State Representative
A member of the lower chamber of the state legislature, which writes state law and the state budget.
A member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, elected “for the term of two years” and taking office on the first day of December after the election (Article II, Sections 2 and 3). Representatives must be at least twenty-one, have lived in the Commonwealth four years and the district one, and reside there throughout the term (Article II, Section 5).
Who it works with, and what passes between them:
- To State Senator: A bill has to pass both chambers in the same form before it can reach the governor, so one chamber's vote only gets it halfway. In most states a bill that raises revenue has to start in the lower chamber.
State Senator
A member of the upper chamber of the state legislature. A bill has to pass both chambers.
A member of the Pennsylvania Senate: “Senators shall be elected for the term of four years” (Article II, Section 3), from a district the member must live in “during their terms of service” (Article II, Section 5). The Senate also confirms the governor's appointments — and an appointment it does not vote on within twenty-five legislative days is confirmed by default (Article IV, Section 8(b)).
Who it works with, and what passes between them:
- From State Representative: A bill has to pass both chambers in the same form before it can reach the governor, so one chamber's vote only gets it halfway. In most states a bill that raises revenue has to start in the lower chamber.
- To Governor: What both chambers pass goes to the governor to sign or veto. The share of each chamber needed to override a veto is set by this state's own constitution and is on the legislature's office page.
- To Counties, cities, towns and school districts: The legislature writes the property tax, local tax and budget rules that every county, city, town and school district in the state has to work inside. A local council choosing a rate is choosing among options set here.
Governor
The state's chief executive. Signs or vetoes what the legislature passes, and runs the state agencies.
Pennsylvania's chief executive: “The supreme executive power shall be vested in the Governor, who shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed” (Article IV, Section 2). The term is four years from the third Tuesday of January, and a governor “shall be eligible to succeed himself for one additional term” — two terms, then out (Article IV, Section 3). The executive department also holds an elected attorney general, auditor general and treasurer, none of whom answer to this office (Article IV, Section 1).
Who it works with, and what passes between them:
- From State Senator: What both chambers pass goes to the governor to sign or veto. The share of each chamber needed to override a veto is set by this state's own constitution and is on the legislature's office page.
- To Counties, cities, towns and school districts: State agencies under the governor license, inspect, fund and audit the counties, cities and school districts below. Much of what a local government can do in practice depends on a state agency's rules.
Counties, cities, towns and school districts
Every local government in the state. None of them can tax or spend outside what the legislature allows.
Elected separately, each at its own level.
Who it works with, and what passes between them:
- From State Senator: The legislature writes the property tax, local tax and budget rules that every county, city, town and school district in the state has to work inside. A local council choosing a rate is choosing among options set here.
- From Governor: State agencies under the governor license, inspect, fund and audit the counties, cities and school districts below. Much of what a local government can do in practice depends on a state agency's rules.