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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. Indemnify William Dewees Esquire the late sheriff and James Claypoole Esquire the present sheriff of the city and county of Philadelphia for removing the prisoners from the new gaol and imprisoning them and others in the old gaol of Philadelphia

    Ch. 802 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 255 · 1778 · Original text

  2. Making valid the title of lands held under persons born out of the allegiance of the crown of Great Britain and who have died not having been naturalized

    Ch. 803 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 258 · 1778 · Original text

  3. Declare valid the acknowledgements of deeds and the proofs of witnesses to the execution thereof made and taken by certain persons and declare valid the probate and registering of wills and granting letters of administration by certain persons

    Ch. 804 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 259 · 1778 · Original text

  4. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act directing the mode and time of electing justices of the peace for the city of Philadelphia and the several counties in this commonwealth and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Ch. 805 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 265 · 1778 · Original text

  5. Settling the accounts of the late committee and council of safety

    Ch. 806 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 267 · 1778 · Original text

  6. Enable the supreme executive council to allow further time to John Abraham De Normandie of the county of Bucks, practitioner in physic, for the sale of his estate and to retire out of the state than is allowed in a certain act of general assembly

    Ch. 807 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 270 · 1778 · Original text

  7. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for the better preventing obstructions to the navigation of Chester creek and other navigable creeks and rivers in this province."

    Ch. 808 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 271 · 1778 · Original text

  8. Prohibit the exportation of provisions from the state of Pennsylvania for a limited time

    Ch. 809 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 272 · 1778 · Original text

  9. Recovery of the duties on Negroes and mulatto slaves which on July 4, 1776, were due to this state and have since accrued and for appointing a collector of the said duties

    Ch. 810 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 274 · 1778 · Original text

  10. Establishing a court of admiralty

    Ch. 811 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 277 · 1778 · Original text

  11. Repeal the act entitled "An act for regulating the several articles herein mentioned for a limited time" and also part of the act entitled "An act for the better supply of the army of the United States of America."

    Ch. 812 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 283 · 1778 · Original text

  12. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for the further security of the government."

    Ch. 813 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 284 · 1778 · Original text

  13. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act for the regulation of wagons, carriages and packhorses for public service."

    Ch. 814 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 287 · 1778 · Original text

  14. Regulating navigation and trade in this state

    Ch. 815 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 288 · 1778 · Original text

  15. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act to prevent forestalling and regrating and to encourage fair dealing."

    Ch. 816 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 293 · 1778 · Original text

  16. Prohibit the exportation of provisions from the state of Pennsylvania for a limited time

    Ch. 817 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 294 · 1778 · Original text

  17. Repeal of so much of the act of assembly entitled "An act for the attainder of divers traitors if they render not themselves by a certain day and for ... ascertaining and satisfying the lawful debts and claims thereupon" as relates to Reynold Keen

    Ch. 818 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 296 · 1778 · Original text

  18. Prohibit for a limited time the making of whiskey and other spirits from wheat, rye, or any other sort of grain or from any meal or flour

    Ch. 819 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 297 · 1778 · Original text

  19. Relief of Albertson Walton, otherwise called Albinson Walton

    Ch. 820 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 300 · 1778 · Original text

  20. Continue an act of general assembly of this state entitled "An act for the regulation of wagons, carriages and packhorses for the public service" and the supplement and the further supplement to the said act

    Ch. 821 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 302 · 1778 · Original text

  21. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act for the further security of the government."

    Ch. 822 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 303 · 1778 · Original text

  22. Revive and continue an act entitled "A supplement to the act entitled 'An act for emitting the sum of 200,000 pounds in bills of credit for the defense ... a tax on all estates real and personal and on all taxables within the same,' " etc.

    Ch. 823 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 309 · 1778 · Original text

  23. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for settling the accounts of the late committee and council of safety."

