Pennsylvania State Senate


The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such that half of the seats are contested at each election. Even numbered seats and odd numbered seats are contested in separate election years. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate becomes the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania in the event of the sitting Lieutenant Governor's removal, resignation or death. In this case the President Pro Tempore and Lieutenant Governor would be the same person. The Pennsylvania Senate has been meeting since 1791.
The President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor, who has no vote except in the event of an otherwise tie vote.

Senate leadership

President of the Senate: John Fetterman

President Pro Tem of the Senate: Joe Scarnati
Majority party Leadership positionMinority party
Jake CormanFloor LeaderJay Costa
John GordnerWhipAnthony H. Williams
Bob MenschCaucus ChairmanWayne D. Fontana
Ryan AumentCaucus SecretaryLarry Farnese
Pat BrowneAppropriations Committee ChairmanVincent Hughes
Dave ArgallPolicy Committee ChairmanLisa Boscola
Kim WardCaucus AdministratorJohn Blake

Composition

Historical sessions

Current session

Membership

The Senate is made up of 50 members who are elected by district. In 2012, a State Senate district had an average population of 254,047 residents.

List of current members

Committee assignments

Past composition of the Senate