FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Pa. Const. art. V, § 23 — Article V / Section 23
Pa. Const. art. V, § 23. Judicial Qualifications Commission
Status: in_force

The selection of the first members of the Judicial Qualifications Commission provided for in section 14 (a) of this article shall be made as follows: The Governor shall appoint the four non-lawyer members for terms of, respectively, one year, three years, five years and seven years, no more than two of whom shall be members of the same political party. The Supreme Court shall appoint the three non-judge members of the bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania for terms, respectively, of two years, four years and six years, no more than two of whom shall be members of the same political party. Status of Commission. The question of appointing justices and judges of statewide courts under section 13(d) of this article was submitted to the electors at the primary election on May 20, 1969, and was rejected. Accordingly, the Judicial Qualifications Commission does not exist.
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 1 — Article VII / Section 1
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 1. Qualifications of electors
Status: in_force

Every citizen 21 years of age, possessing the following qualifications, shall be entitled to vote at all elections subject, however, to such laws requiring and regulating the registration of electors as the General Assembly may enact. 1. He or she shall have been a citizen of the United States at least one month. 2. He or she shall have resided in the State 90 days immediately preceding the election. 3. He or she shall have resided in the election district where he or she shall offer to vote at least 60 days immediately preceding the election, except that if qualified to vote in an election district prior to removal of residence, he or she may, if a resident of Pennsylvania, vote in the election district from which he or she removed his or her residence within 60 days preceding the election. (Nov. 5, 1901, P.L.881, J.R.1; Nov. 7, 1933, P.L.1559, J.R.5; Nov. 3, 1959, P.L.2160, J.R.3; May 16, 1967, P.L.1048, J.R.5) Age of Electors. The age at which a citizen is entitled to vote was changed from 21 to 18 years of age. See Amendment XXVI to the Constitution of the United States and section 701 of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code.
Pa. Const. art. V, § 14 — Article V / Section 14
Pa. Const. art. V, § 14. Magisterial districts
Status: in_force

Effective immediately upon establishment of magisterial districts and until otherwise prescribed the civil and criminal procedural rules relating to venue shall apply to magisterial districts; all proceedings before aldermen, magistrates and justices of the peace shall be brought in and only in a magisterial district in which occurs an event which would give rise to venue in a court of record; the court of common pleas upon its own motion or on application at any stage of proceedings shall transfer any proceeding in any magisterial district to the justice of the peace for the magisterial district in which proper venue lies. PROTHONOTARIES AND CLERKS OTHER THAN IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 11 — Article VII / Section 11
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 11. Election officers
Status: in_force

District election boards shall consist of a judge and two inspectors, who shall be chosen at municipal elections for such terms as may be provided by law. Each elector shall have the right to vote for the judge and one inspector, and each inspector shall appoint one clerk. The first election board for any new district shall be selected, and vacancies in election boards filled, as shall be provided by law. Election officers shall be privileged from arrest upon days of election, and while engaged in making up and transmitting returns, except upon warrant of a court of record or judge thereof, for an election fraud, for felony, or for wanton breach of the peace. In cities they may claim exemption from jury duty during their terms of service. 1967 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.5 renumbered former section 11 to present section 9 and renumbered former section 14 to present section 11.
Pa. Const. art. III, § 30 — Article III / Section 30
Pa. Const. art. III, § 30. Charitable and educational appropriations
Status: in_force

No appropriation shall be made to any charitable or educational institution not under the absolute control of the Commonwealth, other than normal schools established by law for the professional training of teachers for the public schools of the State, except by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each House. Prior Provisions. Former section 30 was repealed and present section 30 was renumbered from former section 17 by amendment of May 16, 1967, P.L.1037, J.R.3.
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 4.1 — Article IV / Section 4.1
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 4.1. Attorney General
Status: in_force

An Attorney General shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the Commonwealth on the day the general election is held for the Auditor General and State Treasurer; he shall hold his office during four years from the third Tuesday of January next ensuing his election and shall not be eligible to serve continuously for more than two successive terms; he shall be the chief law officer of the Commonwealth and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be imposed by law. 00c404.1v (May 16, 1978, 1977 P.L.365, J.R.4) 1978 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.4 added section 4.1. Vacancy in Existing Office. Section 2 of Joint Resolution No.4 provided that 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.
Pa. Const. art. I, § 26 — Article I / Section 26
Pa. Const. art. I, § 26. No discrimination by Commonwealth and its political subdivisions
Status: in_force

