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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

178 laws of the 1700s

Province of Pennsylvania

  1. Forms of writs

    Ch. 101 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 136 · 1700 · Original text

  2. Against persons judging in their own cause

    Ch. 102 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 137 · 1700 · Original text

  3. Officers' fees

    Ch. 103 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 137 · 1700 · Original text

  4. Indian traders

    Ch. 104 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 140 · 1700 · Original text

  5. Preventing frauds and regulating abuses in trade within the province of Pennsilvania and counties annexed

    Ch. 151 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 277 · 1700 · Original text

  6. Regulating traffic on seas

    Ch. 152 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 285 · 1700 · Original text

  7. Continue the present session of council and assembly twenty days beyond the usual time by charter limited, etc.

    Ch. 153 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 291 · 1700 · Original text

  8. About freemen elections and representatives fees

    Ch. 154 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 292 · 1700 · Original text

  9. Granting an impost upon wine, rum, brandy, beer, ale, etc. and goods imported, retailed and sold in this province and territories

    Ch. 155 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 294 · 1700 · Original text

  10. Requiring masters and commanders of all ships and vessels to make a report at the town of New Castle that are or shall be bound to and from the sea

    Ch. 156 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 297 · 1700 · Original text

  11. Prolonging the time prohibiting the shipping tobacco in bulk

    Ch. 157 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 298 · 1700 · Original text

  12. About trying and punishing Negroes

    Ch. 158 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 299 · 1700 · Original text

  13. About sickly vessels coming into this government

    Ch. 159 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 300 · 1700 · Original text

  14. Raising 1 penny per pound and 6 shillings per head for payment of the public debts of the province

    Ch. 160 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 300 · 1700 · Original text

  15. Confirming and continuing the laws of this government

    Ch. 161 · 1 Pa. Stat. at Large 301 · 1700 · Original text

  16. Confirmation of the laws of this government

    Ch. 105 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 142 · 1701 · Original text

  17. Establishing courts of judicature in this province and counties annexed

    Ch. 106 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 148 · 1701 · Original text

  18. Directing the punishment of larceny under 5 shillings

    Ch. 107 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 159 · 1701 · Original text

  19. Attachments under 40 shillings

    Ch. 108 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 160 · 1701 · Original text

  20. Preventing of clandestine marriages

    Ch. 109 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 161 · 1701 · Original text

  21. Preventing accidents that may happen by fire in the towns of Bristol (formerly called Buckingham), Philadelphia, Germantown, Derby, Chester, Newcastle and Lewes within this government

    Ch. 110 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 162 · 1701 · Original text

  22. Against swine running at large in several of the townships within this government

    Ch. 111 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 164 · 1701 · Original text

  23. Destruction of blackbirds and crows

    Ch. 112 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 166 · 1701 · Original text

  24. Sale of the court-house and prison in the county of Chester

    Ch. 113 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 167 · 1701 · Original text

  25. Against selling rum and other strong liquors to the Indians

    Ch. 114 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 168 · 1701 · Original text

  26. Concerning liberty of conscience

    Ch. 115 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 171 · 1705 · Original text

  27. Against murder and manslaughter

    Ch. 116 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 172 · 1705 · Original text

  28. Against burglary

    Ch. 117 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 173 · 1705 · Original text

  29. Against robbing and stealing

    Ch. 118 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 173 · 1705 · Original text

  30. Restraining people from labor on the first day of the week

    Ch. 119 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 175 · 1705 · Original text

  31. Against rape or ravishment

    Ch. 120 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 178 · 1705 · Original text

  32. Against incest

    Ch. 121 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 178 · 1705 · Original text

  33. Against adultery and fornication

    Ch. 122 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 180 · 1705 · Original text

  34. Against bigamy

    Ch. 123 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 182 · 1705 · Original text

  35. Against sodomy and buggery

    Ch. 124 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 183 · 1705 · Original text

  36. Against burning of houses

    Ch. 125 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 184 · 1705 · Original text

  37. Against drunkenness and drinking of healths

    Ch. 126 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 185 · 1705 · Original text

  38. Against riotous sports, plays and games

    Ch. 127 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 186 · 1705 · Original text

  39. Against riots and rioters

    Ch. 128 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 188 · 1705 · Original text

  40. Limiting the presentments of the grand jury

    Ch. 129 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 188 · 1705 · Original text

  41. Determining of debts under 40 shillings

    Ch. 130 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 189 · 1705 · Original text

