Basic Information 
About the Legislature

The Legislature enacts laws, levies taxes and determines how the funds from such taxes will be spent.  The state appropriates money to support schools, hospitals, senior citizens and the poor; to build and maintain roads and bridges; and to fund the general cost of running state government.

The Pennsylvania Legislature is made up of two elected bodies, or chambers -- the Senate, with 50 members, and the House of Representatives, with 203 members.  Both chambers must approve a bill before it can be sent to the Governor, who can either sign it into law or reject it through the use of veto power.

The Senate alone also has the authority to approve or reject certain nominations made by the Governor to boards, commissions, judgeships, etc.

The Senate Chamber is located in the Capitol’s north wing and the House Chamber is in the south wing.

The Lieutenant Governor, who is second-in-command in state government to the Governor, also serves as President of the Senate, opening and closing the day’s activities, announcing bills up for vote and enforcing Senate rules.  In the occasion of a tie on certain issues, the Lieutenant Governor casts a Senate vote.  In the absence of the Lieutenant Governor, the President Pro Tempore -- elected to the post by fellow Senators -- presides.

The House is presided over by the Speaker, a member of the House who is elected to the position by House colleagues.

Sessions of the Legislature

Regular sessions begin on the first Tuesday in January in each odd year and continue for two years until the Legislature formally recesses in a process called “sine die.”  Senate sessions are usually held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

There is no restriction on the subject matter of legislation that may be considered in regular session.

Special sessions are called by proclamation by the Governor or by petition of a majority of members in the House and Senate.  Only subjects mentioned in the proclamation can be considered in a special session.

Membership of the Legislature

Each Senatorial District contains an average of 237,630 people; each House District an average of 58,530 people.

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Senate Staff

To assist Senators in their lawmaking and constituent duties each Senator employs a staff of secretaries and administrative aides.

Staff members work with the Senator to answer constituent phone calls and letters; process requests and applications for state government services; research issues that will come before the Senate or committees on which the Senator serves; provide information on the activities of state agencies and departments; and coordinate activities in the Senator’s Capitol and district offices.

Legislative Tools

There are several reference materials available to Senators and the general public to help track the thousands of pieces of legislation introduced each session.

Daily Calendar:  Placed on the desk of each member every day the Senate is in session, the calendar lists all the bills or executive nominations before the Senate that day.

Legislative History:  A limited number of copies are printed each week and delivered to each Senator’s office and filed on the Senate floor.  The history shows every bill and resolution introduced in the House and Senate, action taken, and the status of the legislation as it makes its way through the legislative process.  It also lists bills approved or vetoed by the Governor, committee action, and other information.  A final legislative history is published at the end of each session ending in an even-numbered year.

Legislative Journal:  A Senate and House journal is prepared daily recording all action and votes taken plus other pertinent information.  These are printed for members and distributed to libraries throughout the Commonwealth.

The Senator’s Job