Tag: state Constitution
Frequently Asked Questions about Gifts and Honoraria and California Legislators
What does the state Constitution say about gifts and honoraria for legislators? The California Constitution, in Article IV, Section 5, prohibits any honorarium being paid and limits gifts being made to state legislators. Government Code Title 9 (Political Reform), Chapter...
Frequently Asked Questions about Bills with Public’s Right of Access Disclaimers
Have you ever read a bill and found a section at the end of the bill discussing the public’s right of access being limited by the bill? The following is an example from a bill in the California Legislature: SEC....
Frequently Asked Questions about Actions by Appropriations Committees
What can the Assembly and Senate Appropriations Committee do with bills re-referred to them? The following actions are the most common: Do Pass; Do Pass as Amended; Placed on the Suspense File; Consent; or “28.8 to the Floor” (only in...
California Supreme Court Hears Arguments On Proposed Tax Initiative
In December of 2023 I reported on an effort by Governor Gavin Newsom and state Democrats to prevent a ballot initiative from ever seeing the light of day. That initiative officially known as the “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Initiative,”...
Frequently Asked Questions about When Elected Officials Take Office
When do statewide constitutional officials take office? Pursuant to Article V, Section 2 of the state Constitution, “the Governor shall … hold office from the Monday after January 1 following the election until a successor qualifies.” The eight other constitutional...
Frequently Asked Questions about Timing of Appropriations Bills
What are appropriations bills? Appropriations bills, as their name implies, appropriate funds from the General Fund or special funds to a designated entity for a designated purpose. Can these bills be adopted at any time during the Legislative Session? The...