    Ch. 824 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 311 · 1778 · Original text

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

    Ch. 867 · 10 Pa. Stat. at Large 5 · 1779 · Original text

  25. Raising the sum of $2,500,000 monthly during eight months in the year 1780 for the supply of the treasury of the United States of America and the treasury of this state

    Ch. 868 · 10 Pa. Stat. at Large 9 · 1779 · Original text

  26. More effectually to prevent counterfeiting the continental loan office certificates, the continental loan office bills of exchange and the paper money of the United States of America or any of them

    Ch. 869 · 10 Pa. Stat. at Large 12 · 1779 · Original text

  27. Effectual suppression of public auctions and vendues and to prohibit male persons capable of bearing arms from being peddlers or hawkers

    Ch. 870 · 10 Pa. Stat. at Large 16 · 1779 · Original text

  28. Confirm the estates and interests of the college, academy and charitable school of the city of Philadelphia, amend and alter the charters thereof conformably to the revolution, constitution and government of this commonwealth and change it to a university

    Ch. 871 · 10 Pa. Stat. at Large 23 · 1779 · Original text

  29. Repeal part of "An act for making more equal the burden of the public defense and for filling the quota of troops to be raised in this state" and continue "An act to ... apprehend suspected persons ... neglecting to perform their tour of militia duty."

    Ch. 872 · 10 Pa. Stat. at Large 31 · 1779 · Original text

  30. Supplement to an act entitled "An act for the relief of the poor."

    Ch. 873 · 10 Pa. Stat. at Large 32 · 1779 · Original text

  31. Vesting the estates of the late proprietaries of Pennsylvania in this commonwealth

    Ch. 874 · 10 Pa. Stat. at Large 33 · 1779 · Original text

  32. Better support of certain officers of this state and for ascertaining the specific fines and penalties which they may incur by neglect of duty

    Ch. 875 · 10 Pa. Stat. at Large 39 · 1779 · Original text

  33. Increase the fees of tavern licenses, the fines on tippling houses and the rates of excise

    Ch. 825 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 312 · 1779 · Original text

  34. Empower the trustees for building a court house and prison in and for the county of Bedford to sell a messuage and lot of ground in the town of Bedford purchased by them to serve as a temporary prison and to appropriate the moneys arising by such sale

    Ch. 826 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 315 · 1779 · Original text

  35. Supplement to an act entitled "An act to prohibit for a limited time the making of whiskey and other spirits from wheat, rye or any other sort of grain or from any meal or flour."

    Ch. 827 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 317 · 1779 · Original text

  36. Increase the fines and penalties on public officers for refusal or neglect of duty and also to augment the fees of the several officers hereinafter mentioned

    Ch. 828 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 320 · 1779 · Original text

  37. Vesting the house and lots therein described in trustees for the use of the president of the supreme executive council of the state for the time being

    Ch. 829 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 323 · 1779 · Original text

  38. Supplement to "An act for emitting ... 200,000 pounds in bills of credit for the defense of this state and ... a tax on all estates real and personal and on all taxables within the same" and "An act for raising ... $620,000 for ... America."

    Ch. 830 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 325 · 1779 · Original text

  39. Ascertain the number of taxable inhabitants within the city of Philadelphia and within each of the counties of this commonwealth

    Ch. 831 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 326 · 1779 · Original text

  40. Supplement to an act entitled "An act for the attainder of divers traitors if they render not themselves by a certain day and for vesting their estates in this commonwealth and for ... satisfying the lawful debts and claims thereupon."

    Ch. 832 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 328 · 1779 · Original text

  41. Suppression of vice and immorality

    Ch. 833 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 333 · 1779 · Original text

  42. Incorporating the Scots Presbyterian church in the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 834 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 338 · 1779 · Original text

  43. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act for settling the accounts of the late committee and council of safety."

    Ch. 835 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 345 · 1779 · Original text

  44. Repealing part of an act entitled "A further supplement to the act entitled 'An act for the further security of the government and for disarming persons who shall not have given attestations of allegiance and fidelity to this state or ... States.' "

    Ch. 836 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 346 · 1779 · Original text

  45. Declaring replevins, attachments, judgments and executions in certain cases to be erroneous and void

    Ch. 837 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 349 · 1779 · Original text

  46. Compel certain persons entrusted with public money by or for the use of this commonwealth to account for the expenditure of the same and to pay such parts thereof as they shall be chargeable with into the state treasury

    Ch. 838 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 350 · 1779 · Original text

  47. Better relief of the poor of the city of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark and the townships of Moyamensing, Passyunk and the Northern Liberties in the county of Philadelphia

    Ch. 839 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 357 · 1779 · Original text

  48. Raise the supplies for the year 1779

    Ch. 840 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 360 · 1779 · Original text

  49. Supplying the army of the United States and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 841 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 373 · 1779 · Original text

  50. Prevent the trespassing upon the uninclosed grounds lying in the townships of Passyunk, Moyamensing, Northern Liberties and Germantown in the county of Philadelphia

    Ch. 842 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 378 · 1779 · Original text

  51. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act to regulate the militia of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania."

