Frequently Asked Questions about Finding California Laws

Where are the three main sources of California laws? Like the federal government, California laws are found in three places: the State Constitution, statutes (the Codes), and regulations (the Titles).

What is the hierarchy of laws in California? It is the same as federal law, with the constitution at the top, followed by statutes, and ending with regulations.

How long is the California Constitution? It is one of the longest constitutions in the nation at about 110 pages in length.

What are the Articles of the state Constitution? The following are the Articles of the California Constitution:

Article I Declaration of Rights

Article II Voting, Initiative and Referendum, and Recall

Article III State of California

Article IV Legislative

Article V Executive

Article VI Judicial

Article VII Public Officers and Employees

Article IX Education

Article X Water

Article X A Water Resources Development

Article X B Marine Resources Protection Act of 1990

Article XI Local Government

Article XII Public Utilities

Article XIII Taxation

Article XIII A [Tax Limitation]

Article XIII B Government Spending Limitation

Article XIII C [Voter Approval for Local Tax Levies]

Article XIII D [Assessment and Property-Related Fee Reform]

Article XIV Labor Relations

Article XV Usury

Article XVI Public Finance

Article XVIII Amending and Revising the Constitution

Article XIX Motor Vehicles Revenues

Article XIX A Loans from the Public Transportation Account or Local Transportation Fund

Article XIX B Motor Vehicle Fuel Sales Tax Revenues and Transportation Improvement Funding

Article XIX C [Enforcement of Certain Provisions]

Article XX Miscellaneous Subjects

Article XXI Redistricting of Senate, Assembly, Congressional and Board of Equalization Districts

Article XXII [Architectural and Engineering Services]

Article XXXIV Public Housing Project Law

Article XXXV Medical Research

How many statutes are there in California and in how many Codes? There are just over 156,000 statutes contained in California’s 29 Codes.

What are the Codes containing state statutes? The following are the individual Codes:

Business and Professions Code

Civil Code

Code of Civil Procedure

Commercial Code

Corporations Code

Education Code

Elections Code

Evidence Code

Family Code

Financial Code

Fish and Game Code

Food and Agricultural Code

Government Code

Harbors and Navigation Code

Health and Safety Code

Insurance Code

Labor Code

Military and Veterans Code

Penal Code

Probate Code

Public Contract Code

Public Resources Code

Public Utilities Code

Revenue and Taxation Code

Streets and Highways Code

Unemployment Insurance Code

Vehicle Code

Water Code

Welfare and Institutions Code

How many statutes are enacted each year in California? Approximately 800-900 new statutes are enacted each year by the Legislature.

How many rulemaking entities does California have that adopt regulations? California has over 200 state agencies, departments, boards, commissions, and bureaus that make public policy via their authority to adopt regulations.

How many regulations are adopted each year? The executive branch rulemaking entities adopt about 600 new regulations each year.

Where are the regulations contained? The California Code of Regulations (CCR), which is organized under 27 Titles, contain the state’s regulations.

How many regulations are there in the CCR’s Titles? There are just over 60,000 regulations in California.

Title 1. General Provisions

Title 2. Administration

Title 3. Food and Agriculture

Title 4. Business Regulations

Title 5. Education

Title 7. Harbors and Navigation

Title 8. Industrial Relations

Title 9. Rehabilitative and Developmental Services

Title 10. Investment

Title 11. Law

Title 12. Military and Veterans Affairs