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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

615 laws of the 1790s

Constitution of 1790

  1. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to provide for the salaries of the officers of the land office," enacted December 8, 1789

    Ch. 1480 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 441 · 1790 · Original text

  2. Founding and endowing a public school in the town and county of Huntingdon

    Ch. 1481 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 442 · 1790 · Original text

  3. Regulate the exportation of potash and pearlash

    Ch. 1482 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 447 · 1790 · Original text

  4. Repeal part of the additional supplement to the acts for the regulation of the militia of this commonwealth

    Ch. 1483 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 451 · 1790 · Original text

  5. Divide the county of Fayette into election districts

    Ch. 1484 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 451 · 1790 · Original text

  6. Compensate William Lyon, Esquire

    Ch. 1485 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 452 · 1790 · Original text

  7. Reimburse Gabriel Cox, George Valendigham and Andrew Sweringen for moneys advanced by them in the defense of the frontiers of Washington county

    Ch. 1486 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 453 · 1790 · Original text

  8. Directing payment of the accounts of sundry deputy surveyors of the depreciation lands

    Ch. 1487 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 454 · 1790 · Original text

  9. Relating to the securities given by sheriffs and coroners

    Ch. 1488 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 455 · 1790 · Original text

  10. Suspend for a limited time so much of the act of assembly to regulate the fishery in the rivers Codorus and Conewago in York county as relates to the erecting of platforms to the dams therein mentioned

    Ch. 1489 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 457 · 1790 · Original text

  11. Settling the accounts of James Rowan, late collector of taxes in the county of Philadelphia, and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1490 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 458 · 1790 · Original text

  12. Alter the place of holding elections in the second district of Washington county

    Ch. 1491 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 461 · 1790 · Original text

  13. Declaring the assent of this state to certain amendments to the constitution of the United States

    Ch. 1492 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 462 · 1790 · Original text

  14. Provide for the more effectual relief of the widows and children of the officers and privates of the militia who have lost their lives in the service of their country

    Ch. 1493 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 464 · 1790 · Original text

  15. Additional supplement to the several acts of assembly respecting auctions and auctioneers

    Ch. 1494 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 467 · 1790 · Original text

  16. Provide for the safety of the records of the several counties in this commonwealth and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1495 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 468 · 1790 · Original text

  17. Further supplement to the act of assembly entitled "An act for the relief of insolvent debtors within the province of Pennsylvania."

    Ch. 1496 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 470 · 1790 · Original text

  18. Authorize and direct the supreme executive council to appoint commissioners to audit and settle the accounts between Bedford and Huntingdon counties and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1497 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 473 · 1790 · Original text

  19. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for erecting the southwest part of the county of Cumberland into a new county (named Franklin)."

    Ch. 1498 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 475 · 1790 · Original text

  20. Relief of John Lytle, John Webb and William Murray

    Ch. 1499 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 476 · 1790 · Original text

  21. Compensating Laughlin McCartney and others therein mentioned for supplies by them furnished the civil officers of Northumberland county in the year 1775

    Ch. 1500 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 476 · 1790 · Original text

  22. Favor of Reading Howell and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1501 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 477 · 1790 · Original text

  23. Further enlarging the time limited by "An act for facilitating the redemption of the bills of credit emitted in the year 1781 and for redeeming part of the funded debt of this state, for expending the ... occupied."

    Ch. 1502 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 479 · 1790 · Original text

  24. Authorize the sale of the barracks in the borough of Lancaster and the lot or lots on which they are erected and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1503 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 481 · 1790 · Original text

  25. Reduce the tax upon writs issued out of the county court of common pleas of Philadelphia county during the time therein mentioned

    Ch. 1504 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 483 · 1790 · Original text

  26. Repeal an act entitled "An act for ascertaining and confirming to certain persons called Connecticut claimants the land by them within the county of Luzerne and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Ch. 1505 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 484 · 1790 · Original text

  27. Enforce the due collection of the revenues of the state and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1506 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 486 · 1790 · Original text

  28. Make provision for repairs at Mud Island

    Ch. 1507 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 494 · 1790 · Original text

  29. Appointing two additional trustees for the county of Huntingdon

    Ch. 1508 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 495 · 1790 · Original text

  30. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act to incorporate the city of Philadelphia."

    Ch. 1509 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 496 · 1790 · Original text

  31. Altering a certain clause in the charter of the Corporation for the relief of the widows and children of clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America

    Ch. 1510 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 499 · 1790 · Original text

  32. Incorporate the carpenters' company of Philadelphia

    Ch. 1511 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 501 · 1790 · Original text

  33. Supplement to the several acts of assembly of this state relative to the inspection of staves, heading and lumber

    Ch. 1512 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 505 · 1790 · Original text

  34. Supplement to an act entitled "An act to establish a board of appeal within the several counties of this state and to grant exonerations in cases of militia fines."

