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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

149 laws of the 1760s

Province of Pennsylvania

  1. Regulate the fishery in the river Schuylkill

    Ch. 553 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 79 · 1767 · Original text

  2. Amending the act entitled "A supplement to the act entitled 'A supplement to the act entitled "An act for regulating, pitching, paving and cleansing the highways, streets, lanes and alleys and for regulating, making... within ... Philadelphia ..." ' "

    Ch. 554 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 81 · 1767 · Original text

  3. Prevent mischiefs arising from the increase of vagabonds and other idle and disorderly persons within this province

    Ch. 555 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 84 · 1767 · Original text

  4. Prevent inconveniences arising from delays of causes after issue joined

    Ch. 556 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 88 · 1767 · Original text

  5. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for the advancement of justice and more certain administration thereof."

    Ch. 557 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 90 · 1767 · Original text

  6. Appoint certain persons therein named supervisors and directors of the road and bridge over Hollander's creek leading to the west district of Greenwich Island and to enable them to lay such rates and assessments on all lands in the district

    Ch. 558 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 93 · 1767 · Original text

  7. Raising the sum of 20,000 pounds for the support of the government of this province and payment of the public debts

    Ch. 559 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 100 · 1767 · Original text

  8. Amend the act entitled "An act for establishing courts of judicature within this province."

    Ch. 560 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 107 · 1767 · Original text

  9. Appointing wardens for the port of Philadelphia and for the better regulating pilots plying in the river and bay of Delaware and price of pilotage to and from the said port

    Ch. 561 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 110 · 1767 · Original text

  10. Amend the act entitled "An act to prevent the exportation of bad and unmerchantable staves, heading, boards and timber."

    Ch. 562 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 120 · 1767 · Original text

  11. Confirming the estate of Philip Fox in certain lands mortgaged in the general loan office, some of the title deeds whereof there deposited are lost

    Ch. 563 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 122 · 1767 · Original text

  12. Enable the owners and possessors of League Island to keep the bank, dams and sluices in good repair forever and to raise a fund to defray the expense thereof

    Ch. 564 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 125 · 1767 · Original text

  13. Raising by way of lottery the sum of 499 pounds 19 shillings to be applied to the payment of the arrears of debt due for the building and finishing the German Lutheran church in Earl township in Lancaster county

    Ch. 565 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 133 · 1767 · Original text

  14. Relief of Thomas Cotterell Grove, Frederick Pepler, Samuel Watts, Azariah Vaun, Thomas Mullan, Matthew Warburton, James Martin and Thomas Lemon, languishing prisoners in the gaols of Philadelphia, Chester and Lancaster, with respect to their imprisonment

    Ch. 566 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 140 · 1767 · Original text

  15. Enable the managers of the contributions for the relief and employment of the poor in the city of Philadelphia to borrow the further sum of 3,000 pounds

    Ch. 567 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 143 · 1767 · Original text

  16. Obliging the sheriffs and treasurers of the several counties within this province and the collector of the duties of tonnage to give sufficient sureties for the faithful execution of their trusts

    Ch. 568 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 146 · 1767 · Original text

  17. Support of the government of this province and payment of the public debts

    Ch. 569 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 150 · 1767 · Original text

  18. Remove the persons now settled and to prevent others from settling on any lands in this province not purchased of the Indians

    Ch. 570 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 152 · 1768 · Original text

  19. Raising and applying the sum of 3,000 pounds towards removing the present discontent of the Indians, regaining their friendship and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 571 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 155 · 1768 · Original text

  20. Continue an act entitled "An act for laying a duty on Negroes and mulatto slaves imported into the province" and an act entitled "A supplement to an act entitled 'An act for laying a duty on Negroes and mulatto slaves imported ... province.' "

    Ch. 572 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 158 · 1768 · Original text

  21. Amend the act entitled "An act for the better employment, relief and support of the poor within the city of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark, the townships of Moyamensing and Passyunk and the Northern Liberties."

    Ch. 573 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 159 · 1768 · Original text

  22. Appropriating a sum of money for building the middle house on the west side of the barracks in the Northern Liberties of the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 574 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 161 · 1768 · Original text

  23. Raising by way of lottery the sum of 5,250 pounds for purchasing a public landing in the Northern Liberties and paving the streets of the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 575 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 163 · 1768 · Original text

  24. Incorporating the society known by the name and style of the Philadelphia contributionship for the insuring of houses from loss by fire, to ratify and confirm the articles of agreement of the contributors and to enable them to make suitable by-laws

    Ch. 576 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 174 · 1768 · Original text

  25. Enable the owners and possessors of a certain tract of marsh and meadow land therein described situate in the county of Chester to keep the banks, dams, sluices and floodgates in repair and to raise a fund to defray the expense thereof

    Ch. 577 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 181 · 1768 · Original text

  26. Regulating the fishery in the river Brandywine

    Ch. 578 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 193 · 1768 · Original text

