all such contracts shall be subject to the approval of the Governor, Auditor General and State Treasurer. SECTION 13. No law shall extend the term of any public officer, No extension of or increase or diminish his salary or emoluments, after his election official terms or inor appointment. crease of compensation. SECTION 14. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the Revenue bills. House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose amendments as in other bills. bills. SECTION 15. The general appropriation bill shall embrace noth- Appropriation ing but appropriations for the ordinary expenses of the executive, legislative and judicial departments of the Commonwealth, interest on the public debt and for public schools; all other appropriations shall be made by separate bills, each embracing but one subject. SECTION 16. No money shall be paid out of the Treasury, except Payments of mo upon appropriations made by law, and on warrant drawn by the eys from the treaproper officer in pursuance thereof. stry. tious. SECTION 17. No appropriation shall be made to any charitable or Appropriations to educational institution not under the absolute control of the Com- charitable fustitumonwealth, other than normal schools established by law for the professional training of teachers for the public schools of the State, except by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each House. poses, etc., tim SECTION 18. No appropriations, except for pensions or gratuities Appropriations for for military services, shall be made for charitable, educational or be- charitable purnevolent purposes, to any person or community, nor to any denomi- ed. national or sectarian institution, corporation or association. SECTION 19. The General Assembly may make appropriations of Appropriations money to institutions wherein the widows of soldiers are supported may be made for or assisted, or the orphans of soldiers are maintained and educated; plans of soldiers. but such appropriation shall be applied exclusively to the support of such widows and orphans. widows and or cipal administra SECTION 20. The General Assembly shall not delegate to any Power over mundspecial commission, private corporation or association, any power tion not to be deleto make, supervise or interfere with any municipal improvement, gated. money, property or effects, whether held in trust or otherwise, or to levy taxes or perform any municipal function whatever. SECTION 21. No act of the General Assembly shall limit the No limitation of amount to be recovered for injuries resulting in death, or for in- damages for cerjuries to persons or property; and, in case of death from such in- tain injuries. juries, the right of action shall survive, and the General Assembly shall prescribe for whose benefit such actions shall be prosecuted. Nor of time for No act shall prescribe any limitations of time within which suits bringing suits. may be brought against corporations for injuries to persons or property, or for other causes different from those fixed by general laws regulating actions against natural persons, and such acts now existing are avoided. SECTION 22. No act of the General Assembly shall authorize the Investment of investment of trust funds by executors, administrators, guardians trust funds. or other trustees, in the bonds or stock of any private corporation, and such acts now existing are avoided saving investments here tofore made. SECTION 23. The power to change the venue in civil and criminal changes of venue. eases shall be vested in the courts, to be exercised in such manner as shall be provided by law. State to be re SECTION 24. No obligation or liability of any railroad or other Noobligation of corporation, held or owned by the Commonwealth, shall ever be ex- corporations to the changed, transferred, remitted, postponed or in any way dimin- leased, etc. ished by the General Assembly, nor shall such liability or obligation be released, except by payment thereof into the State Treasury. SECTION 25. When the General Assembly shall be convened in Limitations of special session, there shall be no legislation upon subjects other than Legisiative power those designated in the proclamation of the Governor calling such session. SECTION 26. Every order, resolution or vote, to which the concurrence of both Houses may be necessary, except on the question of adjournment, shall be presented to the Governor and before it shall at special sessions Concurrent orde s votes to be presen No State Inspectors of merchandise. Changing location of State Capital. Bribery by membrs of General Assembly. take effect be approved by him, or being disapproved, shall be repassed by two-thirds of both Houses according to the rules and limitations prescribed in case of a bill. SECTION 27. No State office shall be continued or created for the inspection or measuring of any merchandise, manufacture or commodity, but any county or municipality may appoint such officers when authorized by law. SECTION 28. No law changing the location of the Capital of the State shall be valid until the same shall have been submitted to the qualified electors of the Commonwealth at a general election and ratified and approved by them. SECTION 29. A member of the General Assembly who shall solicit, demand or receive, or consent to receive, directly or indirectly, for himself or for another, from any company, corporation or person, any money, office, appointment, employment, testimonial, reward, thing