The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four-year terms, staggered every two years, such that half of the seats are contested at each election.[2] Even- and odd-numbered district seats are contested in separate election years. The president pro tempore of the Senate becomes the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania in the event of the sitting lieutenant governor's removal, resignation or death. In this case the president pro tempore and lieutenant governor would be the same person.[3] The Pennsylvania Senate has been meeting since 1791.
Pennsylvania State Senate | |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania General Assembly | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
| Founded | 1790 |
New session started | January 3, 2023 |
| Leadership | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 50 |
Political groups | Majority
Minority
|
Length of term | 4 years |
| Authority | Article II, Pennsylvania Constitution |
| Salary | $102,844/year + per diem[1] |
| Elections | |
Last election | November 8, 2022 (even-numbered districts) |
Next election | November 5, 2024 (odd-numbered districts) |
| Redistricting | Bipartisan Commission |
| Meeting place | |
| State Senate Chamber Pennsylvania State Capitol Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | |
| Website | |
| Pennsylvania State Senate | |
The president of the Senate is the lieutenant governor, who has no vote except to break a tie vote.
Qualifications
editSenators must be at least 25 years of age. They must be a U.S. citizen and a Pennsylvania resident four years, and a resident of that district one year prior to their election and must reside in that district during their term.[4]
Senate leadership
editPresident of the Senate: Austin Davis (D)
President Pro Tempore of the Senate: Kim Ward (R)
| Majority party (R) | Leadership position | Minority party (D) |
| Joe Pittman | Floor Leader | Jay Costa |
| Ryan Aument | Whip | Christine Tartaglione |
| Kristin Phillips-Hill | Caucus Chairman | Wayne D. Fontana |
| Camera Bartolotta | Caucus Secretary | Maria Collett |
| Scott Martin | Appropriations Committee Chairman | Vincent Hughes |
| Dan Laughlin | Policy Committee Chairman | Katie Muth |
| Lisa Baker | Caucus Administrator | Judy Schwank |
Composition
editHistorical sessions
edit| Affiliation | Party (shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ind | Democratic | Vacant | ||
| 1995–1996 session | 29 | 0 | 21 | 50 | 0 |
| 1997–1998 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2001–2002 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2003–2004 session | 29 | 21 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2005–2006 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2007–2008 session | 29 | 21 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2009–2010 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2011–2012 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2013–2014 session | 27 | 23 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2015–2016 session | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2016–2017 session | 31 | 19 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2017–2018 session | 34 | 16 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2018–2019 session | 28 | 22 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2019–2020 session | 29 | 1 | 21 | 50 | 0 |
| 2021–2022 session | 28 | 1 | 21 | 50 | 0 |
Current session
editAs of January 3, 2023:
| 22 | 28 |
| Democratic | Republican |
| Affiliation | Party (shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ind | Democratic | Vacant | ||
| End of previous legislature | 28 | 1 | 21 | 50 | 0 |
| January 3, 2023 | 27 | 0 | 22 | 49 | 1 |
| February 28, 2023[5] | 28 | 50 | 0 | ||
| Latest voting share | 56% | 0% | 44% | ||
Membership
editThe Senate is made up of 50 members who are elected by district. In 2012, a State Senate district had an average population of 254,047 residents.
List of current members
edit- ^ John Sabatina resigned on December 31, 2021. Dillon was elected in a special election on May 17, and seated on June 7.
- ^ Affiliated with the Forward Party.
- ^ Affiliated with the Forward Party.
- ^ John Blake resigned on February 15, 2021. Flynn was elected in a special election on May 18.
- ^ Dave Arnold died January 17, 2021. Gebhard was elected in a special election on May 18.
Standing committees
edit| Committee Name | Majority chair | Minority chair |
|---|---|---|
| Aging & Youth | Judy Ward | Maria Collett |
| Agriculture & Rural Affairs | Elder Vogel | Judy Schwank |
| Appropriations | Scott Martin | Vincent Hughes |
| Banking & Insurance | John DiSanto | Sharif Street |
| Communications & Technology | Tracy Pennycuick | Jimmy Dillon |
| Community, Economic & Recreational Development | Chris Gebhard | Anthony H. Williams |
| Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure | Patrick J. Stefano | Lisa Boscola |
| Education | Dave Argall | Lindsey Williams |
| Environmental Resources & Energy | Eugene Yaw | Carolyn Comitta |
| Finance | Scott Hutchinson | Nick Miller |
| Game & Fisheries | Greg Rothman | Jim Brewster |
| Health & Human Services | Michele Brooks | Arthur L. Haywood III |
| Intergovernmental Operations | Jarrett Coleman | Christine Tartaglione |
| Judiciary | Lisa Baker | Steve Santarsiero |
| Labor & Industry | Devlin Robinson | John I. Kane |
| Law & Justice | Mike Regan | Jim Brewster |
| Local Government | Rosemary Brown | Tim Kearney |
| Rules & Executive Nominations | Joe Pittman | Jay Costa |
| State Government | Cris Dush | Amanda Cappelletti |
| Transportation | Wayne Langerholc | Marty Flynn |
| Urban Affairs & Housing | Frank Farry | Nikil Saval |
| Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparednesss | Doug Mastriano | Katie Muth |
Past composition of the Senate
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ The Pennsylvania Manual, pp. 3–7.
- ^ Article II, section 3, Pennsylvania Constitution.
- ^ Article IV, section 14, Pennsylvania Constitution.
- ^ "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania"."Article II. The Legislature"."§5. Qualifications of Members".
- ^ Jones, Matt (February 15, 2023). "Schlegel-Culver to be sworn in to Senate Feb. 28". The Standard-Journal. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
Sources
edit- Trostle, Sharon, ed. (2009). The Pennsylvania Manual. Vol. 119. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Department of General Services. ISBN 978-0-8182-0334-3.