    Ch. 1513 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 507 · 1790 · Original text

  35. Suspend for a limited time the operation of an act entitled "An act for the inspection of shingles" and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1514 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 508 · 1790 · Original text

  36. Appointing an additional trustee for the county of Mifflin

    Ch. 1515 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 509 · 1790 · Original text

  37. Reform the penal laws of the state

    Ch. 1516 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 511 · 1790 · Original text

  38. Payment of the claim of Turnbull, Marmie and Company

    Ch. 1517 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 528 · 1790 · Original text

  39. In favor of Robert Thorn

    Ch. 1518 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 529 · 1790 · Original text

  40. Relating to the sale of lands therein mentioned

    Ch. 1519 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 530 · 1790 · Original text

  41. Raising by way of lottery the sum of 800 pounds for redeeming the house of public worship belonging to the Hebrew congregation of the city of Philadelphia from the mortgage and encumbrance thereon

    Ch. 1520 · 13 Pa. Stat. at Large 532 · 1790 · Original text

  42. Declare and establish the seals of this commonwealth

    Ch. 1521 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 5 · 1791 · Original text

  43. Instituting a board of property and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1522 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 6 · 1791 · Original text

  44. Transferring certain powers exercised by the late president and supreme executive council to the governor of this commonwealth

    Ch. 1523 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 7 · 1791 · Original text

  45. Empower the governor to grant a patent to Big-Tree, a Seneca chief, for a certain island in the Allegheny river

    Ch. 1524 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 8 · 1791 · Original text

  46. Granting $800 to Corn-Planter Half-Town and Big-Tree, Seneca chiefs, in trust for the Seneca nation and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1525 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 9 · 1791 · Original text

  47. Authorize the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives to draw warrants on the state treasurer for the purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1526 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 11 · 1791 · Original text

  48. Providing payment to Doctor Francis Alison and others for supplies furnished in the year 1775

    Ch. 1527 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 12 · 1791 · Original text

  49. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to declare and regulate escheats."

    Ch. 1528 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 13 · 1791 · Original text

  50. Further supplement to the several acts of the General Assembly respecting auctions and auctioneers

    Ch. 1529 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 14 · 1791 · Original text

  51. Erecting the townships of Hamilton and Lower Smithfield in the county of Northampton into a separate election district and the townships of Upper Smithfield and Delaware in the said county into a separate election district

    Ch. 1530 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 15 · 1791 · Original text

  52. Enable the governor to appoint notaries public and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1531 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 16 · 1791 · Original text

  53. Enjoin certain duties on the secretary of the commonwealth and for other purposes

    Ch. 1532 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 18 · 1791 · Original text

  54. Provide for the election of representatives of the people of this state in the congress of the United States

    Ch. 1533 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 20 · 1791 · Original text

  55. Supplement to an act entitled "An act to enable the owners and possessors of meadow land situate in the precinct of Richmond in the township of the Northern Liberties to keep the banks, dams, sluices and floodgates in repair."

    Ch. 1534 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 23 · 1791 · Original text

  56. Provide for the temporary defence of the frontiers of this commonwealth

    Ch. 1535 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 24 · 1791 · Original text

  57. Compensate Robert King

    Ch. 1536 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 25 · 1791 · Original text

  58. Supplement to an act for providing payment to Doctor Francis Alison and others for supplies furnished in the year 1775

    Ch. 1537 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 26 · 1791 · Original text

  59. Suspend for a limited time the powers of the commissioners of the several counties within this commonwealth to make sale of unseated lands for non-payment of taxes

    Ch. 1538 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 27 · 1791 · Original text

  60. Establish a ferry over Swatara Creek near the town of Williamsburg in the county of Dauphin and for vesting the right in Christian Seltzer, his heirs and assigns

    Ch. 1539 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 28 · 1791 · Original text

  61. Enable the directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia to convey and assure the lot of ground therein mentioned

    Ch. 1540 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 29 · 1791 · Original text

  62. Establishing a nightly watch, providing lamps and supporting pumps for public use, at a common charge within a certain part of the township of the Northern Liberties of the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 1541 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 31 · 1791 · Original text

  63. Authorizing and directing the state treasurer to subscribe in the name of the commonwealth to the loan proposed by the United States and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1542 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 39 · 1791 · Original text

  64. Provide a more effectual method of settling the public accounts of the commissioners and treasurers of the respective counties

    Ch. 1543 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 41 · 1791 · Original text

  65. For the better ascertaining of the boundary line between the counties of Huntingdon and Mifflin

    Ch. 1544 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 46 · 1791 · Original text

  66. Suspend, for a limited time therein mentioned, part of "An act for furnishing the quota of this state towards paying the annual interest of the debts of the United States and for funding and paying the interest of the public debts of this state."

