Pennsylvania State Senate
| Pennsylvania State Senate | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Party control: | Republican |
| Session start: | January 2, 2024 |
| Session end: | November 30, 2024 |
| Term length: | 4 years |
| Term limits: | None |
| Redistricting: | Commission |
| Salary: | $102,844.07/year + per diem |
| Members | |
| Total: | 50 |
| Democrats: | 22 |
| Republicans: | 28 |
| Other: | 0 (independent) |
| Vacancies: | 0 |
| Leadership | |
| President: | Austin Davis (D) |
| Maj. Leader: | Joe Pittman (R) |
| Min. Leader: | Jay Costa (D) |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper chamber of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Alongside the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, it forms the legislative branch of the Pennsylvania state government and works alongside the governor of Pennsylvania to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Pennsylvania State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.
The Pennsylvania State Senate meets in the state capitol building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and the lower chamber of the state legislature, while the Republican Party controls the upper chamber of the state legislature. |
This page contains the following information on the Pennsylvania State Senate.
- Which party controls the chamber
- The chamber's current membership
- Partisan control of the chamber over time
- Elections in the chamber and how vacancies are filled
- A district map
- How redistricting works in the state
- Legislation under consideration
- Legislative session dates
- Legislative procedures, such as veto overrides and the state budget process
- A list of committees
Party control
Current partisan control
The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Pennsylvania State Senate as of January 2024:
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 22 | |
| Republican Party | 28 | |
| Independent | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 50 | |
Members
Leadership
The lieutenant governor serves as president of the Senate, but has no vote except in the case of a tie. The president pro tempore is elected by the Senate from its members.[1][2]
Leadership and members
- Senate president: Austin Davis (D)
- Senate president pro tempore: Kim Ward (R)
- Majority leader: Joe Pittman (R)
- Minority leader: Jay Costa (D)
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $102,844.07/year | $181/day |
Swearing in dates
Pennsylvania legislators assume office on the first day of December after a general election.[3]
Membership qualifications
Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution states:
| “ | Senators shall be at least 25 years of age and Representatives 21 years of age. They shall have been citizens and inhabitants of the State four years, and inhabitants of their respective districts one year next before their election (unless absent on the public business of the United States or of this State), and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service.[4][5] | ” |
Historical party control
Republicans won control of the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1994. In 2022, they won a 28-22 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Pennsylvania Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Pennsylvania State Senate election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 25 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 20 | 16 | 21 | 21 | 22 |
| Republicans | 25 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 34 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Trifecta history
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Pennsylvania was under the following types of trifecta control:
- Democratic trifecta: 1993
- Republican trifecta: 1995-2002, 2011-2014
- Divided government: 1992, 1994, 2003-2010, 2015-2023
Pennsylvania Party Control: 1992-2024
One year of a Democratic trifecta • Twelve years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D |
Elections
Elections by year
Pennsylvania state senators serve staggered, four-year terms and half of the Senate is up for election every two years. Pennsylvania holds elections for its legislature in even years.
2024
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is April 23, 2024. The filing deadline is February 13, 2024.
2022
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 17, 2022. The filing deadline was March 28, 2022.
In the 2022 elections, Republicans maintained their majority in the chamber with 28 seats. Democrats gained a net one seat from independents, expanding their minority to 22 seats.
| Pennsylvania State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 8, 2022 | After November 9, 2022 | |
| Democratic Party | 21 | 22 | |
| Republican Party | 28 | 28 | |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | |
2020
Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline was February 18, 2020.
In the 2020 elections, Republicans maintained their majority of 28-20 with one independent in the Pennsylvania State Senate. One seat was temporarily vacant when James Brewster (D) was not seated due to pending litigation contesting the November election results. Brewster took office on January 13, 2021.
| Pennsylvania State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 21 | 21 | |
| Republican Party | 28 | 28 | |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | |
2018
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2018. A closed primary election took place on May 15, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 6, 2018.
In the 2018 elections, the Republican majority in the Pennsylvania State Senate was reduced from 33-16 to 29-21.
| Pennsylvania State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 6, 2018 | After November 7, 2018 | |
| Democratic Party | 16 | 21 | |
| Republican Party | 33 | 29 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | |
2016
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on April 26, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016. A total of 25 seats out of the 50 seats in the Pennsylvania State Senate were up for election in 2016.
