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The 1776 Philadelphia ConstitutionThe laws of the land, set down plainly — and put to the people, one provision at a time.

The Pennsylvania Register

Every law Pennsylvania has passed

55,382 acts of the General Assembly, from William Penn’s first assembly in 1682 to 2026. Until 1874 much of the Assembly’s work was “special” legislation for a single person, company or town: a divorce, a road, a tavern license. That year’s constitution barred local and special laws on most subjects, and the yearly count fell; lately it is about 150.

Not yet complete · The state has not yet digitized its session laws act by act for most years between 1851 and 1949. We filled what we could from scans of the printed volumes: every year from 1851 to 1875 and most sessions from 1877 to 1907. A computer read those titles, so they can contain misspellings, and a few acts in each year were missed. Most years from 1909 to 1949 are still thin (marked below). Every other year is complete, from 1682 through 1850 and from 1950 to today.

Clear

163 laws of the 1690s

Province of Pennsylvania

  1. Continuing prior laws

    Ch. 191 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 135 · 1690 · Original text

  2. Repealing laws

    Ch. 192 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 136 · 1690 · Original text

  3. Amending laws

    Ch. 193 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 136 · 1690 · Original text

  4. Against witnesses refusing to give evidence

    Ch. 194 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 137 · 1690 · Original text

  5. Amending the 15th law

    Ch. 195 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 137 · 1690 · Original text

  6. About ferry rates

    Ch. 196 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 137 · 1690 · Original text

  7. About venue and terms of courts

    Ch. 197 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 138 · 1690 · Original text

  8. About the dike of New Castle

    Ch. 198 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 140 · 1690 · Original text

  9. Against rangers and strays

    Ch. 199 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 140 · 1690 · Original text

  10. About determining debts under 40 shillings

    Ch. 200 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 141 · 1690 · Original text

  11. About the registry kept by religious societies

    Ch. 201 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 141 · 1690 · Original text

  12. About livestock running at large

    Ch. 202 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 142 · 1690 · Original text

  13. Concerning the surveyor generals fees

    Ch. 203 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 143 · 1690 · Original text

  14. Concerning liberty of conscience

    Ch. 1 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 149 · 1693 · Original text

  15. Concerning qualifications of members of assembly

    Ch. 2 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 150 · 1693 · Original text

  16. Against swearing

    Ch. 3 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 150 · 1693 · Original text

  17. Against profane speaking

    Ch. 4 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 151 · 1693 · Original text

  18. Against cursing

    Ch. 5 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 151 · 1693 · Original text

  19. Against adultery

    Ch. 6 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 152 · 1693 · Original text

  20. Against incest

    Ch. 7 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 152 · 1693 · Original text

  21. Against polygamy

    Ch. 8 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 153 · 1693 · Original text

  22. Against drunkenness

    Ch. 9 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 153 · 1693 · Original text

  23. Against such as suffer drunkenness in their houses and about ordinaries

    Ch. 10 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 153 · 1693 · Original text

  24. Against drinking healths

    Ch. 11 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 154 · 1693 · Original text

  25. Against breaking into houses

    Ch. 12 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 155 · 1693 · Original text

  26. Against forcible entry

    Ch. 13 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 155 · 1693 · Original text

  27. Against rioters

    Ch. 14 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 155 · 1693 · Original text

  28. Against menacing parents

    Ch. 15 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 156 · 1693 · Original text

  29. Against menacing magistrates

    Ch. 16 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 156 · 1693 · Original text

  30. Against menacing master or mistress

    Ch. 17 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 156 · 1693 · Original text

  31. Against challenging to fight

    Ch. 18 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 157 · 1693 · Original text

  32. Against rude sports, plays and games

    Ch. 19 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 157 · 1693 · Original text

  33. Against sedition

    Ch. 20 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 157 · 1693 · Original text

  34. Against spreaders of false news

    Ch. 21 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 158 · 1693 · Original text

  35. Against scolding

    Ch. 22 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 158 · 1693 · Original text

  36. Concerning the days of the week, month, etc.

    Ch. 23 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 159 · 1693 · Original text

  37. About pleading in English

    Ch. 24 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 159 · 1693 · Original text

  38. About trials by 12 men

    Ch. 25 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 159 · 1693 · Original text

  39. About fees, bribery and extortion

    Ch. 26 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 160 · 1693 · Original text

  40. About defalcation

    Ch. 27 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 160 · 1693 · Original text

  41. About arrests and making debtors pay by servitude

    Ch. 28 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 161 · 1693 · Original text

  42. About verbal contracts

    Ch. 29 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 162 · 1693 · Original text

  43. About wills

    Ch. 30 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 163 · 1693 · Original text

  44. Against defacers of charters

    Ch. 31 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 163 · 1693 · Original text

  45. About goalers

    Ch. 32 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 163 · 1693 · Original text

  46. About prisons

    Ch. 33 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 164 · 1693 · Original text

  47. About the manner of punishment

    Ch. 34 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 164 · 1693 · Original text

  48. About false imprisonment

    Ch. 35 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 165 · 1693 · Original text

  49. About free elections

    Ch. 36 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 165 · 1693 · Original text

