CA Government and legislative process

Executive Branch—plural executive and statewide offices

.• Governor• 2 four year terms• Lt Governor• Serves as governor if s/he dies• Attorney General• Chief legal prosecutor for the state• Secretary of State• Oversees elections• Treasurer• Controller• Superintendent of Public Instruction• Insurance Commissioner

Powers of the Governor

• Appointment• Staff and Department heads• SC and Appellate judges, court vacancies

• Veto• Including line-item veto

• Proposes legislation and budget• Grant parole, pardon, and commutation of

sentences

Removal

• By impeachment or by recall

Legislature• Assembly• 80 members, 2 year terms• 48 Dem 32 Rep• Leadership: Speaker of the Assembly, Fabian Nunez

• Senate• 40 members, 4 year terms, staggered elections• 25 Dem 15 Rep• Leadership: President Pro Tem, Don Perata

Professionalization and backlash

• 1966 Legislature becomes full-time, highest pay, more staff—model of professionalism

• 1990 Term limits introduced

Districts

• since Reynolds v Simms (1964), all districts must have roughly equal population

Senate and Assembly Districts

Locally--Assembly

• 19 District—Gene Mullin (D)

contd

• 12 District—Leland Yee

Local Senate Representation

• 8th Senate District—Jackie Speier• 3rd District—Carole Migden

How a bill becomes a law

If bill requires an appropriation, needs 2/3 of both houses

CA Congressional delegation

• 53 Representatives to the House• Locally: Nancy Pelosi and Tom Lantos

• 2 US Senators• Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer