Legislature Archives - California Globe

Guidelines for Forming Legislative Sentences

November 5, 2020 7:13 amNovember 5, 2020 11:49 am

For legislative drafters, there are important standards to follow when putting together legislative sentences that will make up bills, resolutions, or constitutional amendments. Some of these guidelines are obvious as they are used to compose any sentences in writing. Nonetheless,...

The Use of Sunset Dates in California Legislation

November 4, 2020 6:14 amNovember 5, 2020 11:54 am

California, like most other states, uses sunset dates in legislation, which has the effect of making the law, once enacted, expire on a specified date. Unless the Legislature enacts another bill to either extend or eliminate the sunset date, the...

What is Gender-Neutral Legislative Drafting?

November 3, 2020 6:19 amNovember 5, 2020 11:55 am

Like many of the states, California has adopted and therefore requires the Office of the Legislative Counsel to draft measures (bills, resolutions, and constitutional amendments) in a gender-neutral manner. What does that mean? How does it work? Specific to California...

The Anatomy of a California Legislative Constitutional Amendment

October 29, 2020 6:41 amOctober 29, 2020 6:42 am

In the California Legislature, the Members of the Assembly and Senate have the ability to place a constitutional amendment before the statewide electorate for consideration. The Legislative Counsel defines a constitutional amendment as “a resolution proposing a change to the...

The Anatomy of a California Legislative Resolution

October 27, 2020 6:15 amOctober 27, 2020 6:19 am

In the California Legislature, Members of the Assembly and Senate can introduce three types of resolutions. What are the component parts of a resolution? In terms of its anatomy, a resolution contains the following provisions: Legislative Session. At the top...

The Enrolled Bill Rule in California

October 9, 2020 6:23 amOctober 12, 2020 11:14 am

In general, the judicial branch is loath to review the record keeping practices of the Legislature to determine the validity of statutes. This limitation on judicial inquiry is known as the “Enrolled Bill Rule” and this legal doctrine holds that, if...

Retroactivity of California Statutes

October 7, 2020 6:24 amOctober 7, 2020 8:41 am

In California, as in most states, a statute is presumed to operate prospectively. Quarry v. Doe I (2012) 53 Cal.4th 945, 955. In construing statutes, there is a presumption against retroactive application unless the Legislature plainly has directed otherwise by...