Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1967–1968

Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1967–1968 was a statewide assembly convened to revise the Constitution of Pennsylvania adopted in 1874, producing a new draft that was submitted to voters in 1968. The convention brought together elected delegates, judges, legislators, and civic leaders from across Pennsylvania and reflected debates shaped by contemporary issues such as reapportionment, civil rights, and administrative reform.

Background and Prelude

The call for a convention grew from political pressures following decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States such as Reynolds v. Sims and practical concerns voiced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and municipal governments including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Reform advocates cited reports from the American Bar Association, studies by the Urban Land Institute, and commissions like the Keystone Commission and the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania on modern governance and fiscal problems. Political figures including Raymond P. Shafer, David L. Lawrence, and delegates influenced by national actors such as Lyndon B. Johnson and organizations such as the National Municipal League pushed for a constitutional update to address issues raised in cases like Baker v. Carr.

Convening and Delegates

The convention convened in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania following a statewide referendum and the election of 409 delegates drawn from diverse political backgrounds including members of the Democratic Party (United States) and the Republican Party (United States), as well as judges, lawyers, and civic leaders such as representatives of Allegheny County, Montgomery County, and Chester County. Notable delegates included former governors, state legislators, and municipal officials tied to institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State University, and legal circles connected to the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Delegates referenced precedents from earlier conventions such as the Constitutional Convention of Pennsylvania (1837–1838) and the Constitutional Convention of Pennsylvania (1873–1874), and engaged with constitutional scholars from Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and the University of Michigan Law School.

Major Issues and Debates

Debates centered on legislative reapportionment following the influence of Reynolds v. Sims and the role of the Pennsylvania General Assembly in taxation and budgeting, which drew comparisons to systems in New York (state), New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Delegates argued over executive powers referencing the office of the Governor of Pennsylvania and the outcomes of administrations such as William Scranton and Raymond P. Shafer, while municipal delegates from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh sought protections echoed in charters like the Home Rule Charter movement. Issues of civil rights and individual liberties invoked precedents including Brown v. Board of Education and statutes like the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Administrative reform proposals referenced models used by the Federal Aviation Administration, Social Security Administration, and state agencies such as the Department of Welfare (Pennsylvania). Fiscal debates involved institutions like the Pennsylvania Treasury, bond markets influenced by the New York Stock Exchange, and infrastructure concerns tied to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

Proposed Revisions and Drafting Process

The drafting process produced proposals addressing structural reform of the Judiciary of Pennsylvania, creation of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania procedures, provisions for a modernized Tax Equalization Board and executive reorganization similar to reforms in Rhode Island and Connecticut. Committees modeled after legislative committees in the United States Congress and advisory input from bodies such as the American Institute of Architects and the National Conference of State Legislatures prepared textual revisions. Delegates drafted articles on home rule influenced by the Home Rule Charter of Pittsburgh and protections for rights reflecting the Bill of Rights (United States) and the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The process included public hearings in municipalities including Allentown, Erie, and Scranton and consultation with academics from Temple University and Carnegie Mellon University.

Ratification and Aftermath

The convention adjourned after producing a consolidated draft that was placed before voters in a statewide 1968 referendum alongside contemporary electoral contests involving figures connected to the 1968 United States presidential election and state races featuring candidates associated with the Republican Party (United States) and the Democratic Party (United States). The proposed constitution faced campaigns by civic groups such as the League of Women Voters and business coalitions tied to the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. Voters ultimately approved many revisions, resulting in amendments that affected institutions including the Governor of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and the Judiciary of Pennsylvania; subsequent legislation in the Pennsylvania General Assembly enacted enabling measures. The ratification influenced later political contests in regions like Lehigh County and Allegheny County and informed legal challenges heard by the United States Supreme Court and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Impact and Legacy

The convention’s legacy includes the modernized Constitution of Pennsylvania that restructured executive administration, clarified judicial organization with implications for the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, and advanced home rule options for municipalities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Scholars at institutions like Villanova University and Drexel University have assessed the convention in studies comparing it to revisions in states such as New York (state), California, and Ohio. The 1967–1968 convention remains a point of reference in debates involving the Pennsylvania Bar Association, civic reformers, and state legislators when considering later amendments and commissions including the Subcommittee on Constitutional Revision and advisory groups associated with the National Constitution Center. Category:Constitutional conventions in the United States