PennsylvaniaCharterofPrivileges

28October1701
WILLIAMPENN,ProprietaryandGovernoroftheProvinceofPennsylvaniaand
Territoriesthereuntobelonging,ToalltowhomthesePresentsshallcome,sends
Greeting.WHEREASKingCHARLEStheSecond,byHisLettersPatents,underthe
GreatSealofEngland,bearingDatetheFourthDayofMarch,intheYearOne
ThousandSixHundredandEightyone,wasgraciouslypleasedtogiveandgrantunto
me,andmyHeirsandAssignsforever,thisProvinceofPennsylvania,withdiversgreat
PowersandJurisdictionsforthewellGovernmentthereof.
ANDWHEREAStheKingsdearestBrother,JAMESDukeofYORKandALBANY,etc.
byhisDeedsofFeoffment,underhisHandandSealdulyperfected,bearingDatethe
TwentyFourthDayofAugust,OneThousandSixHundredEightyandTwo,didgrant
untome,myHeirsandAssigns,allthatTractofLand,nowcalledtheTerritoriesof
Pennsylvania,togetherwithPowersandJurisdictionsforthegoodGovernmentthereof.
ANDWHEREASfortheEncouragementofalltheFreemenandPlanters,thatmightbe
concernedinthesaidProvinceandTerritories,andforthegoodGovernmentthereof,I
thesaidWILLIAMPENN,intheYearOneThousandSixHundredEightyandThree,for
me,myHeirsandAssigns,didgrantandconfirmuntoalltheFreemen,Plantersand
Adventurerstherein,diversLiberties,FranchisesandProperties,asbythesaidGrant,
entitled,TheFRAMEoftheGovernmentoftheProvinceofPennsylvania,and
Territoriesthereuntobelonging,inAmerica,mayappear;whichCharterorFramebeing
foundinsomePartsofit,notsosuitabletothepresentcircumstancesofthe
Inhabitants,wasintheThirdMonth,intheYearOneThousandSevenHundred,
delivereduptome,bySixPartsofSevenoftheFreemenofthisProvinceand
Territories,inGeneralAssemblymet,ProvisionbeingmadeinthesaidCharter,forthat
EndandPurpose.
ANDWHEREASIwasthenpleasedtopromise,ThatIwouldrestorethesaidCharterto
themagain,withnecessaryAlterations,orinlieuthereof,givethemanother,better
adaptedtoanswerthepresentCircumstancesandConditionsofthesaidInhabitants;
whichtheyhavenow,bytheirRepresentativesinGeneralAssemblymetat
Philadelphia,requestedmetogrant.
KNOWYETHEREFORE,ThatforthefurtherWellbeingandgoodGovernmentofthe
saidProvince,andTerritories;andinPursuanceoftheRightsandPowersbefore
mentioned,IthesaidWilliamPenndodeclare,grantandconfirm,untoalltheFreemen,
PlantersandAdventurers,andotherInhabitantsofthisProvinceandTerritories,these

followingLiberties,FranchisesandPrivileges,sofarasinmelies,tobeheld,enjoyed
andkept,bytheFreemen,PlantersandAdventurers,andotherInhabitantsofandinthe
saidProvinceandTerritoriesthereuntoannexed,forever.
FIRST
BECAUSEnoPeoplecanbetrulyhappy,thoughunderthegreatestEnjoymentofCivil
Liberties,ifabridgedoftheFreedomoftheirConsciences,astotheirReligious
ProfessionandWorship:AndAlmightyGodbeingtheonlyLordofConscience,Father
ofLightsandSpirits;andtheAuthoraswellasObjectofalldivineKnowledge,Faithand
Worship,whoonlydothenlightentheMinds,andpersuadeandconvincethe
UnderstandingsofPeople,Idoherebygrantanddeclare,ThatnoPersonorPersons,
inhabitinginthisProvinceorTerritories,whoshallconfessandacknowledgeOne
almightyGod,theCreator,UpholderandRuleroftheWorld;andprofesshimor
themselvesobligedtolivequietlyundertheCivilGovernment,shallbeinanyCase
molestedorprejudiced,inhisortheirPersonorEstate,becauseofhisortheir
conscientiousPersuasionorPractice,norbecompelledtofrequentormaintainany
religiousWorship,PlaceorMinistry,contrarytohisortheirMind,ortodoorsufferany
otherActorThing,contrarytotheirreligiousPersuasion.
ANDthatallPersonswhoalsoprofesstobelieveinJesusChrist,theSaviorofthe
World,shallbecapable(notwithstandingtheirotherPersuasionsandPracticesinPoint
ofConscienceandReligion)toservethisGovernmentinanyCapacity,bothlegislatively
andexecutively,heortheysolemnlypromising,whenlawfullyrequired,Allegianceto
theKingasSovereign,andFidelitytotheProprietaryandGovernor,andtakingthe
AttestsasnowestablishedbytheLawmadeatNewCastle,intheYearOneThousand
andSevenHundred,entitled,anActdirectingtheAttestsofseveralOfficersand
Ministers,asnowamendedandconfirmedthispresentAssembly.
FORthewellgoverningofthisProvinceandTerritories,thereshallbeanAssembly
yearlychosen,bytheFreementhereof,toconsistofFourPersonsoutofeachCounty,
ofmostNoteforVirtue,WisdomandAbility,(orofagreaternumberatanyTime.asthe
GovernorandAssemblyshallagree)upontheFirstDayofOctoberforever;andshall
sitontheFourteenthDayofthesameMonth,atPhiladelphia,unlesstheGovernorand
CouncilfortheTimebeing,shallseeCausetoappointanotherPlacewithinthesaid
ProvinceorTerritories:WhichAssemblyshallhavePowertochooseaSpeakerand
othertheirOfficers;andshallbeJudgesoftheQualificationsandElectionsoftheirown
Members;situpontheirownAdjournment;appointCommittees;prepareBillsinorderto
passintoLaws;impeachCriminals,andredressGrievances;andshallhaveallother
PowersandPrivilegesofanAssembly,accordingtotheRightsofthefreeborn
SubjectsofEngland,andasisusualinanyoftheKingsPlantationsinAmerica.

