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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

68 laws of the 1720s

Province of Pennsylvania

  1. Continuing several acts therein mentioned laying a duty on wine, rum, brandy, spirits, cider, hops, flax, Negroes and vessels until May 14, 1722

    Ch. 240 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 238 · 1721 · Original text

  2. Erecting and maintaining of pounds

    Ch. 241 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 240 · 1721 · Original text

  3. Regulating party walls, buildings and partition fences in the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 242 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 244 · 1721 · Original text

  4. Trial and punishment of larceny under 5 shillings

    Ch. 243 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 246 · 1721 · Original text

  5. Supplementary act to a law of this province entitled "An act that no public house or inn within this province to be kept without license."

    Ch. 244 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 248 · 1721 · Original text

  6. Preventing accidents that may happen by fire

    Ch. 245 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 252 · 1721 · Original text

  7. Prevent the killing of deer out of season and against carrying of guns or hunting by persons not qualified

    Ch. 246 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 254 · 1721 · Original text

  8. Well tanning and currying of leather and regulating of cordwainers and other artificers using and occupying leather within this province

    Ch. 247 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 257 · 1721 · Original text

  9. Imposing a duty on persons convicted of heinous crimes and imported into this province as servants or otherwise

    Ch. 248 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 264 · 1722 · Original text

  10. Laying a duty on wine, rum, brandy and spirits, molasses, cider, hops and flax imported, landed or brought into this province

    Ch. 249 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 268 · 1722 · Original text

  11. Laying a duty on Negroes imported into this province

    Ch. 250 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 275 · 1722 · Original text

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

    Ch. 251 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 280 · 1722 · Original text

  13. Prevent the exportation of flour not merchantable

    Ch. 252 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 288 · 1722 · Original text

  14. Encouraging the making of good beer and for the consumption of grain in this province

    Ch. 253 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 291 · 1722 · Original text

  15. Supplementary to the act for the more effectual raising of county rates and levies

    Ch. 254 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 295 · 1722 · Original text

  16. Establishing courts of judicature in this province

    Ch. 255 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 298 · 1722 · Original text

  17. Prohibit the selling of rum and other strong liquors to the Indians and to prevent abuses that may happen thereby

    Ch. 256 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 310 · 1722 · Original text

  18. Encouraging the raising of hemp in this province

    Ch. 257 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 314 · 1722 · Original text

  19. Settling a ferry at Solebury in Bucks County over Delaware to New Jersey

    Ch. 258 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 316 · 1722 · Original text

  20. Erect and establish a ferry on the lands of Thomas Yardley of Makefield Township in Bucks County

    Ch. 259 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 318 · 1722 · Original text

  21. Regulating the gauging of cask

    Ch. 260 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 321 · 1722 · Original text

  22. Emitting and making current 15,000 pounds in bills of credit

    Ch. 261 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 324 · 1723 · Original text

  23. Reducing the interest of money from 8 to 6 per cent per annum

    Ch. 262 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 338 · 1723 · Original text

  24. Rectify proceedings upon attachments

    Ch. 263 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 339 · 1723 · Original text

  25. Respiting executions upon certain judgments of courts in this province

    Ch. 264 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 343 · 1723 · Original text

  26. Vesting the lands and lots commonly called the lands of the free society of traders in Pennsylvania in trustees to be sold for the payment of such sums of money as were paid into the public stock of the said society for purchasing the said lands, etc.

    Ch. 265 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 345 · 1723 · Original text

  27. Directing the process of summons against freeholders

    Ch. 266 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 357 · 1723 · Original text

  28. Supplementary act to the act entitled "An act for emitting and making current 15,000 pounds in bills of credit."

    Ch. 267 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 360 · 1723 · Original text

  29. Additional act to the act entitled "An act for laying an excise or duty on all wine, rum and other spirits retailed in this province."

    Ch. 268 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 362 · 1723 · Original text

  30. Encouragement of trade

    Ch. 269 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 363 · 1723 · Original text

  31. Regulating and establishing fees

    Ch. 270 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 367 · 1723 · Original text

  32. Supplementary act to an act entitled "An act to prevent the exportation of flour not merchantable."

    Ch. 271 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 380 · 1723 · Original text

  33. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for the making of good beer," etc.

    Ch. 272 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 382 · 1723 · Original text

  34. Establishing a ferry over the river Schuylkill at the end of the high street of Philadelphia

    Ch. 273 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 383 · 1723 · Original text

  35. Better and more effectual putting in execution an act of assembly of this province entitled "An act for emitting and making current 15,000 pounds in bills of credit."

