Government of Pennsylvania

The Government of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the way the state of Pennsylvania is run. It is set up by the Pennsylvania Constitution. This government has three main parts: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches. Each branch has its own job to help run the state.

The executive branch is led by the governor, who is the main leader of the state. The legislative branch makes the laws, and it is called the General Assembly. The judicial branch makes sure the laws are followed fairly, with judges and courts handling this work.

The capital city of Pennsylvania, where much of the government work happens, is Harrisburg. This city is important because it is where the governor and many government offices are located. The government of Pennsylvania works to take care of the people living in the state and to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Executive branch

Pennsylvania has important leaders who help run the state. These leaders are chosen by voters and serve for four years. They can be re-elected once.

Some of these leaders include:

Josh Shapiro as Governor
Austin Davis as Lieutenant Governor
Dave Sunday as Attorney General
Timothy DeFoor as Auditor General
Stacy Garrity as State Treasurer

The Health and Welfare Building within the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex

These leaders work with many departments. These departments help with jobs like supporting families, keeping people safe, and managing money. Each department has a director who works with the Governor.

The departments include:

Legislature

Main article: Pennsylvania General Assembly

The Pennsylvania State Capitol

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the group that makes laws for Pennsylvania. It has two parts: the House of Representatives with 203 members and the Senate with 50 members. The leader of the House is called the speaker, and the leader of the Senate is the lieutenant governor. They meet in the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg to create new laws.

Judicial branch

Main article: Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Judicial Center within the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex

Pennsylvania has 60 areas for courts. Most of these areas, except Philadelphia, have special judges who handle smaller legal matters and easy cases. These judges also decide if there is enough proof to continue with larger criminal cases.

Most big legal cases start in the courts of common pleas. These courts also check decisions made by smaller judges and local groups. The Superior Court listens to appeals from the courts of common pleas, unless the case should go to the Commonwealth Court or the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth Court deals with appeals from some state groups and special cases from the courts of common pleas. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the top court in the state.

All judges in Pennsylvania are chosen by voters. The chief justice is the judge with the most experience. Judges serve for 10 years and then must ask voters if they can keep their jobs.

Local government

Main article: Local government in Pennsylvania

Local government in Pennsylvania has five types: county, township, borough, city, and school district. The whole state is split into 67 counties. Each county has many smaller areas called municipalities. These areas follow rules from the state or their own special plans approved by the state.

In 1935, Pennsylvania made a group called the Local Government Commission. This group helps state leaders understand local issues. The group includes members from the State Senate and House of Representatives.

Law enforcement

In Pennsylvania, towns can choose to have their own police departments for faster help or special patrols. Some towns only have part-time police and use the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) for other needs. Any town can choose to use only the PSP, and there is no extra cost for this. Many towns in Pennsylvania use the PSP as their main police force. Most people live in areas with either part-time or full-time police departments. Towns that use the PSP can keep some of the money from traffic tickets.