Pennsylvania Constitution of 1777: Democracy and Legislative Power
This paper analyzes the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1777, one of the most democratic governing documents of the early American republic. It examines the Constitution's Preamble, its declaration of citizen rights, and its structural emphasis on legislative supremacy through a unicameral assembly. The paper also explores the Constitution's treatment of religious freedom, noting the tension between its egalitarian language and its preference for believers in God in civil life. Finally, it considers how the document reflects the democratic ideals of its era while concentrating governmental power in the legislature as the most direct expression of the people's will.
- Introduction and the Preamble: Overview of the Constitution's democratic purpose and tone
- Declaration of Rights and Religious Clauses: Citizen rights, equality, and religious qualifications
- Legislative Supremacy and Government Structure: Unicameral legislature and its dominant governmental role
- Executive Power and Legislative Influence: Assembly control over executive elections and appointments
- Conclusion: Democracy and the Legacy of the 1777 Constitution: Synthesis of democratic ideals and legislative emphasis
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper moves logically through the Constitution section by section, allowing the document's own structure to organize the analysis.
- It identifies a genuine internal tension — the Constitution's egalitarian language versus its religious qualifications for civil rights — and treats it critically rather than ignoring it.
- It consistently links specific textual evidence (direct quotations from the Constitution) to broader analytical claims about democratic governance and legislative power.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates close reading of a primary source document. By quoting specific clauses and then interpreting their implications — for example, noting that requiring an oath to "one God" undercuts the claim that "all men are born equally free" — the author shows how textual analysis can reveal contradictions within historical documents.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief thesis framing the Constitution as democratic but controversial. It then moves sequentially through the document's major sections: the Preamble, the Declaration of Rights, the legislative framework, and executive election procedures. A concluding paragraph synthesizes these observations into an overall assessment, ending with a note on Benjamin Franklin's role as signatory.
Introduction and the Preamble
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1777 was highly democratic, but also controversial. It was instituted in opposition to the existing government and maintained important aspects of freedom and democracy.
The Constitution opens with a Preamble whose main points illustrate the need and purpose of the document. The Preamble notes "the despotic domination of the British parliament, with many other acts of tyranny," underscoring the urgency behind the Constitution's creation. It makes strong statements and thus sets the tone for a document that will not back down from any threats. More important, however, is the point that the Constitution should function "by the same authority of the people," which signals that it will be democratic in nature.
Declaration of Rights and Religious Clauses
The following section declares the rights of citizens in Pennsylvania. It effectively establishes that "all men are born equally free and independent." Particularly emphasized within this section is the freedom of religion in Article II. Surprising, however, is the stipulation that "nor can any man, who acknowledges the being of a God, be justly deprived or abridged of any civil right as a citizen." This language appears to grant special consideration to those who believe in God, which may undercut the principle that all men are equally free — suggesting instead that those who believe in God are afforded greater civil protection.
This tension is further reflected in the oath required of assembly members, who must declare: "I do believe in one God." While the Constitution broadly affirms religious freedom, this requirement introduces a qualification that complicates its egalitarian ideals.
Legislative Supremacy and Government Structure
The most detailed section of the Constitution concerns how the government should function. It is very clear that legislative power should be paramount in governing the people. As stated in Section 2, "the supreme legislative power shall be vested in a house of representatives of the freemen of the commonwealth or state of Pennsylvania." This establishes that the people's power is channeled through the legislature.
Several provisions within the Constitution reinforce legislative supremacy over the other branches. As a unicameral legislature, the assembly concentrates authority in a single body, while the executive is broken down into a council, thereby weakening it. The legislature is given the greatest share of power, with the only meaningful constraint being that it cannot "add to, alter, abolish, or infringe any part of the Constitution."
Conclusion: Democracy and the Legacy of the 1777 Constitution
The Pennsylvania Constitution is highly democratic and invests everything in the legislature. The power of the people is considered most important, and the best way to reflect that power is by granting authority to the legislature. The Constitution is thus very effective in meeting its aim of centering power in the people's elected representatives.
The most interesting aspect is perhaps the Constitution's religious emphasis, which goes beyond merely maintaining freedom of religion and seems to reflect the broader importance of religion in colonial society. This, however, does not undermine the document's fundamentally democratic character. In the end, freedom is maintained, and Benjamin Franklin signs the Constitution as it seeks to preserve the rights violated by the tyrannical nature of British rule.
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