What kind of government does philadelphia have

Unless otherwise noted, amendments are referred to by date of adoption by the electorate together with a reference to the applicable joint resolution J. WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

Initiation of criminal proceedings; twice in jeopardy;. No discrimination by Commonwealth and its. Prohibition against denial or abridgment of equality of. Unless otherwise noted, the provisions of Article I were adopted December 16, , P.

All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness. All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness.

For the advancement of these ends they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think proper. All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; no man can of right be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent; no human authority can, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience, and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious establishments or modes of worship.

No person who acknowledges the being of a God and a future state of rewards and punishments shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be disqualified to hold any office or place of trust or profit under this Commonwealth. Elections shall be free and equal; and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage. Trial by jury shall be as heretofore, and the right thereof remain inviolate. The General Assembly may provide, however, by law, that a verdict may be rendered by not less than five-sixths of the jury in any civil case.

Furthermore, in criminal cases the Commonwealth shall have the same right to trial by jury as does the accused. May 18, , P. The printing press shall be free to every person who may undertake to examine the proceedings of the Legislature or any branch of government, and no law shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof.

The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man, and every citizen may freely speak, write and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. No conviction shall be had in any prosecution for the publication of papers relating to the official conduct of officers or men in public capacity, or to any other matter proper for public investigation or information, where the fact that such publication was not maliciously or negligently made shall be established to the satisfaction of the jury; and in all indictments for libels the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other cases.

The provisions of section 7 relating to criminal libel were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in Commonwealth v. Armao, Pa. The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions from unreasonable searches and seizures, and no warrant to search any place or to seize any person or things shall issue without describing them as nearly as may be, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation subscribed to by the affiant.

In all criminal prosecutions the accused hath a right to be heard by himself and his counsel, to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him, to be confronted with the witnesses against him, to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and, in prosecutions by indictment or information, a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the vicinage; he cannot be compelled to give evidence against himself, nor can he be deprived of his life, liberty or property, unless by the judgment of his peers or the law of the land.

The use of a suppressed voluntary admission or voluntary confession to impeach the credibility of a person may be permitted and shall not be construed as compelling a person to give evidence against himself. Joint Resolution No. The passage of Joint Resolution No. Kane A. Except as hereinafter provided no person shall, for any indictable offense, be proceeded against criminally by information, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service, in time of war or public danger, or by leave of the court for oppression or misdemeanor in office.

Each of the several courts of common pleas may, with the approval of the Supreme Court, provide for the initiation of criminal proceedings therein by information filed in the manner provided by law.

No person shall, for the same offense, be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall private property be taken or applied to public use, without authority of law and without just compensation being first made or secured. All courts shall be open; and every man for an injury done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation shall have remedy by due course of law, and right and justice administered without sale, denial or delay.

Suits may be brought against the Commonwealth in such manner, in such courts and in such cases as the Legislature may by law direct. No power of suspending laws shall be exercised unless by the Legislature or by its authority. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel punishments inflicted.

All prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for capital offenses or for offenses for which the maximum sentence is life imprisonment or unless no condition or combination of conditions other than imprisonment will reasonably assure the safety of any person and the community when the proof is evident or presumption great; and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in case of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.

No commission shall issue creating special temporary criminal tribunals to try particular individuals or particular classes of cases. May 16, , P. The person of a debtor, where there is not strong presumption of fraud, shall not be continued in prison after delivering up his estate for the benefit of his creditors in such manner as shall be prescribed by law. No ex post facto law, nor any law impairing the obligation of contracts, or making irrevocable any grant of special privileges or immunities, shall be passed.

No person shall be attainted of treason or felony by the Legislature. No attainder shall work corruption of blood, nor, except during the life of the offender, forfeiture of estate to the Commonwealth.

The citizens have a right in a peaceable manner to assemble together for their common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances or other proper purposes, by petition, address or remonstrance.

The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned. No standing army shall, in time of peace, be kept up without the consent of the Legislature, and the military shall in all cases and at all times be in strict subordination to the civil power. No soldier shall in time of peace be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

The Legislature shall not grant any title of nobility or hereditary distinction, nor create any office the appointment to which shall be for a longer term than during good behavior. To guard against transgressions of the high powers which we have delegated, we declare that everything in this article is excepted out of the general powers of government and shall forever remain inviolate.