Neither the Commonwealth nor any political subdivision thereof shall deny to any person the enjoyment of any civil right, nor discriminate against any person in the exercise of any civil right. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1035, J.R.1) 1967 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.1 added present section 26 and renumbered former section 26 to present section 25.
Pa. Const. art. I, § 7 — Article I / Section 7
Pa. Const. art. I, § 7. Freedom of press and speech; libels
Status: in_force

The printing press shall be free to every person who may undertake to examine the proceedings of the Legislature or any branch of government, and no law shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof. The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man, and every citizen may freely speak, write and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. No conviction shall be had in any prosecution for the publication of papers relating to the official conduct of officers or men in public capacity, or to any other matter proper for public investigation or information, where the fact that such publication was not maliciously or negligently made shall be established to the satisfaction of the jury; and in all indictments for libels the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other cases. Constitutionality. The provisions of section 7 relating to criminal libel were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in Commonwealth v. Armao, 446 Pa. 325, 286 A.2d 626 (1972).
Pa. Const. art. V, § 27 — Article V / Section 27
Pa. Const. art. V, § 27. Judicial districts
Status: in_force

Until changed in accordance with section 11 of this article, the number and boundaries of judicial districts shall remain as at present. Suspension by Statute. Section 27 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. IV, § 17 — Article IV / Section 17
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 17. Contested elections of Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General; when succeeded
Status: in_force

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside upon the trial of any contested election of Governor, Lieutenant Governor or Attorney General and shall decide questions regarding the admissibility of evidence, and shall, upon request of the committee, pronounce his opinion upon other questions of law involved in the trial. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General shall exercise the duties of their respective offices until their successors shall be duly qualified. (May 16, 1978, 1977 P.L.365, J.R.4)
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 7 — Article IX / Section 7
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 7. Area-wide powers
Status: in_force

The General Assembly may grant powers to area governments or to municipalities within a given geographical area in which there exists intergovernmental cooperation or area government and designate the classes of municipalities subject to such legislation.
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 8 — Article VIII / Section 8
Pa. Const. art. VIII, § 8. Commonwealth credit not to be pledged
Status: in_force

The credit of the Commonwealth shall not be pledged or loaned to any individual, company, corporation or association nor shall the Commonwealth become a joint owner or stockholder in any company, corporation or association. 1968 Amendment. Proposal No.3 amended and renumbered former section 6 to present section 8. Prior Provisions. Former section 8 was repealed by amendment of April 23, 1968, P.L.App.11, Prop. No.6.
Pa. Const. art. I, § 11 — Article I / Section 11
Pa. Const. art. I, § 11. Courts to be open; suits against the Commonwealth
Status: in_force

All courts shall be open; and every man for an injury done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation shall have remedy by due course of law, and right and justice administered without sale, denial or delay. Suits may be brought against the Commonwealth in such manner, in such courts and in such cases as the Legislature may by law direct.
Pa. Const. art. III, § 22 — Article III / Section 22
Pa. Const. art. III, § 22. State purchases
Status: in_force

The General Assembly shall maintain by law a system of competitive bidding under which all purchases of materials, printing, supplies or other personal property used by the government of this Commonwealth shall so far as practicable be made. The law shall provide that no officer or employee of the Commonwealth shall be in any way interested in any purchase made by the Commonwealth under contract or otherwise. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1037, J.R.3) 1967 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.3 repealed former section 22 and added present section 22. The subject matter of present section 22 was formerly contained in section 12.
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 2 — Article VII / Section 2
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 2. General election day
Status: in_force

The general election shall be held biennially on the Tuesday next following the first Monday of November in each even-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 election shall always be held in an even-numbered year.
Pa. Const. art. III, § 16 — Article III / Section 16
Pa. Const. art. III, § 16. National Guard to be organized and maintained
Status: in_force

The citizens of this Commonwealth shall be armed, organized and disciplined for its defense when and in such manner as may be directed by law. The General Assembly shall provide for maintaining the National Guard by appropriations from the Treasury of the Commonwealth, and may exempt from State military service persons having conscientious scruples against bearing arms. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1037, J.R.3) 1967 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.3 renumbered former section 16 to present section 24 and amended and renumbered section 1 of former Article XI (Militia) to present section 16. D. OTHER LEGISLATION SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 20 — Article IV / Section 20
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 20. Disaster emergency declaration and management
Status: in_force

