Branches of Government

Becoming Governor

The Governor is elected by the people of California to a four-year term, and if reelected, can serve a second four-year term. Only citizens of the United States that are residents of California and over the age of 18 can serve as Governor of California.

Executive

The Governor is elected by the people of California to a four-year term, and if reelected, can serve a second four-year term. Only citizens of the United States that are residents of California and over the age of 18 can serve as Governor of California. The Governor is the Commander-in-Chief of the militia of the state and is the sole official of communication between the California, the federal government, and other states.

Under the leadership of the Governor, the executive branch is responsible for administering and enforcing the laws of California. In practice the executive branch works closely with the legislative branch in shaping proposed legislation.

There are many state departments included in the executive branch. Officials who are publicly elected, appointed by the Governor, or hired into the state’s civil service system, direct these executive departments.

Ionic Capitol Architecture

Legislative

The legislative branch of government is composed of the State Assembly, the State Senate, and several other departments. Together they are the principle law-making powers in the state. The Legislature will propose, analyze, and debate over 6,000 bills in a single two-year session.

The State Assembly is made up of 80 members were elected to two-year terms, while the State Senate is made up of 40 members elected to four-year terms with one-half re-elected every two years. Assembly and Senate districts are apportioned on the basis of population.

Prior to their election, Legislative candidates must be over the age of eighteen, United States citizens, have been residents of California for at least three years, and have lived in the district they represent for at least one year.

Senate chambers

Judicial

California’s court system is made up of the Supreme, appellate, and superior courts. The California court system serves as a check against legislative and executive powers by making sure those branches do not create laws that are in conflict with the State Constitution. The judiciary is responsible for seeing that laws are justly and equitably applied in all matters brought before the courts. The Supreme Court is headquartered in San Francisco, though it holds sessions regularly in Sacramento and Los Angeles.

As the final interpreter of the laws of the State of California, its decisions may only be reversed by the United States Supreme Court if it is determined that California law conflicts with the United States Constitution.

The Supreme Court is composed of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. When a vacancy arises on the Supreme Court, justices are initially appointed by the Governor. Thereafter the justices appear on the ballot in statewide elections and, if elected, serve 12-year terms. All appointees to the California Supreme Court must be a member of the California State Bar or have served as a judge of a court of record of the State of California for ten years immediately preceding his or her appointment or election.

Senate floor