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