Heading into the election, Republicans held a 31-19 majority. Republicans gained three seats in the election, giving them a 34-16 majority.
| Pennsylvania State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 7, 2016 | After November 8, 2016 | |
| Democratic Party | 19 | 16 | |
| Republican Party | 31 | 34 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | |
| Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in that election was March 11, 2014. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 27-22 majority with one vacancy. Republicans gained three seats in the election, giving them a 30-20 majority.
2012Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on April 24, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was February 14, 2012. A total of 25 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 29-20 majority with one vacancy. Republicans lost two seats in the election, giving them a 27-23 majority.
During the 2012 election, the total value of contributions to the 55 Senate candidates was $26,589,797. The top 10 contributors were:[6]
The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election.
2010Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 18, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2010. A total of 25 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 30-20 majority. No partisan change occurred in the election.
During the 2010 election, the total value of contributions to the 53 Senate candidates was $20,772,005. The top 10 contributors were:[7]
2008Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate consisted of a primary election date on April 22, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. A total of 25 seats were up for election. A total of 25 seats were up for election. During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to the 65 Senate candidates was $29,456,144. The top 10 contributors were:[8]
2006Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate consisted of a primary election date on May 16, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. A total of 25 seats were up for election. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to the 63 Senate candidates was $22,233,800. The top 10 contributors were:[9]
2004Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate consisted of a primary election date on April 27, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. A total of 25 seats were up for election. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to the 52 Senate candidates was $18,023,643. The top 10 contributors were:[10]
2002Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate consisted of a primary election date on May 21, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. A total of 25 seats were up for election. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to the 53 Senate candidates was $19,135,990. The top 10 contributors were:[11]
2000Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate consisted of a primary election date on April 4, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. A total of 25 seats were up for election. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to the 49 Senate candidates was $10,724,732. The top 10 contributors were:[12]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The presiding officer in the house where the vacancy happened must call for an election. There are no deadlines set in the state constitution on when a special election can be held.[13]
See sources: Pennsylvania Cons. Art. II, §2
District map
- See also: Pennsylvania state legislative districts
The state of Pennsylvania has 50 state Senate districts. Each district elects one senator.
Use the interactive map below to find your district.
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, the statutory authority to draw congressional district boundaries is vested with the Pennsylvania General Assembly. These lines are subject to gubernatorial veto.[14]
State legislative district lines are drawn by a politician commission. Established in 1968, the commission comprises five members:[14]
- The majority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
- The minority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
- The majority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
- The minority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
- The first four commissioners appoint a fifth member to serve as the commission's chair. If the commission is unable to reach an agreement, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court must appoint a commission chair.[14]
The Pennsylvania Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. Further, state legislative districts should "respect county, city, incorporated town, borough, township and ward boundaries." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[14]
2020
On February 4, 2022, the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted 4-1 to approve new state House and Senate maps.[15] House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R) voted no, while Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R), state Rep. Joanna McClinton (D), state Sen. Jay Costa (D), and chairman Mark Nordenberg voted yes.[15] These maps took effect for Pennsylvania's 2022 legislative elections.
District map after 2020 redistricting
Click here to view the map. This map took effect for Pennsylvania's 2022 legislative elections.
2010
Pennsylvania received its local census data on March 9, 2011. The state had a 3.4 percent growth rate from 2000-2010, which was below the national average of 9.7 percent. The five most populous cities in the state did not follow a trend: Philadelphia grew by 0.6 percent, Pittsburgh decreased by 8.6 percent, Allentown grew by 10.7 percent, Erie decreased by 1.9 percent, and Reading grew by 8.5 percent. The county with the largest rate of growth was Forest County with a 56 percent rate of growth.[16]
On August 17, 2011, the Commission approved the census data and went to work on a preliminary map, which it passed on October 31, 2011, by a 3-2 vote. Final maps were approved on December 12, 2011, by a 4-1 vote. There was a 30-day window to file appeals, during which 11 were filed. The state Supreme Court overturned the maps on January 25, 2012.
The commission met on April 12, 2012, to vote in favor of a compromise map, which contained two Senate district splits, and 68 House district splits. On June 8, the commission approved the final plan, which went to the state Supreme Court for final approval.
Sessions
Legislation
The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Pennsylvania State Senate has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by both chambers and signed by the governor. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.
