Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1968 – Amendments
Trial by Jury
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. [Source: 1998 Pa. Laws 1328]
Bill Histories
| 1996 Bill History Joint Resolution No. 1 |
SB 752 By Senators SHAFFER, RHOADES, BELL, HART, CORMAN and FISHER.
Prior Printer’s No. 789. Printer’s No. 2065.
A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for trial by jury and waiver of this right.
Referred to JUDICIARY, March 10, 1995
Reported as committed, April 18, 1995
First consideration, April 18, 1995
Second consideration, April 24, 1995
Third consideration and final passage, April 25, 1995 (29-21)
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 398), April 25, 1995
In the House
Referred to JUDICIARY, April 27, 1995
Reported as committed, April 30, 1996
First consideration, April 30, 1996
Laid on the table, April 30, 1996
Removed from table, May 1, 1996
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, May 1, 1996
Re-reported as committed, May 20, 1996
Second consideration, May 20, 1996
Third consideration, with amendments, June 3, 1996
Final passage, June 3, 1996 (134-67)
(Remarks see House Journal), June 3, 1996
In the Senate
Referred to RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, June 4, 1996
Re-reported on concurrence, as committed, June 10, 1996
Senate concurred in House amendments, June 11, 1996 (34-15)
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 2074), June 11, 1996
Signed in Senate, June 11, 1996
Signed in House, June 12, 1996
Filed in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, June 13, 1996
Pamphlet Laws Resolution No. 1
Passed Session of 1996
| 1998 Bill History Joint Resolution No. 2 |
SB 555 By Senators GREENLEAF, HART, HECKLER, DELP and SALVATORE.
Prior Printer’s No. 585. Printer’s No. 1988.
A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for trial by jury.
Referred to JUDICIARY, Feb. 28, 1997
Reported as committed, April 21, 1998
First consideration, April 21, 1998
Second consideration, April 28, 1998
Amended on third consideration, May 4, 1998
Third consideration and final passage, May 4, 1998 (30-20)
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 1925), May 4, 1998
In the House
Referred to JUDICIARY, May 5, 1998
Reported as committed, May 5, 1998
First consideration, May 5, 1998
Laid on the table, May 5, 1998
Removed from table, May 6, 1998
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, May 6, 1998
Re-reported as committed, June 1, 1998
Second consideration, June 1, 1998
Third consideration and final passage, June 2, 1998 (110-83)
(Remarks see House Journal Page 1340), June 2, 1998
Signed in Senate, June 3, 1998
Signed in House, June 8, 1998
Filed in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, June 9, 1998
Pamphlet Laws Resolution No. 2
Passed Sessions of 1996 and 1998
Approved by the Electorate, Nov. 3, 1998 (1,496,894 – 684,204)