Crib
Notes – a quick glossary of political terms
Who’s on First
– breaking down layers of local elected officialdom
Getting
in the Game – what you need to do to aid a campaign, or mount your
own!
Creating Code
– how a bill becomes law in Pennsylvania
Decoding Code
– how to read a Pennsylvania bill
PAC Attack
– giving the ins and outs of political action committees
Tutors
– resources and links to further expand your knowledge
Crib Notes A glossary of frequently used political terms
Attorney General (Pennsylvania)Chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth, akin to a local district attorneyElected during the non-gubernatorial cycleHe or she must have resided in the state for seven years prior to the election, unless non- residence resulted from federal or state government service
Ballot Question Question posed to voters during a given election cycle
Usually refers to a change in the way government is run or how money will be spent to add or maintain services in a given municipality
Block Captain
Concerned resident who volunteers to lead efforts to improve the quality of life in a given neighborhood vicinity“Junior” block captains generally are under 21
Borough
A self-governing town, usually of smaller size (or “class,” to use state definition)
A highly populated urban area
In Pennsylvania, a city of the “first-class” has a population of 1 million or more
City/County Committee Grouping of ward leaders that form a party’s policy-making organization on the city or county level
City Council (Philadelphia)
Body responsible for forming and amending laws for the city
City Council President (Philadelphia)
Responsible for setting agendas and selecting committee chairs
County Largest political division of the state
Liaison between party leaders and people in the appointed division, also known as neighbors
Year round position with elections on the community level
Often directs get-out-the-vote initiatives at the neighborhood level
Elected every four years during the gubernatorial cycle
o admitted to practice law for at least two years
o a member of the Pennsylvania Supreme or Pennsylvania SuperiorCourt Bar at the time of filing his or her nomination petition forofficeSmallest political unit of a city
o at least 25 years old
o a resident of the city for three years or more
In Pennsylvania, he or she must be:
o at least 21 years old
o a resident of the state for four years or more
o reside in the district for at least one year
o a resident of the city for three years or moreIn Pennsylvania, he or she must be:
o at least 25 years old
o a resident of the state for four years or more
o reside in the district for at least one year
o a resident of the city for three years or more
Who’s on First
Breaking down layers of local elected officialdomIn a particular Pennsylvania community, there lived someone concerned about their neighborhood and decided to take an active role, becoming a block captain. However, there were some things that were out of the purview of the block captain, particularly when it came to organizing neighbors on a larger scale around political action or simply communicating with elected officials. So in came the committee person, who picked up that mantle. That one committee person was effective in that one area, but there were so many areas that needed to be organized, that all the committee people decided to get together amongst themselves and elect a ward leader. The ward leader supervised all this neighborhood activity and further assisted candidates who promised to serve these collective communities. All the ward leaders of a particular political party decided that they needed more organization as well, and they formed a city committee , and elected a chair.
Some of these folks had political aspirations, also. Often times they leaped to the next level of community representation – sometimes as a state representative or a borough or city council member or even a state senator.
And so goes community-level political representation.
While most people recognize and understand the duties of the mayor and the governor, confusion often reigns when it comes to other locally elected offices because of overlapping duties.
Categories Darby Borough Council member Phila. City Council member State Representative State Senator U.S. Congressman Population Represented Average 1,500 Average 90,000 Close to 60,000 Close to 240,000 Up to 12 million (Senate) Legislative Body 9 17 203 50 100 (Senate) or 435 (House) Average Annual Base Salary $2,400 $102,292* $72,187* $72,187* $158,100* Economic Development Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Potholes Yes Yes No No No Rowdy Neighbors Yes Yes No No No Notary Public No No Yes Yes No State Grants and Loans No No Yes Yes No Notary Public No No Yes Yes No Immigration No No Yes Yes Yes PennDOT No No Yes Yes No State Tuition Rates No No Yes Yes Yes Public Safety Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Foreign Policy No No No No Yes * Often greater compensation exists for those in leadership, seniority, etc.
Getting in the Game
What you need to do to aid a campaign, or mount your own!The first thing any politically active person has to do is register to vote. Not registered? Click here .
In every election cycle there is a need for volunteers. The time commitment may be an hour or a lifetime! From chatting up neighbors to offering rides to the polls, there is a plethora of ways to enhance your political participation. Getting involved is as simple as picking up the phone and calling the office of your local elected official – or the competition!
Of course, maybe YOU are interested in going for the gusto! If so, click here for a primer on how to get started.
Remember, past mistakes need not curb your future political activity. If you are unsure of your voting rights as a convicted felon, click here.
Creating Codes
How a bill becomes law in PennsylvaniaCreating a law in Pennsylvania is an arduous task. Sometimes it happens in a matter of days, while other times it takes years. To get the skinny on the step-by-step process, click here.
Decoding Codes
Showing you how to read a billBecause they are legal documents, bills sometimes take a moment to decipher.
Not sure about what the cross-outs and brackets mean? Click here
PAC Attack
Giving the ins and outs of political action committeesPolitical action committees come in all forms and sizes. They usually allow a large group of people with few dollars to pool their money and resources together to create a stronger political force. They typically donate money or resources (food or copying services, for example) to a candidate for nomination or election to lessen his or her election expenses.
PAC members may be union members, employees of a company, or concerned neighbors. Some PACs are nonpartisan while others are fiercely devoted to one political party or another. Some focus on a single issue and others focus on particular offices.
To see a list of registered PACs in Pennsylvania, click here.
Sources: Committee of Seventy, the Education Law Center, the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Department of State
Tutors
Resources and links to further expand your knowledgeThe Committee of Seventy
Hallwatch
Common Cause
League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania
League of Women Voters of Philadelphia
League of Women Voters of Delaware County
Pennsylvania Economy League
Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Pennsylvania Republican Party
Pennsylvania Green Party
Pennsylvania Cable Network
Pennsylvania Legislature
PA Senate
Politics PA
WomenVote PA