ANDifanyCountyorCounties,shallrefuseorneglecttochoosetheirrespective
Representativesasaforesaid,orifchosen,donotmeettoserveinAssembly,those
whoaresochosenandmet,shallhavethefullPowerofanAssembly,inasample
MannerasifalltheRepresentativeshadbeenchosenandmet,providedtheyarenot
lessthanTwoThirdsofthewholeNumberthatoughttomeet.
ANDthattheQualificationsofElectorsandElected,andallotherMattersandThings
relatingtoElectionsofRepresentativestoserveinAssemblies,thoughnotherein
particularlyexpressed,shallbeandremainasbyaLawofthisGovernment,madeat
NewCastleintheYearOnethousandSevenHundred,entitled,AnActtoascertainthe
NumberofMembersofAssembly,andtoregulatetheElections.
III
THATtheFreemenineachrespectiveCounty,attheTimeandPlaceofMeetingfor
ElectingtheirRepresentativestoserveinAssembly,mayasoftenasthereshallbe
Occasion,chooseadoubleNumberofPersonstopresenttotheGovernorforSheriffs
andCoronerstoserveforThreeYears,ifsolongtheybehavethemselveswell;outof
whichrespectiveElectionsandPresentments,theGovernorshallnominateand
commissiononeforeachofthesaidOffices,theThirdDayaftersuchPresentment,or
elsetheFirstnamedinsuchPresentment,foreachOfficeasaforesaid,shallstandand
serveinthatOfficefortheTimebeforerespectivelylimited;andinCaseofDeathor
Default,suchVacanciesshallbesuppliedbytheGovernor,toservetotheEndofthe
saidTerm.
PROVIDEDALWAYS,ThatifthesaidFreemenshallatanyTimeneglectordeclineto
chooseaPersonorPersonsforeitherorboththeaforesaidOffices,thenandinsuch
Case,thePersonsthatareorshallbeintherespectiveOfficesofSheriffsorCoroners,
attheTimeofElection,shallremaintherein,untiltheyshallberemovedbyanother
Electionasaforesaid.
ANDthattheJusticesoftherespectiveCountiesshallormaynominateandpresentto
theGovernorThreePersons,toserveforClerkofthePeaceforthesaidCounty,when
thereisaVacancy,oneofwhichtheGovernorshallcommissionwithinTenDaysafter
suchPresentment,orelsetheFirstnominatedshallserveinthesaidOfficeduringgood
Behavior.
IV
THATtheLawsofthisGovernmentshallbeinthisStile,viz.BytheGovernor,withthe
ConsentandApprobationoftheFreemeninGeneralAssemblymet;andshallbe,after
ConfirmationbytheGovernor,forthwithrecordedintheRollsOffice,andkeptat
Philadelphia,unlesstheGovernorandAssemblyshallagreetoappointanotherPlace.

