CALIFORNIA, THE GOLDEN STATE:


Compiled by the Office of the Chief Clerk

Assembly of the State of California

 

General Information
State Capitol

Sacramento

Date California Admitted as a State

September  9, 1850

State Motto
"Eureka" (Greek:"I have found it!")
Population
33,773,000
Number of Registered Voters
14,853,121
Population Density
212 people/sq. mi.

 

Land Area
Includes 2,674 sq. mi. of inland water
158,648 sq. mi.
Coastal Water Area (Pacific water)
222 sq. mi.

 

Highest Elevation
Feet above sea-level
Mount Whitney 14,496 ft.

 

Lowest Elevation
Feet below sea-level
Death Valley 282 ft.
Total Number of Counties:   58
 
Governmental/Political Information

 

State Executive Officers
Number of  Statewide Elective Officers
12
(Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attornet General, Treasurer, Controller, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Board of Equalization, (4),
and Insurance Commissioner.)
Term Limits for Statewide Officers
2 four-year terms

 

State Judiciary
Number of Justices on State Supreme Court
7

 

State Legislature
Number of Assembly Members
80
Number of State Senators
40
Length of Assembly Term
2 years
Length of Senate Term
4 years
Term Limits - Assembly Members
3 two-year terms
Term Limits - Senate Members
2 four-year terms

 

Legislative Voting Requirements
Vote Required to Pass Statutes
Assembly 41
Vote Required to Pass Statutes
Senate 21
 
Vote Requirements to Pass:
Appropriations, Budget, Constitutional Amendments, and Urgency Bills
Assembly 54
Senate 27
 
Veto Override Vote Requirement:
Two-thirds in each House
Assembly 54
Senate 27
 
Ratification of Amendments to the U.S. Constitution:
Majority Vote of each House
(By Joint Resolution)

 

Miscellaneous Legislative Information
Impeachment Power
Assembly indicts, drafts "articles of impeachment,"and elects "managers" to prosecute; Senate tries and votes on impeachment.

 

Legislative Publications

Daily Journal

Daily File
Weekly History

 

Non-Member Officers of the Legislature
Chief Clerk of  the Assembly
Secretary of the Senate
Sergeant-at-Arms (in each House)
Chaplain (in each House)

Motto of  the State Assembly

Legislatorum Est Justas Leges Condere

(Latin: "It is the duty of Legislators to make just laws.")

Motto of  the State Senate

Senatoris Est Civitatis Libertatem Tueri

(Latin: "It is the duty of a Senator to guard the liberty of the Commonwealth.")