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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

274 laws of the 1770s

Province of Pennsylvania

  1. Enable the owners of meadow lands on both sides of Gunner's creek to construct, maintain and keep up a dam and sluices and to raise a fund to defray the expense thereof

    Ch. 602 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 320 · 1770 · Original text

  2. Repairing the highway between Frankfort bridge and the bridge over Frankfort mill-race

    Ch. 603 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 327 · 1770 · Original text

  3. Supplement to the act entitled "A supplement to the act entitled 'An act for taking lands in execution for the payment of debts and for confirming partitions in several instances heretofore made.' "

    Ch. 604 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 328 · 1770 · Original text

  4. Better confirmation of the estates of persons holding or claiming under feme-coverts and for establishing a mode by which husband and wife may hereafter convey their estates

    Ch. 605 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 329 · 1770 · Original text

  5. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to 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 ..."

    Ch. 606 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 332 · 1770 · Original text

  6. Sale of goods distrained for rent and to secure such goods to the persons distraining the same for the better security of rents and to prevent frauds and abuses committed by tenants

    Ch. 607 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 334 · 1770 · Original text

  7. Appointing commissioners to meet with commissioners who are or may be appointed by the legislatures of the neighboring colonies to form and agree on a general plan for the regulation of the Indian trade

    Ch. 608 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 339 · 1770 · Original text

  8. Incorporating the society formed for the relief of poor, aged and infirm masters of ships, their widows and children

    Ch. 609 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 341 · 1770 · Original text

  9. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for bailing prisoners and about imprisonment."

    Ch. 610 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 346 · 1770 · Original text

  10. Relief of the languishing prisoners in the gaols of the several counties within this province with respect to the imprisonment of their persons

    Ch. 611 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 347 · 1770 · Original text

  11. Punishing wicked and evil-disposed persons from going armed in disguise and doing injuries and violences to the persons and properties of His Majesty's subjects within this province and for the more speedy bringing the offenders to justice

    Ch. 612 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 350 · 1770 · Original text

  12. Further continuance of the 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 the price of pilotage to and from the said port."

    Ch. 613 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 354 · 1770 · Original text

  13. Continue the act entitled "An act for the opening and better amending and keeping in repair the public roads and highways within this province."

    Ch. 614 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 355 · 1770 · Original text

  14. Regulating wagoners, carters, draymen and porters within the city of Philadelphia and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 615 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 356 · 1770 · Original text

  15. Regulation of apprentices within this province

    Ch. 616 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 360 · 1770 · Original text

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

    Ch. 617 · 7 Pa. Stat. at Large 364 · 1770 · Original text

  17. Preventing tumults and riotous assemblies and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the rioters

    Ch. 618 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 5 · 1771 · Original text

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

    Ch. 619 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 9 · 1771 · Original text

  19. Prevent the destruction of rockfish and oysters

    Ch. 620 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 10 · 1771 · Original text

  20. Regulate the fishery in the river Schuylkill

    Ch. 621 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 12 · 1771 · Original text

  21. Immediate raising of money heretofore granted for the defense of the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 622 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 15 · 1771 · Original text

  22. Regulating the fishery in the rivers Codorus and Connewaga in York county

    Ch. 623 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 22 · 1771 · Original text

  23. Appointing regulators in the southern parts of the Northern Liberties of the city of Philadelphia and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 624 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 25 · 1771 · Original text

  24. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for the better regulation of servants in this province and territories."

    Ch. 625 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 29 · 1771 · Original text

  25. Declaring the rivers Delaware and Lehigh and parts of Neshaminy creek as far up as Barnsley's Ford and of the stream called Lechawaxin as far up as the falls thereof common highways and for improving the navigation in the said rivers

    Ch. 626 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 32 · 1771 · Original text

  26. Declaring the river Susquehanna and other streams therein mentioned public highways, for improving the navigation of the said river and streams and for preserving the fish in the same

    Ch. 627 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 36 · 1771 · Original text

  27. Vacating a part of a road in the township of Passyunk and for confirming a new road laid out and made instead thereof

    Ch. 628 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 44 · 1771 · Original text

  28. Erecting a part of the county of Cumberland into a separate county (named Bedford)

    Ch. 629 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 46 · 1771 · Original text

  29. Better securing and punishing certain offenders therein mentioned

    Ch. 630 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 55 · 1771 · Original text

  30. Appointing commissioners for opening and maintaining parts of two roads therein mentioned

    Ch. 631 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 56 · 1771 · Original text

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

    Ch. 632 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 58 · 1771 · Original text

  32. Relief of George Hawkins, Conrad Kehmle and Jonathan Hobby, languishing prisoners in the gaol of Philadelphia, with respect to the imprisonment of their persons

    Ch. 633 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 69 · 1771 · Original text

  33. Building a bridge over Skippack Creek in the county of Philadelphia

    Ch. 634 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 72 · 1771 · Original text

  34. Relief of the poor

    Ch. 635 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 75 · 1771 · Original text

  35. Regulating and continuing the nightly watch, enlightening the streets, lanes and alleys of the city of Philadelphia, and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 636 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 96 · 1771 · Original text

  36. Enable Peter Mierken, sugar refiner, to hold lands and to invest him with the privileges of a natural-born subject of this province

    Ch. 637 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 116 · 1771 · Original text

  37. Repeal a part of the act entitled "An act for the preservation of fish in the rivers Delaware, Susquehanna and the Lehigh, commonly called the Western Branch of Delaware."