Neither the Commonwealth nor any political subdivision thereof shall deny to any person the enjoyment of any civil right, nor discriminate against any person in the exercise of any civil right.

The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come.

As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania because of the sex of the individual. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania because of the race or ethnicity of the individual.

Joint Resolution 1 added section The legislative power of this Commonwealth shall be vested in a General Assembly, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives. Members of the General Assembly shall be chosen at the general election every second year. Their term of service shall begin on the first day of December next after their election.

Whenever a vacancy shall occur in either House, the presiding officer thereof shall issue a writ of election to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term.

Senators shall be elected for the term of four years and Representatives for the term of two years. The General Assembly shall be a continuing body during the term for which its Representatives are elected. It shall meet at 12 o'clock noon on the first Tuesday of January each year. Special sessions shall be called by the Governor on petition of a majority of the members elected to each House or may be called by the Governor whenever in his opinion the public interest requires.

Senators shall be at least 25 years of age and Representatives 21 years of age. They shall have been citizens and inhabitants of the State four years, and inhabitants of their respective districts one year next before their election unless absent on the public business of the United States or of this State , and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under this Commonwealth to which a salary, fee or perquisite is attached. No member of Congress or other person holding any office except of attorney-at-law or in the National Guard or in a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States under the United States or this Commonwealth to which a salary, fee or perquisite is attached shall be a member of either House during his continuance in office.

No person hereafter convicted of embezzlement of public moneys, bribery, perjury or other infamous crime, shall be eligible to the General Assembly, or capable of holding any office of trust or profit in this Commonwealth.

The members of the General Assembly shall receive such salary and mileage for regular and special sessions as shall be fixed by law, and no other compensation whatever, whether for service upon committee or otherwise. No member of either House shall during the term for which he may have been elected, receive any increase of salary, or mileage, under any law passed during such term.

Election of officers; judge of election and qualifications. The Senate shall, at the beginning and close of each regular session and at such other times as may be necessary, elect one of its members President pro tempore, who shall perform the duties of the Lieutenant Governor, in any case of absence or disability of that officer, and whenever the said office of Lieutenant Governor shall be vacant.

The House of Representatives shall elect one of its members as Speaker. Each House shall choose its other officers, and shall judge of the election and qualifications of its members. A majority of each House shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance of absent members. Each House shall have power to determine the rules of its proceedings and punish its members or other persons for contempt or disorderly behavior in its presence, to enforce obedience to its process, to protect its members against violence or offers of bribes or private solicitation, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, to expel a member, but not a second time for the same cause, and shall have all other powers necessary for the Legislature of a free State.

A member expelled for corruption shall not thereafter be eligible to either House, and punishment for contempt or disorderly behavior shall not bar an indictment for the same offense. Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings and from time to time publish the same, except such parts as require secrecy, and the yeas and nays of the members on any question shall, at the desire of any two of them, be entered on the journal.

The sessions of each House and of committees of the whole shall be open, unless when the business is such as ought to be kept secret. Neither House shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting. The members of the General Assembly shall in all cases, except treason, felony, violation of their oath of office, and breach or surety of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the sessions of their respective Houses and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House they shall not be questioned in any other place.

The Commonwealth shall be divided into 50 senatorial and representative districts, which shall be composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in population as practicable. Each senatorial district shall elect one Senator, and each representative district one Representative.

Unless absolutely necessary no county, city, incorporated town, borough, township or ward shall be divided in forming either a senatorial or representative district. Proposal No. The schedule to Proposal No. The commission shall act by a majority of its entire membership. No later than 60 days following the official reporting of the Federal decennial census as required by Federal law, the four members shall be certified by the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the elections officer of the Commonwealth who under law shall have supervision over elections.

The four members within 45 days after their certification shall select the fifth member, who shall serve as chairman of the commission, and shall immediately certify his name to such elections officer. The chairman shall be a citizen of the Commonwealth other than a local, State or Federal official holding an office to which compensation is attached. If the four members fail to select the fifth member within the time prescribed, a majority of the entire membership of the Supreme Court within 30 days thereafter shall appoint the chairman as aforesaid and certify his appointment to such elections officer.

Any vacancy in the commission shall be filled within 15 days in the same manner in which such position was originally filled. The commission shall have 30 days after filing the preliminary plan to make corrections in the plan.

Any person aggrieved by the preliminary plan shall have the same day period to file exceptions with the commission in which case the commission shall have 30 days after the date the exceptions were filed to prepare and file with such elections officer a revised reapportionment plan.

If no exceptions are filed within 30 days, or if filed and acted upon, the commissions's plan shall be final and have the force of law. If the appellant establishes that the final plan is contrary to law, the Supreme Court shall issue an order remanding the plan to the commission and directing the commission to reapportion the Commonwealth in a manner not inconsistent with such order.

The members of the commission shall be entitled to such compensation for their services as the General Assembly from time to time shall determine, but no part thereof shall be paid until a preliminary plan is filed. If a preliminary plan is filed but the commission fails to file a revised or final plan within the time prescribed, the commission members shall forfeit all right to compensation not paid.

The publication shall contain a map of the Commonwealth showing the complete reapportionment of the General Assembly by districts, and a map showing the reapportionment districts in the area normally served by the newspaper in which the publication is made.

The publication shall also state the population of the senatorial and representative districts having the smallest and largest population and the percentage variation of such districts from the average population for senatorial and representative districts. Prior Provisions. Former section 17 was amended and consolidated with present section 16 by amendment of April 23, , P.

Extra compensation prohibited; claims against the. Commonwealth; pensions. Appropriations for public assistance, military service,. Subdivision Headings. No law shall be passed except by bill, and no bill shall be so altered or amended, on its passage through either House, as to change its original purpose.

No bill shall be considered unless referred to a committee, printed for the use of the members and returned therefrom. No bill shall be passed containing more than one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title, except a general appropriation bill or a bill codifying or compiling the law or a part thereof.

Every bill shall be considered on three different days in each House. No bill shall become a law, unless on its final passage the vote is taken by yeas and nays, the names of the persons voting for and against it are entered on the journal, and a majority of the members elected to each House is recorded thereon as voting in its favor.

No amendment to bills by one House shall be concurred in by the other, except by the vote of a majority of the members elected thereto, taken by yeas and nays, and the names of those voting for and against recorded upon the journal thereof; and reports of committees of conference shall be adopted in either House only by the vote of a majority of the members elected thereto, taken by yeas and nays, and the names of those voting recorded upon the journals.

No law shall be revived, amended, or the provisions thereof extended or conferred, by reference to its title only, but so much thereof as is revived, amended, extended or conferred shall be re-enacted and published at length.

No local or special bill shall be passed unless notice of the intention to apply therefor shall have been published in the locality where the matter or the thing to be effected may be situated, which notice shall be at least 30 days prior to the introduction into the General Assembly of such bill and in the manner to be provided by law; the evidence of such notice having been published, shall be exhibited in the General Assembly, before such act shall be passed.

Former section 7 was renumbered to present section 32 and present section 7 was renumbered from former section 8 by amendment of May 16, , P. The presiding officer of each House shall, in the presence of the House over which he presides, sign all bills and joint resolutions passed by the General Assembly, after their titles have been publicly read immediately before signing; and the fact of signing shall be entered on the journal. Former section 8 was renumbered to present section 7 and present section 8 was renumbered from former section 9 by amendment of May 16, , P.

Every order, resolution or vote, to which the concurrence of both Houses may be necessary, except on the questions of adjournment or termination or extension of a disaster emergency declaration as declared by an executive order or proclamation, or portion of a disaster emergency declaration as declared by an executive order or proclamation, shall be presented to the Governor and before it shall take effect be approved by him, or being disapproved, shall be repassed by two-thirds of both Houses according to the rules and limitations prescribed in case of a bill.

Former section 9 was renumbered to present section 8 and present section 9 was renumbered from former section 26 by amendment of May 16, , P.

All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose amendments as in other bills. Former section 10 was renumbered to present section 17 and present section 10 was renumbered from former section 14 by amendment of May 16, , P. The general appropriation bill shall embrace nothing but appropriations for the executive, legislative and judicial departments of the Commonwealth, for the public debt and for public schools.

All other appropriations shall be made by separate bills, each embracing but one subject. When the General Assembly shall be convened in special session, there shall be no legislation upon subjects other than those designated in the proclamation of the Governor calling such session.

Former section 12 was repealed and present section 12 was renumbered from former section 25 by amendment of May 16, , P. A member who has a personal or private interest in any measure or bill proposed or pending before the General Assembly shall disclose the fact to the House of which he is a member, and shall not vote thereon.

Former section 13 was renumbered to present section 27 and present section 13 was renumbered from former section 33 by amendment of May 16, , P.