(a) A disaster emergency declaration may be declared by executive order or proclamation of the Governor upon finding that a disaster has occurred or that the occurrence or threat of a disaster is imminent that threatens the health, safety or welfare of this Commonwealth. (b) Each disaster emergency declaration issued by the Governor under subsection (a) shall indicate the nature, each area threatened and the conditions of the disaster, including whether the disaster is a natural disaster, military emergency, public health emergency, technological disaster or other general emergency, as defined by statute. The General Assembly shall, by statute, provide for the manner in which each type of disaster enumerated under this subsection shall be managed. (c) A disaster emergency declaration under subsection (a) shall be in effect for no more than twenty-one (21) days, unless otherwise extended in whole or part by concurrent resolution of the General Assembly. (d) Upon the expiration of a disaster emergency declaration under subsection (a), the Governor may not issue a new disaster emergency declaration based upon the same or substantially similar facts and circumstances without the passage of a concurrent resolution of the General Assembly expressly approving the new disaster emergency declaration. (May 18, 2021, P.L.493, J.R.1) 2021 Amendment. Joint Resolution 1 added section 20.
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 15 — Article IV / Section 15
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 15. Approval of bills; vetoes
Status: in_force

Every bill which shall have passed both Houses shall be presented to the Governor; if he approves he shall sign it, but if he shall not approve he shall return it with his objections to the House in which it shall have originated, which House shall enter the objections at large upon their journal, and proceed to re-consider it. If after such re-consideration, two-thirds of all the members elected to that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent with the objections to the other House by which likewise it shall be re-considered, and if approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to that House it shall be a law; but in such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journals of each House, respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the Governor within ten days after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the General Assembly, by their adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall be a law, unless he shall file the same, with his objections, in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and give notice thereof by public proclamation within 30 days after such adjournment.
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 12 — Article IV / Section 12
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 12. Power to convene and adjourn the General Assembly
Status: in_force

He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the General Assembly, and in case of disagreement between the two Houses, with respect to the time of adjournment, adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper, not exceeding four months. He shall have power to convene the Senate in extraordinary session by proclamation for the transaction of Executive business.
Pa. Const. art. III, § 32 — Article III / Section 32
Pa. Const. art. III, § 32. Certain local and special laws
Status: in_force

The General Assembly shall pass no local or special law in any case which has been or can be provided for by general law and specifically the General Assembly shall not pass any local or special law: 1. Regulating the affairs of counties, cities, townships, wards, boroughs or school districts: 2. Vacating roads, town plats, streets or alleys: 3. Locating or changing county seats, erecting new counties or changing county lines: 4. Erecting new townships or boroughs, changing township lines, borough limits or school districts: 5. Remitting fines, penalties and forfeitures, or refunding moneys legally paid into the treasury: 6. Exempting property from taxation: 7. Regulating labor, trade, mining or manufacturing: 8. Creating corporations, or amending, renewing or extending the charters thereof: Nor shall the General Assembly indirectly enact any special or local law by the partial repeal of a general law; but laws repealing local or special acts may be passed. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1037, J.R.3) 1967 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.3 repealed former section 32 and amended and renumbered former section 7 to present section 32. Cross References. Section 32 is referred to in section 13 of Article IX (Local Government).
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 6 — Article VII / Section 6
Pa. Const. art. VII, § 6. Election and registration laws
Status: in_force

All laws regulating the holding of elections by the citizens, or for the registration of electors, shall be uniform throughout the State, except that laws regulating and requiring the registration of electors may be enacted to apply to cities only, provided that such laws be uniform for cities of the same class, and except further, that the General Assembly shall by general law, permit the use of voting machines, or other mechanical devices for registering or recording and computing the vote, at all elections or primaries, in any county, city, borough, incorporated town or township of the Commonwealth, at the option of the electors of such county, city, borough, incorporated town or township, without being obliged to require the use of such voting machines or mechanical devices in any other county, city, borough, incorporated town or township, under such regulations with reference thereto as the General Assembly may from time to time prescribe. The General Assembly may, from time to time, prescribe the number and duties of election officers in any political subdivision of the Commonwealth in which voting machines or other mechanical devices authorized by this section may be used. (Nov. 5, 1901, P.L.881, J.R.1; Nov. 6, 1928, 1927 P.L.1050, J.R.13; May 16, 1967, P.L.1048, J.R.5) 1967 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.5 repealed former section 6 and amended and renumbered former section 7 to present section 6.
Pa. Const. art. I, § 15 — Article I / Section 15
Pa. Const. art. I, § 15. Special criminal tribunals
Status: in_force

