Pennsylvania House of Representatives

According to the Pennsylvania Constitution, representatives must be at least 21 years old. They must be citizens and residents of the state for a minimum of four years and reside in their districts for at least one year.

The Hall of the House contains important symbols of Pennsylvania history and the work of legislators.

• Speaker's Chair: a throne-like chair of rank that sits directly behind the Speaker's rostrum. Architect Joseph Huston designed the chair in 1906, the year the Capitol was dedicated.
• Mace: the House symbol of authority, peace, order and respect for law rests in a pedestal to the right of the Speaker. Its base is solid mahogany, intricately carved and capped by a brass globe engraved with the Pennsylvania coat of arms. An American Eagle perches on top. The tradition of the mace may date to the Roman Republic when attendants of Roman consuls carried bundles of sticks wrapped around an axe to enforce order. The tradition may also come directly from Pennsylvania's English heritage.
• Murals: a colorful panorama of Pennsylvania history appear in murals by Edwin Austin Abbey. The most commanding of the series hangs behind the Speaker's rostrum and dominates the wall behind the Speaker. It is called The Apotheosis of Pennsylvania
• Ceiling: a work of art in itself with its ornate geometry of gold leaf buttoned at the center by a charming painted illustration. In "The Hours", Abbey represents the passage of time in the form of 24 maidens revolving in an endless circle amidst the moon, the sun and the stars of the Milky Way.[4]

The speakership is the oldest elected statewide office in the Commonwealth. Since its first session in 1682—presided over by William Penn—over 130 house members have been elevated to the speaker's chair. The house cannot hold an official session in the absence of the speaker or their designated speaker pro tempore. Speaker Leroy Irvis was the first African American elected speaker of any state legislature in the United States since Reconstruction. Speaker Dennis O'Brien was the only minority-party Speaker known in Pennsylvania and only the second known nationwide. Pennsylvania has never had a female speaker.

Republican Bryan Cutler was elected Speaker of the House on June 22, 2020, replacing outgoing speaker Mike Turzai, who had resigned to take a job with a Pittsburgh-based natural gas company.[5]

In 2012, a State Representative district had an average population of 60,498 residents.[6]

Map of current partisan composition of legislative districts for state house:

  Republican representative

  Democratic representative

  Seat vacant

as of January 31, 2022:

•   Republican representative
    Democratic representative
    Vacant seat
• 
  January 2019

As of June 7, 2022:[10]

• Pennsylvania State Senate
• Project Vote Smart (Pennsylvania State Legislative information and voting records is the link to the Pennsylvania section.)
• List of Pennsylvania state legislatures

Specific

General

• Trostle, Sharon, ed. (2009). The Pennsylvania Manual. Vol. 119. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Department of General Services. ISBN 978-0-8182-0334-3.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

• Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• State House of Pennsylvania information and voting records This link leads to information about elected officials and candidates in Pennsylvania on the website "Project Vote Smart." This web site provides such information for all states in the US.