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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

72 laws of the 1710s

Province of Pennsylvania

  1. Establishing courts of judicature in this province

    Ch. 168 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 301 · 1711 · Original text

  2. Regulating and establishing fees

    Ch. 169 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 331 · 1711 · Original text

  3. Acknowledging and recording of deeds

    Ch. 170 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 349 · 1711 · Original text

  4. Directing an affirmation to such who for conscience sake cannot take an oath

    Ch. 171 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 355 · 1711 · Original text

  5. No public house or inn within this province to be kept without license

    Ch. 172 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 357 · 1711 · Original text

  6. Privileges to a freeman

    Ch. 173 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 359 · 1711 · Original text

  7. Against riotous sports, plays and games

    Ch. 174 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 360 · 1711 · Original text

  8. Preventing disputes which may hereafter arise about the dates of conveyances and other instruments and writings

    Ch. 175 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 363 · 1711 · Original text

  9. Priority of payment of debts to the inhabitants of this province

    Ch. 176 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 364 · 1711 · Original text

  10. Better improving a good correspondence with the Indians

    Ch. 177 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 365 · 1711 · Original text

  11. Regulating of party walls and buildings in Philadelphia

    Ch. 178 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 368 · 1711 · Original text

  12. Empowering commissioners to compel the collecting of all arrearages of former taxes

    Ch. 179 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 369 · 1711 · Original text

  13. Raising a supply of 2 pence per pound and 8 shillings per head

    Ch. 180 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 373 · 1711 · Original text

  14. Laying a duty on Negroes, wine, rum and other spirits, cider and vessels

    Ch. 181 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 382 · 1711 · Original text

  15. Raising 2,000 pounds for the Queen's use by a tax of 5 pence halfpenny per pound and 20 shillings per head

    Ch. 182 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 388 · 1711 · Original text

  16. Confirming patents and grants

    Ch. 183 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 400 · 1712 · Original text

  17. Better ascertaining the public debts and collecting the arrears of county levies

    Ch. 184 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 410 · 1712 · Original text

  18. Raising money on the inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia for the public use and benefit thereof

    Ch. 185 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 414 · 1712 · Original text

  19. Better government of the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 186 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 419 · 1712 · Original text

  20. Concerning the register-general's office

    Ch. 187 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 421 · 1712 · Original text

  21. Empowering religious societies to buy, hold and enjoy lands, tenements and hereditaments

    Ch. 188 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 424 · 1712 · Original text

  22. Supplementary act to a law about the manner of giving evidence

    Ch. 189 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 425 · 1712 · Original text

  23. Establishing the lower ferry on the river Schuylkill

    Ch. 190 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 427 · 1712 · Original text

  24. Establishing and regulating of ferries over Delaware river and Neshaminy creek

    Ch. 191 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 429 · 1712 · Original text

  25. Prevent the importation of Negroes and Indians into this province

    Ch. 192 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 433 · 1712 · Original text

  26. Further securing the administration of the government

    Ch. 193 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 436 · 1712 · Original text

  27. Supplementary to an act entitled "An act laying a duty on Negroes, rum, wine, spirits, cider and vessels" and appropriating certain sums of money arising by the same and other public stock of this province

    Ch. 194 · 2 Pa. Stat. at Large 438 · 1712 · Original text

  28. Reviving, explaining and continuing several laws in this act mentioned

    Ch. 195 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 3 · 1713 · Original text

  29. Limitation of actions

    Ch. 196 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 12 · 1713 · Original text

  30. Establishing orphans' courts

    Ch. 197 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 14 · 1713 · Original text

  31. Amending divers laws therein mentioned

    Ch. 198 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 22 · 1713 · Original text

  32. Laying a duty or excise upon sundry liquors and also upon hops to answer several exigencies of this government

    Ch. 199 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 26 · 1713 · Original text

  33. Privileges to a freeman

    Ch. 200 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 31 · 1715 · Original text

  34. Directing appeals to Great Britain

    Ch. 201 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 32 · 1715 · Original text

  35. Establishing the courts of general quarter-sessions in this province

    Ch. 202 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 33 · 1715 · Original text

  36. Empowering religious societies to buy, hold and enjoy lands, tenements and hereditaments

    Ch. 203 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 37 · 1715 · Original text

  37. Affirmation act for such who for conscience' sake cannot take an oath

    Ch. 204 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 39 · 1715 · Original text

  38. Corroborating the circular line between the counties of Chester and Newcastle

    Ch. 205 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 41 · 1715 · Original text

