Pennsylvania Constitution - Article I - Freedom of Press and Speech; Libels

Section 7

The printing press shall be free to every person who may undertake to examine the proceedings of the Legislature or any branch of government, and no law shall ever by made to restrain the right thereof. The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man, and every citizen may freely speak, write and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. No conviction shall be had in any prosecution for the publication of papers relating to the official conduct of officers or men in public capacity, or to any other matter proper for public investigation or information, where the fact that such publication was not maliciously or negligently made shall be established to the satisfaction of the jury; and in all indictments for libels the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other cases.



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412.227.0290

412.401.1764

Pennsylvania Constitution - Article I - Jury Trial

Section 6

Trial by jury shall be as heretofore, and the right thereof remain inviolate. The General assembly may provide, however, by law, that a verdict may be rendered by not less than five-sixths of the jury in any civil case. Furthermore, in criminal cases, the Commonwealth shall have the same right to trial by jury as does the accused.



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412.227.0290

412.401.1764

Pennsylvania Constitution - Article I - Elections

Section 5

Elections shall be free and equal; and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage.



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412.227.0290

412.401.1764

Pennsylvania Constitution - Article I - Religion

Section 4

No person who acknowledges the being of a God and a future state of rewards and punishments shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be disqualified to hold any office or place of trust or profit under this Commonwealth.



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412.227.0290

412.401.1764

Religious Freedom - Pennsylvania Constitution - Article I

Section 3

All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; no man can of right be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship or to maintain any ministry against his consent; no human authority can, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience, and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious establishments or modes of worship.


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412.227.0290

412.401.1764

Political Powers - Article I

Section 2.
All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness. For the advancement of these ends they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think proper.



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412.227.0290

412.401.1764

Inherent Rights of Mankind

Section 1.

All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness.



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412.227.0290

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Pennsylvania Constitution

WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.



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Mentally Incompetent Inmate

Commonwealth v Sam, 952 A.2d 565 (Pa. 2008)­the Court, per Castille, C.J., holds that Art. I, section 8 of the Pennsylvania Constitution does not provide a greater right for a mentally incompetent inmate to refuse antipsychotic medication for the purpose of rendering the inmate competent to participate in post-sentencing proceedings than did the parallel federal right determined by the United States Supreme Court in Sell v. United States, 539 U.S. 166 (2003). Baer, J., joined by Todd, J., dissented.



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412.227.0290

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