Pennsylvania House of Representatives explained

Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Legislature:	Pennsylvania General Assembly
Coa Pic:	Seal of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.svg
Session Room:	PA House chamber 03 2019.jpg
House Type:	Lower house
Body:	Pennsylvania General Assembly
Term Limits:	None
New Session:	January 3, 2023
Leader1 Type:	Speaker
Leader1:	Joanna McClinton (D)
Election1:	February 28, 2023
Leader3 Type:	Majority Leader
Leader3:	Matthew Bradford (D)
Election3:	February 28, 2023
Leader4 Type:	Minority Leader
Leader4:	Bryan Cutler (R)
Election4:	February 8, 2023
Term Length:	2 years
Authority:	Article II, section 1, Pennsylvania Constitution
Salary:	$102,844
Members:	203
Structure1:	Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2024 3.svg
Structure1 Res:	250px
Political Groups1:	Majority Democratic (102) Minority Republican (101)
Last Election1:	November 8, 2022
Next Election1:	November 5, 2024
Meeting Place:	House of Representatives Chamber Pennsylvania State Capitol Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
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.^{[1] [2]}

It is the largest full-time state legislature in the country. The New Hampshire House of Representatives is larger but only serves part-time.

Qualifications

Representatives must be at least 21 years of age. They must be a U.S. citizen and a Pennsylvania resident four years, and a resident of the district they represent one year prior to their election and must reside in that district during their term.^[3]

Hall of the House

The Hall of the House contains important symbols of 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 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.^[4]

Speaker of the House

See main article: Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The speakership is the oldest elected statewide 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 their 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.

Democrat Joanna McClinton was elected Speaker of the House on, becoming the first female Speaker in Pennsylvania.^[5]

Composition

Current session

↓

100<	--	0	0 -->	101
Democratic<	--	Don't show Independent here. It messes up the width and impresses upon the reader that they have more seats in the House than what they actually have. --><	--	Don't show Vacant here. It messes up the width and impresses upon the reader that they have more seats in the House than what they actually have. -->	Republican

Affiliation	Party (shading indicates majority caucus)			Total
	Republican	Ind	Democratic		Vacant
End of previous legislature		113		0	88	201	0
January 3, 2023	rowspan=2	101	1	98	200	3
January 13, 2023^[6]	0	99
February 7, 2023^[7]		101	rowspan="2"	102	203	0
February 28, 2023^[8]		100	202	1
March 16, 2023^[9]				101	201	2
May 17, 2023^[10]		101		102	203	0
July 19, 2023^[11]				101	202	1
September 19, 2023^[12]				102	203	0
December 14, 2023^[13]			101	202	1
February 9, 2024^[14]		100	201	2
February 15, 2024^[15]			102	202	1
April 23, 2024^[16]		101	203	0
July 15, 2024^[17]				101	202	1
July 16, 2024				100	201	2
Latest voting share

Leadership

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Joanna McClinton (D)

Majority Party (D)^[18]	Leadership Position	Minority Party (R)^[19]
	Matthew Bradford	Floor Leader		Bryan Cutler
	Dan Miller	Whip		Tim O'Neal
	Michael Schlossberg	Caucus Chairperson		George Dunbar
	Tina Davis	Caucus Secretary		Martina White
	Jordan A. Harris	Appropriations Committee Chairperson		Seth Grove
	Leanne Krueger	Caucus Administrator		Sheryl M. Delozier
	Ryan Bizzarro	Policy Committee Chairperson		Josh Kail

