Pennsylvania House of Representatives
| Pennsylvania House of Representatives | |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania General Assembly | |
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| Type | |
| Type | Lower house |
| Term limits | None |
| New session started | January 4, 2011 |
| Leadership | |
| Speaker of the House | Sam Smith, (R) since January 4, 2011 |
| Majority Leader | Mike Turzai, (R) since January 4, 2011 |
| Minority Leader | Frank Dermody, (D) since January 4, 2011 |
| Structure | |
| Members | 203 |
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| Political groups | Republican Party (112) Democratic Party (91) |
| Length of term | 2 years |
| Authority | Article II, section 1, Pennsylvania Constitution |
| Salary | $78,314/year[1] |
| Elections | |
| Last election | November 2, 2010 (203 seats) |
| Next election | November 6, 2012 (203 seats) |
| Meeting place | |
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| House of Representatives Chamber Pennsylvania State Capitol Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
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| Website | |
| Pennsylvania House of Representatives | |
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts.[2][3]
Following the 2010 elections, the house consisted of 112 Republicans, 91 Democrats. Republican Sam Smith was elected Speaker of the House on January 4, 2011. In 2002, a State Representative district had an average population of 60,498 residents.
The house is the second largest state legislature in the United States (behind the New Hampshire House of Representatives). It is considering a proposal to reduce its size to 153 after 2020.[4]
Contents |
[edit] Hall of the House
The Hall of the House contains important symbols to Pennsylvania history and the work of legislators.
- Speaker's Chair: a throne-like chair of rank that sits directly behind the Speaker's rostrum. Architect Joseph Huston designed the chair in 1906, the year the Capitol was dedicated.
- Mace: the House symbol of authority, peace, order and respect for law rests in a pedestal to the right of the Speaker. Its base is solid mahogany, intricately carved and capped by a brass globe engraved with the Pennsylvania coat of arms. An American Eagle perches on top. The tradition of the mace may date to the Roman Republic when attendants of Roman consuls carried bundles of sticks wrapped around an axe to enforce order. The tradition is common may also come directly from Pennsylvania's English heritage.
- Murals: a colorful panorama of Pennsylvania history appear in murals by Edwin Austin Abbey. The most commanding of the series hangs behind the Speaker's rostrum and dominates the wall behind the Speaker. It is called The Apotheosis of Pennsylvania
- Ceiling: a work of art in itself with its ornate geometry of gold leaf buttoned at the center by a charming painted illustration. In "The Hours," Abbey represents the passage of time in the form of 24 maidens revolving in an endless circle amidst the moon, the sun and the stars of the Milky Way. [1]
[edit] Speaker of the House
The speakership is the oldest elected state-wide office in the Commonwealth. Since its first session in 1682—presided over by William Penn—over 130 house members have been elevated to the speaker's chair. The house cannot hold an official session in the absence of the speaker or his designated speaker pro tempore. Speaker Leroy Irvis was the first African American elected speaker of any state legislature in the United States since Reconstruction. Speaker Dennis O'Brien was the only minority-party Speaker known in Pennsylvania and only the second known nationwide. Pennsylvania has never had a female speaker.
[edit] Composition
Results of the November 2, 2010 elections:
| Affiliation | Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | Vacant | ||
| End of previous legislature | 104 | 98 | 203 | 0 |
| Begin | 90 | 112 | 202 | 1 |
| February 15, 2011[5] | 91 | 203 | 0 | |
| January 2, 2012[6] | 88 | 110 | 198 | 5 |
| January 3, 2012[7] | 87 | 197 | 6 | |
| Latest voting share | 44.8% | 55.2% | ||
[edit] Gender Composition
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has only 33 women out of 203 total representatives in 2011.[8] This is only 16%, which is below the national average of 23.1% women in all statewide legislative positions.
[edit] House of Representatives Leadership
As of January 4, 2010[9]
Speaker of the House of Representatives: Sam Smith (R)
| Majority Party (R) | Leadership Position | Minority Party (D) |
| Mike Turzai | Floor Leader | Frank Dermody |
| Stan Saylor | Whip | Mike Hanna |
| Sandra Major | Caucus Chairperson | Dan Frankel |
| Mike Vereb | Caucus Secretary | Jennifer Mann |
| Bill Adolph | Appropriations Committee Chairman | Joe Markosek |
| Dick Stevenson | Caucus Administrator | Ron Buxton |
| Dave Reed | Policy Committee Chairman | Mike Sturla |
[edit] Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 3-7.
- ^ Article II, section 2, Pennsylvania Constitution.
- ^ Article II, section 16, Pennsylvania Constitution.
- ^ http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/04/04/missouri-senate-oks-advances-move-shrink-house/
- ^ Democrat Maria Donatucci elected to fill the vacant seat previously held by Democrat Robert Donatucci, who died prior to the session being seated.
- ^ Republicans Dennis M. O'Brien and Doug Reichley and Democrats Kenyatta Johnson, Chelsa Wagner, and Jewell Williams resign following elections to new offices.
- ^ Democrat Josh Shapiro resigns following elections to new office.
- ^ http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/fast_facts/levels_of_office/documents/stleg.pdf
- ^ "Officers". Pennsylvania House of Representatives. http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house/officers.cfm. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
[edit] Sources
- Trostle, Sharon, ed. (2009). The Pennsylvania Manual. 119. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Department of General Services. ISBN 0-8182-0334-X.
[edit] External links
Media related to Pennsylvania House of Representatives at Wikimedia Commons
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