The California state Capitol in Sacramento. (Photo: Adonis Villanueva, via Shutterstock)Where do we find the rules governing the legislative process? First in the Constitution, followed by the Government Code, and then a number of them in the Legislature’s internal rules. The legislative process is also dependent on the calendar and specified deadlines.
Image by Worawith Ounpeng.Participating in the state budget process is similar to participation in the legislative process. While the budget process has its own terminology, and a concurrent process in the Legislature, it is still important to understand the procedural rules, the players in the process, and the policy areas within the budget process.
Lobbyists crowd around video screen to watch the floor votes on the last night of the Legislature's session. (Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP)What should your lobby day participants know about California government before they embark on their lobby day at the State Capitol in Sacramento? This article sets forth those key items for them to get acquainted with regarding the Legislature and the legislative process.
California's lady justice, image by BreizhAtaoWhen the California Legislature includes certain statements in legislation that is ultimately enacted, I believe these enacted statements should guide California courts. What am I talking about? These statements include legislative findings and declarations, intent statements, and related statutory language.
3Image by NeoLeo. After a California judge or justice determines there is ambiguity in a state statute, they will turn to consideration of extrinsic evidence in an effort to ascertain the intent of the Legislature in crafting the statute. What sort of evidence
Image by Dadan. Urgency statutes, fiscal emergency statutes, right of public access, local or special statutes, and reimbursement disclaimers utilize explanatory statements. Several of these three types of measures are actually required to do so by the state Constitution.
Image by PeopleImages. In talking with both houses’ appropriations committee staff over the past few weeks, there are some practical tips that were shared with me for those working with the fiscal committee staff member
The California state Capitol in Sacramento. (Photo: Karin Hildebrand Lau, via Shutterstock)While textualists want to only focus on the actual text of the statute, the purpose of statutory interpretation, in my opinion, is to ascertain the intent of the Legislature, which is charged with the lawmaking function.
Legislation. Image by tumsasedgarsArticle IV, Section 9 of the California Constitution requires each bill to have a title. The constitutional provision states: “A statute shall embrace but one subject, which shall be expressed in its title. If a statute embraces a subject not expressed in its title, only the part not expressed is void.
Image by Natalya Kosarevich. Lawmaking does not just mean passing bills and creating new laws. It also means oversight and accountability, as well as constituent services.