of value or enjoyment, or of personal advantage, or promise thereof, for his vote or official influence, or for withholding the same, or with an understanding, expressed or implied, that his vote or official action shall be in any way influenced thereby, or who shall solicit or demand any such money or other advantage, matter or thing aforesaid for another, as the consideration of his vote or official influence, or for withholding the same, or shall give or withhold his vote or influence in consideration of the payment or proinise of such money, advantage, matter or thing to another, shall be held guilty of bribery within the meaning of this Constitution, and shall incur the disabilities provided thereby for said offence, and such additional punishment as is or shall be provided by law. SECTION 30. Any person who shall, directly or indirectly, offer, give or promise, any money, or thing of value, testimonial, priviAssembly and offi- lege, or personal advantage, to any executive or judicial officer, or member of the General Assembly, to influence him in the performance of any of his public or official duties, shall be guilty of bribery and be punished in such manner as shall be provided by law. SECTION 31. The offence of corrupt solicitation of members of the General Assembly or of public officers of the State or of any municipal division thereof, and any occupation or practice of solicitation of such members or officers to influence their official action, shall be defined by law and shall be punished by fine and imprisonment. Bribery of members of General cers. The offence of cor rupt solicitation to be punished by fine and imprisonment. Witnesses to tes tify in cases of tation. SECTION 32. Any person may be compelled to testify in any lawful investigation or judicial proceeding against any person who may bribery and solici- be charged with having committed the offence of bribery or corrupt solicitation, or practices of solicitation, and shall not be permitted to withhold his testimony upon the ground that it may criminate himself or subject him to public infamy; but such testimony shall not afterwards be used against him in any judicial proceeding, except for perjury in giving such testimony, and any person convicted of either of the offences aforesaid shall, as part of the punishment therefor, be disqualified from holding any office or position of honor, trust or profit in this Commonwealth. Punishment. Interested members shall not vote. SECTION 33. A member who has a personal or private interest in any measure or bill proposed or pending before the General Assembly shall disclose the fact to the House of which he is a member, and shall not vote thereon. ARTICLE IV. SECTION 1. The Executive Department of this Commonwealth shall consist of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of Executive officers. the Commonwealth, Attorney General, Auditor General, State Treasurer, Secretary of Internal Affairs and a Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Governor. His election. SECTION 2. The supreme executive power shall be vested in the Governor, who shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed; he shall be chosen on the day of thegeneral election, by the qualified electors of the Commonwealth, at the places where they shall vote for Representatives. The returns of every election for Governor tion. shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of government, di- Returns of eleerected to the President of the Senate, who shall open and publish them in the presence of the members of both Houses of the General Assembly. The person having the highest number of votes shall be Governor, but if two or more be equal and highest in votes, one of them shall be chosen Governor by the joint vote of the members of both Houses. Contested elections shall be determined by a committee, to be selected from both Houses of the Contested elecGeneral Assembly, and formed and regulated in such manner as shall be directed by law. tions. SECTION 3. The Governor shall hold his office during four years Term of the Govfrom the third Tuesday of January next ensuing his election, and ernor. shall not be eligible to the office for the next succeeding term. Governor. SECTION 4. A Lieutenant Governor shall be chosen at the same The Lieutenant time, in the same manner, for the same term, and subject to the same provisions as the Governor; he shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided. SECTION 5. No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor Qualifications of or Lieutenant Governor except a citizen of the United States, who governor and shall have attained the age of thirty years, and have been seven ernor. years next preceding his election an inhabitant of the State, unless he shall have been absent on the public business of the United States or of this State. Lieutenant Gov SECTION 6. No member of Congress or person holding any office Congressmen, &c. under the United States or this State shall exercise the oflice of disqualified. Governor or Lieutenant Governor. SECTION 7. The Governor shall be commander-in-chief of the Governor to command militia. army and navy of the Commonwealth, and of the militia, except when they shall be called into the actual service of the United States. nor to appoint SECTION 8. He shall nominate and, by and with the advice and Power of Goverconsent of two-thirds of all the members of the Senate, appoint a