Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
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.
