Pennsylvania General Assembly

Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type Bicameral
Houses Senate
House of Representatives
Leadership
President Pro Tem of the Senate Joseph B. Scarnati, (R)
since January 2, 2007
Speaker of the House Sam Smith, (R)
since January 4, 2011
Structure
Members 253
50 Senators
203 Representatives
Composition of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.svg
House of Representatives Political groups      Democratic Party
     Republican Party
Composition of the Pennsylvania State Senate.svg
State Senate Political groups      Democratic Party
     Republican Party
Elections
House of Representatives Last election November 2, 2010
State Senate Last election November 2, 2010
Meeting place
Pennsylvania State Capitol Front Panorama.jpg
Pennsylvania State Capitol
Website
www.legis.state.pa.us

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times (1682–1776), the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by American revolutionaries, the legislature has been known as the General Assembly. The General Assembly became a bicameral legislature in 1790.

Contents

Membership

The General Assembly has 253 members, consisting of a Senate with 50 members and a House of Representatives with 203 members, making it the second-largest state legislature in the nation (behind New Hampshire) and the largest full-time legislature. As of 2005, members' base pay was $78,314,[1] the fourth highest legislative salary in the nation[1], making it the costliest state legislature per capita in the U.S.[2] Republicans hold a 30-20 majority in the Senate[2], and a 112-90 majority in the House.

The Pennsylvania general elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years. A vacant seat must be filled by special election, the date of which is set by the presiding officer of the respective house.

Senators must be at least 25 years old, and Representatives at least 21 years old. They must be citizens and residents of the state for a minimum of four years and reside in their districts for at least one year. Individuals who have been convicted of felonies, including embezzlement, bribery, and perjury, are ineligible for election; the state Constitution also adds the category of "other infamous crimes," which can be broadly interpreted by state courts. No one who has been previously expelled from the General Assembly may be elected.[3]

Legislative districts are drawn every ten years, following the U.S. Census. Districts are drawn by a five-member commission, of which four members are the majority and minority leaders of each house (or their delegates). The fifth member, who chairs the committee, is appointed by the other four and may not be an elected or appointed official. If the leadership cannot decide on a fifth member, the State Supreme Court may appoint him.

While in office, legislators may not hold civil office. Even if a member resigns, the Constitution states that he may not be appointed to civil office for the duration of the original term for which he was originally elected.

Legislative sessions

The Capitol Complex

The General Assembly convenes at noon on the first Tuesday of January and then meets regularly throughout the year. Both houses adjourn on November 30 in even-numbered years, when the terms of all members of the House and half the members of the Senate expire. Neither body can adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other.

The governor may call a special session in order to press for legislation on important issues. Most recently, a special session was called for the purpose of property tax reform.

The Assembly meets in the Pennsylvania State Capitol, which was completed in 1906. Under the Pennsylvania Constitution, the Assembly must meet in the City of Harrisburg and can move only if given the consent of both chambers.

General assembly leadership

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Speaker of the House of Representatives: Samuel H. Smith (R) [1]

Majority Party (R) Leadership Position Minority Party (D)
Mike Turzai Floor Leader Frank Dermody
Stan Saylor Whip Mike Hanna
Sandra Major Caucus Chair Dan Frankel
Mike Vereb Caucus Secretary Jennifer Mann
Bill Adolph Appropriations Committee Chairman Joe Markosek
Dave L. Reed Policy Committee Chairman Mike Sturla
Dick Stevenson Caucus Administrator Ron Buxton
Pennsylvania House chamber
Pennsylvania Senate chamber

Pennsylvania State Senate

President Pro Tem of the Senate: Joseph B. Scarnati (R)

Majority Party (R) Leadership Position Minority Party (D)
Dominic Pileggi Floor Leader Jay Costa
Pat Browne Whip Anthony H. Williams
Mike Waugh Caucus Chairman Rich Kasunic
Bob D. Robbins Caucus Secretary Christine Tartaglione
Jake Corman Appropriations Committee Chairman Vincent Hughes
Edwin Erickson Policy Committee Chairman Lisa Boscola
John Gordner Caucus Administrator Wayne Fontana

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Robert Swift (2010-04-26). "State legislature is among nation's most expensive". The Times Tribune. http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/state-legislature-is-among-nation-s-most-expensive-1.742222. 
  2. ^ a b "Post General Election Legislative breakdown". The Council of State Governments. http://www.csg.org/pubs/Election2008/PostGELegislativeBreakdown.aspx#PA. 
  3. ^ "CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA: Article II - The Legislature". Pennsylvania Constitution Web Page of the Duquesne University School of Law. Duquesne University School of Law. 2010-02-11. http://www.duq.edu/law/pa-constitution/constitutions/current.cfm#2. Retrieved 2010-02-11. 

External links

v · d · eMembers of the Pennsylvania State Senate
President of the Senate: Jim Cawley (R) • President pro tempore: Joseph Scarnati (R) • Majority Leader: Dominic Pileggi (R) • Minority Leader: Jay Costa (D)
   
  1.    Larry Farnese (D)
  2.    Tina Tartaglione (D)
  3.    Shirley Kitchen (D)
  4.    LeAnna Washington (D)
  5.    Mike Stack (D)
  6.    Tommy Tomlinson (R)
  7.    Vincent Hughes (D)
  8.    Anthony Williams (D)
  9.    Dominic Pileggi (R)
  10.    Chuck McIlhinney (R)
  1.    Judy Schwank (D)
  2.    Stewart Greenleaf (R)
  3.    Lloyd Smucker (R)
  4.    John Yudichak (D)
  5.    Jeffrey Piccola (R)
  6.    Pat Browne (R)
  7.    Daylin Leach (D)
  8.    Lisa Boscola (D)
  9.    Andy Dinniman (D)
  10.    Lisa Baker (R)
  1.    Mary Jo White (R)
  2.    John Blake (D)
  3.    Gene Yaw (R)
  4.    Bob Mensch (R)
  5.    Joseph Scarnati (R)
  6.    Ted Erickson (R)
  7.    John Gordner (R)
  8.    Mike Waugh (R)
  9.    Dave Argall (R)
  10.    John Eichelberger (R)
  1.    Pat Vance (R)
  2.    Rich Kasunic (D)
  3.    Rich Alloway (R)
  4.    Jake Corman (R)
  5.    John Wozniak (D)
  6.    Mike Brubaker (R)
  7.    John Pippy (R)
  8.    Jim Ferlo (D)
  9.    Kim Ward (R)
  10.    Jane Orie (R)
  1.    Don White (R)
  2.    Wayne Fontana (D)
  3.    Jay Costa (D)
  4.    John Rafferty (R)
  5.    Jim Brewster (D)
  6.    Tim Solobay (D)
  7.    Elder Vogel (R)
  8.    Mike Folmer (R)
  9.    Jane Earll (R)
  10.    Bob Robbins (R)
   Republican (30) •    Democratic (20) • Pennsylvania General Assembly • Pennsylvania House of Representatives • Pennsylvania State Senate
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