Pennsylvania Question 1, Election of Attorney General Amendment (May 1978)
| Pennsylvania Question 1 | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Election date |
|
| Topic State executive elections |
|
| Status |
|
| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Pennsylvania Question 1 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Pennsylvania on May 16, 1978. It was approved.
A "yes" vote supported amending the state constitution to require that the state attorney general be elected by voters, rather than appointed by the governor, and to establish the qualifications for the office. |
A "no" vote opposed amending the state constitution, thereby keeping the attorney general as a gubernatorial appointee. |
Election results
|
Pennsylvania Question 1 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
1,017,830 | 83.13% | ||
| No | 206,528 | 16.87% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 1 was as follows:
| “ | Shall Article IV of the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to provide that an Attorney General shall be chosen by qualified electors and that he shall hold office during a four year term and not serve continuously for more than two successive terms and that he shall be chief law officer of the Commonwealth and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be imposed by law? | ” |
Path to the ballot
In Pennsylvania, the General Assembly must pass a constitutional amendment by a simple majority vote during two successive legislative sessions to refer the measure to the ballot for voter consideration. The legislature can also pass a measure by a two-thirds vote during one legislative session if a “major emergency threatens or is about to threaten the Commonwealth.”
See also
External links
Footnotes
 |
State of Pennsylvania Harrisburg (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