V
THATallCriminalsshallhavethesamePrivilegesofWitnessesandCouncilastheir
Prosecutors.
VI
THATnoPersonorPersonsshallormay,atanyTimehereafter,beobligedtoanswer
anyComplaint,MatterorThingwhatsoever,relatingtoProperty,beforetheGovernor
andCouncil,orinanyotherPlace,butinordinaryCourseofJustice,unlessAppeals
thereuntoshallbehereafterbyLawappointed.
VII
THATnoPersonwithinthisGovernment,shallbelicensedbytheGovernortokeepan
OrdinaryTavernorHouseofPublicEntertainment,butsuchwhoarefirstrecommended
tohim,undertheHandsoftheJusticesoftherespectiveCounties,signedinopen
Court;whichJusticesareandshallbeherebyempowered,tosuppressandforbidany
Person,keepingsuchPublicHouseasaforesaid,upontheirMisbehavior,onsuch
PenaltiesastheLawdothorshalldirect;andtorecommendothersfromtimetotime,as
theyshallseeOccasion.
VIII
IFanyperson,throughTemptationorMelancholy,shalldestroyhimself;hisEstate,real
andpersonal,shallnotwithstandingdescendtohisWifeandChildren,orRelations,asif
hehaddiedanaturalDeath;andifanyPersonshallbedestroyedorkilledbyCasualty
orAccident,thereshallbenoForfeituretotheGovernorbyreasonthereof.
ANDnoAct,LaworOrdinancewhatsoever,shallatanyTimehereafter,bemadeor
done,toalter,changeordiminishtheFormorEffectofthisCharter,orofanyPartor
Clausetherein,contrarytothetrueIntentandMeaningthereof,withouttheConsentof
theGovernorfortheTimebeing,andSixPartsofSevenoftheAssemblymet.
BUTbecausetheHappinessofMankinddependssomuchupontheEnjoyingofLiberty
oftheirConsciencesasaforesaid,Idoherebysolemnlydeclare,promiseandgrant,for
me,myHeirsandAssigns,ThattheFirstArticleofthisCharterrelatingtoLibertyof
Conscience,andeveryPartandClausetherein,accordingtothetrueIntentand
Meaningthereof,shallbekeptandremain,withoutanyAlteration,inviolablyforever.
ANDLASTLY,IthesaidWilliamPenn,ProprietaryandGovernoroftheProvinceof
Pennsylvania,andTerritoriesthereuntobelonging,formyself,myHeirsandAssigns,
havesolemnlydeclared,grantedandconfirmed,anddoherebysolemnlydeclare,grant
andconfirm,ThatneitherI,myHeirsorAssigns,shallprocureordoanyThingor

ThingswherebytheLibertiesinthisChartercontainedandexpressed,noranyPart
thereof,shallbeinfringedorbroken:Andifanythingshallbeprocuredordone,byany
PersonorPersons,contrarytothesePresents,itshallbeheldofnoForceorEffect.
INWITNESSwhereof,IthesaidWilliamPenn,atPhiladelphiainPennsylvania,have
untothispresentCharterofLiberties,setmyHandandbroadSeal,thisTwentyEighth
DayofOctober,intheYearofOurLordOneThousandSevenHundredandOne,being
theThirteenthYearoftheReignofKingWILLIAMtheThird,overEngland,Scotland,
FranceandIreland,etc.andtheTwentyFirstYearofmyGovernment.
ANDNOTWITHSTANDINGtheClosureandTestofthispresentCharterasaforesaid,I
thinkfittoaddthisfollowingProvisothereunto,asPartofthesame,Thatistosay,That
notwithstandinganyClauseorClausesintheabovementionedCharter,obligingthe
ProvinceandTerritoriestojointogetherinLegislation,Iamcontent,anddohereby
declare,thatiftheRepresentativesoftheProvinceandTerritoriesshallnothereafter
agreetojointogetherinLegislation,andthatthesameshallbesignifieduntome,ormy
Deputy,inopenAssembly,orotherwisefromundertheHandsandSealsofthe
Representatives,fortheTimebeing,oftheProvinceandTerritories,orthemajorPartof
eitherofthem,atanyTimewithinThreeYearsfromtheDatehereof,thatinsuchCase,
theInhabitantsofeachoftheThreeCountiesofthisProvince,shallnothavelessthan
EightPersonstorepresenttheminAssembly,fortheProvince;andtheInhabitantsof
theTownofPhiladelphia(whenthesaidTownisincorporated)TwoPersonsto
representtheminAssembly;andtheInhabitantsofeachCountyintheTerritories,shall
haveasmanyPersonstorepresenttheminadistinctAssemblyfortheTerritories,as
shallbebythemrequestedasaforesaid.
NOTWITHSTANDINGwhichSeparationoftheProvinceandTerritories,inRespectof
Legislation,Idoherebypromise,grantanddeclare,ThattheInhabitantsofboth
ProvinceandTerritories,shallseparatelyenjoyallotherLiberties,Privilegesand
Benefits,grantedjointlytotheminthisCharter,anyLaw,UsageorCustomofthis
Governmentheretoforemadeandpracticed,oranyLawmadeandpassedbythis
GeneralAssembly,totheContraryhereof,notwithstanding.
WILLIAMPENN.
THISCHARTEROFPRIVILEGESbeingdistinctlyreadinAssembly;andthewholeand
everyPartthereof,beingapprovedofandagreedto,byus,wedothankfullyreceivethe
samefromourProprietaryandGovernor,atPhiladelphia,thisTwentyEighthDayof
October,OneThousandSevenHundredandOne.SignedonBehalf,andbyOrderof
theAssembly,