How Your Govenment Works  

The Power of Your Vote

Voting is the constitutional right of every U.S. Citizen. Your vote does make a difference in the national, state and local government. But at election time, with so many people running for political office it’s easy to get confused. Here’s a look at how all three levels of government represent you.

Local Government
County, City, Borough or Township

For local government, voters elect commissioners, mayors, council members, and supervisors among others, to create and administer laws and ordinances for their counties, cities, boroughs, and townships. For example, local governments build and maintain roads that are not part of the federal or state highway systems.

The federal government makes laws that affect our entire nation. For example, the nationwide interstate highway systems are the ongoing responsibility of the federal government.

State Government
Harrisburg, PA

For state office, Pennsylvanians elect officials to all three branches of government. For the legislature, voters elect 50 State Senators and 203 State Representatives to serve in the General Assembly. For the executive branch, voters elect the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, and Auditor General. Judges for Pennsylvania’s courts are also elected.

State government concerns itself with issues specific to state residents.

Federal Government
Washington, D.C.

For federal office, voters elect the President of the United States and the 100 Senators and the 435 Representatives of the U.S. Congress. Pennsylvanians elect two of those Senators and, based on the state’s population, 19 Representatives.

The federal government makes laws that affect our entire nation. For example, the nationwide interstate highway systems are the ongoing responsibility of the federal government.

  • Legislative Branch

  • Executive Branch

  • Judicial Branch

Pennsylvania Government    

"All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority..." - Pennsylvania Constitution, 1874.

Like the federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has three branches of government: the legislative, executive and judicial. By separating power among the three, no single branch can become strong enough to overpower the other two. It is a system of "checks and balances" which means that each branch checks the power of the other two, creating a balanced system.

Legislative Branch    

Pennsylvania's General Assembly, commonly called the "State Legislature," consists of two bodies: the Senate and the House of Representatives. This is the branch of government closest to the people because each legislator represents, serves, and is responsible to a specific segment of the population. The General Assembly is the only branch of government that’s allowed to make new laws or change existing ones.

Executive Branch    

The state’s highest office is held by the Governor, who's responsible for setting the agenda for state government, resolving current problems and planning for the future. The Lieutenant Governor and the appointed members of the Governor’s cabinet manage state agency operations and advise the Governor. The Attorney General, Auditor General and State Treasurer are elected to administer agencies independent of the Governor.

Judical Branch    

Pennsylvania’s judicial system is "unified," meaning that every court in the Commonwealth falls under the supervision of the State Supreme Court including Superior Court, Commonweath Court, Courts of Common Pleas, community courts and others. The judicial system interprets laws of the Commonwealth.