The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 has been described as the most democratic in America and was authored primarily by George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin. Some highlights include:
- Voting franchise for all tax paying free men.
- A unicameral legislature with members elected to one-year terms.
- A twelve-member Supreme Executive Council to administer the government.
- A President elected by the Assembly and Council together
- A Council of Censors (elected every seven years) to conduct a one year long evaluation of the activities. They could "censure" actions by the government deemed to have violated the constitution.