Assembly Chief Clerk Archives

What Committee Actions Can Occur Without a Quorum?

October 12, 2022 3:22 pmOctober 12, 2022 3:26 pm

Before any official legislative business can be conducted in a policy or fiscal committee, or on either Floor of the Assembly or Senate, a quorum must be established, which means over half of the legislators are present and answer to...

Vote Changes in the California Legislature

September 21, 2022 6:39 amSeptember 21, 2022 6:44 am

Are vote changes allowed in the California Legislature? The answer is yes, although there are different rules between the two houses and some explanation is appropriate. A vote change is obviously when a legislator chooses to change his or her...

The Daily File: The Legislature’s Go-To Resource

February 16, 2022 2:21 amFebruary 15, 2022 5:09 pm

In both the California State Assembly and State Senate, there are three major publications: Weekly History, Daily File, and Daily Journal, all of which are generally published each day the two houses are in session. While the Assembly and Senate...

The Anatomy of a California Legislative Constitutional Amendment

October 29, 2020 6:41 amOctober 29, 2020 6:42 am

In the California Legislature, the Members of the Assembly and Senate have the ability to place a constitutional amendment before the statewide electorate for consideration. The Legislative Counsel defines a constitutional amendment as “a resolution proposing a change to the...

The Anatomy a California Bill

October 26, 2020 6:21 amOctober 26, 2020 8:10 am

In the California Legislature, pursuant to Article IV, Section 8(b)(1), “the Legislature may make no law except by statute and may enact no statute except by bill.” As a result, a bill is what enacts a statute. The Legislative Counsel...

Legislative Floor Procedures

February 12, 2020 6:15 amFebruary 11, 2020 8:59 pm

In both houses of the California Legislature, there are specific procedures for considering legislation on the Floors of the Assembly and Senate. There are rules in place pursuant to the Joint Rules, as well as the respective Assembly and Senate...

Conducting Business on the Floors of the California Legislature

October 25, 2019 8:38 amOctober 25, 2019 8:39 am

The California Legislature conducts its business both in policy and fiscal committees, as well as on the Floors of the State Assembly and State Senate. Each house determines its own rules and specifies how business will be handled on their...