No commission shall issue creating special temporary criminal tribunals to try particular individuals or particular classes of cases. (May 16, 1967, P.L.1035, J.R.1)
Pa. Const. art. III, § 13 — Article III / Section 13
Pa. Const. art. III, § 13. Vote denied members with personal interest
Status: in_force

A member who has a personal or private interest in any measure or bill proposed or pending before the General Assembly shall disclose the fact to the House of which he is a member, and shall not vote thereon. Prior Provisions. Former section 13 was renumbered to present section 27 and present section 13 was renumbered from former section 33 by amendment of May 16, 1967, P.L.1037, J.R.3. B. EDUCATION
Pa. Const. art. I, § 27 — Article I / Section 27
Pa. Const. art. I, § 27. Natural resources and the public estate
Status: in_force

The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people. (May 18, 1971, P.L.769, J.R.3) 1971 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.3 added section 27.
Pa. Const. art. I, § 24 — Article I / Section 24
Pa. Const. art. I, § 24. Titles and offices
Status: in_force

The Legislature shall not grant any title of nobility or hereditary distinction, nor create any office the appointment to which shall be for a longer term than during good behavior.
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 8 — Article IX / Section 8
Pa. Const. art. IX, § 8. Consolidation, merger or boundary change
Status: in_force

Uniform Legislation.--The General Assembly shall, within two years following the adoption of this article, enact uniform legislation establishing the procedure for consolidation, merger or change of the boundaries of municipalities. Initiative.--The electors of any municipality shall have the right, by initiative and referendum, to consolidate, merge and change boundaries by a majority vote of those voting thereon in each municipality, without the approval of any governing body. Study.--The General Assembly shall designate an agency of the Commonwealth to study consolidation, merger and boundary changes, advise municipalities on all problems which might be connected therewith, and initiate local referendum. Legislative Power.--Nothing herein shall prohibit or prevent the General Assembly from providing additional methods for consolidation, merger or change of boundaries. Interpretation of Section. Section 3 of Proposal No.6 of 1968 provided that the first paragraph of section 8 on Uniform Legislation shall be construed so as to be consistent with the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Convention.
Pa. Const. art. III, § 25 — Article III / Section 25
Pa. Const. art. III, § 25. Emergency seats of government
Status: in_force

The General Assembly may provide, by law, during any session, for the continuity of the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of the government of the Commonwealth, and its political subdivisions, and the establishment of emergency seats thereof and any such laws heretofore enacted are validated. Such legislation shall become effective in the event of an attack by an enemy of the United States. 1967 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.3 renumbered former section 25 to present section 12 and amended and renumbered former section 35 to present section 25. 1963 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.3 added present section 25 (formerly section 35).
Pa. Const. art. V, § 21 — Article V / Section 21
Pa. Const. art. V, § 21. Inferior courts
Status: in_force

Upon the establishment of magisterial districts pursuant to this article and schedule, and unless otherwise provided by law, the police magistrates, including those serving in the traffic court, the housing court and the city court shall continue as at present. Such magistrates shall be part of the unified judicial system and shall be subject to the general supervisory and administrative authority of the Supreme Court. Such magistrates shall be subject to the provisions of this article and schedule regarding educational requirements and prohibited activities of justices of the peace. Suspension by Statute. Section 21 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. CAUSES, PROCEEDINGS, BOOKS AND RECORDS
Pa. Const. art. V, § 19 — Article V / Section 19
Pa. Const. art. V, § 19. President judges
Status: in_force

The present president judge of the court of common pleas may complete his term as president judge; the present president judge of the orphans' court shall be the president judge of the orphans' court division of the court of common pleas for the remainder of his term as president judge, and the present president judge of the county court shall be the president judge of the family court division of the court of common pleas for the remainder of his term as president judge, all these without diminution of salary as president judge. The president judge of the trial division shall be selected pursuant to section 20 of this schedule.