Why an Amendment to the PA Constitution is Needed

PA communities are currently living under a system of law that legalizes activities which threaten our health, safety, and welfare; this system is also used to violate our constitutional rights and deny us the ability to make decisions of crucial importance to our communities.  

​Pennsylvania's first constitution, adopted in September 1776, was widely regarded as one of the most democratic and liberty-protecting constitutions of the Revolutionary Era.  Unfortunately, court cases and legislation have, over the decades, rendered some of the most important values in our constitution meaningless, including: 

Article I, Section II: "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." 

Art I Section 25 "To guard against the transgressions of the high powers which we have delegated, we declare that everything in this article is excepted out of the general powers of government and shall forever remain inviolate." 

Art I Section 27 "The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people."The proposed amendment to the PA Constitution would help further secure those rights,by explicitly recognizing the right of local community self-government. This right shall include provisions that legally empower our communities to stop unwanted, harmful,corporate activities, free from illegitimate preemptive laws and corporate interference