State Legislatures

-Each state has a legislature, or law making body. Every state in the union has a bicameral legislature consisting of an upper house and a lower house.

-Pennsylvania’s legislature is called the General Assembly. The upper house is called the Senate and has 50 members. The lower house is called the House of Representatives and has 203 members.

-Members of Pennsylvania’s Senate are elected to a term of 4 years and may run for re-election as many times as they want. Members of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives are elected to a term of 2 years and may also run for re-election as many times as they want.

-In many states, State Legislators are paid a very small salary; some as low as $5 a day for each day the legislature is in session. In the states that pay very small salaries, the job of legislator is usually part time and most of the legislators have other full time professions, usually as lawyers, business owners, executives, labor leaders, etc.

-In Pennsylvania the job of legislator is a full time position that requires the members of the legislature to spend a good deal of their time at the state capitol in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania state legislators are the third highest paid in the US making an annual salary of approximately $65,000.

-The presiding officer of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House. Currently the Speaker of the House in Pennsylvania is Dennis O'Brien. The presiding officer of the Pennsylvania Senate is the Lieutenant Governor. Currently the Lieutenant Governor is Catherine Baker Knoll.

Governors
*Each state has a Chief Executive called the Governor. The Governor has many duties, powers, and responsibilities in the state government. Some of the powers and duties of the governor are as follows:

-Carrying out state laws and supervising the executive branch.

-Reporting to the legislature from time to time on the state of the state.

-Appointing some judges and other state officials.

-Proposing new laws and programs to the legislature.

-Preparing the state budget.

-Approving or vetoing bills.

-Declaring states of emergency.

-Representing the state at ceremonies and public functions.

-The governor also has the power to grant pardons, reprieves,
and amnesty to people convicted of state crimes.

-Each state sets term lengths and limits for the governor. In Pennsylvania the governor serves a term that lasts 4 years, and is limited to serving 2 terms.

-Each state determines the salary of their governor. The range in salaries is wide throughout the states. Some states pay their governor less than $40,000 per year; others pay their governor over $150,000 per year. Pennsylvania’s governor receives approximately $142,000 per year. He also has many of his living expenses paid, and is provided with a gubernatorial mansion in Harrisburg.