Tag: State Senate
Presiding Over the State Senate
Just like in the California State Assembly where several Assembly Members actually preside over the Floor Sessions, different senators preside over the State Senate during its Floor Sessions. In the Assembly, the presiding officer (aside from the Speaker) is primarily...
Why Does the California Legislature Conduct Its Work in Certain Ways?
Why do the State Assembly and State Senate in the California Legislature conduct their activities in certain ways? I am sure some readers have asked that question at least once! Or so I tell myself. Here are some examples of...
How Is a Bill ‘In Print’ When It Will Be Amended Days Later?
Those closely monitoring the California Legislative Information website (found at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/) during the final weekend before the Legislature adjourns in 2022 Session found an interesting phenomenon: Senate Bills were posted with amendments, but readers saw the following at the top...
Duties of Secretary of State for Voting Results
The California Elections Code specifies certain duties for the Secretary of State related to the canvass of votes in this state. These provisions are contained in Division 15, Chapter 7. Section 15500 requires the Secretary of State, commencing with the...
Resignations in the California Legislature
From time-to-time, a state legislator chooses to resign his or her seat in the California Legislature. This has happened in several instances during the 2021 calendar year. How do resignations work in the Legislature? Government Code Title 1 (General), Division...
Filling a Vacancy in the California Legislature
Over the past year, Capitol observers have witnessed vacancies occur in state legislative offices. What is the process for filling vacancies in the California Legislature? First, in Article IV, Section 2(d) of the California Constitution, it specifies that, “When a...