Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1968 – Legislative History
Appointing Power
(a) The Governor shall appoint an Attorney General, a Secretary of Education and such other officers as he shall be authorized by law to appoint. The appointment of the Attorney General, the Secretary of Education and such other officers as may be specified by law, shall be subject to the consent of two-thirds or a majority of the members elected to the Senate as is specified by law.
(b) The Governor shall fill vacancies in offices to which he appoints by nominating to the Senate a proper person to fill the vacancy within ninety days of the first day of the vacancy and not thereafter. The Senate shall act on each executive nomination within twenty-five legislative days of its submission. If the Senate has not voted upon a nomination within fifteen legislative days following such submission, any five members of the Senate may, in writing, request the presiding officer of the Senate to place the nomination before the entire Senate body whereby the nomination must be voted upon prior to the expiration of five legislative days or twenty-five legislative days following submission by the Governor, whichever occurs first. If the nomination is made during a recess or after adjournment sine die, the Senate shall act upon it within twenty-five legislative days after its return or reconvening. If the Senate for any reason fails to act upon a nomination submitted to it within the required twenty-five legislative days, the nominee shall take office as if the appointment had been consented to by the Senate. The Governor shall in a similar manner fill vacancies in the offices of Auditor General, State Treasurer, justice, judge, justice of the peace and in any other elective office he is authorized to fill. In the case of a vacancy in an elective office, a person shall be elected to the office on the next election day appropriate to the office unless the first day of the vacancy is within two calendar months immediately preceding the election day in which case the election shall be held on the second succeeding election day appropriate the office. [Source: 1975 Pa. Laws 619]
Bill Histories
| 1974 Bill History Joint Resolution No. 2 |
SB 1409 By Senators KURY, MESSINGER, AMMERMAN, ORLANDO, McCREESH, LAMB and
MURRAY.
Prior Printer’s Nos. 1742, 2009, 2060, 2170. Printer’s No. 2388.
A Joint Resolution proposing amendments to the Constitution of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for the appointing power of
the Governor relating to appointive and elective offices.
Referred to RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, Jan. 21, 1974
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 1338), Jan. 15, 1974
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 1379), Jan. 21, 1974
Reported as committed, Feb. 4, 1974
First consideration, Feb. 4, 1974
Re-committed to RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, March 4, 1974
Re-reported as amended, March 26, 1974
Second consideration, with amendments, April 16, 1974
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 1770), April 16, 1974 Missing Remark
Third consideration and final passage, April 22, 1974 (36-10)
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 1798), April 22, 1974
In the House
Referred to RULES, April 23, 1974
Reported as amended, April 30, 1974
First consideration, May 6, 1974
Second consideration, June 11, 1974
Laid on the table, June 12, 1974
(Remarks see House Journal Page 5104), June 12, 1974
Taken from table, July 9, 1974
Third consideration, with amendments, July 9, 1974
Final passage, July 10, 1974 (181-2)
In the Senate
Senate concurred in House amendments, July 12, 1974 (46-3)
Signed in Senate, July 12, 1974
Signed in House, July 12, 1974
Filed in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, July 12, 1974
Pamphlet Laws Resolution No. 2
Passed Sessions of 1974
| 1975 Bill History Joint Resolution No. 1 |
SB 22 By Senators KURY, NOLAN, FRAME, MESSINGER, FLEMING, AMMERMAN, MURRAY,
EWING, WOOD, HOWARD, MYERS, STAPLETON, JUBELIRER, BELL and DOUGHERTY.
Printer’s No. 22.
A Joint Resolution proposing amendments to the Constitution of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for the appointing power of
the Governor relating to appointive and elective offices.
Introduced, Jan. 20, 1975
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 12), Jan. 20, 1975
Referred to RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, Jan. 27, 1975
Reported as committed, Jan. 28, 1975
First consideration, Jan. 28, 1975
Second consideration, Feb. 3, 1975
Third consideration and final passage, Feb. 4, 1975 (46-2)
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 68), Feb. 4, 1975
In the House
Referred to JUDICIARY, Feb. 5, 1975
Reported as committed, Feb. 10, 1975
First consideration, Feb. 10, 1975
Second consideration, Feb. 11, 1975
Third consideration and final passage, Feb. 12, 1975 (164-0)
Signed in Senate, Feb. 18, 1975
Signed in House, Feb. 12, 1975
Filed in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Feb. 18, 1975
Pamphlet Laws Resolution No. 1
Passed Sessions of 1974 and 1975
Approved by the Electorate, May 20, 1975 (937,249 – 209,026)