Constitutional Vote Thresholds Affecting the California Legislature

There are just over 30 provisions affecting the Legislature that are found throughout the California Constitution that specify a vote requirement the Legislature to act. The following chart sets forth those provisions of the state Constitution with an explanation of the provision, the vote required for legislative action, and the citation to the Constitution:

Constitutional Provision	Vote Requirement	Citation
Travel and living expenses for Members of the Legislature in connection with their official duties shall be prescribed by statute	2/3 of both houses	Article IV, Section 4
Each house of the Legislature may expel a Member by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article IV, Section 5(a)(1)
Each house may suspend a Member by motion or resolution adopted by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article IV, Section 5 (a)(2)(A)
If a motion or resolution terminating the suspension is required, it is adopted by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article IV, Section 5(a)(2)(C)
The Legislature shall implement this subdivision on closed sessions by concurrent resolution adopted by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article IV, Section 7(c)(5)
Either house of the Legislature may dispense with the 30-day in print rule by rollcall vote entered in the journal	3/4 of both houses	Article IV, Section 8(a)
Either house of the Legislature may dispense with the 3 readings of a bill rule by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article IV, Section 8(b)(1)
Either house of the Legislature may dispense with the 72 hours in print for a final form bill vote rule by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article IV, Section 8(b)(2)
Either house of the Legislature may pass an urgency statute by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article IV, Section 8(d)
The Legislature may override a gubernatorial veto if each house passes the bill by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article IV, Section 10(a)
A bill appropriating monies from the General Fund of the State is void unless passed in each house by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article IV, Section 12(d)
The budget bill and other bills providing for appropriations related to the budget bill may be passed in each house by rollcall vote entered in the journal	Majority of both houses	Article IV, Section 12(e)(1)
A person may not be convicted of impeachment unless, by rollcall vote entered in the journal unless the Senate concurs	2/3 of the Senate	Article IV, Section 18(a)
The Legislature may amend the percentage of gross receipts required for raffles to be dedicated to beneficial or charitable purposes by means of a statute	2/3 of both houses	Article IV, Section 19
Five members of the Fish and Game Commission appointed by the Governor are approved by the Senate	Majority of the Senate	Article IV, Section 20
A Fish and Game Commissioner may be removed by concurrent resolution	Majority vote of both houses	Article IV, Section 20
Five members of the Personnel Board appointed by the Governor are approved by the Senate	Majority of the Senate	Article VII, Section 2
A Personnel Board member may be removed by concurrent resolution	2/3 of both houses	Article VII, Section 2
The appointees to by a University of California Regent are approved by the Senate	Majority of the Senate	Article IX, Section 9
The Legislature may, by statute passed in each house by roll call vote entered in the journal, amend or repeal, or add to, these provisions if the statute does not in any manner reduce the protection of the delta or fish and wildlife	2/3 of both houses	Article X A, Section 2
An export of water is expressly authorized prior to appropriation if the Legislature, by statute passed in each house by roll call vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article X A, Section 3
The Legislature may remove a member of the Public Utilities Commission for incompetence, neglect of duty, or corruption	2/3 of both houses	Article XII, Section 1
The Legislature may classify personal property for differential taxation or for exemption	2/3 of both houses	Article XIII, Section 2
The Legislature may authorize county boards of supervisors to exempt real property have a full value so low that, if not exempt, the total taxes and applicable subventions on the property would amount to less than the cost of assessing and collecting them	2/3 of both houses	Article XIII, Section 7
The Legislature enacts an urgency statute, pursuant to a bill passed in each house of the Legislature by rollcall vote entered in the journal, that contains a suspension of law for a fiscal year and does not contain any other provision	2/3 of both houses	Article XIII, Section 25.5(a)(1)(A)(ii)
A bill that changes the pro rata shares in which ad valorem property tax revenues are allocated among local agencies in a county must be made by a bill passed in each house of the Legislature by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article XIII, Section 25.5(a)(3)
The Legislature may tax corporations, including state and national banks, and their franchises by any method not prohibited	Majority of both houses	Article XIII, Section 27
The Legislature may amend or add provisions that further the purposes of the Medi-Cal Hospital Reimbursement Improvement Act of 2013 by statute passed in each house by roll call vote entered into the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article XVI, Section 3.5(a)
The Legislature may repeal the Medi-Cal Hospital Reimbursement Improvement Act of 2013 in its entirety by statute passed in each house by roll call vote entered into the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article XVI, Section 3.5(c)
The Legislature may propose an amendment or revision of the Constitution by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article XVIII, Section 1
The Legislature may submit at a general election the question whether to call a convention to revise the Constitution by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article XVIII, Section 2
A statute enacted by the Legislature modifying the statutory allocations of motor vehicle revenues must be by a bill passed in each house of the Legislature by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article XIX, Section 4(d)
A statute enacted by the Legislature pursuant to this subdivision must be by a bill passed in each house of the Legislature by rollcall vote entered in the journal	2/3 of both houses	Article XIX B, Section 2(d)(4)

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Chris Micheli

Chris Micheli is an attorney and lobbyist with Snodgrass & Micheli, LLC, as well as an Adjunct Professor at McGeorge School of Law.

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