California ConstitutionFederalism In ActionFederalism In Action

As you listen:

• Consider the important differences and/or similarities between the US and California constitutions.

• Make a t-chart:– State v. Federal

Differences Similarities

1849-1st Constitution

• Monterey Convention- 48 delegates

– 3 branches w/checks &balances

– boundaries– outlawed slavery– women & property– bi-lingual– capitol: San Jose

2nd Constitution 1879

• Establishes permanent capitol in Sacramento

• Board of Equalization• 8 hour day• anti-Chinese• 23 pages long• amended 519519 times

2 major revisions

• California Constitution Revision Commission 1964-1971– shorten the 123 page document, other

• California Constitutional Revision Commission (1994 to 1996)– term limits– legislative session– budget

Stop and Reflect

• How is the history of the California Constitution the same or different than that of the US Constitution?

Tell your partner

Preamble

We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this Constitution.

Article I

• Declaration of Rights– 31 Sections !!!

• property rights• ban on gay marriage (pending appeal)• victim’s rights• public fishing• death penalty

• ARTICLE II VOTING, INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM, AND RECALL ....... 1-20• ARTICLE III STATE OF CALIFORNIA ................................. 1-9• ARTICLE IV LEGISLATIVE ......................................... 1-28• ARTICLE V EXECUTIVE ........................................... 1-14• ARTICLE VI JUDICIAL ............................................ 1-22• ARTICLE VII PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES ....................... 1-11• ARTICLE IX EDUCATION ........................................... 1-16• ARTICLE X WATER ............................................... 1-7• ARTICLE X A WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ......................... 1-8• ARTICLE X B MARINE RESOURCES PROTECTION ACT OF 1990 ............. 1-16• ARTICLE XI LOCAL GOVERNMENT .................................... 1-15• ARTICLE XII PUBLIC UTILITIES .................................... 1-9• ARTICLE XIII TAXATION ............................................ 1-35• ARTICLE XIII A [TAX LIMITATION] .................................... 1-7• ARTICLE XIII B GOVERNMENT SPENDING LIMITATION ...................... 1-13• ARTICLE XIII C [VOTER APPROVAL FOR LOCAL TAX LEVIES] ............... 1-3• ARTICLE XIII D [ASSESSMENT AND PROPERTY-RELATED FEE REFORM] ........ 1-6• ARTICLE XIV LABOR RELATIONS ..................................... 1-5• ARTICLE XV USURY ............................................... 1• ARTICLE XVI PUBLIC FINANCE ...................................... 1-20• ARTICLE XVIII AMENDING AND REVISING THE CONSTITUTION .............. 1-4• ARTICLE XIX MOTOR VEHICLE REVENUES .............................. 1-10• ARTICLE XIX A LOANS FROM THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNT OR• LOCAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDS .......................... 1-2• ARTICLE XIX B MOTOR VEHICLE FUEL SALES TAX REVENUES AND• TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT FUNDING .................. 1-2• ARTICLE XIX C [ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS] ................. 1-4• ARTICLE XX MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS .............................. 1-23• ARTICLE XXI REDISTRICTING OF SENATE, ASSEMBLY, CONGRESSIONAL• AND BOARD OF EQUALIZATION DISTRICTS ................. 1-3• ARTICLE XXII [ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES] ............ 1-2• ARTICLE XXXIV PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECT LAW .......................... 1-4• ARTICLE XXXV MEDICAL RESEARCH .................................... 1-7

Stop and Reflect…

• Structure/Contents

• Same? Different?

Tell your partner

Legislative Branchbi-cameral (18 yrs, eligible to vote, citizen 3 years)

• Senate – limit 2 terms (4-yr.)

– 40 members

• Assembly– limit 3 terms (2 yrs.)– 80 members

Legislative Power

• makes laws– police power

• appointment approval

• impeachment

• initiative process

• amendment process

Same? Different?

Executive

• Governor (4-yr. term) • Other elected executives– Lieutenant Governor

• Gavin NewsomGavin Newsom

– Secretary of State• Debra BowenDebra Bowen

– State Controller• John ChiangJohn Chiang

– State Treasurer• Bill LockyerBill Lockyer

– Attorney General• Kamala HarrisKamala Harris

– Board of Equalization Commissioners

Executive Powers

• Appointment and Removal

• Supervisory Power

• Budget-making power

• Military Power

• Legislative Actions

– “message”

– calling special sessions

– line-item veto, no pocket veto

• Judicial Actions

– Executive Clemency• pardon• commutation• reprieve• parole

• same? different?

California Judiciary

Supreme Court

Courts of Appeal

Superior Courts

Judicial

• 7 member Supreme Court

Pictured en banc in the Supreme Court Courtroom in San Francisco are the court's seven justicesfrom left to right: Associate Justice Carlos R. Moreno, Associate Justice Joyce L. Kennard, Associate Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Associate Justice Ming W. Chin, Associate Justice Marvin R. Baxter, Associate Justice Carol A. Corrigan. (Photo: William A. Porter, San Francisco, CA)

6 Court of Appeals Districts

• 3-judge panel– Was the law appropriately applied?

Terms

• appointed by executive,– approved by Commission on Judicial Appointments

• 12 year terms

• Must be approved by voters– retention election

58 Superior Courts

• 1 per county• approx. 7 million criminal cases• approx. 1.5 million civil cases• special departments

– Family Court– Juvenile Court– Probate Court– Small Claims Court– Traffic Court

Terms

• Popular Elections

• 6 years

Differences/Similarities?

Stop and Reflect….

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of federalism?

• Why did the Framers include the 10th Amendment?

• How is government more or less efficient in a federal system?

• Has “balance of power” been achieved?– Has this proven to be good/bad?