The supreme executive power of this State is vested in the Governor. The Governor shall see that the law is faithfully executed.
Executive
Section § 1
This law gives the Governor the highest level of executive authority in the state, meaning they have the ultimate responsibility for making sure that laws are properly enforced.
supreme executive power Governor's authority law enforcement responsibility
Section § 2
This law explains how the Governor of California is elected every four years, at the same time as the state's Assembly members. The Governor starts the term the Monday after January 1 following the election. To qualify, the Governor must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of California for at least five years before the election. The Governor cannot hold another public office while serving and is limited to serving two terms in total.
The Governor shall be elected every fourth year at the same time and places as members of the Assembly and hold office from the Monday after January 1 following the election until a successor qualifies. The Governor shall be an elector who has been a citizen of the United States and a resident of this State for 5 years immediately preceding the Governor’s election. The Governor may not hold other public office. No Governor may serve more than 2 terms.
Governor election term limits residency requirement
Section § 3
Every year, the Governor of California must give a report to the state Legislature about how the state is doing and can also suggest improvements or changes.
The Governor shall report to the Legislature each calendar year on the condition of the State and may make recommendations.
Governor's report Legislature communication annual report
Section § 4
The Governor can ask executive officers, agencies, and their staff to provide information about their work responsibilities.
The Governor may require executive officers and agencies and their employees to furnish information relating to their duties.
Governor authority executive officers agency duties
Section § 5
The Governor of California has the authority to fill vacant offices by appointment until a new official is qualified. For certain high-profile positions like the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, or members of the State Board of Equalization, the Governor must nominate someone to fill the vacancy. This nomination needs approval from both the Senate and Assembly. If neither legislative body confirms nor rejects the nominee within 90 days, the nominee automatically takes office. If the Legislature is on break when this period ends, the timeline extends until the sixth day after they are back in session.
(a)CA California Constitution Code § 5(a) Unless the law otherwise provides, the Governor may fill a vacancy in office by appointment until a successor qualifies.
(b)CA California Constitution Code § 5(b) Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, or Attorney General, or on the State Board of Equalization, the Governor shall nominate a person to fill the vacancy who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority of the membership of the Senate and a majority of the membership of
the Assembly and who shall hold office for the balance of the unexpired term. In the event the nominee is neither confirmed nor refused confirmation by both the Senate and the Assembly within 90 days of the submission of the nomination, the nominee shall take office as if he or she had been confirmed by a majority of the Senate and Assembly; provided, that if such 90-day period ends during a recess of the Legislature, the period shall be extended until the sixth day following the day on which the Legislature reconvenes.
Governor appointment power vacancy in office Superintendent of Public Instruction
Section § 6
This law allows the Governor to reassign duties and reorganize the structure of executive agencies and their staff, except for those positions or agencies that are elected or run by elected officials.
Authority may be provided by statute for the Governor to assign and reorganize functions among executive officers and agencies and their employees, other than elective officers and agencies administered by elective officers.
Governor authority executive officers reorganization
Section § 7
The Governor of California is in charge of a military force, known as a militia, which is created according to specific laws. The Governor has the power to use this militia to enforce laws when needed.
The Governor is commander in chief of a militia that shall be provided by statute. The Governor may call it forth to execute the law.
Governor's authority commander in chief California militia
Section § 8
The Governor of California can grant reprieves, pardons, and commutations of sentences, but not in impeachment cases. However, if someone has been convicted of a felony twice, the Governor needs a recommendation from the Supreme Court with the agreement of 4 judges to pardon them.
The Governor must inform the Legislature of the reasons for each of these actions. In murder cases with an indeterminate term, the Governor has 30 days to review parole decisions. The review can only change based on the same considerations as the parole board and must be reported to the Legislature.
(a)CA California Constitution Code § 8(a) Subject to application procedures provided by statute, the Governor, on conditions the Governor deems proper, may grant a reprieve, pardon, and commutation, after sentence, except in case of impeachment. The Governor shall report to the Legislature each reprieve, pardon, and commutation granted, stating the pertinent facts and the reasons for granting it. The Governor may not grant a pardon or commutation to a person twice convicted of a felony except on recommendation of the Supreme Court, 4 judges concurring.
(b)CA California Constitution Code § 8(b) No decision of the parole authority of this State with respect to the granting, denial, revocation, or suspension of parole of a person sentenced to an indeterminate term upon conviction of murder shall become effective for a period of 30 days, during which the Governor may review the decision subject to procedures provided by statute. The Governor may only affirm, modify, or reverse the decision of the parole authority on the basis of the same factors which the parole authority is required to consider. The Governor shall report to the Legislature each parole decision affirmed, modified, or reversed, stating the pertinent facts and reasons for the action.
Governor's reprieve power pardon process commutation of sentence
Section § 9
The Lieutenant Governor in California must meet the same requirements as the Governor. They lead the State Senate as its President but can only vote to break ties.
The Lieutenant Governor shall have the same qualifications as the Governor. The Lieutenant Governor is President of the Senate but has only a casting vote.
Lieutenant Governor qualifications Governor qualifications President of the Senate
Section § 10
If the Governor's position becomes vacant, the Lieutenant Governor takes over as Governor. If the Governor is impeached, out of state, or temporarily unable to perform duties, the Lieutenant Governor will act as Governor during that time. The Legislature will decide who steps in after the Lieutenant Governor. Only the Supreme Court can make decisions about issues related to this, and only a specific body mentioned in a law can question a vacancy or temporary inability of the Governor.
The Lieutenant Governor shall become Governor when a vacancy occurs in the office of Governor.
The Lieutenant Governor shall act as Governor during the impeachment, absence from the State, or other temporary disability of the Governor or of a Governor-elect who fails to take office.
