California Constitution Archives - Page 2 of 15

Fiscal Emergency Special Sessions

October 12, 2022 7:30 amOctober 12, 2022 1:35 pm

In addition to extraordinary or special sessions being called by the Governor, California allows for special sessions in “fiscal emergencies.” Adopted by the voters in March 2004 as Proposition 58, Section 10 of Article IV of the California Constitution was...

Establishing a Quorum In the California Legislature

October 10, 2022 7:40 amOctober 10, 2022 7:44 am

What is the importance of a quorum and how is it established? In the California Legislature, according to the Office of Legislative Counsel, “a quorum must be recorded in order for legislative business to be transacted.” For example, Section 7(a)...

What Bill Drafting Guidance Do We Have from the California Constitution?

September 24, 2022 7:43 amSeptember 24, 2022 7:47 am

When drafting legislation in California, there are several sources of guidance in drafting bills and other forms of legislation (resolutions and constitutional amendments). The first source is the California Constitution. What legislation drafting guidance is contained in the state Constitution?...

A sea of empty desks inside the California State Assembly

Apportionment of Revenues Among Political Entities

September 23, 2022 6:43 amSeptember 23, 2022 6:46 am

In legislation creating a new type of special district (a form of local government in this state whose number are in excess of 2,000 entities) that receives tax revenues, Article XIII, Section 29 of the California Constitution has to be...

The Role of Mason’s Manual

September 19, 2022 7:24 amSeptember 19, 2022 2:16 pm

What is Mason’s Manual and why is its role in the California Legislature? Originally published in 1935, “Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure,” commonly referred to as Mason’s Manual, is the official parliamentary authority of most state legislatures in the United...

Formal Roles of Governor and Lt. Governor in Lawmaking

September 16, 2022 6:36 pmSeptember 16, 2022 6:41 pm

Both the California Governor and the Lieutenant Governor have formal roles in the lawmaking process, despite the fact that this authority is granted to the legislative branch of state government pursuant to Article IV of the California Constitution. Article IV,...

How Can a Higher Vote Threshold Be Imposed on Bills in the California Legislature?

September 15, 2022 5:05 pmSeptember 15, 2022 5:08 pm

The California Constitution, in Article IV, Section 8(b)(3), clearly states the following: “No bill may be passed unless, by rollcall vote entered in the journal, a majority of the membership of each house concurs.” As a result, in the state...