THE GOVERNMENT OF CALIFORNIA HAS DIFFERENCES (IN TERMS OF ITS INSTITUTIONS AND SOME POLITICAL PROCESSES) WITH THE U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. INTRODUCE THE SUBJECT MATTER FOR AN AUDIENCE THAT DOES NOT MUCH ABOUT THIS TOPIC. THEN ,DISCUSS 2-3 EXAMPLES IN 1-2 PAGES. USE AS A SOURCES OF INFORMATION THE SECTION ON CALIFORNIA IN THE TEXTBOOK AND MY SLIDES ON THE SUBJECT MATTER ONLY..
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
STRUCTURE The legislative branch of government is composed of the Assembly and the Senate. Both will propose, analyze, and debate over 6,000 bills in a single two-year session.
The State Assembly is made up of 80 members and are elected to two-year terms, while the State Senate is made up of 40 members and are elected to four-year terms.
Prior to their election, Legislative candidates must be over the age of eighteen, United States citizens, a resident of California for at least three years, and live in the district which they represent for one year.
STRUCTURE – TWO LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS: THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE – DISTRICTS LINES ARE DRAWN BY LEGISLATORS; GERRYMANDERING
OCCURS. – THE LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY IS THE SPEAKER. AND THE LEADER
OF THE SENATE THE PRESIDENT PRO-TEMPORE.THEY ARE PARTICULARLY POWERFUL SINCE THEY DESIGNATE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEES.
– THE BULK OF THE WORK OF BOTH CHAMBERS IS DONE IN COMMITTEES. ALL BILLS AND FUTURE POLICIES ARE ARTICULATED THERE WITH THE INPUT OF BUREAUCRATS AND INTEREST GROUPS.
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PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS
-LAWMAKING
-”POWER OF THE PURSE”
-SERVICE TO CONSTITUENCY (CASEWORK)
COMPARISON WITH THE FEDERAL LEGISLATURE
DIFFERENCES IN REGARD TO:
– TERM LIMITS.
MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS IN CALIFORNIA HAVE TERM LIMITS AS A REACTION TO THE POWER OF INCUMBENTS.
– NO ROLE IN TERMS OF THE NOMINATION OF JUDGES/JUSTICES
COMPARISON TO THE FEDERAL LEGISLATURE DIFFERENCES IN REGARD TO:
-THERE EXIST CAUCUS (GROUPS) OF LEGISLATORS FROM THE SAME
POLITICAL PARTY OR INTEGRATED BY LEGISLATORS PURSUING COMMON ISSUES (REGARDLESS OF THEIR PARTY).
-THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TWO CHAMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE IS ELECTED.
ANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND THE LEGISLATION IN CALIFORNIA?
OTHER CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENTS
COUNTIES, CITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS
1. COUNTIES:
There are 58 counties in California.
https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/general_ref/stco_outline/ cen2k_pgsz/stco_CA.pdf
OTHER CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENTS
COUNTIES.
Each one of California’s 38 million residents lives within the boundaries of one of the state’s 58 counties.
California’s counties serve a dual role. They provide municipal services to residents, including roads, parks, law enforcement, emergency response services and libraries. Counties also implement many State services, such as foster care, public health care, jails and elections.
OTHER CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENTS
COUNTIES.
The Board of Supervisors
Unlike the separation of powers that characterizes the federal and state governments, the Board of Supervisors is both the legislative and the executive authority of the county. It also has quasi-judicial functions.
OTHER CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENTS
COUNTIES.
The Board of Supervisors Examples of Quasi-Judicial Role.
The Board may settle claims made against the county and may examine and audit the accounts of all county officers as they relate to the management and disbursement of funds.
The Board also sits as a quasi-judicial body in the case of appeals of land use decisions and tax issues (i.e., to decide questions regarding the value of property).
OTHER CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENTS
2. Cities: California had 482 cities. As of November 2012, California had 482 cities. California’s city with the largest
population is Los Angeles (3,792,621 as of the 2010 Census). The city with the
smallest population in California is Vernon which, as of the 2010 census, had a
population of 112.
OTHER CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENTS
3. Public school districts: There are 1,300 public school
districts in the state with a great deal of autonomy.
EXERCISE:
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/
CHECK THE SECTION ON “BALLOT MEASURES.” COMMENT ON EITHER,
INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM, OR RECALL
