Pennsylvania Secretary of State
| Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $153,378 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $33,533,000 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at pleasure of governor |
| Authority: | Pennsylvania Constitution, Article VI, Section 1 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by Governor |
| Current Officeholder | |
Pennsylvania Secretary of State
Al Schmidt | |
| Other Pennsylvania Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Secretary of State for Pennsylvania, more commonly known as the Secretary of the Commonwealth, is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. The secretary serves as Pennsylvania's chief election official, and is the keeper of the Great Seal of the Commonwealth.[1]
Pennsylvania has a divided government where neither party holds a triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor and attorney general, while the Republican Party controls the office of secretary of state.
Current officeholder
The current Pennsylvania Secretary of State is Al Schmidt (R). Schmidt assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The Pennsylvania Administrative Code of 1929 established the secretary of state's responsibility and authority in Article II, Section 207:[2]
| The Governor shall nominate in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and, by and with the advice and consent of a majority of the members elected to the Senate appoint persons to fill the following positions: The Secretary of Education, the Secretary of the Commonwealth ... |
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for this office.[2]
Appointments
The Office of Secretary of the Commonwealth is a position that is filled via appointment by the governor and with the consent of the state legislature.[1] Under Section 68a of Title 71 of the Pennsylvania statutes, the secretary does not have a defined term length, but serves at the pleasure of the governor.[3]
Term limits
There are no term limits imposed on the secretary of the commonwealth.[1]
Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy, the governor nominates a successor who must be confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate before assuming office.[2]
Duties
The department licenses more than one million business, health, and real estate professionals. It maintains registration and financial information for thousands of charities soliciting contributions from Pennsylvanians, oversees Pennsylvania's electoral process, maintains corporate filings, and sanctions professional boxing, kick-boxing, and wrestling in the Commonwealth. The secretary is the keeper of the Great Seal of the Commonwealth and has the duty of authenticating government documents through the seal's use. The secretary is also the Commonwealth's Chief Election Official.[1]
Divisions
The Department of State consists of six bureaus:[1]
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State budget
- See also: Pennsylvania state budget and finances
The budget for the Department of State in Fiscal Year 2024 was $33,533,000.[5]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The secretary of state's salary is set by statute and subject to cost-of-living adjustments, also known as COLAs, pursuant to Section 3(e) of the Public Official Compensation Law (amended in 1995). This law mandates that Pennsylvania executives' salaries "shall be increased by applying the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland area for the most recent 12-month period for which figures have been officially reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) immediately prior to the date adjustment is due to take effect."[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $153,378, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the secretary of state received a salary of $145,244, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $145,244 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $140,291 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $140,291 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $139,178 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $137,392, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $137,392, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the secretary received a salary of $135,228, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the secretary received a salary of $134,824, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2010
In 2010, the secretary received a salary of $125,939, according to the Sunshine Review.[17]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Pennsylvania Secretary of State has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
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Contact information
Capitol Address:
302 North Office Building, 401 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: (717) 787-6458
Fax: (717) 787-1734
See also
| Pennsylvania | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Pennsylvania Department of State, "About us," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Pennsylvania General Assembly, "THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1929," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ FindLaw, "Pennsylvania Statutes Title 71 P.S. State Government § 68. Terms of office (Adm. Statutes Code § 208)," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Pennsylvania Governor's Budget Office, "2023-24 Governor's Executive Budget," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Pennsylvania Legislature, "Senate Bill: Act 51 of 1995," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
- ↑ The Sunshine Review, "Pennsylvania state government salary," June 1, 2011
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