Pennsylvania Question 1, Five-Sixths Jury Requirement for Civil Cases Amendment (May 1971)
| Pennsylvania Question 1 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date May 18, 1971 | |
| Topic Civil and criminal trials | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
Pennsylvania Question 1 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Pennsylvania on May 18, 1971. It was approved.
A "yes" vote supported this constitutional amendment to require a five-sixths vote of a jury to decide a civil case. |
A "no" vote opposed this constitutional amendment to require a five-sixths vote of a jury to decide a civil case. |
Election results
|
Pennsylvania Question 1 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
833,283 | 66.30% | ||
| No | 423,606 | 33.70% | ||
-
- Results are officially certified.
- Source
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 1 was as follows:
| “ | Shall Article I, section 6 of the Constitution be amended to permit a verdict, in a civil case, to be rendered by no less than five-sixths of the jury? | ” |
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 |
