The Green Papers: Pennsylvania State and Local Government

Home ❯ State and Local Governmen… ❯ Pennsylvania

Governor:1
Senators: 2 (Electoral Classes 1 and 3)
2020 Census: 13,011,844 (3.92% of 331,797,979
- 2024, 2028 Electors: 19 (3.53% of 538)
- 2022-2030 Representatives: 17 (3.91% of 435)
2010 Census: 12,734,905 (4.11% of 309,785,186)
- 2012, 2016, 2020 Electors: 20 (3.72% of 538)
- 2012-2020 Representatives: 18 (4.14% of 435)
Capital: Harrisburg

Current Pennsylvania Statewide Office Holders

Official Name/Status All States

The COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania
Status: STATE of the Union
Ratified Articles of Confederation: 5 March 1778. this State formally adhered to the Articles on 9 July 1778 when the document was signed by its delegates to the Seventh Continental Congress
Ratified Constitution of the United States: 12 December 1787
The 2nd state.

Traditional Sections and Regions All States

Section: NORTHEAST
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Survey: Metes & Bounds

Constitutions All States Links to State Constitutions

Enabling Act: [None. One of the 13 original States which declared their independence from the nascent British Empire on 4 July 1776]
- 1st (1776-1790) [Adopted: 28 September 1776 Convention convened, 15 July 1776, Ratified: 28 September 1776 not submitted to the People]
- 2nd (1790-1838) [Adopted: 2 September 1790 Convention convened, 24 November 1789; this Adoption date reflects the date the Convention adjourned sine die after having declared this Constitution in force as a result of first having "shewn the work" to the People and thereafter reconvening on 9 August 1790 to work on suggested amendments before proclaiming this Constitution in force, Ratified: 2 September 1790 The Convention had submitted this 2nd Constitution to the People for purposes of discussion and then recessed on 26 February 1790 but the People were not called upon to ratify it by an actual vote at the polls]
- 3rd (1839-1873) [Adopted: 22 February 1838 Convention convened, 2 May 1837, Ratified: November 1838 ratified by a vote of 113,971 to 112,759; effective, 1 January 1839]
- 4th (1874-) [Adopted: 3 November 1873 Convention convened, 12 November 1872, Ratified: 16 December 1873 effective, 1 January 1874 (NOTE: This Constitution was recodified in three stages between 1966 and 1968: the General Assembly drafted two sets of amendments which were approved by the voters on 17 May 1966 and 16 May 1967, respectively; a limited Constitutional Convention then met from 1 December 1967 thru 29 February 1968 to work these 1966 and 1967 amendments- along with any amendments proposed by the Convention- into a recodified document which was approved by the voters on 23 April 1968. However, this recodification of 1968 is not generally considered to be a "5th Constitution" per se )]

Executive Branch All States

Chief Executive
- GOVERNOR
Successor to a Vacancy
- Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR]

Major Executive Officers Elected Statewide All States
- Governor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
- Lieutenant Governor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Elected on a ticket with (but nominated separately by partisan primary from) the Governor
- Attorney General: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024. Term Limit: 2 terms
- Treasurer: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024. Term Limit: 2 terms
- Auditor General: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024

Legislative Branch All States

Legislature
- GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Upper House
- Senate
Lower House
- House of Representatives

Judicial Branch All States

Court of Last Resort
- Supreme Court
Intermediate Appellate Court
- Superior Court

Local Government All States

PRIMARY CIVIL DIVISION All States
- county [Type: Broad, Executive and Legislative: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS]
  - MINOR CIVIL DIVISION
    - township [Type: Limited, Executive and Legislative: Board of Supervisors]

Statutory Election Information All States

General Election All States
- Tuesday next after 1st Monday in November of even-numbered years
  [Unconsolidated PA Statutes 25-2751]
Presidential Primary All States
- at the same time as the State Primary in Presidential Election years (4th Tuesday in April... but see NOTE re: State Primary)
  [Unconsolidated PA Statutes 25-2753(a)]
State Primary All States
- even-numbered years... 3d Tuesday in May of non-Presidential Election years;
  4th Tuesday in April of Presidential Election years
  [Unconsolidated PA Statutes 25-2753(a)...
  (NOTE: the 2000 State Primary [and, by extension (see above), PA's Presidential Primary] was specifically set for 4 April, which was the 1st Tuesday in April of that year, in section 25-2753(b1))]
Polling times All States
- Polls open: 7 AM local time
  Polls close: 8 PM local time
  [Unconsolidated PA Statutes 25-3045]

Links Links to other web sites. These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes.

State and Local Government Outline

Modified .