PA · constitutions
Pa. Const. art. I, § 7
Freedom of press and speech; libels
The printing press shall be free to every person who may undertake to examine the proceedings of the Legislature or any branch of government, and no law shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof. The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man, and every citizen may freely speak, write and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. No conviction shall be had in any prosecution for the publication of papers relating to the official conduct of officers or men in public capacity, or to any other matter proper for public investigation or information, where the fact that such publication was not maliciously or negligently made shall be established to the satisfaction of the jury; and in all indictments for libels the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other cases.
History
Adoption. Unless otherwise noted, the provisions of Article I were adopted December 16, 1873, 1874 P.L.3, effective January 1, 1874.
Provenance
- Source
- palegis.us
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-30
- Edition
- supplied-2026-09-30
- Content hash
87c72c71825a72e932fe3e91645d3992a41f77fd04f257f1f443e934e06c9b51
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