Current members

District	Representative	Party	Residence	Counties represented^[20]	First elected
		Dem			2006
		Dem	Erie		2018
		Dem			2012
		Rep			2022
		Rep		Berks	2014
		Rep			2006
		Rep			2014
		Rep			2016
		Rep			2022
		Dem			2020
		Rep			2019
		Rep			2022
		Rep			2010
		Rep			2006
		Rep		Beaver, Washington	2018
		Dem			2008
		Rep			2020
		Rep	Bensalem		2020
		Dem		Pittsburgh	Allegheny	2022
		Dem	Pittsburgh		2020
		Dem			2023
		Dem			2022
		Dem			1998
24		Dem	Pittsburgh	Allegheny	2022
		Dem		Allegheny	2018
		Dem			2022
		Dem			2008
		Rep	Wexford		2020
		Dem			2022
		Dem			2022
		Dem			2016
		Dem			2023
		Dem	Fox Chapel		2022
		Dem			2023
		Dem			2023
		Dem			2020
		Rep			2012
		Dem	West Mifflin		2020
		Rep			2022
		Rep			2018
		Rep			2014
		Dem			2013
		Rep			2012
		Rep			2018
		Dem			2016
		Rep			2014
		Rep			2022
		Rep			2018
		Dem			2022
		Rep			2016
		Rep			2022
		Rep		Fayette	2014
		Dem			2018
		Dem	Norristown		2022
		Rep	Murrysville		2022
		Rep			2010
		Rep			2016
		Rep			2020
	Leslie Rossi	Rep	Unity Township		2021
	Abby Major	Rep	Leechburg		2021
		Dem			2018
		Rep			2018
		Rep			2008
		Rep			2012
		Rep			2004
		Rep			2020
		Rep			2002
		Rep			2018
		Rep			2008
		Dem			2008
		Rep			2018
		Dem			2008
		Rep			2022
		Dem			2018
		Rep	Sandy Township		2020
		Rep			2018
		Dem			2006
		Rep			2014
		Rep	Altoona		2018
		Rep	Hollidaysburg		2018
		Rep		Franklin, Huntingdon	2014
		Dem	College Township		2022
		Rep			2022
		Rep	Hepburn Township		2020
		Rep			2019
		Rep	Tyrone Township		2020
		Rep			2022
		Rep			2008
		Rep			2004
		Rep			2014
		Rep			2006
		Rep			2016
		Rep			2018
		Rep			2022
		Dem			2016
		Dem			1990
		Rep			2012
		Rep			2022
		Rep			2014
		Rep			2006
		Rep			2022
		Rep			2014
		Dem			2012
		Dem			2022
		Dem	Susquehanna Township		2022
		Rep			2016
		Rep			2022
		Rep			2023
		Rep			2022
		Rep			2000
		Rep			2016
		Dem	Blakely		2018
		Dem			2022
		Dem	Scranton		2019
		Dem	Coolbaugh Township		2016
		Rep	McAdoo		2022
		Rep			2022
		Dem			2022
		Rep			2022
		Rep			2014
		Dem			2006
		Rep			2010
		Rep	Butler Township		2020
		Rep			2022
		Rep	Lykens		2020
		Dem			2012
		Dem			2020
		Rep			2010
		Dem			2022
		Rep			2010
		Rep			2020
		Dem			2012
		Dem			2017
		Dem			2014
		Dem			1998
		Dem			1998
		Rep			2010
		Rep	Moore Township		2020
		Rep	Hawley		2024
		Dem	Falls Township		2024
		Dem			2010
		Rep			2022
		Rep	Plumstead Township		2020
		Dem	Warminster		2022
		Rep			2014
		Dem			2018
		Rep	Lower Salford Township		2022
		Dem			2012
		Dem			2008
		Dem			2018
		Dem			2022
		Dem			2020
		Dem	Abington Township		2018
		Dem	Cheltenham Township		2020
		Dem	Uwchlan Township		2018
		Dem			2022
		Dem	Schuylkill Township		2018
		Dem	West Bradford		2018
		Dem			2022
		Rep	Concord Township		2020
		Dem			2015
		Dem	Ridley Township		2018
		Dem			2023
164		Dem	Upper Darby Township	Delaware	2021^[21]
		Dem			2018
		Dem		Delaware	1992
		Dem			2018
		Dem			2022
		Rep			2014
		Rep			2015
		Rep			1996
		Dem			2010
		Dem			2022
		Dem			2015
		Dem			2018
		Rep			2014
		Dem			2018
		Rep			2022
		Dem			2014
		Dem			2022
		Dem			2018
		Dem			2022
		Rep		Lehigh, Northampton	2016
		Dem			2018
		Dem			2020
		Dem			2012
		Rep			2012
		Dem			2020
		Dem			2022
		Dem			2022
		Dem			2015
		Dem			2016
		Rep			2018
		Dem			2022
	Vacant
		Rep			2008
		Dem			2018
		Dem			2020
		Rep	Middlesex Township		2018
		Dem			2016
	Vacant
		Dem			2016
		Dem			2022

Past composition of the House of Representatives

See main article: Political party strength in Pennsylvania.

