California Constitution – Page 3

Frequently Asked Questions about the Order of Enumeration

June 26, 2024 2:30 amJune 26, 2024 2:31 am

Do bills in the California Legislature require a title? Pursuant to Article IV, Section 9 of the California Constitution, there is a requirement for each bill to have a title. The constitutional provision states: “A statute shall embrace but one...

Frequently Asked Questions about Differences in Legislative Floor Operations

June 25, 2024 4:00 amJune 25, 2024 4:01 am

How does each house of the Legislature handle “concurrence items”? For example, under Assembly Rule 77, concurrence in any Senate amendment to an Assembly Bill requires the same affirmative recorded vote as the vote required by the California Constitution for...

Can June 27 Legislative Deadlines Be Waived?

June 25, 2024 2:30 amJune 25, 2024 6:48 am

According to the California Secretary of State and the California Legislative Calendar, June 27 is the last day for a legislative measure to qualify for the Nov. 5 General Election ballot pursuant to Elections Code Section 9040. So, if the...

What Are the Requirements for a Governor’s State-of-the-State Address?

June 24, 2024 9:11 pmJune 24, 2024 9:11 pm

Like in 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom will not be delivering the traditional State-of-the-State address in the Assembly Chambers in the historic California State Capitol in 2024. Can he do that? The answer is yes. Article 5, Section 3 of the...

Frequently Asked Questions about California’s Constitution

June 23, 2024 7:50 amJune 23, 2024 7:50 am

When was California’s Constitution first adopted? It was first adopted in 1849, just prior to California becoming a state in 1850. When was the current state Constitution adopted? The current California Constitution was ratified on May 7, 1879. It is...

From the Cheap Seats: The People are Not Sovereign

June 20, 2024 5:17 pmJune 20, 2024 5:17 pm

It is a sad day. In a unanimous opinion published June 20, 2024, the California Supreme Court has made clear that the people of this state are not sovereign but rather are subservient to the governing class. The revenue-raising powers...

Frequently Asked Questions about California State Officers and Honoraria and Gifts

June 16, 2024 2:30 amJune 16, 2024 2:31 am

Can state officers accept gifts and honoraria? Among other provisions, Article V, Section 14 of the California Constitution prohibits any honorarium being paid and limits gifts being made to state officers. Who are “state officers”? Section 14(f) defines “state officer” to...