    Ch. 1545 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 47 · 1791 · Original text

  67. Repealing so much of "An act for raising and collecting money on the specified articles therein mentioned, for the support of government and for other purposes therein mentioned" as imposes a tax upon writs issuing out of Philadelphia county

    Ch. 1546 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 49 · 1791 · Original text

  68. Confer on certain associations of the citizens of this commonwealth the powers and immunities of corporations or bodies politic in law

    Ch. 1547 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 50 · 1791 · Original text

  69. Relief of Blackall William Ball

    Ch. 1548 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 53 · 1791 · Original text

  70. Erecting the remainder of Shauchan's and part of Bentley's district in Washington county into a separate election district

    Ch. 1549 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 55 · 1791 · Original text

  71. Enable Eleazer Oswald, guardian duly appointed to Jane Jones, Blaithwaite Jones, Mary Jones and Gibbs Jones, minors under the age of twenty-one years, to sell and convey the property therein mentioned for the benefit of the said minors

    Ch. 1550 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 56 · 1791 · Original text

  72. Vest in trustees for the use of the society of people called Quakers certain lots of ground therein mentioned

    Ch. 1551 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 57 · 1791 · Original text

  73. Relief of Abraham Lukens

    Ch. 1552 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 60 · 1791 · Original text

  74. Relief of James Officer

    Ch. 1553 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 61 · 1791 · Original text

  75. Authorizing the governor to negotiate a loan for the use of this commonwealth and appropriating certain funds and revenues for the support of government and the payment of the public debts

    Ch. 1554 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 62 · 1791 · Original text

  76. Supplement to "An act for the better support of the public credit, by an immediate sale of the lands therein mentioned and fully securing the purchasers thereof in their titles and also for preserving ... from unwarrantable encroachments."

    Ch. 1555 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 67 · 1791 · Original text

  77. Provide payment of certain incidental expenses of the late General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and of the late convention of the same

    Ch. 1556 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 69 · 1791 · Original text

  78. Grant 5,000 acres of land to the Society of the United Brethren for propagating the gospel among the heathen

    Ch. 1557 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 71 · 1791 · Original text

  79. Separate the township of Moyamensing in the county of Philadelphia from the city of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark and the township of the Northern Liberties in the said county for the support and maintenance of their poor in common

    Ch. 1558 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 73 · 1791 · Original text

  80. Supplement to the act entitled "An act authorizing the governor to negotiate a loan for the use of this commonwealth and appropriating certain funds and revenues for the support of the government and the payment of the public debts."

    Ch. 1559 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 75 · 1791 · Original text

  81. Granting relief to certain creditors of the state for repealing part of "An act for furnishing the quota of this state toward paying the annual interest of the debts of the United States and for funding and paying the interest of the public debts ..."

    Ch. 1560 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 76 · 1791 · Original text

  82. Erecting the townships of Union and Wayne in the county of Mifflin into separate election districts and for altering the place for holding the fifth election district in the county of Northumberland

    Ch. 1561 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 79 · 1791 · Original text

  83. Making provision for the discharge of the legislative grants of the late proprietaries of Pennsylvania

    Ch. 1562 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 81 · 1791 · Original text

  84. Supply the deficiencies in certain appropriations heretofore made and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1563 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 85 · 1791 · Original text

  85. Transfer certain powers formerly exercised by the supreme executive council and also by the president or vice-president thereof to the governor of this commonwealth

    Ch. 1564 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 88 · 1791 · Original text

  86. Relief of Philip Peter

    Ch. 1565 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 88 · 1791 · Original text

  87. Relief of Robert Cunningham, a prisoner in the gaol of the county of Philadelphia

    Ch. 1566 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 89 · 1791 · Original text

  88. Authorize the governor to complete the purchase of a certain tract of land lying between Lake Erie and the northern boundary of this commonwealth

    Ch. 1567 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 90 · 1791 · Original text

  89. Empower and direct the treasurer of this commonwealth to deposit the certificates of the United States, which are the property of Pennsylvania, in the Bank of North America and to empower the president and directors of the bank to receive the interest

    Ch. 1568 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 91 · 1791 · Original text

  90. Provide for the opening and improving sundry navigable waters and roads within this commonwealth

    Ch. 1569 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 92 · 1791 · Original text

  91. Erect the town of Harrisburg in the county of Dauphin into a borough

    Ch. 1570 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 98 · 1791 · Original text

  92. Appoint a commissioner to superintend the settlement of the accounts of this state with the United States

    Ch. 1571 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 102 · 1791 · Original text

  93. Reduce the expenses of the board of wardens of the port of Philadelphia and to provide for the payment of a debt contracted by them

    Ch. 1572 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 103 · 1791 · Original text

  94. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for securing the city of Philadelphia and the neighborhood thereof from damage by gun-powder."

    Ch. 1573 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 105 · 1791 · Original text

  95. Provide for the support of the government of this commonwealth

    Ch. 1574 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 106 · 1791 · Original text

  96. Establish the judicial courts of this commonwealth in conformity to the alterations and amendments in the constitution

    Ch. 1575 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 110 · 1791 · Original text

  97. Giving further time to patent lands claimed under location or warrant and for extending the right of pre-emption to actual settlers

    Ch. 1576 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 121 · 1791 · Original text

  98. Supplement to an act entitled "An act for erecting certain parts of the counties of Westmoreland and Washington into a separate county (named Allegheny)."

    Ch. 1577 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 122 · 1791 · Original text

  99. Affording relief to Dickinson College

    Ch. 1578 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 123 · 1791 · Original text

  100. Compensating John Vannost for his services in drafting a fee bill

    Ch. 1579 · 14 Pa. Stat. at Large 124 · 1791 · 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.