This article is missing information about the legislature's legislative process. Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.(September 2020)
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.
Senators are elected for a term of four years. Representatives are elected for a term of two years.[1] 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.[2]
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 or her.
While in office, legislators may not hold civil office. Even if a member resigns, the Constitution states that the legislator may not be appointed to civil office for the duration of the term to which the legislator was elected.
The General Assembly is a continuing body within the term for which its representatives are elected. It convenes at 12 o'clock noon on the first Tuesday of January each year and then meets regularly throughout the year.[3] 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.[4]
The governor may call a special session in order to press for legislation on important issues. As of 2017, only 35 special sessions have been called in the history of Pennsylvania.[5]
This section needs expansion with: Founding, 17th/18th century history. You can help by adding to it. (September 2014)
During the mid-19th century, the frustration of the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the extremely severe level of corruption in the General Assembly (i.e., logrolling) culminated in a constitutional amendment in 1864 which prevented the General Assembly from writing statutes covering more than one subject. The amendment (today found at Section 3 of Article III of the Pennsylvania Constitution) was so poorly written that it also prevented the General Assembly from undertaking a comprehensive codification of the Commonwealth's statutes until another amendment was pushed through in 1967 to provide the necessary exception.[6] This is why today, Pennsylvania is the only U.S. state that has not yet completed a comprehensive codification of its general statutory law. Since 1970, Pennsylvania has been undertaking its first official codification process,[7] resulting in the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.[8][9] With over 300 years of uncodified statutes to go through, the codification process is still not yet complete after over five decades of work.
^"Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" (PDF). Pennsylvania General Assembly. pp. Article II Section 3: Terms of Members. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
^. Pennsylvania Constitution Web Page of the Duquesne University School of Law. Duquesne University School of Law. February 11, 2010. Archived from the original on August 14, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
^"Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" (PDF). pp. Article II Section 4: Sessions. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
^"Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" (PDF). pp. Article II Section 14: Adjournments.
^Esack, Steve (February 1, 2017). "Pennsylvania Senate Democrats seek special hearings on property tax reform". The Morning Call. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
^City of Philadelphia v. Commonwealth, 838 A. 2d 566 (Pa. 2003). This decision of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania expressly acknowledges that (1) the original 1864 amendment occurred because of the General Assembly's problems with corruption, especially logrolling; and (2) the general view that enactment of a comprehensive codification was hindered by the perception that it would have violated the pre-1967 version of Section 3.
^Consolidated Pennsylvania Statutes Act, Act 230, Public Law 707 (Nov. 25, 1970).
^Prince, Mary Miles (2001). Prince's Bieber Dictionary of Legal Citations (6th ed.). Wm. S. Hein Publishing. p. 343. ISBN1-57588-669-3. LCCN 2001024375.
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This article is missing information about the legislature s legislative process Please expand the article to include this information Further details may exist on the talk page September 2020 The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the legislature of the U S commonwealth 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 and was unicameral Since the Constitution of 1776 the legislature has been known as the General Assembly The General Assembly became a bicameral legislature in 1791 Pennsylvania General AssemblyCoat of armsTypeTypeBicameralHousesSenateHouse of RepresentativesTerm limitsNoneHistoryFoundedMay 5 1682 341 years ago 1682 05 05 Preceded byPennsylvania Provincial AssemblyNew session startedJanuary 3 2023 2023 01 03 LeadershipPresident of the SenateAustin Davis D since January 17 2023 2023 01 17 Senate President Pro TemporeKim Ward R since January 3 2023 2023 01 03 Senate Majority LeaderJoe Pittman R since January 3 2023 2023 01 03 Speaker of the HouseJoanna McClinton D since February 28 2023 2023 02 28 House Majority LeaderMatthew Bradford D since February 28 2023 2023 02 28 StructureSeats253Senate political groupsMajority Republican 28 Minority Democratic 22 House political groupsMajority Democratic 102 Minority Republican 101 Length of termSenate 4 yearsHouse 2 yearsSalary 95 342 year per diemSenators50State Representatives203ElectionsSenate voting systemFirst past the postHouse voting systemFirst past the postLast Senate electionNovember 8 2022 2022 11 08 even numbered districts Last House electionNovember 8 2022 2022 11 08 Next Senate electionNovember 5 2024 2024 11 05 odd numbered districts Next House electionNovember 5 2024 2024 11 05 Redistrictingpolitician commissionMottoVirtue Liberty and IndependenceMeeting placePennsylvania State Capitol HarrisburgWebsitewww wbr legis wbr state wbr pa wbr usConstitutionConstitution of Pennsylvania Contents 1 Membership 2 Legislative sessions 3 History 4 General