National Conference of State Legislatures

Another Pitch for Reducing Bill Introductions in the California Legislature

September 20, 2024 1:00 pmSeptember 20, 2024 1:01 pm

Interestingly, only about a quarter of this country’s legislatures, including California, limits the number of bill introductions by their elected legislative officials. Of course, most state legislatures operate on a part-time basis. According to data from the National Conference of...

The Role of Mason’s Manual

September 19, 2022 7:24 amSeptember 19, 2022 2:16 pm

What is Mason’s Manual and why is its role in the California Legislature? Originally published in 1935, “Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure,” commonly referred to as Mason’s Manual, is the official parliamentary authority of most state legislatures in the United...

Is Voting Secret in California?

January 15, 2022 5:52 pmJanuary 15, 2022 5:56 pm

California’s Constitution, in Article II, Section 7, requires that voting be secret. What does that mean? This constitutional requirement is also captured in the Voter Bill of Rights, which is found in Government Code Section 2300. The Voter Bill of...