Committees

^[22]

Committee name		Majority Chair^[23]	Minority Chair^[24]
	Subcommittee name
Aging & Older Adult Services			Maureen Madden		Steven Mentzer
	Care and Services		Darisha Parker		Eric Nelson
	Programs and Benefits		Jessica Benham		Joanne Stehr
Agriculture & Rural Affairs			Eddie Day Pashinski		Dan Moul
Appropriations			Jordan A. Harris		Seth Grove
	Health and Human Services		Aerion Abney		James Struzzi
	Education		Elizabeth Fiedler
	Economic Impact and Infrastructure		Manny Guzman Jr.		Clint Owlett
	Fiscal Policy		Emily Kinkead		Louis Schmitt Jr.
	Criminal Justice		Napoleon Nelson		Torren Ecker
	Government and Financial Oversight		Ben Sanchez		John Lawrence
Children & Youth			Donna Bullock		Barry Jozwiak
Commerce			H. Scott Conklin		Joe Emrick
	Financial Services and Banking		Malcolm Kenyatta		Michael Armanini
	Housing Finance		Darisha Parker		Dallas Kephart
	Economic Development		Melissa Shusterman		Timothy Twardzik
	Local Business		Chris Rabb		Marla Brown
	Automation and Technology		Chris Pielli		Donna Scheuren
Committee On Committees			Morgan Cephas		Tina Pickett
Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities^[25]			Robert Matzie		Jim Marshall
	Consumer Protection		Nick Pisciottano		Craig Williams
	Technology		Lisa Borowski		K.C. Tomlinson
	Utilities		Steve Malagari		Alec Ryncavage
Education			Peter Schweyer		Jesse Topper
	Basic Education		Joe Ciresi		Barbara Gleim
	Special Education		Mark Rozzi		Jason Ortitay
	Higher Education		Mary Isaacson		Rob Mercuri
	Career and Technical Education		Maureen Madden		Craig Staats
Environmental Resources & Energy			Greg Vitali		Martin Causer
	Energy		Elizabeth Fiedler		Stephanie Borowicz
	Parks and Forests		Mary Isaacson		Jason Ortitay
	Mining		Paul Takac		Michael Armanini
Ethics			Donna Bullock		Kate Klunk
Finance			Steve Samuelson		Keith Greiner
	Tax Modernization and Reform		Chris Rabb		Jonathan Fritz
Game & Fisheries			Anita Kulik		David Maloney
Gaming Oversight			Pat Harkins		Russ Diamond
Government Oversight			Morgan Cephas		Aaron Kaufer
Health			Dan Frankel		Kathy Rapp
	Health Facilities		Lisa Borowski		Timothy R. Bonner
	Health Care		Rick Krajewski		Paul Schemel
Housing and Community Development^[26]			Mike Sturla		Rich Irvin
Human Services			Stephen Kinsey		Doyle Heffley
	Mental Health		Maureen Madden		James Struzzi
	Drugs and Alcohol		Dan K. Williams		Craig Williams
Insurance			Kevin J. Boyle		Tina Pickett
Judiciary			Tim Briggs		Rob Kauffman
	Family Law		Melissa Shusterman		Timothy R. Bonner
	Courts		Joseph C. Hohenstein		Paul Schemel
	Crime and Corrections		Emily Kinkead		Jim Rigby
Labor & Industry			Jason Dawkins		Ryan Mackenzie
	Employment and Unemployment Compensation		Jennifer O'Mara		Mike Jones
	Workers Compensation and Worker Protection		Jim Haddock		Barbara Gleim
Liquor Control			Dan Deasy		Mindy Fee
	Licensing		Mary Isaacson		Dawn Keefer
	Marketing		Danielle Friel Otten		Craig Staats
Local Government			Bob Freeman		Lee James
	Boroughs		Tarah Probst		Jack Rader
	Counties		Liz Hanbidge		Andrew Kuzma
	Townships		Christina Sappey		Parke Wentling
Policy			Ryan Bizzarro		Josh Kail
Professional Licensure			Frank Burns		Carl Walker Metzgar
Rules			Matthew Bradford		Bryan Cutler
State Government			H. Scott Conklin		Brad Roae
	Campaign Finance and Elections		Maureen Madden		Dawn Keefer
	Government Operations		Malcolm Kenyatta		Craig Staats
	Public Pensions, Benefits and Risk Management		Ben Sanchez		Brett Miller
	Government Information Technology and Communication		Joe Webster		Jamie Barton
	Government Integrity and Transparency		Kristine Howard		Louis Schmitt Jr.
Tourism & Economic & Recreational Development			Mary Jo Daley		Donna Oberlander
	Recreation		Paul Takac		Brian Smith
	Arts and Entertainment		Joe Ciresi		Jack Rader
	Travel Promotion, History and Heritage		Regina Young		Michael Armanini
Transportation			Ed Neilson		Kerry Benninghoff
	Highways		Anthony A. Bellmon		Jason Ortitay
	Public Transportation		Vacant		James Struzzi
	Transportation Safety		Kyle Mullins		Eric Davanzo
	Aviation		Joshua Siegel		Brian Smith
	Railroads		Gina Curry		Louis Schmitt Jr.
	Ports		Joseph C. Hohenstein		Shelby Labs
Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness			Jared Solomon		Mark M. Gillen
	Military and Veterans Facilities		Joe Webster		Craig Williams
	Security and Emergency Response Readiness		Carol Hill-Evans		Jim Rigby

