Pennsylvania State Senate | |
---|---|
Pennsylvania General Assembly | |
Type | |
Type | |
Term limits | None |
History | |
New session started | January 5, 2021 |
Leadership | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
Structure | |
Seats | 50 |
Political groups | Majority caucus
Minority caucus
|
Length of term | 4 years |
Authority | Article II, Pennsylvania Constitution |
Salary | $90,335/year + per diem[1] |
Elections | |
Last election | November 3, 2020 (odd-numbered districts) |
Next election | November 8, 2022 (even-numbered districts) |
Redistricting | Legislative Control |
Meeting place | |
State Senate Chamber Pennsylvania State Capitol Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | |
Website | |
Pennsylvania State Senate |
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 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 Pennsylvania Senate has been meeting since 1791.
The president of the Senate is the lieutenant governor, who has no vote except in the event of an otherwise tie vote.
President of the Senate: John Fetterman (D)
President pro tem of the Senate: Jake Corman (R)
Majority party (R) | Leadership position | Minority party (D) |
Kim Ward | Floor Leader | Jay Costa |
John Gordner | Whip | Anthony H. Williams |
Bob Mensch | Caucus Chairman | Wayne D. Fontana |
Ryan Aument | Caucus Secretary | Maria Collett |
Pat Browne | Appropriations Committee Chairman | Vincent Hughes |
Dave Argall | Policy Committee Chairman | Katie Muth |
Camera Bartolotta | Caucus Administrator | Judy Schwank |
Main article: 2020 Pennsylvania Senate election |
Affiliation | Party (shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
1995–1996 session | 29 | 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 | 21 | 50 | 0 |
as of January 1, 2022[update]:
20 | 1 | 1 | 28 |
Democratic | Republican |
Affiliation | Party (shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ind | Democratic | Vacant | ||
End of previous legislature | 28 | 1 | 21 | 50 | 0 |
January 5, 2021[4] | 28 | 1 | 20 | 49 | 1 |
January 13, 2021[5] | 21 | 50 | 0 | ||
January 17, 2021[6] | 27 | 49 | 1 | ||
February 15, 2021[7] | 20 | 48 | 2 | ||
June 9, 2021[8][9] | 28 | 21 | 50 | 0 | |
January 1, 2022[10] | 20 | 49 | 1 | ||
Latest voting share | 58% | 40% |
The 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.
Committee Name | Majority chair | Minority chair |
---|---|---|
Aging & Youth | Judy Ward | Maria Collett |
Agriculture & Rural Affairs | Elder Vogel | Judy Schwank |
Appropriations | Pat Browne | Vincent Hughes |
Banking & Insurance | John DiSanto | Sharif Street |
Communications & Technology | Kristin Phillips-Hill | John I. Kane |
Community, Economic & Recreational Development | John Yudichak | Amanda Cappelletti |
Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure | Tommy Tomlinson | Lisa Boscola |
Education | Scott Martin | Lindsey Williams |
Environmental Resources & Energy | Eugene Yaw | Carolyn Comitta |
Finance | Scott Hutchinson | Wayne D. Fontana |
Game & Fisheries | Dan Laughlin | Jim Brewster |
Health & Human Services | Michele Brooks | Arthur L. Haywood III |
Intergovernmental Operations | Cris Dush | Anthony H. Williams |
Judiciary | Lisa Baker | Steve Santarsiero |
Labor & Industry | Camera Bartolotta | Christine Tartaglione |
Law & Justice | Mike Regan | Jim Brewster |
Local Government | Cris Dush | Tim Kearney |
Rules & Executive Nominations | Kim Ward | Jay Costa |
State Government | Dave Argall | Sharif Street |
Transportation | Wayne Langerholc | Marty Flynn |
Urban Affairs & Housing | Joe Pittman | Nikil Saval |
Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparednesss | Patrick J. Stefano | Katie Muth |
Main article: Political party strength in Pennsylvania |