About This Collection
Four constitutional conventions have been held since the first convention wrote the Constitution of 1776. These succeeding conventions, convened in 1789, 1837, 1872 and 1967, were held in response to demands for sweeping changes to the existing constitution. Procedures for the convening of constitutional conventions have varied since they were established by the legislatures which issued the convention call. The 1776 and 1789 conventions were held without any prior approval by the general electorate. The 1776 Provincial Convention was held as a result of a calling by a conference of extra-legal Committees of Correspondence. The Constitution which it produced provided for an elected body known as the Council of Censors to serve as a check on the executive and legislative branches. The Council was to be elected every seven years, and was to convene for a period of one year. The Council was given the authority to censure public officials, order impeachments, recommend the repeal of legislation, and if necessary, call for a convention to amend the Constitution. This machinery for constitutional revision was ignored in 1789 when the General Assembly called for a constitutional convention. All provisions for the Council of Censors were omitted from the Constitution of 1790. The collection contains records beginning May 23, 1837 and ending February 22, 1838 similar in content to the Committee Minute Books (RG/005/C/4). It includes various notes, resolutions, drafts, receipts, expenditure lists, and other documents from various members of the committee during the convention. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research.