Government of California

The government of California is the system that runs the U.S. state of California. It is set up by the California Constitution and uses the separation of powers to organize its work. This means that important jobs are split into three main groups, or branches, so that no one group has too much control.

One branch is the executive, led by the governor of California. The governor and other elected or appointed leaders help make sure laws are carried out. The legislative branch is made up of the California State Legislature, which has two parts: the Assembly and the Senate. This group is responsible for writing and passing laws. The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court of California and lower courts, which explain what the laws mean and decide when someone has broken a law.

Besides these three branches, California also has local governments. These include counties, cities, special districts, and school districts. There are also some government offices that work independently based on constitutional, statutory, or common law rules. Californians can also help shape their state directly through initiative, referendum, recall, and ratification.

Executive branch

Main article: California executive branch

California has several important leaders who are chosen by voters. These include the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, state controller, state superintendent of public instruction, and insurance commissioner. Each of these leaders serves for four years and can be re-elected only once more.

The governor of California has many important jobs. The governor can approve or disapprove laws made by the state legislature. The governor can also suggest a plan for how the state will spend its money, lead the state’s national guard, and forgive punishments for some crimes. When the governor is away or unable to serve, the lieutenant governor takes over. Both the governor and lieutenant governor also help lead important schools in California.

State agencies

See also: List of California state agencies

California’s government has many departments that help run the state. Some of these departments are grouped together into bigger teams called “superagencies.” These teams help organize work so it’s easier to manage. The governor chooses leaders for these teams and for many smaller departments too.

Some of the superagencies include teams that focus on business and housing, the environment, health and human services, labor, natural resources, and transportation. There are also important departments that work alone, like those for education, finance, food and agriculture, insurance, justice, and the state’s military forces.

Some special groups, like those that oversee colleges and public utilities, are led by people chosen by the governor and approved by the state Senate. Over time, the governor can influence these groups by choosing new leaders when old ones leave.

Examples include the leaders of the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, the California Public Utilities Commission, the California State Auditor, and the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Legislative branch

Main article: California State Legislature

The California State Legislature is the group of people who make the laws for the state. It has two parts: the California State Assembly and the California State Senate. The Assembly has 80 members who serve for two years, and the Senate has 40 members who serve for four years.

The Assembly is led by the speaker, and the Senate is led by the lieutenant governor and the president pro tempore. They meet in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. Their laws are published in the California Statutes and organized into the California Codes. They also support the Office of Legislative Counsel and the Legislative Analyst's Office.

Judicial branch

Main article: Judiciary of California

See also: Supreme Court of California, Judicial Council of California, California Superior Courts, and California Courts of Appeal

The judiciary of California helps explain and use the laws. It has a structure with the Supreme Court at the top. The main trial courts are called superior courts, and there are also courts of appeal that review decisions.

The Judicial Council helps make rules for the courts. The California Supreme Court has one chief justice and six other justices. The superior courts are found in each of the 58 counties and handle many different types of cases.

Direct democracy

Main article: Propositions in California

The rules of California let people have a say in important decisions. People can start new laws, vote on laws that have been suggested, or even remove elected leaders from their jobs. This way, everyone gets a chance to help shape the state's rules.

Watchdog evaluations

In 2015, a group called the Center for Public Integrity checked how well states like California share information and work to stop unfair actions. California got a C− grade, which was one of the lower scores in the country. It especially did not do well in letting people see public records or making court actions easy to understand.

Earlier, in 2005, another group called the Pew Research Center also gave California a C− grade, sharing the lowest spot with Alabama. By 2008, California’s grade improved a little to a C, but it was still near the bottom among all states. The report said that the way California managed its workers needed improvement, and a project called the Human Resources Modernization Project was started to fix these problems.

Local government

Main article: Local government in California

California is split into areas called counties. There are 58 counties in the state. There are also many cities, school districts, and special districts. Counties and cities can make their own rules, which are written down in special books. School districts take care of teaching students in public schools. Special districts help provide certain services or build special places for people to use.

Foreign relations

California works together with other places through a group called the Commission of the Californias. This group helps California, the U.S. state, share ideas and support with two Mexican states: Baja California and Baja California Sur.