California Legislature – Page 117

California’s Legislative Committee System – Part One

January 27, 2020 6:54 amJanuary 27, 2020 6:57 am

Overview Like the United States Congress, the California Legislature’s primary work is done by the nearly two dozen Senate committees and the more than 30 Assembly committees. These standing committees are comprised of a small number of Members of the...

Legislative Rules and Procedures by Statute

January 17, 2020 6:12 amJanuary 17, 2020 6:15 am

In California’s Government Code, there are several code sections that set forth legislative rules and procedures. These statutes were added by Proposition 24 in 1984 and are found in Title 2, Division 2, Part 1, Chapter 8, Article 3. The...

Overview of California’s Budget Process

January 12, 2020 7:44 amJanuary 12, 2020 10:46 am

The state budget process on paper is similar to the legislative process; however, it can be different in practical terms. The full budget committees of the Senate and Assembly act mostly as the final arbiter of their respective houses when...

Determining Whether Amendments Are Germane

January 8, 2020 6:01 amJanuary 8, 2020 6:28 am

In the California Legislature, as with several other legislative bodies around the country, there is an initial question regarding whether amendments to existing bills must be “germane” to the subject matter of the existing bill. As described in legislative glossaries,...

California’s Legislative Calendar

January 6, 2020 5:57 amJanuary 6, 2020 6:03 am

The calendar for the California Legislative Session is important for those working in and around the State Capitol. The California Constitution provides the dates of convening and adjourning the legislative session. Other than that, the Legislature has freedom to set...

California’s Most Memorable Political Moments of 2019

December 31, 2019 2:08 amDecember 31, 2019 7:57 am

During his swearing in on January 7, 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom wowed the crowds at his inauguration. But many wondered about his intentions following eight years as a frustrated and even bored California Lieutenant Governor. Newsom did not disappoint in...

What is an ‘Appropriations Measure?’

December 27, 2019 6:08 amDecember 27, 2019 7:23 am

What is an “appropriations measure”? Unfortunately, California law does not define this term. However, it is used frequently. California’s Legislative Counsel defines an appropriation as “the amount of money made available for expenditure by a specific entity for a specific...