The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth. No money raised for the support of the public schools of the Commonwealth shall be appropriated to or used for the support of any sectarian school. The citizens of this Commonwealth shall be armed, organized and disciplined for its defense when and in such manner as may be directed by law. The General Assembly shall provide for maintaining the National Guard by appropriations from the Treasury of the Commonwealth, and may exempt from State military service persons having conscientious scruples against bearing arms.

The General Assembly shall prescribe by law the number, duties and compensation of the officers and employees of each House, and no payment shall be made from the State Treasury, or be in any way authorized, to any person, except to an acting officer or employee elected or appointed in pursuance of law. Former section 17 was renumbered to present section 30 and present section 17 was renumbered from former section 10 by amendment of May 16, , P.

The General Assembly may enact laws requiring the payment by employers, or employers and employees jointly, of reasonable compensation for injuries to employees arising in the course of their employment, and for occupational diseases of employees, whether or not such injuries or diseases result in death, and regardless of fault of employer or employee, and fixing the basis of ascertainment of such compensation and the maximum and minimum limits thereof, and providing special or general remedies for the collection thereof; but in no other cases shall the General Assembly limit the amount to be recovered for injuries resulting in death, or for injuries to persons or property, and in case of death from such injuries, the right of action shall survive, and the General Assembly shall prescribe for whose benefit such actions shall be prosecuted.

No act shall prescribe any limitations of time within which suits may be brought against corporations for injuries to persons or property, or for other causes different from those fixed by general laws regulating actions against natural persons, and such acts now existing are avoided. Former section 18 was renumbered to present section 29 and present section 18 was renumbered from former section 21 by amendment of May 16, , P.

The General Assembly may make appropriations of money to institutions wherein the widows of persons who served in the armed forces are supported or assisted, or the orphans of persons who served in the armed forces are maintained and educated; but such appropriations shall be applied exclusively to the support of such widows and orphans. The Legislature shall have power to classify counties, cities, boroughs, school districts, and townships according to population, and all laws passed relating to each class, and all laws passed relating to, and regulating procedure and proceedings in court with reference to, any class, shall be deemed general legislation within the meaning of this Constitution.

Laws may be passed providing for a system of registering, transferring, insuring of and guaranteeing land titles by the State, or by the counties thereof, and for settling and determining adverse or other claims to and interest in lands the titles to which are so registered, transferred, insured, and guaranteed; and for the creation and collection of indemnity funds; and for carrying the system and powers hereby provided for into effect by such existing courts as may be designated by the Legislature.

Such laws may provide for continuing the registering, transferring, insuring, and guaranteeing such titles after the first or original registration has been perfected by the court, and provision may be made for raising the necessary funds for expenses and salaries of officers, which shall be paid out of the treasury of the several counties. The General Assembly shall maintain by law a system of competitive bidding under which all purchases of materials, printing, supplies or other personal property used by the government of this Commonwealth shall so far as practicable be made.

The law shall provide that no officer or employee of the Commonwealth shall be in any way interested in any purchase made by the Commonwealth under contract or otherwise.

The subject matter of present section 22 was formerly contained in section The power to change the venue in civil and criminal cases shall be vested in the courts, to be exercised in such manner as shall be provided by law. No money shall be paid out of the treasury, except on appropriations made by law and on warrant issued by the proper officers; but cash refunds of taxes, licenses, fees and other charges paid or collected, but not legally due, may be paid, as provided by law, without appropriation from the fund into which they were paid on warrant of the proper officer.

Former section 24 was repealed and present section 24 was renumbered from former section 16 by amendment of May 16, , P. The General Assembly may provide, by law, during any session, for the continuity of the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of the government of the Commonwealth, and its political subdivisions, and the establishment of emergency seats thereof and any such laws heretofore enacted are validated.

Such legislation shall become effective in the event of an attack by an enemy of the United States. No bill shall be passed giving any extra compensation to any public officer, servant, employee, agent or contractor, after services shall have been rendered or contract made, nor providing for the payment of any claim against the Commonwealth without previous authority of law: Provided, however, That nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit the General Assembly from authorizing the increase of retirement allowances or pensions of members of a retirement or pension system now in effect or hereafter legally constituted by the Commonwealth, its political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, after the termination of the services of said member.