The Legislature shall provide an order of precedence after the Lieutenant Governor for succession to the office of Governor and for the temporary exercise of the Governor’s functions.
The Supreme
Court has exclusive jurisdiction to determine all questions arising under this section.
Standing to raise questions of vacancy or temporary disability is vested exclusively in a body provided by statute.
Lieutenant Governor succession Governor vacancy
Section § 11
In California, the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Controller, Secretary of State, and Treasurer are elected during the same elections as the Governor, serving the same term length. Each of these officials can only hold their respective office for up to two terms.
The Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Controller, Secretary of State, and Treasurer shall be elected at the same time and places and for the same term as the Governor. No Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Controller, Secretary of State, or Treasurer may serve in the same office for more than 2 terms.
Lieutenant Governor term limits Attorney General term limits Controller election
Section § 13
The Attorney General is the main law officer of the state and is responsible for ensuring laws are enforced properly across California. This role includes overseeing district attorneys, sheriffs, and other law enforcement officials.
The Attorney General can ask these officers for reports on crime-related activities in their areas. If they believe a law isn't being enforced well in any county, the Attorney General can step in to prosecute, using the same powers as a district attorney.
Additionally, if the public interest requires it or if the Governor requests, the Attorney General can help district attorneys with their duties.
Subject to the powers and duties of the Governor, the Attorney General shall be the chief law officer of the State. It shall be the duty of the Attorney General to see that the laws of the State are uniformly and adequately enforced. The Attorney General shall have direct supervision over every district attorney and sheriff and over such other law enforcement officers as may be designated by law, in all matters pertaining to the duties of their respective offices, and may require any of said officers to make reports concerning the investigation, detection, prosecution, and punishment of crime in their
respective jurisdictions as to the Attorney General may seem advisable. Whenever in the opinion of the Attorney General any law of the State is not being adequately enforced in any county, it shall be the duty of the Attorney General to prosecute any violations of law of which the superior court shall have jurisdiction, and in such cases the Attorney General shall have all the powers of a district attorney. When required by the public interest or directed by the Governor, the Attorney General shall assist any district attorney in the discharge of the duties of that office.
Attorney General chief law officer enforcement of laws
Section § 14
This law prevents state officers from conflicts of interest by prohibiting them from receiving income from lobbyists or certain contractors. State officers can't accept honorariums or gifts that might create conflicts. Additionally, they cannot be paid for representing others before government boards or agencies. There's a one-year waiting period before they can influence certain decisions after receiving prohibited income or compensation. If a state officer leaves their position, they can't lobby the executive branch for pay for one year. This law applies to specified high-ranking officials, including the Governor and Attorney General.
(a)CA California Constitution Code § 14(a) To eliminate any appearance of a conflict with the proper discharge of his or her duties and responsibilities, no state officer may knowingly receive any salary, wages, commissions, or other similar earned income from a lobbyist or lobbying firm, as defined by the Political Reform Act of 1974, or from a person who, during the previous 12 months, has been under a contract with the state agency under the jurisdiction of the state officer. The Legislature shall enact laws that define earned income. However, earned income does not include any community property
interest in the income of a spouse. Any state officer who knowingly receives any salary, wages, commissions, or other similar earned income from a lobbyist employer, as defined by the Political Reform Act of 1974, may not, for a period of one year following its receipt, vote upon or make, participate in making, or in any way attempt to use his or her official position to influence an action or decision before the agency for which the state officer serves, other than an action or decision involving a bill described in subdivision (c) of Section 12 of Article IV, which he or she knows, or has reason to know, would have a direct and significant financial impact on the lobbyist employer and would not impact the public generally or a significant segment of the public in a similar manner. As used in this subdivision, “public generally” includes an industry, trade, or profession.
(b)CA California Constitution Code § 14(b) No state officer may accept any honorarium. The Legislature shall
enact laws that implement this subdivision.
(c)CA California Constitution Code § 14(c) The Legislature shall enact laws that ban or strictly limit the acceptance of a gift by a state officer from any source if the acceptance of the gift might create a conflict of interest.
(d)CA California Constitution Code § 14(d) No state officer may knowingly accept any compensation for appearing, agreeing to appear, or taking any other action on behalf of another person before any state government board or agency. If a state officer knowingly accepts any compensation for appearing, agreeing to appear, or taking any other action on behalf of another person before any local government board or agency, the state officer may not, for a period of one year following the acceptance of the compensation, make, participate in making, or in any way attempt to use his or her official position to influence an action or decision before the state agency for which the state officer
serves, other than an action or decision involving a bill described in subdivision (c) of Section 12 of Article IV, which he or she knows, or has reason to know, would have a direct and significant financial impact on that person and would not impact the public generally or a significant segment of the public in a similar manner. As used in this subdivision, “public generally” includes an industry, trade, or profession. However, a state officer may engage in activities involving a board or agency which are strictly on his or her own behalf, appear in the capacity of an attorney before any court or the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, or act as an advocate without compensation or make an inquiry for information on behalf of a person before a board or agency. This subdivision does not prohibit any action of a partnership or firm of which the state officer is a member if the state officer does not share directly or indirectly in the fee, less any expenses attributable to that fee, resulting from that
action.
(e)CA California Constitution Code § 14(e) The Legislature shall enact laws that prohibit a state officer, or a secretary of an agency or director of a department appointed by the Governor, who has not resigned or retired from state service prior to January 7, 1991, from lobbying, for compensation, as governed by the Political Reform Act of 1974, before the executive branch of state government for 12 months after leaving office.
(f)CA California Constitution Code § 14(f) “State officer,” as used in this section, means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Controller, Insurance Commissioner, Secretary of State, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Treasurer, and member of the State Board of Equalization.
conflict of interest state officers earned income
