Chris Micheli – Page 348 – California Globe

The Three Readings of a Bill and Other Floor Procedures in the California Legislature

March 11, 2020 6:01 amMarch 11, 2020 6:02 am

The California Constitution requires a bill to be “read” three times before it can be debated and voted upon by either house. A “reading” of a bill in the Assembly or Senate is defined as being the presentation of the...

The ‘Suspense File’ Process Used in Considering Fiscal Legislation

March 9, 2020 2:20 amMarch 8, 2020 5:43 pm

The two Appropriations Committees in the California Legislature have a unique procedure they each use called the “Suspense File.” Basically, any bill which has been keyed “fiscal” by the Legislative Counsel is referred to the fiscal committee in each house,...

Teaching Lawmaking in California

March 6, 2020 5:37 amMarch 6, 2020 5:52 am

By Chris Micheli and Diane Boyer-Vine As part of its efforts to enhance its Capital Lawyering Program, the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law offers a number of courses to train aspiring lawyers who plan to work in...

Lobbying Bill Referrals

March 4, 2020 6:23 amMarch 4, 2020 6:29 am

An area that is rarely talked about in California’s Capitol community concerns the infrequent lobbying of bill referrals. In other words, how does someone get a bill referred to a favorable committee? Or an unfavorable committee? Or maybe multiple committees?...

California Legislature’s Organizing Session

March 2, 2020 2:39 amMarch 1, 2020 7:48 pm

The California Legislature operates during two-year legislative sessions. At the commencement of the 2-year Session, the Legislature must organize itself. In that regard, there are several provisions related to organizing the Legislature that are found in the California Constitution and...

A sea of empty desks inside the California State Assembly

The Role of the Legislative Ethics Committees

February 28, 2020 6:27 amFebruary 28, 2020 6:32 am

Ethics in the California Legislature is an important topic. As such, both houses of the Legislature have their own ethics committees. The Senate has adopted an official Code of Conduct for its members, while the Assembly has not. Nonetheless, both...

Securing Gubernatorial Appointments

February 26, 2020 6:04 amFebruary 26, 2020 1:01 pm

The Governor has the authority to appoint several thousand individuals to serve in his or her Administration during his or her four-year term. Some of these positions require the “advice and consent” of the State Senate. There are two aspects...