REFERENDA APPROVED BY THE VOTERS

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter art. VIII, ch. 5

in effect

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 8-500 Home Rule Power to Prevent and Reduce Gun Violence.

§ 8-500. Home Rule Power to Prevent and Reduce Gun Violence. We, the citizens of Philadelphia, call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to pass legislation that would authorize the City of Philadelphia to enact constitutionally lawful legislation regulating the sale, transfer and possession of firearms within the City limits for the purpose of preventing and reducing gun violence. All appropriate City officials are hereby vested with the duty and the responsibility to take all appropriate steps, to the fullest extent allowable under law, to promote and defend the will and mandate of the people.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 8-501 Surveillance Cameras to Prevent Crime and Violence.

§ 8-501. Surveillance Cameras to Prevent Crime and Violence. We, the citizens of Philadelphia, believe that the video surveillance has proven to be an effective tool to fight crime and violence in many cities, and that it can be implemented in a manner that protects civil liberties and legitimate privacy interests. Accordingly, The City of Philadelphia and its Police Department shall consider the use of video surveillance, in a manner that protects civil liberties and legitimate privacy interests, as part of the City's anti-crime, anti-violence program. Notes 281 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 16, 2006, and certified on June 5, 2006. See Bill No. 060092 (approved March 30, 2006); Resolution No. 060101 (adopted March 23, 2006).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 8-502 Redeployment of U.S. Troops from Iraq.

§ 8-502. Redeployment of U.S. Troops from Iraq. We, the citizens of Philadelphia, believe that our troops have performed their mission successfully and with honor. We therefore urge the United States to redeploy U.S. troops out of harm's way in Iraq in the year 2007. Redeployment of U.S. troops will strengthen Iraqi determination to establish a coalition government and to rebuild their nation. Notes 282 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 15, 2007, and certified on June 4, 2007. See Bill No. 060849 (approved March 7, 2007); Resolution No. 060861 (adopted February 22, 2007).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 8-503 Rejecting the Board of Revision's Full Valuation Initiative.

§ 8-503. Rejecting the Board of Revision's Full Valuation Initiative. We, the citizens of Philadelphia, urge the stopping of real estate tax assessment increases which would result from the Board of Revision of Taxes' use of a new method for figuring tax assessments called "Full Valuation". Notes 283 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 15, 2007, and certified on June 4, 2007. See Bill No. 060576-A (became law March 15, 2007); Resolution No. 060590-A (adopted March 1, 2007).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 8-504 Restoring Local Control of Philadelphia's Schools.

§ 8-504. Restoring Local Control of Philadelphia's Schools. We, the citizens of Philadelphia, believe the state's takeover of our schools through the School Reform Commission has weakened the voices of parents and community in the operation of public education in Philadelphia. We call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to abolish the School Reform Commission and return local control of Philadelphia's schools. All appropriate City officials are hereby vested with the duty and the responsibility to take all appropriate steps, to the fullest extent allowable under law, to promote and defend the will and mandate of the people. Notes 284 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 19, 2015, and certified on June 8, 2015. See Bill No. 140514-A (became law October 23, 2014); Resolution No. 140527 (adopted September 18, 2014).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 8-505 Reserved.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 8-506 Providing for a Decent, Living Wage.

§ 8-506. Providing for a Decent, Living Wage. We, the citizens of Philadelphia, believe that a fair day's work deserves a fair day's wage; that working people deserve to be paid a decent, family sustaining, living wage; and that the current Pennsylvania minimum wage is unacceptable because it makes a decent living impossible for too many working people, relegating too many to a life of poverty. We, therefore, call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly to raise the Pennsylvania minimum wage now, so that it reaches $15 an hour, in stages, by 2025, in order to allow a working person to avoid poverty and to afford the basic necessities of life. Alternatively, we call upon the General Assembly to allow the City of Philadelphia to take care of its own residents and to increase the minimum wage in Philadelphia. All appropriate City officials are hereby vested with the authority and the responsibility to take all appropriate steps, to the fullest extent allowable under the law, to ensure that working people in Philadelphia are paid a decent, family sustaining, living wage. Notes 285 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 21, 2019, and certified on June 10, 2019. See Bill No. 190102 (approved March 19, 2019); Resolution No. 190115 (adopted March 14, 2019).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 8-507 Eliminating the Practice of Unconstitutional Stop and Frisk.

§ 8-507. Eliminating the Practice of Unconstitutional Stop and Frisk. We, the citizens of Philadelphia, call upon the Police Department to eliminate the practice of unconstitutional stop and frisk, consistent with judicial precedent, meaning an officer must have reasonable suspicion that a person is engaged in criminal activity in order to stop that person, and, therefore, an officer cannot stop someone unlawfully because of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religious affiliation or expression, or other protected characteristic. Notes 286 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on November 3, 2020, and certified on November 23, 2020. See Bill No. 200076 (approved July 1, 2020); Resolution No. 200080 (adopted June 25, 2020).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 8-508 Decriminalization, Regulation, and Taxation of Cannabis for Non-Medical Purposes.

§ 8-508. Decriminalization, Regulation, and Taxation of Cannabis for Non-Medical Purposes. We, the citizens of Philadelphia, call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to pass legislation that will decriminalize, regulate, and tax the use, and sale to adults aged 21 years or older, of cannabis for non-medical purposes. _______________ Notes 287 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on November 2, 2021, and certified on November 22, 2021. See Bill No. 210206 (approved June 23, 2021); Resolution No. 210215 (adopted June 10, 2021).

Source: City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-265916Fetched: 10/27/2026