Dates of legislative sessions in Pennsylvania by year
2024
- See also: 2024 Pennsylvania legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions
In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 2, 2024, and adjourn on November 30, 2024.
2023
In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2023, and adjourn on December 13, 2023.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2022, and adjourn on November 30, 2022. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 5, 2021, and adjourn on December 31, 2021. 2020In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 7, 2020, and adjourn on November 30, 2020.
Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. On March 16, 2020, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives adopted temporary rules that would allow members to cast votes remotely.[17] 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 1, 2019, through December 18, 2019. 2018In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 2, 2018, through November 30, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 3, 2017, through December 31, 2017.
2016
In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 5 through November 30. Major issues in 2016Major issues during the 2016 legislative session included passing a state budget, public employee pension plan reform, and school funding.[27] 2015
In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 6 through December 31. Major issues in 2015Major issues during the 2015 legislative session included a severance tax on shale gas, pension reforms, liquor privatization, and judicial reforms.[28] 2014
In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 7 through November 12. Major issues in 2014Major issues during the 2014 legislative session included public pension reform and liquor privatization.[29] 2013
In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 2 to December 31. Major issues in 2013Like many other states, Pennsylvania lawmakers had to work on the budget deficit. Other issues included economic development, public pension reform, liquor privatization, and child abuse.[30] In November 2013, the Pennsylvania state House and state Senate voted unanimously on a bill, which was signed by Gov. Tom Corbett (R), to change the state’s unemployment compensation law. The bill closed a loophole that allowed a state employee to retire from his job and begin collecting benefits, only to be hired back as a part-time employee while also collecting unemployment compensation after leaving a previous job. While the law closed a triple-dipping loophole, the changes did not prevent double-dipping, in which a state employee retires, begins collecting pension benefits, and returns to work a part-time position.[31] 2012
In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 3 to November 30. 2011
In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 4 through November 30.[32] 2010
In 2010, the legislature convened its legislative session on January 5, and it remained in session to November 30.[33] |
About legislative sessions in Pennsylvania
The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[34] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.
Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution establishes when the Pennsylvania General Assembly, of which the Senate is a part, is to meet. Section 4 of Article II states that the General Assembly is to convene its regular session on the first Tuesday of January each year.
Section 4 gives the Governor of Pennsylvania the authority to convene special sessions of the General Assembly either when he judges a special session to be in the public interest, or when a majority of each legislative House requests a special session.
Legislative roles and procedures
Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, and procedures for filling membership vacancies.
Veto overrides
- See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Pennsylvania are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers.
| Two-thirds of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 136 of the 203 members in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and 34 of the 50 members in the Pennsylvania State Senate. Pennsylvania is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?
| Vetoes can be overridden when the next regular session convenes, provided that an election has not occurred.[35] |
Authority: Article IV, Section 15 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
| "Every bill which shall have passed both Houses shall be presented to the Governor; if he approves he shall sign it, but if he shall not approve he shall return it with his objections to the House in which it shall have originated, which House shall enter the objections at large upon their journal, and proceed to re-consider it. If after such re-consideration, two-thirds of all the members elected to that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent with the objections to the other House by which likewise it shall be re-considered, and if approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to that House it shall be a law; but in such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journals of each House, respectively." |
Role in state budget
- See also: Pennsylvania state budget and finances
Pennsylvania on 
|
The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[36]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August.
- State agencies submit their requests to the governor in October.
- Agency hearings are held between December and January.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in February. In a governor's first term, the budget proposal is submitted in March.
- The legislature adopts a budget by June 30. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins July 1.
Pennsylvania is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[36]
The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.[36]
Committees
Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.
- Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
- Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
- Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.
Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Pennsylvania State Senate has 22 standing committees:
- Aging & Youth Committee
- Banking & Insurance Committee
- Communications & Technology Committee
- Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee
- Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee
- Health & Human Services Committee
- Intergovernmental Operations Committee
- Law & Justice Committee
- Rules & Executive Nominations Committee
- Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee
- Senate Appropriations Committee
- Senate Education Committee
- Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee
- Senate Finance Committee
- Senate Game & Fisheries Committee
- Senate Judiciary Committee
- Senate Labor & Industry Committee
- Senate Local Government Committee
- Senate State Government Committee
- Senate Transportation Committee
- Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee
- Urban Affairs & Housing Committee
Constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods in which the Pennsylvania Constitution can be amended:
The Pennsylvania Constitution provides for one mechanism for amending the state's constitution—a legislative process. However, the state constitution does not mention a constitutional convention process, and the legislature has called constitutional conventions in the past. Pennsylvania requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
Initiative
- See also: Initiated constitutional amendment
In Pennsylvania, citizens do not have the power to initiate ballot measures at the state level.