    Ch. 638 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 118 · 1771 · Original text

  38. Preventing tumults and riotous assemblies and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the rioters

    Ch. 639 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 120 · 1771 · Original text

  39. Support of the lighthouse erected at the mouth of the bay of Delaware and the buoys placed in the said bay and the river Delaware and for the repayment of the moneys borrowed for the erecting the said lighthouse and placing the said buoys

    Ch. 640 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 124 · 1771 · Original text

  40. Regulate the assize of bread and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 641 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 130 · 1772 · Original text

  41. Rendering justices of the peace more safe in the execution of their office and for indemnifying constables and others acting in obedience to their warrants

    Ch. 642 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 136 · 1772 · Original text

  42. Relief of Richard Stevens with respect to the imprisonment of his person

    Ch. 643 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 139 · 1772 · Original text

  43. Erecting a part of the counties of Lancaster, Cumberland, Berks, Northampton and Bedford into a separate county (named Northumberland)

    Ch. 644 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 143 · 1772 · Original text

  44. Sale of goods distrained for rent and to secure such goods to the persons distraining the same for the better security of rents and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 645 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 152 · 1772 · Original text

  45. Relief of William Faries, John Gilliard, Charles Hicks and John Reynolds, languishing prisoners in the gaol of Philadelphia, and William Bennett and Falix McCowan, languishing prisoners in the gaol of York county, with respect to their imprisonment

    Ch. 646 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 161 · 1772 · Original text

  46. Raising a fund to pay the damages done by dogs within the city and county of Philadelphia and the county of Bucks

    Ch. 647 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 164 · 1772 · Original text

  47. Regulating chimney sweepers within the city of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark and the township of the Northern Liberties

    Ch. 648 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 171 · 1772 · Original text

  48. Enable the commissioners therein named to settle the accounts of the managers of a lottery set up and drawn for repairing the meeting house and building or repairing the residence of the minister of the Presbyterian congregation of Newtown, Bucks county

    Ch. 649 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 175 · 1772 · Original text

  49. Safe keeping and preserving the records and other public papers of the county of Bucks

    Ch. 650 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 178 · 1772 · Original text

  50. Recovery of divers sums of money from the persons therein named

    Ch. 651 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 179 · 1772 · Original text

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

    Ch. 652 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 183 · 1772 · Original text

  52. Opening and better amending and keeping in repair the public roads and highways within this province

    Ch. 653 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 185 · 1772 · Original text

  53. More easy recovery of legacies

    Ch. 654 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 195 · 1772 · Original text

  54. Enable the owners and possessors of a certain tract of meadow land situate in the borough of Chester in the county of Chester to keep their dams, banks, sluices and floodgates in good repair

    Ch. 655 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 198 · 1772 · Original text

  55. Support of the government of this province, making the excise on wine, rum, brandy and other spirits more equal and preventing frauds in the collecting and paying the said excise

    Ch. 656 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 204 · 1772 · Original text

  56. Prevent frauds and abuses in the manufacturing of leather

    Ch. 657 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 220 · 1772 · Original text

  57. Explaining and better ascertaining the boundary lines of the county of Bedford

    Ch. 658 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 228 · 1772 · Original text

  58. Vesting a certain tract of 450 acres of land situate in Frederick township in the county of Philadelphia, commonly called the Perkioming copper mine tract, in trustees to be sold and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 659 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 230 · 1772 · Original text

  59. Relief of such persons as conscientiously scruple the taking of an oath in the common form

    Ch. 660 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 239 · 1772 · Original text

  60. Granting to His Majesty the sum of 4,000 pounds for the purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 661 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 241 · 1772 · Original text

  61. Supplement to the act entitled "An act against adultery and fornication."

    Ch. 662 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 242 · 1772 · Original text

  62. Dissolve the marriage of George Keehmle of the city of Philadelphia, barber, with Elizabeth his wife, late Elizabeth Miller, and to enable him to marry again

    Ch. 663 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 243 · 1772 · Original text

  63. Confirming the estates of John Pawling, Joseph Pawling, Abraham Sahler, Peter Reimer, Bernard Kepler and Andrew Heizer in and to certain lands in the county of Philadelphia

    Ch. 664 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 245 · 1772 · Original text

  64. Enable the owners of the lands called the Pigeon Swamp in the township of Bristol in the county of Bucks to dig, maintain and keep open a ditch through the said swamp and to raise money to defray the expense thereof

    Ch. 665 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 248 · 1772 · Original text

  65. Confirming the estate of Samuel Phipps in and to certain lands in the township of Goshen in the county of Chester

    Ch. 666 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 254 · 1772 · Original text

  66. Enable William Hembell of the city of Philadelphia, tailor, to hold lands and to invest him with the privileges of a natural-born subject of this province

    Ch. 667 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 256 · 1772 · Original text