  50. About taxes

    Ch. 37 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 165 · 1693 · Original text

  51. About liberty and property

    Ch. 38 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 166 · 1693 · Original text

  52. About summons and court proceedings

    Ch. 39 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 166 · 1693 · Original text

  53. Against derogators of judgments of courts

    Ch. 40 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 167 · 1693 · Original text

  54. Against barratours

    Ch. 41 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 167 · 1693 · Original text

  55. About orphans courts

    Ch. 42 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 168 · 1693 · Original text

  56. About acknowledging deeds in court

    Ch. 43 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 168 · 1693 · Original text

  57. About seven years possession

    Ch. 44 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 168 · 1693 · Original text

  58. About county seals

    Ch. 45 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 169 · 1693 · Original text

  59. About counterfeiting hands or seals

    Ch. 46 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 169 · 1693 · Original text

  60. About viewing pipe-staves

    Ch. 47 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 170 · 1693 · Original text

  61. Against taking away boats or canoes

    Ch. 48 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 170 · 1693 · Original text

  62. About fences

    Ch. 49 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 171 · 1693 · Original text

  63. About firing woods

    Ch. 50 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 172 · 1693 · Original text

  64. About hog-stealing

    Ch. 51 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 172 · 1693 · Original text

  65. About cart-ways

    Ch. 52 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 173 · 1693 · Original text

  66. About house of correction

    Ch. 53 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 173 · 1693 · Original text

  67. About weights and measures

    Ch. 54 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 173 · 1693 · Original text

  68. About departers out of the province

    Ch. 55 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 174 · 1693 · Original text

  69. About buying land of natives

    Ch. 56 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 174 · 1693 · Original text

  70. Against murder

    Ch. 57 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 175 · 1693 · Original text

  71. About binding to the peace

    Ch. 58 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 175 · 1693 · Original text

  72. Against fornication

    Ch. 59 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 176 · 1693 · Original text

  73. About assigning bills and specialties

    Ch. 60 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 176 · 1693 · Original text

  74. About bills of exchange

    Ch. 61 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 176 · 1693 · Original text

  75. Against trusting mariners

    Ch. 62 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 177 · 1693 · Original text

  76. About passes

    Ch. 63 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 177 · 1693 · Original text

  77. Against selling of servants out of the province

    Ch. 64 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 178 · 1693 · Original text

  78. Against attaching servants

    Ch. 65 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 178 · 1693 · Original text

  79. Against harboring servants

    Ch. 66 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 179 · 1693 · Original text

  80. Against trucking with servants

    Ch. 67 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 179 · 1693 · Original text

  81. About run-away servants

    Ch. 68 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 180 · 1693 · Original text

  82. About summoning juries

    Ch. 69 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 180 · 1693 · Original text

  83. About exporting horses

    Ch. 70 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 181 · 1693 · Original text

  84. About monthly courts

    Ch. 71 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 181 · 1693 · Original text

  85. Against robbing and stealing

    Ch. 72 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 182 · 1693 · Original text

  86. About appraisers

    Ch. 73 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 183 · 1693 · Original text

  87. About juries not appearing

    Ch. 74 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 183 · 1693 · Original text

  88. Against removing land-marks

    Ch. 75 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 184 · 1693 · Original text

  89. About debts payable in country produce

    Ch. 76 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 184 · 1693 · Original text

  90. About tanned leather

    Ch. 77 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 184 · 1693 · Original text

  91. Against usury

    Ch. 78 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 185 · 1693 · Original text

  92. About sale of intestates land by the widow or administrator

    Ch. 79 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 185 · 1693 · Original text

  93. About taking lands in execution for debts

    Ch. 80 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 186 · 1693 · Original text

  94. Against witnesses refusing to give evidence being summoned

    Ch. 81 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 187 · 1693 · Original text

  95. About the dike of New Castle

    Ch. 82 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 187 · 1693 · Original text

  96. About rangers

    Ch. 83 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 188 · 1693 · Original text

  97. About determining debts under 40 shillings

    Ch. 84 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 188 · 1693 · Original text

  98. About the registry kept by religious societies

    Ch. 85 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 189 · 1693 · Original text

  99. About the Surveyor Generals fees

    Ch. 86 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 189 · 1693 · Original text

  100. For the erecting a post office

    Ch. 87 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 191 · 1693 · Original text

By decade

Constitution of 19681968–today

Constitution of 18741874–1967

Constitution of 18381838–1873

Constitution of 17901790–1837

Constitution of 17761776–1789

Province of Pennsylvania1682–1775

1682–1801: the Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania. 1802–1974: the Pamphlet Laws (Laws of the General Assembly). Both from the scans published by the Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau, which link to each original page. 1975 onward: the General Assembly’s own record of legislation enacted, which adds approval dates and bill numbers. Years the Bureau hasn’t indexed act by act come from the annual Laws of the General Assembly as scanned by the Internet Archive and Google Books: we split each volume into acts by their approval lines, and each one links to its scanned page. Before 1975 each year’s appropriation acts were scanned as one bundle, so they aren’t listed one by one. Proposed constitutional amendments, vetoed bills and reorganization plans are left out. Subject lines are the Bureau’s and the General Assembly’s, not the laws’ full titles.