The Speaker
The Speaker is the presiding officer and the administrative head of the House. Their duties include presiding over legislative sessions, preserving order and decorum during each voting session and deciding all questions of order. There has been a Speaker since 1682.
The Speaker ensures all rules and regulations for voting and parliamentary procedures are followed. In addition, the Speaker oversees the committee process by appointing the chairmen and vice chairmen of each standing committee and refers all bills to these committees for consideration. The Speaker votes on bills and may also sponsor legislation. The Speaker is, by law, the third in line to succeed the Governor, after the Lieutenant Governor and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
Thomas Wynne
The second Speaker of the House, 1682--1683, Wynne served Philadelphia in the House. He later represented Sussex County from 1688 to 1689. Wynne was involved in establishing the rules of parliamentary procedure and rewriting William Penn's original frame of government.
Joseph Growdon
Growdon, of Philadelphia and Bucks Counties, was speaker for seven terms in the House. He spent time as Speaker repealing laws that were enacted in prior sessions such as provincial grand juries. He also enacted a law during one of his later terms which taxed imported liquor.
David Lloyd
Lloyd represented Chester County, Philadelphia County, and Philadelphia City throughout his 22-year career in the House. Lloyd published debate rules for both the House and Speaker, ultimately expanding the Speaker's role in controlling debates.
Edward Shippen
Speaker from 1695 to 1696, Shippen represented Philadelphia County. He served as the 10th Speaker of the House. This session was cut short after disputes over a new state Constitution, which led to no new legislation.
Thomas Jefferson Essay (1943) by Alfred EisenstaedtLIFE Photo Collection
Andrew Hamilton
Hamilton, of Bucks County, served as Speaker of the House for nine sessions. He was instrumental in a bill that allowed the printing of paper money in Pennsylvania. He was instrumental in the construction of Independence Hall, then known as the Pennsylvania State House.
Isaac Norris II
Norris represented Philadelphia County almost 30 years in the House, while serving Speaker for 15 years. Norris was responsible for the commission of a bell to hang in the statehouse, now known as the Liberty Bell.
Benjamin Franklin (c. 1785) by Joseph Siffred DuplessisSmithsonian's National Portrait Gallery
Benjamin Franklin
Franklin did serve as Speaker of the House in 1764. His first act as Speaker was to petition the King of England to change the government to a royal charter in Pennsylvania. After losing his seat, Franklin went on to become an influential figure in American independence.
Joseph Galloway
Galloway served 18 terms in the House representing Philadelphia and Bucks Counties. As Speaker from 1766 to 1768, Galloway was loyal to the British monarchy, both personally and professionally leading to his resignation in 1775.
For more information on these Speakers visit: Speaker Biographies - PA House of Representatives - PA House of Representatives (state.pa.us)