    Ch. 274 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 385 · 1723 · Original text

  36. Emitting and making current 30,000 pounds in bills of credit

    Ch. 275 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 389 · 1723 · Original text

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

    Ch. 276 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 408 · 1723 · Original text

  38. Continuing and establishing a ferry over Neshaminy creek on the King's high road from Philadelphia to Bristol in the county of Bucks

    Ch. 277 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 417 · 1724 · Original text

  39. Enable trustees to sell the old court-house and prison belonging to the borough and county of Chester

    Ch. 278 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 419 · 1724 · Original text

  40. Improve the breed of horses and regulate rangers

    Ch. 279 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 422 · 1724 · Original text

  41. Better enabling of John Cratho, merchant, Caspar Wistar and Nicholas Gateau to trade and buy and hold lands in this province

    Ch. 280 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 424 · 1724 · Original text

  42. Prescribing the forms of declaration of fidelity, abjuration and affirmation instead of the forms heretofore required in such cases

    Ch. 281 · 3 Pa. Stat. at Large 427 · 1724 · Original text

  43. Prevent the exportation of bread and flour not merchantable

    Ch. 282 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 3 · 1725 · Original text

  44. Enable Jeremiah Langhorne, William Biles, Joseph Kirkbride, Junior, Thomas Watson, practitioner in physic, and Abraham Chapman to build a new court-house and prison in the county of Bucks

    Ch. 283 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 9 · 1725 · Original text

  45. Raising of county rates and levies

    Ch. 284 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 10 · 1725 · Original text

  46. Regulate the practice upon writs of summons and arrest

    Ch. 285 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 26 · 1725 · Original text

  47. Continuing the bounty upon hemp

    Ch. 286 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 30 · 1725 · Original text

  48. Better securing the city of Philadelphia from the danger of gunpowder

    Ch. 287 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 31 · 1725 · Original text

  49. Better preventing obstructions to the navigation of Chester Creek and other navigable creeks and rivers in this province

    Ch. 288 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 35 · 1725 · Original text

  50. Re-emitting and continuing the currency of such bills of credit of this province as by former acts are directed to be sunk and destroyed and for the striking and making current 10,000 pounds in new bills to supply those that are torn and defaced

    Ch. 289 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 38 · 1726 · Original text

  51. Laying a duty on Negroes imported into this province

    Ch. 290 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 52 · 1726 · Original text

  52. Better enabling of Bernhard Vanleer, Arent Hassert, Michael Smiths, William Seliger, Arnolt Bamberger, William Hilligart and Ulrick Hageman to trade and hold lands in this province

    Ch. 291 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 57 · 1726 · Original text

  53. Better regulating of Negroes in this province

    Ch. 292 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 59 · 1726 · Original text

  54. Better regulating the retailers of liquors near the iron works and elsewhere

    Ch. 293 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 65 · 1726 · Original text

  55. More effectual encouraging the raising of good hemp and continuing an excise on all wine, rum, brandy and other spirits retailed within this province

    Ch. 294 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 68 · 1727 · Original text

  56. More effectually to prevent unfair trade practices in the packing of beef and pork for exportation

    Ch. 295 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 73 · 1727 · Original text

  57. Supplementary act to the act for ascertaining the number of members of assembly and to regulate elections

    Ch. 296 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 77 · 1727 · Original text

  58. Establishing a ferry from the city of Philadelphia to the landing at or near the house of William Cooper and another from or near the city bounds to Gloucester in New Jersey

    Ch. 297 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 80 · 1727 · Original text

  59. Establishing of courts of judicature in this province

    Ch. 298 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 84 · 1727 · Original text

  60. Supplement to the act for taking lands in execution for the payment of debts

    Ch. 299 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 96 · 1727 · Original text

  61. Emitting of 30,000 pounds in bills of credit for the better support of government and the trade of this province

    Ch. 300 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 98 · 1729 · Original text

  62. Erecting of pounds in each township of the province

    Ch. 301 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 116 · 1729 · Original text

  63. Supplement to part of the act for raising county rates and levies relating to the killing of wolves

    Ch. 302 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 121 · 1729 · Original text

  64. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to prevent swine from running at large."

    Ch. 303 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 122 · 1729 · Original text

  65. Laying a duty on Negroes imported into this province

    Ch. 304 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 123 · 1729 · Original text

  66. Continuing and establishing a ferry from the landing-place of Joseph Kirkbride over Delaware River at the Falls

    Ch. 305 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 128 · 1729 · Original text

  67. Erecting the upper parts of the province of Pennsylvania lying towards Susquehanna, Conestogoe, Donegal, etc.. into a county (named Lancaster)

    Ch. 306 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 131 · 1729 · Original text

  68. Laying a duty on foreigners and Irish servants imported into this province

    Ch. 307 · 4 Pa. Stat. at Large 135 · 1729 · 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.