IntroductionCalifornia has had two Constitutions. The first Constitution of California was ratified on November 13, 1849, prior to California's admittance into the Union in 1850. California's current constitution was ratified on May 7, 1879 and has been amended over 480 times. Show
The constitution of California can be amended or revised through: (1) Legislative proposal. This method requires a roll call vote in the Legislature
with two-thirds of the members of each house concurring;
For a summary of the Initiative process see How to Qualify an Initiative on the Secretary of State web site. There is also a link to the Statewide Initiative Guide for step-by-step information on the statewide initiative process. A majority of electors must vote to approve the proposed amendments or revisions. If successful, the changes will take effect the fifth day after the Secretary of State files the statement of the vote for the election unless the language of the amendment/revision states otherwise. If conflicting measures are approved at the same election, then the provisions of the measure receiving the highest affirmative vote shall prevail. Cal. Const. art. XVIII, §§ 1-4. What is the Difference Between an Initiative, a Referendum and a Proposition?The initiative is the process that allows the electors to propose legislation and compel the legislature or the full electorate to vote on the measure. A referendum is the power of the electors to approve or reject all or parts of certain types of statutes. Both the initiative and the referendum process are methods of direct democracy. Propositions are the proposed legislation for either the initiative or the referendum. To reiterate, as excerpted from Legal Research in California, 5th ed., Call Number: State 1st Floor KFC74 .H36 2004:
Three informational fact sheets (1) What Are Ballot Propositions, Initiatives, and Referendums; (2) The History of Initiative and Referendum in the United States, and (3) State by State List of Initiative and Referendum Provisions are available through the Initiative and Referendum Institute, a non-profit educational organization that provides explanation of the initiative and referendum. The web site, hosted by the University of Southern California has California specific information on the initiative, popular referendum and legislative referendum. Readings
How is California's Constitution similar to the US Constitution How is it different?As such, California and its Constitution are prohibited from violating fundamental rights provided by the United States Constitution. While the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land, the California Constitution sets forth the duties, powers, structure, and functions of the state government.
What are the similarities between the US Constitution and state constitutions?State constitutions resemble the federal Constitution in that they outline the state government's structure of legislative, executive and judicial branches as well as contain a bill of rights.
What are the similarities between the California and the federal system of government?In California, as in the federal government, the power to govern is divided among three equal branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. The executive branch of government executes the laws enacted by the Legislature. Supreme executive power of the State of California is vested in the Governor.
Is the US Constitution longer than the California Constitution?It's true that “while the U.S. Constitution has been amended just 27 times in more than 200 years, California's has been amended approximately 521 times in less than 100 years.”[7] Both of those numbers are as they should be.
...
California's Constitution is Not the Longest.. |