Government of Pennsylvania
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[edit] History
Pennsylvania has had five constitutions during its statehood:[1] 1776, 1790, 1838, 1874, and 1968. Prior to that, the province of Pennsylvania was governed for a century by a book titled Frame of Government, written by William Penn, of which there were four versions: 1682, 1683, 1696, and 1701.
The capital of the Commonwealth is Harrisburg.
[edit] Branches
Like the US Pennsylvania has a three branch form of government. Divided into, the Executive, Legislature, and Judicial.
[edit] Executive
The current Governor is Edward G. Rendell, a former head of the Democratic National Committee who began as a popular District Attorney and mayor in Philadelphia.[2] The other elected officials composing the executive branch are the Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll, Attorney General Tom Corbett, Auditor General Jack Wagner, and State Treasurer Robin Weissman.[3]
- See also: List of Pennsylvania state agencies
[edit] Legislature
Pennsylvania has a bicameral legislature set up by Commonwealth's constitution in 1790. The original Frame of Government of William Penn had a unicameral legislature.[4] The General Assembly includes 50 Senators[5] and 203 Representatives.[6] Joseph B. Scarnati III is currently President Pro Tempore of the State Senate,[7] Dominic Pileggi the Majority Leader,[8] and Robert J. Mellow the Minority Leader.[9] Dennis M. O'Brien is Speaker of the House of Representatives,[10] with H. William DeWeese as Majority Leader[11] and Samuel H. Smith as Minority Leader.[12] The 2006 election resulted in the Democrats regaining control of the House and the balance remaining unchanged in Republicans' favor in the Senate.
[edit] Judicial
Pennsylvania is divided into 60 judicial districts,[13] most of which (except Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties) have magisterial district judges (formerly called district justices and justices of the peace), who preside mainly over minor criminal offenses and small civil claims.[13] Most criminal and civil cases originate in the Courts of Common Pleas, which also serve as appellate courts to the district judges and for local agency decisions.[13] The Superior Court hears all appeals from the Courts of Common Pleas not expressly designated to the Commonwealth Court or Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. It also has original jurisdiction to review warrants for wiretap surveillance.[13] The Commonwealth Court is limited to appeals from final orders of certain state agencies and certain designated cases from the Courts of Common Pleas.[13] The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the final appellate court. All judges in Pennsylvania are elected; the chief justice is determined by seniority.[13]
[edit] Executive Departments
Pennsylvania's government has 15 departments, covering a wide range of functions.
- Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
- Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
- Pennsylvania Game Commission
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
- Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
- Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
- Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA)
- Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
- Pennsylvania State Police (PSP)
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT)
- Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
- Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB)
[edit] See Also
[edit] References
- ^ 23 hi bill Law Weekly 324 (March 27, 2000)
- ^ Official bio of Ed Rendell
- ^ State Elected Officials
- ^ Pennsylvania State Archives
- ^ Pennsylvania Senators
- ^ Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- ^ Pennsylvania Senate
- ^ David Brightbill
- ^ Robert Mellow
- ^ John Perzel
- ^ Samuel Smith
- ^ William DeWeese
- ^ a b c d e f Judicial districts
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