156
●
Chapter 10
River.
People in state government work to
pass new laws and to keep law and order.
They also build or fix highways and keep
our environment free frompollution. Some
peoplework tobring innewbusinesses and
to invite people to visit our state. The
people and state government workers
share the job of running the government
of Pennsylvania.
Just like our national government,
Pennsylvania has three main branches of
government. Do you remember what their
names are?Correct!Wehave the legislative,
the executive, and the judicial branches.
Now, do you remember why the
government is organized this way? Right
again! No one group or person has too
much power over another group or person.
Now for the really tough question! Do you
remember what this system of balancing is
called? It is the system of
balance of power!
Now it is time to review the branches of
government. However, this time we will be
learning about our state government.
State Legislative
Branch
T
he state legislative branch is similar
to the national legislative branch
of government. That is, the state
legislative branch makes the laws for the
state. Legislators canpass any law that does
not conflict with our national or state
constitutions. This branch is made up of
two groups of people. One is called the
House of Representatives and the other is
called the Senate. Does this sound familiar?
The voters of Pennsylvania elect 203
representatives for two-year terms. They elect
50 senators for four-year terms. Both groups
are elected based upon population. When
both the Senate and House meet together,
they are known as the
General Assembly
.
Do you remember what this group is called
in our national government? Congress.
A member of the House of Represen-
tatives or Senate can introduce a bill.
However, any bill dealing with raising
House of Representatives State Legislators.