Rejection of Proposed Amendment. The question of amending section 26 to permit the General Assembly to authorize the increase of retirement benefits or pensions payable to beneficiaries who are spouses of members of a retirement or pension system, as more fully set forth in Joint Resolution No.

Section 1 of Article XI prohibits the submission of an amendment more often than once in five years. Former section 26 was renumbered to present section 9 and present section 26 was renumbered from former section 11 by amendment of May 16, , P.

No law shall extend the term of any public officer, or increase or diminish his salary or emoluments, after his election or appointment. Former section 27 was repealed and present section 27 was renumbered from former section 13 by amendment of May 16, , P. No law changing the permanent location of the Capital of the State shall be valid until the same shall have been submitted to the qualified electors of the Commonwealth at a general election and ratified and approved by them.

No appropriation shall be made for charitable, educational or benevolent purposes to any person or community nor to any denominational and sectarian institution, corporation or association: Provided, That appropriations may be made for pensions or gratuities for military service and to blind persons 21 years of age and upwards and for assistance to mothers having dependent children and to aged persons without adequate means of support and in the form of scholarship grants or loans for higher educational purposes to residents of the Commonwealth enrolled in institutions of higher learning except that no scholarship, grants or loans for higher educational purposes shall be given to persons enrolled in a theological seminary or school of theology.

Former section 29 was repealed and present section 29 was renumbered from former section 18 by amendment of May 16, , P. Cross References. No appropriation shall be made to any charitable or educational institution not under the absolute control of the Commonwealth, other than normal schools established by law for the professional training of teachers for the public schools of the State, except by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each House.

Former section 30 was repealed and present section 30 was renumbered from former section 17 by amendment of May 16, , P. The General Assembly shall not delegate to any special commission, private corporation or association, any power to make, supervise or interfere with any municipal improvement, money, property or effects, whether held in trust or otherwise, or to levy taxes or perform any municipal function whatever.

Notwithstanding the foregoing limitation or any other provision of the Constitution, the General Assembly may enact laws which provide that the findings of panels or commissions, selected and acting in accordance with law for the adjustment or settlement of grievances or disputes or for collective bargaining between policemen and firemen and their public employers shall be binding upon all parties and shall constitute a mandate to the head of the political subdivision which is the employer, or to the appropriate officer of the Commonwealth if the Commonwealth is the employer, with respect to matters which can be remedied by administrative action, and to the lawmaking body of such political subdivision or of the Commonwealth, with respect to matters which require legislative action, to take the action necessary to carry out such findings.

The General Assembly shall pass no local or special law in any case which has been or can be provided for by general law and specifically the General Assembly shall not pass any local or special law:.

Regulating the affairs of counties, cities, townships, wards, boroughs or school districts:. Vacating roads, town plats, streets or alleys:.

Locating or changing county seats, erecting new counties or changing county lines:. Erecting new townships or boroughs, changing township lines, borough limits or school districts:. Remitting fines, penalties and forfeitures, or refunding moneys legally paid into the treasury:. Exempting property from taxation:. Regulating labor, trade, mining or manufacturing:.

Creating corporations, or amending, renewing or extending the charters thereof:. Nor shall the General Assembly indirectly enact any special or local law by the partial repeal of a general law; but laws repealing local or special acts may be passed.

Qualifications of Governor, Lieutenant Governor and. Disqualification for offices of Governor, Lieutenant. Governor and Attorney General.

Contested elections of Governor, Lieutenant Governor and. Attorney General; when succeeded. Terms of office of Auditor General and State Treasurer;. Auditor General. References in Text. The Superintendent of Public Instruction, referred to in section 1, is now the Secretary of Education. The supreme executive power shall be vested in the Governor, who shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed; he shall be chosen on the day of the general election, by the qualified electors of the Commonwealth, at the places where they shall vote for Representatives.

The returns of every election for Governor shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of government, directed to the President of the Senate, who shall open and publish them in the presence of the members of both Houses of the General Assembly.

The person having the highest number of votes shall be Governor, but if two or more be equal and highest in votes, one of them shall be chosen Governor by the joint vote of the members of both Houses. These initiatives were possible because Philadelphia became the first major city to pass a tax on sweetened beverages. Sign up for updates to stay informed and get involved as Mayor Kenney works to build a Philadelphia that works for every single neighborhood.

