Pennsylvania General Assembly
| Pennsylvania General Assembly | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | None |
| Session start: | January 2, 2024 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Austin Davis (D) |
| House Speaker: | TBD |
| Majority Leader: | Senate: Joe Pittman (R) House: TBD |
| Minority Leader: | Senate: Jay Costa (D) House: TBD |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 50 (Senate), 203 (House) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 2 years (House) |
| Authority: | Art II, Sec 3, Pennsylvania Constitution |
| Salary: | $102,844.07/year + per diem |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Redistricting: | Commission |
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is Pennsylvania's state legislature, seated at the state's capital, Harrisburg. It has been a bicameral legislature since 1790. The General Assembly consists of an upper house, the Pennsylvania State Senate, and a lower house, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Pennsylvania has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and the lower chamber of the state legislature, while the Republican Party controls the upper chamber of the state legislature.
Elections
2024
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is April 23, 2024. The filing deadline is February 13, 2024.
Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is April 23, 2024. The filing deadline is February 13, 2024.
2022
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 17, 2022. The filing deadline was March 28, 2022.
Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 17, 2022. The filing deadline was March 28, 2022.
2020
Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline was February 18, 2020.
Elections for the office of Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline was February 18, 2020.
2018
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2018. A closed primary election took place on May 15, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 6, 2018.
Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2018. A closed primary election took place on May 15, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 6, 2018.
2016
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on April 26, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016.
Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on April 26, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016.
2014
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in that election was March 11, 2014.
Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 11, 2014.
2012
Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on April 24, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2012.
Elections for the office of Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on April 24, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2012.
2010
Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 18, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2010.
Elections for the office of Pennsylvania House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 18, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2010.
Sessions
Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution establishes when the General Assembly is to meet. Section 4 of Article II states that the General Assembly is to convene its regular session on the first Tuesday of January each year.
Section 4 gives the Governor of Pennsylvania the authority to convene special sessions of the General Assembly either when he judges a special session to be in the public interest, or when a majority of each legislative House requests a special session.
2024
- See also: 2024 Pennsylvania legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions
In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 2, 2024, and adjourn on November 30, 2024.
2023
In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2023, and adjourn on December 13, 2023.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2022, and adjourn on November 30, 2022. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 5, 2021, and adjourn on December 31, 2021. 2020In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 7, 2020, and adjourn on November 30, 2020.
Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. On March 16, 2020, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives adopted temporary rules that would allow members to cast votes remotely.[1] 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 1, 2019, through December 18, 2019. 2018In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 2, 2018, through November 30, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 3, 2017, through December 31, 2017.
2016
In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 5 through November 30. Major issues in 2016Major issues during the 2016 legislative session included passing a state budget, public employee pension plan reform, and school funding.[11] 2015
In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 6 through December 31. Major issues in 2015Major issues during the 2015 legislative session included a severance tax on shale gas, pension reforms, liquor privatization, and judicial reforms.[12] 2014
In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 7 through November 12. Major issues in 2014Major issues during the 2014 legislative session included public pension reform and liquor privatization.[13] 2013
In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 2 to December 31. Major issues in 2013Like many other states, Pennsylvania lawmakers had to work on the budget deficit. Other issues included economic development, public pension reform, liquor privatization, and child abuse.[14] In November 2013, the Pennsylvania state House and state Senate voted unanimously on a bill, which was signed by Gov. Tom Corbett (R), to change the state’s unemployment compensation law. The bill closed a loophole that allowed a state employee to retire from his job and begin collecting benefits, only to be hired back as a part-time employee while also collecting unemployment compensation after leaving a previous job. While the law closed a triple-dipping loophole, the changes did not prevent double-dipping, in which a state employee retires, begins collecting pension benefits, and returns to work a part-time position.[15] 2012
In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 3 to November 30. 2011
In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 4 through November 30.[16] 2010
In 2010, the legislature convened its legislative session on January 5, and it remained in session to November 30.[17] |
Role in state budget
- See also: Pennsylvania state budget and finances
Pennsylvania on 
|
The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[18]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August.
- State agencies submit their requests to the governor in October.
- Agency hearings are held between December and January.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in February. In a governor's first term, the budget proposal is submitted in March.
- The legislature adopts a budget by June 30. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins July 1.
