Senate President pro tempore Archives

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...

Why Do California Legislators Speak ‘On Condition of the File?’

September 14, 2022 3:30 pmSeptember 14, 2022 2:59 pm

On occasion, you may hear a legislator on the Floor of the State Senate or State Assembly rise and seek permission to “speak on condition of the File.” What does this mean and why is it used? The reference to...

A Sampling of Differences in the Legislative Process between the Assembly and Senate

July 20, 2021 2:10 amJuly 22, 2021 8:17 am

There are a number of differences between the Assembly and the Senate in terms of the California legislative process, many of which are minor in nature. However, for students of the process, as well as those involved in the State...

Finding Legislative Intent with Daily Journal Letters After the 72-Hour in Print Rule

December 26, 2019 8:17 amDecember 26, 2019 8:19 am

By Kevin Duewel and Chris Micheli In determining the intent of the state Legislature in enacting specific laws, California courts have historically taken a limited view of the methods that can be used to determine legislative intent. One such method...

The Impact of the State Budget on California Public Policy

January 11, 2019 9:00 amJanuary 17, 2019 1:04 pm

California’s budget process continues to have a major impact on the state’s public policy agenda. Why? Because numerous policy changes are enacted each year as part of the budget process. In other words, public policy continues to be done as...