California Legislature Archives - Page 16 of 50

A sea of empty desks inside the California State Assembly

Between Election Day and Convening the New Session

September 20, 2022 8:59 amSeptember 20, 2022 9:01 am

Do any official legislative activities occur between election day and the convening of the new legislative session? The answer is yes. Pursuant to Assembly Rule 13.1, there is the organization of party caucuses that takes place during that interval. AR...

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...

This Bill Contains Several Unique ‘Notwithstanding’ Clauses

September 18, 2022 8:22 amSeptember 18, 2022 8:24 am

The phrase, “notwithstanding any other law,” is used in numerous statutes in California. The purpose of this phrase is to place a specific provision of law above all others that may conflict with the new provision of law. The general...

Are Companion Bills Used in the California Legislature?

September 17, 2022 4:36 pmSeptember 17, 2022 4:39 pm

In the United States Congress, a common approach to take is to have two identical measures, one in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate, introduced and run at the same time. These two measures are referred to...

Why Is a Supplemental File Used in the California Legislature?

September 17, 2022 7:49 amSeptember 17, 2022 7:52 am

The agenda for the California Legislature is contained in the Assembly Daily File and the Senate Daily File. But, during the last day or two prior to the final adjournment of the legislative session, a “supplemental file” is required when...

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,...

What Is a Special Order of Business in the CA Legislature?

September 16, 2022 6:48 amSeptember 16, 2022 6:53 am

Almost always used in committee, a special order of business is used when a bill or similarly related bills are set to be heard at a specified time and specified order (for multiple bills) at the hearing. The Office of...