Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania entered the Union on December 12, 1787 as the 2nd state. Pennsylvania was one of the central states of the founding era, and its political identity has been shaped by Philadelphia, industrial cities, Appalachian communities, and a long tradition of civic organizing. Today its state government is centered in Harrisburg and operates through a governor and a bicameral General Assembly composed of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Government & Representation
Use this section to understand how the state organizes executive authority, legislative power, and federal representation.
Pennsylvania’s state government is led by an elected governor and a bicameral General Assembly made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives. Harrisburg anchors a system that must balance the interests of two large metropolitan regions with smaller industrial, rural, and Appalachian communities.