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Legislative Reapportionment Commission

Introduction

The co-directors of the Pennsylvania Constitution Website have worked over the past twenty years to offer a comprehensive website dealing with Pennsylvania constitutional law and history. Although much has been published, there are more materials and topics to cover. Under this tab, we will attempt to cover just one specific constitutional law topic, legislative reapportionment.

This website will attempt to provide both historical and current information on the decennial reapportionment commissions and their work. The website will draw on the official materials posted on the Legislative Reapportionment Commission website (https://www.redistricting.state.pa.us/) and additional materials as well.

Under the 1968 Pennsylvania Constitution, Article II, § 17 provides for the creation of a Legislative Reapportionment Commission. Its task is to review every ten years the districts of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and make changes as required by the section. The five-member commission is made up of two Democrats and two Republicans from the two houses of the Assembly. A commission chair is selected by the commission members, and if they cannot agree, then the Pennsylvania Supreme Court may make the appointment.

I wish to thank Dean April Barton and Professor Bruce Ledewitz for their support for this project.

Joel Fishman, Ph.D., M.L.S.

Co-Director, Pennsylvania Constitution Website