory and administrative powers, however, shall be subject to the supervisory and administrative powers of the Supreme Court. Suspension by Statute. Section 20 was superseded and suspended by section 26(a) of the act of July 9, 1976 (P.L.586, No.142), known as the Judiciary Act of 1976. Cross References. Section 20 is referred to in section 19 of this schedule. THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 1 — Article IV / Section 1
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 1. Executive Department
Status: in_force

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 such other officers as the General Assembly may from time to time prescribe. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1044, J.R.4) References in Text. The Superintendent of Public Instruction, referred to in section 1, is now the Secretary of Education.
Pa. Const. art. I, § 5 — Article I / Section 5
Pa. Const. art. I, § 5. Elections
Status: in_force

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 of suffrage.
Pa. Const. art. VI, § 7 — Article VI / Section 7
Pa. Const. art. VI, § 7. Removal of civil officers
Status: in_force

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 misbehavior in office or of any infamous crime. Appointed civil officers, other than judges of the courts of record, may be removed at the pleasure of the power by which they shall have been appointed. All civil officers elected by the people, except the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, members of the General Assembly and judges of the courts of record, shall be removed by the Governor for reasonable cause, after due notice and full hearing, on the address of two-thirds of the Senate. (May 17, 1966, 1965 P.L.1928, J.R.10) Constitutionality. A statute that conflicts with the removal provisions provided under this section is unconstitutional unless the statute that provides for the alternative removal process predates this section. See South Newton Township Electors v. Bouch , 838 A.2d 643 (Pa. 2003). 1966 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.10 amended and renumbered former section 4 to present section 7.
Pa. Const. art. I, § 28 — Article I / Section 28
Pa. Const. art. I, § 28. Prohibition against denial or abridgment of equality of rights because of sex
Status: in_force

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 18, 1971, P.L.767, J.R.2) 1971 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.2 added section 28.
Pa. Const. art. V, § 12 — Article V / Section 12
Pa. Const. art. V, § 12. Magistrates, aldermen and justices of the peace
Status: in_force

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 provided by law prior to the adoption of this article; (b) Shall be deemed to have taken and passed the examination required by this article for justices of the peace if he has completed one full term of office before creation of a magisterial district, and (c) At the completion of his term, his office is abolished. (d) Except for officers completing their terms, after the first Monday in January, 1970, no judicial function of the kind heretofore exercised by these officers, by mayors and like officers in municipalities shall be exercised by any officer other than the one justice of the peace elected or appointed to serve in that magisterial district.
Pa. Const. art. II, § 1 — Article II / Section 1
Pa. Const. art. II, § 1. Legislative power
Status: in_force

The legislative power of this Commonwealth shall be vested in a General Assembly, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
Pa. Const. art. V, § 26 — Article V / Section 26
Pa. Const. art. V, § 26. Writs of certiorari
Status: in_force

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 of the courts of common pleas, within their respective judicial districts, shall have power to issue writs of certiorari to the municipal court in the City of Philadelphia, justices of the peace and inferior courts not of record and to cause their proceedings to be brought before them, and right and justice to be done.