  42. Further securing the administration of the government of this province

    Ch. 131 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 190 · 1705 · Original text

  43. Better confirmation of the owners of lands and inhabitants of this province in their just rights and possessions

    Ch. 132 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 191 · 1705 · Original text

  44. Concerning the probates of written and nuncupative wills and confirming devises of lands

    Ch. 133 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 194 · 1705 · Original text

  45. Directing the order of payment of debts of persons deceased

    Ch. 134 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 198 · 1705 · Original text

  46. Better settling of intestates' estates

    Ch. 135 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 199 · 1705 · Original text

  47. Acknowledgment and recording of deeds

    Ch. 136 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 206 · 1705 · Original text

  48. Ascertain the number of members of assembly and to regulate the election

    Ch. 137 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 212 · 1705 · Original text

  49. Selling beer and ale by wine measure

    Ch. 138 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 221 · 1705 · Original text

  50. More easy and effectual collecting of the proprietary's quit-rents

    Ch. 139 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 223 · 1705 · Original text

  51. Departers out of the province

    Ch. 140 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 228 · 1705 · Original text

  52. Better improving a good correspondence with the Indians

    Ch. 141 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 229 · 1705 · Original text

  53. Attachments

    Ch. 142 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 231 · 1705 · Original text

  54. Trial of Negroes

    Ch. 143 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 233 · 1705 · Original text

  55. Prevent the importation of Indian slaves

    Ch. 144 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 236 · 1705 · Original text

  56. Seven years' quiet possession

    Ch. 145 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 237 · 1705 · Original text

  57. Killing of wolves

    Ch. 146 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 238 · 1705 · Original text

  58. Against mixing and adulterating strong liquors

    Ch. 147 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 239 · 1705 · Original text

  59. Mariners not to be trusted

    Ch. 148 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 239 · 1705 · Original text

  60. County seals and against counterfeiting hands and seals

    Ch. 149 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 240 · 1705 · Original text

  61. Defalcation

    Ch. 150 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 241 · 1705 · Original text

  62. Bailing of prisoners and about imprisonment

    Ch. 151 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 243 · 1705 · Original text

  63. Taking lands in execution for payment of debts

    Ch. 152 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 244 · 1705 · Original text

  64. Arrests and making debtors pay by servitude

    Ch. 153 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 249 · 1705 · Original text

  65. Relief of the poor

    Ch. 154 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 251 · 1705 · Original text

  66. Confirming sales of lands by attorneys or agents and ascertaining proof of instruments or writings made out of province

    Ch. 155 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 255 · 1705 · Original text

  67. Additional act for the better preserving the highways

    Ch. 156 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 257 · 1705 · Original text

  68. Supplementary act to that about raising county levies

    Ch. 157 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 258 · 1705 · Original text

  69. Prevent the running of swine at large

    Ch. 158 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 261 · 1705 · Original text

  70. Collecting the arrears of 2,000 pounds granted to the proprietary

    Ch. 159 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 263 · 1705 · Original text

  71. Directing the qualifications of all magistrates and officers and also the manner of giving evidence

    Ch. 160 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 266 · 1705 · Original text

  72. Regulating electing of sheriffs and coroners

    Ch. 161 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 272 · 1705 · Original text

  73. Better proportioning the rates of money in payments made upon contracts according to the former regulation

    Ch. 162 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 276 · 1705 · Original text

  74. Selling the old court-house and buildings and building a new court-house and prison in the county of Bucks

    Ch. 163 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 278 · 1705 · Original text

  75. Raising a supply of 2 pence halfpenny per pound and 10 shillings per head, also for granting an impost and laying an excise on sundry liquors and Negroes imported into this province for the support of government and defraying the necessary charges

    Ch. 164 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 280 · 1705 · Original text

  76. Assure, grant and convey unto Ralph Fishbourn of Chester in the county of Chester, gentleman, one messuage, cottage, house or tenement and lot of land thereon belonging situate in Chester in the county of Chester commonly known as the old court-house

    Ch. 165 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 291 · 1705 · Original text

  77. Ascertaining the rates of money for payment of debts and preventing exactions on contracts and bargains made before May 1, 1709

    Ch. 166 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 294 · 1709 · Original text

  78. Better enabling of divers inhabitants of the province of Pennsylvania to hold and enjoy lands, tenements and plantations in the same province

    Ch. 167 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 297 · 1709 · 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.