assembly leadership 2023 2024 4 1 Pennsylvania State Senate 4 2 Pennsylvania House of Representatives 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksMembership EditThe 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 Senators are elected for a term of four years Representatives are elected for a term of two years 1 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 2 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 or her While in office legislators may not hold civil office Even if a member resigns the Constitution states that the legislator may not be appointed to civil office for the duration of the term to which the legislator was elected Legislative sessions Edit nbsp The title page of Laws of Pennsylvania published in 1853The General Assembly is a continuing body within the term for which its representatives are elected It convenes at 12 o clock noon on the first Tuesday of January each year and then meets regularly throughout the year 3 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 4 The governor may call a special session in order to press for legislation on important issues As of 2017 only 35 special sessions have been called in the history of Pennsylvania 5 The Assembly meets in the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg 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 History EditThis section needs expansion with Founding 17th 18th century history You can help by adding to it September 2014 During the mid 19th century the frustration of the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the extremely severe level of corruption in the General Assembly i e logrolling culminated in a constitutional amendment in 1864 which prevented the General Assembly from writing statutes covering more than one subject The amendment today found at Section 3 of Article III of the Pennsylvania Constitution was so poorly written that it also prevented the General Assembly from undertaking a comprehensive codification of the Commonwealth s statutes until another amendment was pushed through in 1967 to provide the necessary exception 6 This is why today Pennsylvania is the only U S state that has not yet completed a comprehensive codification of its general statutory law Since 1970 Pennsylvania has been undertaking its first official codification process 7 resulting in the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes 8 9 With over 300 years of uncodified statutes to go through the codification process is still not yet complete after over five decades of work General assembly leadership 2023 2024 EditPennsylvania State Senate Edit President Pro Tempore Kim Ward R Majority Party R 10 Leadership Position Minority Party D 11 Joe Pittman Floor Leader Jay CostaRyan Aument Whip Anthony H WilliamsKristin Phillips Hill Caucus Chairperson Wayne FontanaCamera Bartolotta Caucus Secretary Maria CollettScott Martin Appropriations Committee Chairperson Vincent HughesLisa Baker Caucus Administrator Judy SchwankMario Scavello Policy Committee Chairperson Katie MuthPennsylvania House of Representatives Edit Speaker of the House of Representatives Joanna McClinton D Majority Party D 12 Leadership Position Minority Party R 13 Matthew Bradford Floor Leader Bryan CutlerDan Miller Whip Donna OberlanderMike Schlossberg Caucus Chairperson George DunbarTina Davis Caucus Secretary Martina WhiteJordan Harris Appropriations Committee Chairperson Stan SaylorLeanne Krueger Caucus Administrator Kurt MasserRyan Bizzarro Policy Committee Chairperson Martin CauserSee also Edit2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly for the General Assembly before 1776 Pennsylvania Legislative Black CaucusReferences Edit Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania PDF Pennsylvania General Assembly pp Article II Section 3 Terms of Members Retrieved August 30 2018 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 February 11 2010 Archived from the original on August 14 2012 Retrieved February 11 2010 Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania PDF pp Article II Section 4 Sessions Retrieved August 30 2018 Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania PDF pp Article II Section 14 Adjournments Esack Steve February 1 2017 Pennsylvania Senate Democrats seek special hearings on property tax reform The Morning Call Harrisburg PA Retrieved June 19 2017 City of Philadelphia v Commonwealth 838 A 2d 566 Pa 2003 This decision of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania expressly acknowledges that 1 the original 1864 amendment occurred because of the General Assembly s problems with corruption especially logrolling and 2 the general view that enactment of a comprehensive codification was hindered by the perception that it would have violated the pre 1967 version of Section 3 Consolidated Pennsylvania Statutes Act Act 230 Public Law 707 Nov 25 1970 Prince Mary Miles 2001 Prince s Bieber Dictionary of Legal Citations 6th ed Wm S Hein Publishing p 343 ISBN 1 57588 669 3 LCCN 2001024375 Pennsylvania Session Laws gt FAQ Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau Retrieved August 15 2013 Senate Leadership Pennsylvania Senate Republicans Retrieved December 6 2021 Leadership Pennsylvania Senate Democrats Retrieved December 6 2021 Leadership Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus Retrieved February 8 2023 Leaders for the 2023 24 Session PA House Republican Caucus Retrieved February 8 2023 External links Edit nbsp Wikisource has original works on the topic Pennsylvania General Assembly Pennsylvania General Assembly Legislative Process Laws and the Legislature Open Government Resources Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Catalog of the State Library of Pennsylvania Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pennsylvania General Assembly amp oldid 1175251537, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