See also

• Pennsylvania State Senate
• List of Pennsylvania state legislatures

References

Specific

General

• Book: Trostle . Sharon . 119 . . 2009 . . Harrisburg . 978-0-8182-0334-3.

External links

• The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• State House of Pennsylvania information and voting records This link leads to information about elected officials and candidates in Pennsylvania on the website "Project Vote Smart." This web site provides such information for all states in the US.

40.2639°N -76.8833°W

Notes and References

1. Article II, section 2, Pennsylvania Constitution.
2. Article II, section 16, Pennsylvania Constitution.
3. Web site: Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . Web site: Article II. The Legislature . Web site: §5. Qualifications of Members .
4. Web site: Pennsylvania General Assembly . Legislativate Data Processing . Center . Pennsylvania General Assembly . 2007-01-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061218190019/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/VC/visitor_info/our_house/what.htm . 2006-12-18 . dead.
5. Web site: Caruso . Stephen . 2023-02-28 . PA House elects first female speaker after resignation . 2023-02-28 . . en-us.
6. Web site: Lehman . Tom . Lawmaker calls for resignation of Pennsylvania House speaker . WGAL . en . 9 January 2023.
7. News: Vigdor . Neil . 2023-02-07 . Sweep in 3 Special Elections Gives Democrats Control of Pennsylvania House . en-US . . 2023-02-08 . 0362-4331.
8. Web site: Jones . Matt . 2023-02-15 . Schlegel-Culver to be sworn in to Senate Feb. 28 . 2023-02-24 . The Standard-Journal . en.
9. Web site: Caruso . Stephen . 2023-03-08 . PA lawmaker accused of sexual harassment will resign . 2023-03-08 . . en-us.
10. Web site: Scicchitano . Eric . 2023-05-17 . Majority position allows Pa. House Dems to pursue policy priorities . 2023-05-20 . CNHI News . en.
11. Web site: Back To Even. Innamorato To Resign From PA House. Ulrich. Steve. July 19, 2023. July 19, 2023. PoliticsPA.
12. Web site: Caruso . Stephen . 2023-09-19 . Democrats again have PA House vote advantage . 2023-09-20 . Spotlight PA . en-us.
13. Web site: Hall . Peter . December 14, 2023 . Special election set for Feb. 13 as Pa. state Rep. Galloway officially resigns . 2023-12-17 . Pennsylvania Capital-Star . en-US.
14. Web site: 2024-02-09 . Adams's resignation gives House Democrats slim majority prior to special elections . 2024-02-09 . City & State PA . en.
15. News: McGoldrick . Gillian . 2024-02-13 . Democrats hold on to control of the Pa. House in Lower Bucks special election . 2024-02-15 . The Philadelphia Inquirer . en.
16. News: Olsommer wins 139th PA House District special election 2024 Election Results . 24 April 2024 . WNEP-TV . April 23, 2024.
17. News: Bell. Mac. Stockburger. George. Two Democrat Pennsylvania State House Representatives resign. ABC27. July 16, 2024. July 16, 2024.
18. Web site: Ulrich . Steve . 2023-02-28 . House Democrats Announce Leadership Team - PoliticsPA . 2023-03-01 . . en-US.
19. Web site: Leaders for the 2023-24 Session. 2023-02-08. PA House Republican Caucus. en-US.
20. Web site: 2022 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Districts . DOS Voting & Election Information . Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . 26 March 2023.
21. Margo Davidson resigned on July 23, 2021, after being charged with theft of state funds.
22. Web site: 2023-05-01 . Daily Session Update . 2023-05-30 . Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
23. Web site: Ulrich . Steve . 2023-03-08 . McClinton Announces House Committee Chairs . 2023-03-19 . . en-US.
24. Web site: Ulrich . Steve . 2023-01-26 . GOP Names House Committee Chairs . 2023-01-27 . . en-US.
25. Known as the Consumer Affairs Committee prior to 2023.
26. Known as the Urban Affairs Committee prior to 2023.