Pennsylvania is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[18]
The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.[18]
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, the statutory authority to draw congressional district boundaries is vested with the Pennsylvania General Assembly. These lines are subject to gubernatorial veto.[19]
State legislative district lines are drawn by a politician commission. Established in 1968, the commission comprises five members:[19]
- The majority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
- The minority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
- The majority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
- The minority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
- The first four commissioners appoint a fifth member to serve as the commission's chair. If the commission is unable to reach an agreement, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court must appoint a commission chair.[19]
The Pennsylvania Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. Further, state legislative districts should "respect county, city, incorporated town, borough, township and ward boundaries." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[19]
2020
On February 4, 2022, the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted 4-1 to approve new state House and Senate maps.[20] House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R) voted no, while Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R), state Rep. Joanna McClinton (D), state Sen. Jay Costa (D), and chairman Mark Nordenberg voted yes.[20] These maps took effect for Pennsylvania's 2022 legislative elections.
2010
Pennsylvania received its local census data on March 9, 2011. The state had a 3.4 percent growth rate from 2000-2010, which was below the national average of 9.7 percent. The five most populous cities in the state did not follow a trend: Philadelphia grew by 0.6 percent, Pittsburgh decreased by 8.6 percent, Allentown grew by 10.7 percent, Erie decreased by 1.9 percent, and Reading grew by 8.5 percent. The county with the largest rate of growth was Forest County with a 56 percent rate of growth.[21]
On August 17, 2011, the Commission approved the census data and went to work on a preliminary map, which it passed on October 31, 2011, by a vote of 3-2. Final maps were approved on December 12, 2011, by a 4-1 vote. There was a 30-day window to file appeals, of which 11 were filed. The state Supreme Court threw out the maps on January 25, 2012, after appeals were heard.
The commission met on April 12, 2012, to vote in favor of a compromise map, which contained two Senate district splits and 68 House splits. On June 8, the commission approved the final plan, which went to the state Supreme Court for final approval.
Legislators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $102,844.07/year | $181/day |
When sworn in
Pennsylvania legislators assume office on the first day of December after a general election.[22]
Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Senators are elected for four years. Senators' terms are staggered with only half of the Senate contested at each election.
As of the 2020 Census, Pennsylvania state senators represented an average of 260,237 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 254,698 residents.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 22 | |
| Republican Party | 28 | |
| Independent | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 50 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Republicans won control of the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1994. In 2022, they won a 28-22 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Pennsylvania Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Pennsylvania State Senate election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 25 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 20 | 16 | 21 | 21 | 22 |
| Republicans | 25 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 34 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts. Elections are held in November of even numbered years.
As of the 2020 Census, Pennsylvania state representatives represented an average of 64,098 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 62,734 residents.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 101 | |
| Republican Party | 101 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 1 | |
| Total | 203 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Democrats won a 102-101 majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2022, gaining control of the chamber for the first time since 2008.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Pennsylvania House following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 105 | 101 | 99 | 100 | 99 | 94 | 93 | 102 | 104 | 91 | 93 | 84 | 82 | 93 | 92 | 102 |
| Republicans | 98 | 102 | 104 | 103 | 104 | 109 | 110 | 101 | 99 | 112 | 110 | 119 | 121 | 110 | 111 | 101 |
District maps
State Senate
State House
Veto overrides
- See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Pennsylvania are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers.
| Two-thirds of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 136 of the 203 members in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and 34 of the 50 members in the Pennsylvania State Senate. Pennsylvania is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?
| Vetoes can be overridden when the next regular session convenes, provided that an election has not occurred.[23] |
Authority: Article IV, Section 15 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
| "Every bill which shall have passed both Houses shall be presented to the Governor; if he approves he shall sign it, but if he shall not approve he shall return it with his objections to the House in which it shall have originated, which House shall enter the objections at large upon their journal, and proceed to re-consider it. If after such re-consideration, two-thirds of all the members elected to that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent with the objections to the other House by which likewise it shall be re-considered, and if approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to that House it shall be a law; but in such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journals of each House, respectively." |
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
Pennsylvania State Senate: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Pennsylvania State Senate for one year while the Republicans were the majority for 21 years. The Pennsylvania State Senate is one of 13 state senates that was Republican for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. Pennsylvania was under Republican trifectas for the final three years of the study.
Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.
Pennsylvania State House of Representatives: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives for seven years while the Republicans were the majority for 15 years. Pennsylvania was under Republican trifectas for the final three years of the study.
Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Senate and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
.PNG)
SQLI and partisanship
- To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.
The chart below depicts the partisanship of Pennsylvania state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Pennsylvania had a Democratic trifecta in 1993, but switched two years later to a Republican trifecta that lasted from 1995-2002. The state had a divided government for many years until a Republican trifecta returned in 2011. Pennsylvania's worst SQLI ranking, finishing 30th, occurred in 1994 during a divided government and in 2012 during a Republican trifecta. The state's best ranking, finishing 19th, occurred from 1999-2000 during a Republican trifecta and again in 2004 during a divided government.
- SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 25.00
- SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 23.70
- SQLI average with divided government: 25.20
Constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods in which the Pennsylvania Constitution can be amended:
The Pennsylvania Constitution provides for one mechanism for amending the state's constitution—a legislative process. However, the state constitution does not mention a constitutional convention process, and the legislature has called constitutional conventions in the past. Pennsylvania requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
Initiative
- See also: Initiated constitutional amendment
In Pennsylvania, citizens do not have the power to initiate ballot measures at the state level.
Legislature
According to Article XI, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions for the Pennsylvania State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 102 votes in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and 26 votes in the Pennsylvania State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
When the Legislature finds that a "major emergency threatens or is about to threaten the Commonwealth," a constitutional amendment can be referred to the ballot with a two-thirds vote during one legislative session.
2025 measures:
- See also: 2025 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.
No measures to list
2024 measures:
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.
- See also: Pennsylvania 2024 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.
- Pennsylvania Allow for Concurrent Resolutions to Disapprove of Regulations Amendment (2024)
- Pennsylvania Election Audits Amendment (2024)
- Pennsylvania Voter ID Requirement Amendment (2024)
- Pennsylvania No State Constitutional Right to Abortion Amendment (2024)
- Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Selection Amendment (2024)
- Pennsylvania Allow Retroactive Lawsuits for Childhood Sexual Abuse Amendment (2024)
See also
| Elections | Pennsylvania State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Pennsylvania legislature will vote remotely as coronavirus spreads," March 16, 2020
- ↑ The Inquirer, "S&P threatens to cut Pa. credit rating," July 6, 2017
- ↑ The Morning Call, "Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf to let budget become law," July 11, 201
- ↑ U.S. News, "Pennsylvania Budget Takes Effect Amid Fight Over Funding It," July 10, 2017
- ↑ U.S. News, "Pennsylvania Senate Approves Higher Taxes to Balance Budget," July 27, 2017
- ↑ NBC 10, "Budget Bills Are Ugly But Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Has Little Choice But to Sign," October 28, 2017
- ↑ The Inquirer Daily News, "Wolf signs bills to balance Pa. budget with gambling and borrowing, hints of veto of education bill," October 30, 2017
- ↑ The Morning Call, "Pennsylvania's budget still not finished," July 5, 2017
- ↑ The Inquirer, "PA. budget talks drag on," July 5, 2017
- ↑ Lehigh Valley, "House, Senate send Pennsylvania budget to Gov. Wolf," June 30, 2017
- ↑ Penn Live, "New year, old issues: Pennsylvania legislative leaders meet on budget Tuesday," accessed January 6, 2016
- ↑ Law 360, "Pennsylvania Legislation And Regulation To Watch In 2015," accessed January 22, 2015
- ↑ Penn Live, "Pa. Senate Prez: Do away with 'obsolete, unsustainable' pensions or face budget crash: Friday Morning Coffee," January 10, 2014
- ↑ Post-Gazette, "Pennsylvania lawmakers start settling in," January 2, 2013
- ↑ The Reporter Online, "Triple-dipping loophole in Pa. unemployment law finally closed," accessed December 6, 2013
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 session dates for Pennsylvania legislature," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 All About Redistricting, "Pennsylvania," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs nameddr - ↑ Census.gov, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Pennsylvania's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," March 9, 2011
- ↑ Pennsylvania Constitution, "Article II, Section 2," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ Pennsylvania Code, "§ 9.127. Passage of vetoed bill.," accessed July 3, 2017
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