with consent of Secretary of the Commonwealth and an Attorney General during Senate. pleasure, a Superintendent of Public Instruction for four years, and such other officers of the Commonwealth as he is or may be au thorized by the Constitution or by law to appoint; he shall have To fill vacancies. power to fill all vacancies that may happen, in offices to which he may appoint, during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session: he shall have power to fill any vacancy that may happen, during the recess of the Senate, in the office of Auditor General, State Treasurer, Secretary of Internal Affairs or Superintendent of Public Instruction, in a judicial office, or in any other elective office which he is or may be authorized to fill; if the vacancy shall happen during the session of the Senate, the Governor shall nominate to the Senate, before their final adjournment, a proper person to fill said vacancy; but in any such case of vacancy, in an elective office, a person shall be chosen to said office at the next general election, unless the vacancy shall happen within three calendar months immediately preceding such election, in which case the election for said office shall be held at the second succeeding general election. Senate to act on In acting on Executive nominations the Senate shall sit with open nominations with doors, and, in confirming or rejecting the nominations of the Gov-n doors. ernor, the vote shall be taken by yeas and nays, and shall be entered corded. on the journal. Votes to be re SECTION 9. He shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures, to Pardoning power grant reprieves, commutations of sentence and pardons, except in cases of impeachment; but no pardon shall be granted, nor sentence commuted, except upon the recommendation in writing of the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Attorney General and Secretary of Internal Affairs, or any three of them, after full hearing, upon due public notice and in open session, and such recommendation, with the reasons therefor at length, shall be recorded and filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Governor may re SECTION 10. He may require information in writing from the quire information officers of the Executive Department, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices. from Executive officers. Shall give infor mend measures to SECTION 11. He shall, from time to time, give to the General Asmation and recon- sembly information of the state of the Commonwealth, and recomGeneral Assembly. mend to their consideration such measures as he may judge expedient. adjourn the two May convene Gen- SECTION 12. He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the eral Assembly, and General Assembly, and in case of disagreement between the two Houses when they Houses, with respect to the time of adjournment, adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper, not exceeding four months. He shall have power to convene the Senate in extraordinary session by proclamation for the transaction of Executive business. disagree. 1.ieutenant Governor to act as Governor. President pro tempore of the Senate. SECTION 13. In case of the death, conviction on impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation, or other disability of the Governor, the powers, duties and emoluments of the office, for the remainder of the term, or until the disability be removed, shall devolve upon the Lieutenant Governor. SECTION 14. In case of a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor, or when the Lieutenant Governor shall be impeached by the House of Representatives, or shall be unable to exercise the duties of his office, the powers, duties and emoluments thereof for the remainder of the term, or until the disability be removed, shall devolve upon the President pro tempore of the Senate; and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall in like manner become Governor if a vacancy or disability shall occur in the office of Governor; his seat as Senator shall become vacant whenever he shall become Governor, and shall be filled by election as any other vacancy in the Senate. SECTION 15. Every bill which shall have passed both Houses shall be presented to the Governor; if he approve he shall sign it, but if he shall not approve he shall return it with his objections to the House in which it shall have originated, which House shall enter the objections at large upon their journal, and proceed to re-consider it. If, after such re-consideration, two-thirds of all the members elected to that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent with the objections to the other House by which likewise it shall be re-considered, and if approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to that House it shall be a law; but in such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journals of each House, respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the Governor within ten days after it shail have been presented to him, the same shall be a law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the General Assembly, by their adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall be a law, unless he shall file the same, with his objections, in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and give notice thereof by publie proclamation within thirty days after such adjournment. SECTION 16. The Governor shall have power to disapprove of any item or items of any bill, making appropriations of money, embracing distinct items, and the part or parts of the bill approved shall be the law, and the item or items of appropriation disapproved shall be void, unless re-passed according to the rules and limitations prescribed for the passage of other bills over the Executive veto. SECTION 17. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside upon the trial of any contested election of Governor or Lieutenant Governor and shall decide questions regarding the admissibility of evidence, and shall, upon request of the committee, pronounce his opinion upon other questions of law involved in the trial. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall exercise the duties of their respective offices until their successors shall be duly qualified. SECTION 18. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall keep a record of all official acts and proceedings of the Governor, and when required lay the same, with all papers, minutes and vouchers relating thereto, before either branch of the General Assembly, and perform such other duties as may be enjoined upon him by law. SECTION 19. The Secretary of Internal Affairs shall exercise all Secretary of Interthe powers and perform all the duties of the Surveyor General, sub- nal Affairs. ject to such changes as shall be made by law. His department shall embrace a bureau of industrial statistics, and he shall discharge such duties relating to corporations, to the charitable institutions, the agricultural, manufacturing, mining, mineral, timber and other material or business interests of the State as may be prescribed by law. He shall annually, and at such other times as may be required by law, make report to the General Assembly. Public Instruction SECTION 20. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall ex- Superintendent of ercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the Superintendent of Common Schools, subject to such changes as shall be made by law. SECTION 21. The term of the Secretary of Internal Affairs shall Terms of heads of be four years; of the Auditor General three years; and of the State departments. Treasurer two years. These officers shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the State at general elections. No person elected to the office of Auditor General or State Treasurer shall be capable of holding the same office for two consecutive terms. SECTION 22. The present Great Seal of Pennsylvania shall be the Seal of State. seal of the State. All commissions shall be in the name and by commissions to be authority of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and be sealed signed and sealed. with the State seal and signed by the Governor. ARTICLE V. The Judiciary. SECTION 1. The judicial power of this Commonwealth shall be The courts. vested in a Supreme Court, in courts of common pleas, courts of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery, courts of quarter sessions of the peace, orphans' courts, magistrates' courts, and in such other courts as the General Assembly may from time to time establish. judges. Chief SECTION 2. The Supreme Court shall consist of seven judges, who The Supreme shall be elected by the qualified electors of the State at large. They Court. Tenure of shall hold their offices for the term of twenty-one years, if they so Justice. long behave themselves well, but shall not be again eligible. The judge whose commission shall first expire shall be chief justice, and thereafter each judge whose commission shall first expire shall in turn be chief justice. SECTION 3. The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court shall extend Jurisdiction of over the State, and the judges thereof shall, by virtue of their offi- Supreme Court. ces, be justices of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery in the several counties; they shall have original jurisdiction in cases of injunction where a corporation is a party defendant, of habeas corpus, of mandamus to courts of inferior jurisdiction, and of quo warranto as to all officers of the Commonwealth whose jurisdiction extends over the State, but shall not exercise any other original jurisdiction; they shall have appellate jurisdiction by appeal, certiorari or writ of error in all cases, as is now or may hereafter be provided by law. SECTION 4. Until otherwise directed by law, the courts of com- Courts of common mon pleas shall continue as at present established, except as herein pleistricts changed; not more than four counties shall, at any time, be in- more than four cluded in one judicial district organized for said courts. not to contain counties. SECTION 5. Whenever a county shall contain forty thousand in- Judicial districts. habitants it shall constitute a separate judicial district, and shall elect one judge learned in the law; and the General Assembly shall provide for additional judges, as the business of the said districts may require. Counties containing a population less than is suflicient to constitute separate districts shall be formed into convenient single districts, or, if necessary, may be attached to contiguous dis tricts as the General Assembly may provide. The office of asso- Office of associate ciate judge, not learned in the law, is abolished in counties forming judge abolished. separate districts; but the several associate judges in office when this Constitution shall be adopted shall serve for their unexpired terms. |