Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
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The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 has been described as the most democratic in America and was authored primarily by George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin. Some highlights include:
- Voting franchise for all tax paying free men.
- A unicameral legislature with members elected to one-year terms.
- A twelve-member Supreme Executive Council to administer the government.
- A President elected by the Assembly and Council together
- A Council of Censors (elected every seven years) to conduct a one year long evaluation of the activities. They could "censure" actions by the government deemed to have violated the constitution.
By 1790, however, it would be replaced by a new constitution.
External links
- Doc Heritage on Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 (http://www.docheritage.state.pa.us/documents/constitution.asp)