Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate | |
---|---|
Pennsylvania General Assembly | |
Type | |
Type | Upper House |
Term limits | None |
New session started | January 4, 2011 |
Leadership | |
President of the Senate | Jim Cawley, (R) since January 18, 2011 |
President Pro Tem of the Senate | Joseph Scarnati, (R) since January 2, 2007 |
Majority Leader | Dominic Pileggi, (R) since January 2, 2007 |
Minority Leader | Jay Costa, (D) since January 4, 2011 |
Structure | |
Members | 50 |
Political groups | Republican Party (30) Democratic Party (20) |
Length of term | 4 years |
Authority | Article II, Pennsylvania Constitution |
Salary | $78,315/year[1] |
Elections | |
Last election | November 2, 2010 (25 seats) |
Next election | November 6, 2012 (25 seats) |
Redistricting | Legislative Control |
Meeting place | |
State Senate Chamber Pennsylvania State Capitol Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
|
Website | |
Pennsylvania State Senate |
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It 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 numbered seats and odd numbered 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 President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor, who has no vote except in the event of an otherwise tie vote. Following the 2010 elections, the Senate consisted of 30 Republicans and 20 Democrats, but Michael O'Pake died shortly after being re-elected, which resulted in a vacancy.
Contents |
[edit] Senate leadership
President of the Senate: Jim Cawley (R)
President Pro Tem of the Senate: Joe Scarnati (R)
Majority party (R) | Leadership position | Minority party (D) |
Dominic Pileggi | Floor Leader | Jay Costa |
Jake Corman | Appropriations Committee Chairman | Vincent Hughes |
Pat Browne | Whip | Anthony Hardy Williams |
Mike Waugh | Caucus Chairman | Rich Kasunic |
Bob Robbins | Caucus Secretary | Christine Tartaglione |
John Gordner | Caucus Administrator | Wayne Fontana |
Edwin Erickson | Policy Committee Chairman | Lisa Boscola |
[edit] Composition
Affiliation | Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
End of previous legislature | 30 | 20 | 50 | 0 |
Begin[4] | 30 | 19 | 50 | 1 |
April 5, 2011[5] | 20 | 50 | 0 | |
Latest voting share | 60% | 40% |
[edit] Members
The Senate is made up of 50 members who are elected by district. As of 2011, the parisan breakdown is 30 Republicans and 20 Democrats. In 2002, a State Senate district had an average population of 245,621 residents.
[edit] List
[edit] See also
- Project Vote Smart (Pennsylvania State Senate information and voting records is the link that leads to information about elected officials and candidates in Pennsylvania.)
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- President of the Pennsylvania Senate
- President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate
[edit] References
- ^ The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 3-7.
- ^ Article II, section 3, Pennsylvania Constitution.
- ^ Article IV, section 14, Pennsylvania Constitution.
- ^ Democrat Michael O'Pake (District 11) died December 27, 2010
- ^ Democrat Judy Schwank sworn in to replace O'Pake.
[edit] Sources
- Trostle, Sharon, ed. (2009). The Pennsylvania Manual. 119. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Department of General Services. ISBN 0-8182-0334-X.
[edit] External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pennsylvania State Senate |
|
|
Coordinates: 40°15′52.9″N 76°53′1.9″W / 40.264694°N 76.883861°W