The supreme executive council of Pennsylvania shall consist of twelve members. These members shall be Philadelphia, Chester, Bucks, and Lancaster counties, freemen. The counties within these counties shall elect a counselor for every county. Each member of the council shall serve two-year terms. The supreme legislative power shall vest in the house of representatives of freemen of the commonwealth, and the president and the council shall exercise the supreme executive authority.
After Congress met, local committees sought to change the relationship between the colonies and the mother country. The old Massachusetts Assembly sent delegates to the meeting, but they were instructed to vote against independence. As the United States continued its war with Britain, local committees began to seek changes in the relationships between the colonies and the mother country. While local committees sought to change the relationship with the mother country, the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia remained steadfast in its resolve to resist British influence and preserve the status quo.