State Government

*Since we live in a nation that features a Federal system of government, the power of government is divided between the national government, and the States governments.

-According to Article IV of the US Constitution, each state is guaranteed a representative form of government.

-Article VI of the US Constitution is often referred to as the Supremacy Clause. This means that all federal laws take precedence and are supreme over any state or local laws; however it also means that anything that is not covered under federal law can be covered under state law.

State Constitutions
*Each state has its own Constitution. Each state’s Constitution must adhere to the US Constitution and to all federal laws.

-The first written Constitution in America was adopted by the colony of Connecticut in 1638.

-The State with the oldest Constitution still in effect is New Hampshire. New Hampshire adopted their current Constitution in 1784.

Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
-Pennsylvania’s first Constitution was adopted in 1776. Since 1776 Pennsylvania has had 5 Commonwealth Constitutions. (Pennsylvania, along with Massachusetts, Virginia, and Kentucky are not states, they are Commonwealths.) Pennsylvania’s current Constitution was adopted in 1968.

-Pennsylvania’s Constitution is made up of a Preamble, 11 Articles, and 13 Amendments.

-The Constitution of Pennsylvania’s Preamble is as follows: “WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”
-Article I of Pennsylvania’s Constitution is the Commonwealth’s Bill of Rights. There are 28 specific rights listed in Pennsylvania’s Bill of Rights.

-Article II of Pennsylvania’s Constitution establishes the Commonwealth’s legislative branch of government. Pennsylvania’s legislature is called the General Assembly; it is a bicameral legislature with an upper house, the Senate, and a lower house, the House of Representatives.

-Article III of Pennsylvania’s Constitution defines how the General Assembly goes about making laws.

-Article IV of Pennsylvania’s Constitution establishes the Commonwealth’s Executive Branch. The chief executive of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the Governor (Edward G. Rendell). In addition to the Governor, the executive branch is made up of the Lieutenant Governor (Catherine Baker Knoll,) the Attorney General (Gerald Pappert,) Auditor General (Robert P. Casey,) and Treasurer (Barbara Hafer.)

-Article V of Pennsylvania’s Constitution establishes and defines the Commonwealth’s Judicial Branch. Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court is made up of 7 justices who are elected by the people. This Article is quite lengthy because the Commonwealth basically has 3 sets of rules for the courts. The judicial system is set up the same in all of the counties with the exception of Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties (this includes the City of Pittsburgh.) Philadelphia and Allegheny counties have their own court systems which are run by the local governments, but fall under the authority of the Commonwealth.

-Article VI of Pennsylvania’s Constitution describes the responsibilities and expectations of Public Officers, both those elected and those appointed.

-Article VII of Pennsylvania’s Constitution outlines the Commonwealth’s election process.

-Article VIII of Pennsylvania’s Constitution defines the Commonwealth’s laws regarding taxes and finances.

-Article IX of Pennsylvania’s Constitution describes the legal relationship the Commonwealth has with the county and local governments throughout the state.

-Article X of Pennsylvania’s Constitution sets forth the basic laws that Private Corporations must adhere to in the Commonwealth.

Article XI of Pennsylvania’s Constitution describes and defines the process of Ammending the Constitution.


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.