California Constitution Archives - Page 7 of 15

Non-Partisan Races in California

January 11, 2022 7:59 amJanuary 11, 2022 7:47 am

California’s Constitution, in Article II, Section 6(a), states that all judicial, school, county, and city offices, including the Superintendent of Public Instruction, are to be nonpartisan. As a result of this provision, individuals running to be a superior court judge...

Peaking Under the Dome: Is It Deal-Making or Vote Trading in California’s Capitol?

January 9, 2022 12:05 pmJanuary 9, 2022 3:45 pm

We often read about the “wheeling and dealing” among elected officials that occurs in state capitols across this country, even here in California. While some Capitol observers refer to it as deal-making and lawful, others claim it is vote trading...

Impeachment of California State Officers

January 8, 2022 7:53 amJanuary 8, 2022 8:00 am

The California Constitution, like its federal counterpart, allows for the impeachment and conviction of certain state officials. The U.S. Constitution provides in Article I, Section 2 that “The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall...

Constitutional Vote Requirements for the California Legislature

January 7, 2022 6:57 amJanuary 7, 2022 6:59 am

There are a number of provisions contained in the California Constitution that specify certain vote requirements for the Legislature. The following are those provisions of the state Constitution: Article IV, Section 4 – Travel and living expenses for Members of...

Some California Constitutional Provisions Can Be Waived

January 6, 2022 3:33 pmJanuary 6, 2022 2:41 pm

When the Legislature initially followed the Governor’s shelter at home order and passed two budget-related bills on March 16, 2020, it required waiver of two constitutional requirements. The first was the required three readings of a bill prior to its...

Constitutional Rules for the California State Budget

January 6, 2022 7:30 amJanuary 6, 2022 6:54 am

The annual state budget bill, as well as the “budget bill junior” and budget “trailer bills” are governed by provisions of the California Constitution. The budget bill junior and budget trailer bills are formally called “other bills providing for appropriations...

Does the Governor Have 12 or 30 Days to Act on Bills?

January 5, 2022 3:09 pmJanuary 5, 2022 2:14 pm

A commonly-misunderstood item in the California legislative process is determining whether the Governor has 12 days to take action on a bill, or 30 days. The general rule is that the Governor has 12 days to act, once a bill...