California executive branch

California state government is very similar to the Federal government. Structurally, California’s government is divided into three branches, reflective of separation of powers in the national government. The power dynamic between the branches is much the same, with each branch of the state government functioning with checks and balances under a local constitution.

California’s state government is organized under a state constitution which organizes the structure of government and defines government authority. California was admitted in 1850 to the Union under the Constitution of 1850. This document was drawn up locally at the state convention held in Colton Hall in Monterey. It was subsequently changed in 1879 and is the operative social contract for California’s government and people.

This document is one of the longest in the world, over 100 pages. This is mostly an evolving result of the Progressive Era in the early 20th century and the efforts of Governor Hiram Johnson. Johnson, a Progressive Republican, led revolution in California politics by pushing a number of reforms following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the demands to break the power in special interests in the legislature.

Californians would be able to recall elected state and local elected officials, propose and select new state laws and constitutional amendments by the referendum and initiative process. Other reforms included the use of party primaries to select party candidates, secret ballots which included all candidates for general elections, and the elimination of all partisan identification for local government offices such as mayor or county supervisor.

The use of the referendum process has vastly increased the length of the state constitution. It has also enshrined unique elements into the state constitution such as hunting bans on certain animals.

However, the constitution did create a state government based, as previously mentioned, on a federal model. The executive, legislative, and judiciary branches are similar in several ways, but also unique, with a populist twist.

Executive Branch

This is where our state government begins to digress from the national model. California has an executive branch, but is a plural executive, with several statewide offices, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general, controller, insurance commissioner and superintendent of public instructional. These are all elected by the voting public, unlike the federal model.