  39. Better recovery of fines and forfeitures due to the governor and government of this province

    Ch. 206 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 45 · 1715 · Original text

  40. Assigning of bonds, specialties and promissory notes

    Ch. 207 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 50 · 1715 · Original text

  41. Acknowledging and recording of deeds

    Ch. 208 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 53 · 1715 · Original text

  42. Ease of such as conscientiously scruple to take the solemn affirmation formerly allowed in Great Britain

    Ch. 209 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 58 · 1715 · Original text

  43. Continuing a friendly correspondence with the Indians

    Ch. 210 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 60 · 1715 · Original text

  44. Better determining the debts and demands under 40 shillings and laying aside the two-weeks' court in the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 211 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 63 · 1715 · Original text

  45. Erecting a supreme or provincial court of law and equity in this province

    Ch. 212 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 65 · 1715 · Original text

  46. Establishing the several courts of common pleas in this province

    Ch. 213 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 69 · 1715 · Original text

  47. Better ascertaining the practice of the courts of judicature in this province

    Ch. 214 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 73 · 1715 · Original text

  48. Raising a supply of 1 penny in the pound and 4 shillings a head and reviving other acts therein mentioned

    Ch. 215 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 83 · 1715 · Original text

  49. Regulating and establishing fees

    Ch. 216 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 96 · 1715 · Original text

  50. Laying a duty on wine, rum, brandy and spirits, cider and hops imported into this province

    Ch. 217 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 112 · 1715 · Original text

  51. Laying a duty on Negroes imported into this province

    Ch. 218 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 117 · 1715 · Original text

  52. Enlarge the time for putting in execution a law passed in the last sessions of assembly held for this province entitled "An act raising a supply of 1 penny in the pound and 4 shillings a head and for reviving other acts therein mentioned."

    Ch. 219 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 122 · 1715 · Original text

  53. Reviving of actions and process lately depending in the courts of the county of Chester and for supplying other defects relating to proceedings at law in all the courts of common pleas in this province

    Ch. 220 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 125 · 1715 · Original text

  54. Raising a supply of 1 penny per pound and 4 shillings a head

    Ch. 221 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 128 · 1717 · Original text

  55. Better regulating of elections of sheriffs, coroners and assessors

    Ch. 222 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 138 · 1717 · Original text

  56. Laying a duty upon sundry liquors retailed in this province

    Ch. 223 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 141 · 1718 · Original text

  57. Better encouraging the trade of this province

    Ch. 224 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 145 · 1718 · Original text

  58. Laying a duty on wine, rum, brandy, spirits, cider, hops and flax imported into this province

    Ch. 225 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 150 · 1718 · Original text

  59. Feme sole traders

    Ch. 226 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 157 · 1718 · Original text

  60. Continuing a duty on Negroes brought into this province

    Ch. 227 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 159 · 1718 · Original text

  61. Raising a duty upon tonnage of ships and vessels

    Ch. 228 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 165 · 1718 · Original text

  62. Erecting of houses of correction and work-houses in the respective counties of this province

    Ch. 229 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 167 · 1718 · Original text

  63. Erecting a ferry to the landing at or near the land of Daniel Cooper, deceased, and also to Gloucester in the western division of New Jersey

    Ch. 230 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 172 · 1718 · Original text

  64. More effectual raising of county rates and levies

    Ch. 231 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 175 · 1718 · Original text

  65. Supply some omissions in a law passed at the last sessions of assembly held for this province entitled "An act raising a duty upon tonnage of ships and vessels."

    Ch. 232 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 192 · 1718 · Original text

  66. Establishing a ferry over Delaware at the falls

    Ch. 233 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 194 · 1718 · Original text

  67. Continuing the ferry from Bristol in the county of Bucks to Burlington in the western division of the province of New Jersey

    Ch. 234 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 197 · 1718 · Original text

  68. Empowering the justices to settle the prices of liquors in public houses and provender for horses in public stables

    Ch. 235 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 198 · 1718 · Original text

  69. Advancement of justice and more certain administration thereof

    Ch. 236 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 199 · 1718 · Original text

  70. Supplying some defects in the law for the relief of the poor

    Ch. 237 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 221 · 1718 · Original text

  71. Vesting the house and lot of ground lying in Philadelphia, late the estate and inheritance of William Clarke of Lewes in the county of Sussex, deceased, in trustees to be sold for the payment of his debts, etc.

    Ch. 238 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 225 · 1718 · Original text

  72. Laying an excise or duty on all wine, rum, brandy and other spirits retailed in this province

    Ch. 239 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 229 · 1719 · 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.