  67. Confirming the estate of Adam Simon Kuhn in and to a certain lot of ground with the buildings thereon in the borough of Lancaster, one of the title deeds whereof is lost

    Ch. 668 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 257 · 1772 · Original text

  68. Prevention of frauds and perjuries

    Ch. 669 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 259 · 1772 · Original text

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

    Ch. 670 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 261 · 1772 · Original text

  70. Appointing wardens for the port of Philadelphia and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 671 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 264 · 1773 · Original text

  71. Emitting the sum of 150,000 pounds in bills of credit on loan and providing a fund for the payment of public debts

    Ch. 672 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 284 · 1773 · Original text

  72. Erecting a new gaol, workhouse and house of correction in the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 673 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 300 · 1773 · Original text

  73. Preserving the navigation in Shearman's Creek in the county of Cumberland and to prevent the destruction of fish in the same

    Ch. 674 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 305 · 1773 · Original text

  74. Amend the act entitled "An act to regulate the assize of bread and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Ch. 675 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 308 · 1773 · Original text

  75. Relief of William Ritchie, a languishing prisoner in the gaol of Philadelphia, and John Milliron, a languishing prisoner in the gaol of Lancaster county, with respect to the imprisonment of their persons

    Ch. 676 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 309 · 1773 · Original text

  76. Repeal the act entitled "An act to prevent frauds and abuses in manufacturing of leather."

    Ch. 677 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 313 · 1773 · Original text

  77. Erecting part of the county of Bedford into a separate county (named Westmoreland)

    Ch. 678 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 314 · 1773 · Original text

  78. Vesting a certain tract of land in the township of Middleton and county of Cumberland and a lot in the town of Carlisle in the said county in trustees to be sold for the purpose therein mentioned

    Ch. 679 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 323 · 1773 · Original text

  79. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for making the river Schuylkill navigable and for the preservation of the fish in the said river."

    Ch. 680 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 327 · 1773 · Original text

  80. Making perpetual the act entitled "An act for laying a duty on Negroes and mulatto slaves imported into this province and laying an additional duty on the said slaves."

    Ch. 681 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 330 · 1773 · Original text

  81. Vacating a part of a road in the township of the Northern Liberties and for confirming a new road laid out and made instead thereof

    Ch. 682 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 332 · 1773 · Original text

  82. Making perpetual an act entitled "An act directing the choice of inspectors and for holding the general elections in this province."

    Ch. 683 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 334 · 1773 · Original text

  83. Confirming the estate of William Martin in and to a certain tract of land in the township of Charlestown in the county of Chester

    Ch. 684 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 335 · 1773 · Original text

  84. Enable the persons therein named to hold lands and to invest them with the privileges of natural-born subjects of this province

    Ch. 685 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 337 · 1773 · Original text

  85. Prevent counterfeiting the paper money of other colonies

    Ch. 686 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 339 · 1773 · Original text

  86. Relief of Samuel Sweet, a languishing prisoner in the gaol of Philadelphia, and Thomas Bamford, a languishing prisoner in the gaol of Lancaster county, with respect to the imprisonment of their persons

    Ch. 687 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 341 · 1773 · Original text

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

    Ch. 688 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 345 · 1773 · Original text

  88. Regulating the buildings, keeping in repair the streets, lanes, alleys and highways in the borough of Lancaster and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 689 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 347 · 1774 · Original text

  89. Preventing tumults and riotous assemblies and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the rioters

    Ch. 690 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 366 · 1774 · Original text

  90. Prevent infectious diseases being brought into this province

    Ch. 691 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 369 · 1774 · Original text

  91. Amend the act entitled "An act for granting to His Majesty the sum of 55,000 pounds ... and for providing a fund for sinking the said bills of credit by a tax on all estates real and personal and taxables within this province."

    Ch. 692 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 378 · 1774 · Original text

  92. Oblige the trustees and assignees of insolvent debtors to execute their trusts

    Ch. 693 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 382 · 1774 · Original text

  93. Regulating the fishery in the river Conestogoe in the county of Lancaster

    Ch. 694 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 386 · 1774 · Original text

  94. Repealing a part of an act entitled "An act for regulating peddlers, vendues," etc.

    Ch. 695 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 389 · 1774 · Original text

  95. Increase the allowance to members of assembly for their attendance on the public service

    Ch. 696 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 389 · 1774 · Original text

  96. Lending the sum of 800 pounds to the several and respective counties of Bedford, Northumberland and Westmoreland for building a court-house and prison in each of the said counties

    Ch. 697 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 391 · 1774 · Original text

  97. Continue an act entitled "An act to amend the act entitled 'An act to prevent the exportation of bread and flour not merchantable.' "

    Ch. 698 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 392 · 1774 · Original text

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

    Ch. 699 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 394 · 1774 · Original text

  99. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for emitting the sum of 150,000 pounds in bills of credit on loan and providing a fund for the payment of public debts."

    Ch. 700 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 397 · 1774 · Original text

  100. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for erecting the northwest part of Bucks county into a separate county (named Northampton)."

    Ch. 701 · 8 Pa. Stat. at Large 398 · 1774 · 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.