Legislature
According to Article XI, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions for the Pennsylvania State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 102 votes in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and 26 votes in the Pennsylvania State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
When the Legislature finds that a "major emergency threatens or is about to threaten the Commonwealth," a constitutional amendment can be referred to the ballot with a two-thirds vote during one legislative session.
2025 measures:
- See also: 2025 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.
No measures to list
2024 measures:
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.
- See also: Pennsylvania 2024 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.
- Pennsylvania Allow for Concurrent Resolutions to Disapprove of Regulations Amendment (2024)
- Pennsylvania Election Audits Amendment (2024)
- Pennsylvania Voter ID Requirement Amendment (2024)
- Pennsylvania No State Constitutional Right to Abortion Amendment (2024)
- Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Selection Amendment (2024)
- Pennsylvania Allow Retroactive Lawsuits for Childhood Sexual Abuse Amendment (2024)
See also
| Elections | Pennsylvania State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ Pennsylvania State Senate, "Officers of the Senate," accessed June 6, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Constitution, "Article II, Section 2," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ The Constitution of Pennsylvania, "Article II, Section 5: Qualifications of members," accessed February 3, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania State Senate 2012 Campaign Contributions," accessed May 2, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania State Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions," accessed May 2, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania State Senate 2008 Campaign Contributions," accessed May 2, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania State Senate 2006 Campaign Contributions," accessed May 2, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania State Senate 2004 Campaign Contributions," accessed May 2, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania State Senate 2002 Campaign Contributions," accessed May 2, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Pennsylvania State Senate 2000 Campaign Contributions," accessed May 2, 2014
- ↑ State of Pennsylvania, "Pennsylvania Constitution," accessed February 15, 2021 (Article II, Section 2)
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 All About Redistricting, "Pennsylvania," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs nameddr - ↑ Census.gov, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Pennsylvania's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," March 9, 2011
- ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Pennsylvania legislature will vote remotely as coronavirus spreads," March 16, 2020
- ↑ The Inquirer, "S&P threatens to cut Pa. credit rating," July 6, 2017
- ↑ The Morning Call, "Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf to let budget become law," July 11, 201
- ↑ U.S. News, "Pennsylvania Budget Takes Effect Amid Fight Over Funding It," July 10, 2017
- ↑ U.S. News, "Pennsylvania Senate Approves Higher Taxes to Balance Budget," July 27, 2017
- ↑ NBC 10, "Budget Bills Are Ugly But Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Has Little Choice But to Sign," October 28, 2017
- ↑ The Inquirer Daily News, "Wolf signs bills to balance Pa. budget with gambling and borrowing, hints of veto of education bill," October 30, 2017
- ↑ The Morning Call, "Pennsylvania's budget still not finished," July 5, 2017
- ↑ The Inquirer, "PA. budget talks drag on," July 5, 2017
- ↑ Lehigh Valley, "House, Senate send Pennsylvania budget to Gov. Wolf," June 30, 2017
- ↑ Penn Live, "New year, old issues: Pennsylvania legislative leaders meet on budget Tuesday," accessed January 6, 2016
- ↑ Law 360, "Pennsylvania Legislation And Regulation To Watch In 2015," accessed January 22, 2015
- ↑ Penn Live, "Pa. Senate Prez: Do away with 'obsolete, unsustainable' pensions or face budget crash: Friday Morning Coffee," January 10, 2014
- ↑ Post-Gazette, "Pennsylvania lawmakers start settling in," January 2, 2013
- ↑ The Reporter Online, "Triple-dipping loophole in Pa. unemployment law finally closed," accessed December 6, 2013
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 session dates for Pennsylvania legislature," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed May 20, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Code, "§ 9.127. Passage of vetoed bill.," accessed July 3, 2017
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
| |||||||||||
 |
State of Pennsylvania Harrisburg (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2024 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