  27. Enable the managers of the contributions for the relief and employment of the poor in Philadelphia to raise the sum of 14,000 pounds in bills of credit towards discharging their debts and to provide a fund for redeeming and sinking the bills

    Ch. 579 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 197 · 1769 · Original text

  28. Raising the sum of 16,000 pounds for the support of the government of this province and the payment of the public debts and other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 580 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 204 · 1769 · Original text

  29. Raising by way of lottery the sum of 1,687 pounds 10 shillings to be applied to the payment of the arrears of debt due for erecting the German Reformed or Lutheran churches in York, Heidelberg and Lebanon

    Ch. 581 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 212 · 1769 · Original text

  30. Sale of a church in the city of Philadelphia to pay the debts now due for building the same and distributing the residue of the purchase moneys arising from such sale among the several persons who have been obliged to advance moneys

    Ch. 582 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 222 · 1769 · Original text

  31. Raising by way of lottery the sum of 3,099 pounds 12 shillings for the use of the First and Third Presbyterian churches and the Second Presbyterian church in Philadelphia and the German Reformed church in Worchester township

    Ch. 583 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 226 · 1769 · Original text

  32. Enable the owners and possessors of the Wicaco and Moyamensing Meadows to erect a dam across Hollander's creek near its junction with Hay creek and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 584 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 237 · 1769 · Original text

  33. Enable the owners and possessors of a certain tract of marsh and meadow land therein described situate in the township of Kingsess in the county of Philadelphia to keep the banks, dams, sluices and floodgates in repair and to raise a fund for expenses

    Ch. 585 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 244 · 1769 · Original text

  34. Ascertaining the securities to be given by the provincial treasurer for the time being for the faithful performance of his trust

    Ch. 586 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 259 · 1769 · Original text

  35. Prevent persons from settling on the lands within the boundaries of this province not purchased of the Indians

    Ch. 587 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 260 · 1769 · Original text

  36. Enable the recorder of deeds for the city and county of Philadelphia to receive into his custody the ancient books and records of the corporation of Germantown

    Ch. 588 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 262 · 1769 · Original text

  37. Dissolve the marriage of Curtis Grubb of the county of Lancaster, iron-master, with Ann his wife, late Ann Few, and to enable him to marry again

    Ch. 589 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 263 · 1769 · Original text

  38. Relief of James Green, Benjamin Davis and Paul Riffet, languishing prisoners in the gaol of Philadelphia, with respect to the imprisonment of their persons

    Ch. 590 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 265 · 1769 · Original text

  39. New regulation of the allotments of banks, dams, sluices and floodgates belonging to the Tinicum Company, owners and possessors of drained meadow land in the township of Ridley in the county of Chester

    Ch. 591 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 268 · 1769 · Original text

  40. Enable the commissioners thereinafter named to settle the accounts of the managers and to sue for and recover of them such sums of money as are now due and unpaid on account of the lottery set up and drawn for the High Dutch Reformed congregation, etc.

    Ch. 592 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 271 · 1769 · Original text

  41. Supplement to an act entitled "An act for erecting part of the counties of Philadelphia, Chester and Lancaster into a separate county (named Berks)."

    Ch. 593 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 274 · 1769 · Original text

  42. Regulating, pitching, paving and cleansing the highways, streets, lanes and alleys and for regulating, making and amending the watercourses and common sewers within the inhabited and settled parts of the city of Philadelphia, for raising of money. etc.

    Ch. 594 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 277 · 1769 · Original text

  43. Explaining and amending an act entitled "An act for granting the sum of 60,000 pounds to the King's use and for striking 55,000 pounds thereof in bills of credit and to provide a fund for sinking the same."

    Ch. 595 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 307 · 1769 · Original text

  44. Continue an act entitled "An act to amend the act entitled 'An act for the better employment, relief and support of the poor, within ... Philadelphia, the district of Southwark, the townships of Moyamensing and Passyunk and the Northern Liberties.' "

    Ch. 596 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 310 · 1769 · Original text

  45. Continue an act entitled "An act for appointing wardens for the port of Philadelphia and for the better regulating pilots plying in the river and bay of Delaware and price of pilotage to and from the said port."

    Ch. 597 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 311 · 1769 · Original text

  46. Relief of John Relfe and Abraham Howell, prisoners in the gaol of Philadelphia, with respect to the imprisonment of their persons

    Ch. 598 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 312 · 1769 · Original text

  47. Support of the government of this province and payment of the public debts

    Ch. 599 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 315 · 1769 · Original text

  48. Continue the act entitled "An act to enable the commissioners hereinafter named to settle the accounts of the managers and to sue for and recover from several persons such sums of money as are now due ... Carlisle ... First Presbyterian congregation."

    Ch. 600 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 316 · 1769 · Original text

  49. Relief of John Galbreath, a languishing prisoner in the gaol of Chester, with respect to the imprisonment of his person

    Ch. 601 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 317 · 1769 · 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.