On January 4, , Jim was sworn in as the 99th Mayor of Philadelphia. Since , he has championed bold anti-poverty initiatives, including the expansion of free, quality pre-K; the creation of Community Schools; and the historic investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in parks, recreation centers, playgrounds, and libraries — all because Philadelphia became the first major city in the U. Now in his second term, Jim is focused on advancing racial justice and driving an equitable economic recovery from COVID to ensure that Philadelphia is a city that works for all.

COVID vaccine. The vaccine is now available for everyone 5 and older! Get your children vaccinated today. Twelve incumbents won re-election. Prior to the election, Democrats held a majority on the council. They maintained that same majority after the election.

The only incumbent not to seek re-election was seven-term District 9 representative Marian B. Tasco D. She announced her plans to retire from the council in January One of the seven at-large seats was vacant at the time of the election. The seat was previously held by James Kenney D , who resigned in January in order to run for mayor. The city's budget process operates by fiscal years running from July 1 through June 30 of the next year. Fiscal years are named by the year in which they end, not when they begin.

For example, the fiscal year covered the period from July 1, , to June 30, The mayor drafts and proposes a budget to the city council, who then debates the budget.

The city council must adopt the budget by a majority vote, and once adopted the mayor signs the budget into law. Because the city is required by law to have a balanced budget, the mayor's initial proposal is particularly important.

The city council cannot propose changes to the budget that require it to spend more money than the mayor's projected incomes. The fiscally standardized cities FiSC data below was compiled by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy to make municipal budgets comparable across cities in the United States. FiSCs are constructed by adding revenues and expenditures of each central city municipal government to a portion of the revenues and expenditures of overlying governments, including counties, independent school districts, and special districts.

The allocations to FiSCs are estimates of the revenues collected from and services provided to central city residents and businesses by these overlying independent governments. Thus FiSCs provides a full picture of revenues raised from city residents and businesses and spending on their behalf, whether done by the city government or a separate overlying government. The tables below show estimated finances within city limits.

As such, the revenue and expenses listed may differ from the actual city budget. To see the historical total revenue or expenditures as a rounded amount in this city, hover over the bars.

To search a different ZIP code, enter it in the search bar within the map. Click here for city council contact information. The city of Philadelphia is in Philadelphia County. A list of ballot measures in Philadelphia County is available here. During the weekend of May , , demonstrations and protests took place in cities nationwide, including Philadelphia, following the death of George Floyd. Events in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , began on Saturday, May 30, at the city hall.

Tom Wolf D declared a disaster emergency. On June 16, , the Philadelphia City Council approved a tax on soda by a vote. The tax, amounting to 1. Philadelphia became the first city among the nation's largest cities by population to approve a soda tax after months of lobbying by supporters and opponents.

Mayor Jim Kenney supported the measure, focusing on additional tax revenues for community programs rather than public health arguments. Harold Honickman, the owner of a beverage bottling business, told ABC 6 that he planned to file a lawsuit to block the tax's implementation. Honickman opposed the tax because he believed that it would reduce soda sales and harm associated businesses. The American Beverage Association referred to the tax as an unpopular and regressive tax.

On July 18, , the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the soda tax in a decision that found that Philadelphia's tax did not violate state law. Opponents of the tax argued that the city violated the law because the soda tax would be passed on to consumers, who already pay the state sales tax. The city argued that the tax was on soda distribution, not sales.

In July , the Movement Advancement Project described Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a city or county that prohibited discrimination in employment on the basis of gender identity via ordinances that apply to public and private employers. At that time, a total of 71 of America's largest cities prohibited private employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, while 69 of those cities also prohibited discrimination based on gender identity.

Sign Up. Committee of Seventy is a trusted voice. Ended cash gifts. Philadelphia's elected officials and employees can no longer accept cash gifts, thanks in large measure to Seventy's vigilance in advocating for this common sense reform. We're working to do the same at the state level. Slayed the Gerrymander. Through Draw the Lines PA, the largest outpouring of hands-on citizen mapping in the history of our county, we gave thousands of citizens the power to draw their own maps and inform the upcoming formal process for drawing congressional, legislative and city council maps.

Banned ultra-rich pension bonuses. Seventy prompted Pennsylvania to ban ultra-rich pension bonuses for elected officials in Philadelphia and across the state. Educated voters. Seventy led a non-partisan statewide coalition of groups to educate voters on how to be prepared for voter ID rules.

See More of Our Impact. Latest Video. See all. News November 08, Watch Now. November 02, Studio C70 Interview with Debbie Gross.