    Ch. 843 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 381 · 1779 · Original text

  52. Amend an act of general assembly of this state entitled an act for the regulation of wagons and the supplement and further supplement to the said act

    Ch. 844 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 384 · 1779 · Original text

  53. Regulation of the markets in the city of Philadelphia and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 845 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 387 · 1779 · Original text

  54. Further supplement to an act entitled "An act for regulating and continuing the nightly watch, enlightening the streets, lanes and alleys of the city of Philadelphia and for other purposes therein mentioned" and to a supplement thereto passed in 1776

    Ch. 846 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 390 · 1779 · Original text

  55. Appoint a representation for the city of Philadelphia and the several counties in this commonwealth in proportion to the number of taxable inhabitants in each

    Ch. 847 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 394 · 1779 · Original text

  56. Better ascertaining the boundary line between the counties of Cumberland, Bedford and Northumberland

    Ch. 848 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 396 · 1779 · Original text

  57. Supplement to an act entitled "An act for 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 ... of Philadelphia ..."

    Ch. 849 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 398 · 1779 · Original text

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

    Ch. 850 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 400 · 1779 · Original text

  59. Supplement to the act for raising of county rates and levies

    Ch. 851 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 402 · 1779 · Original text

  60. Further supplement to the test laws of this state

    Ch. 852 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 404 · 1779 · Original text

  61. Supplement to an act entitled "An act for the repeal of so much of the act of assembly entitled an act for the attainder of divers traitors if they render not themselves by a certain day and for vesting their estates in this commonwealth ..."

    Ch. 853 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 407 · 1779 · Original text

  62. Vest the estate of Nathaniel Vernon late of Chester county in his four sons

    Ch. 854 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 409 · 1779 · Original text

  63. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to prevent the exportation of bread and flour not merchantable" and to the act which is an amendment thereof

    Ch. 855 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 411 · 1779 · Original text

  64. Permit the making of whiskey and other spirits form rye, barley or the malt thereof under certain restrictions therein mentioned and to prohibit the distilling any whiskey or other spirits from any other grain, meal, malt or flour

    Ch. 856 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 414 · 1779 · Original text

  65. Establish and confirm the estate of Thomas Beans in several lands and tenements in this state

    Ch. 857 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 417 · 1779 · Original text

  66. Establish and confirm the estate of John Sommers in several lands and tenements in this state

    Ch. 858 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 419 · 1779 · Original text

  67. More effectually preventing engrossing and forestalling, for the encouragement of commerce and the fair trader and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 859 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 421 · 1779 · Original text

  68. Enable the sheriff of the city and county of Philadelphia for the time being to confine prisoners in the old gaol in the said city

    Ch. 860 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 432 · 1779 · Original text

  69. Dissolving the marriage of James Martin with Elizabeth his wife

    Ch. 861 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 433 · 1779 · Original text

  70. Supplement to "An act for the more easy and speedy recovery of small debts."

    Ch. 862 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 435 · 1779 · Original text

  71. Continuing an act entitled "An act for the more easy recovery of legacies."

    Ch. 863 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 436 · 1779 · Original text

  72. Procuring an immediate supply of provisions for the purposes herein mentioned

    Ch. 864 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 437 · 1779 · Original text

  73. Empower the supreme executive council and justices of the supreme court to apprehend suspected persons and to increase the fines to which persons are liable for neglecting to perform their tour of militia duty

    Ch. 865 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 440 · 1779 · Original text

  74. Raising the additional sum of $5,700,000 for the current year 1779

    Ch. 866 · 9 Pa. Stat. at Large 443 · 1779 · 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.