Government

California is governed under its second constitution, adopted in 1879.

The state legislature consists of a senate of 40 members elected for four years, and an assembly of 80 members elected for two years. Officials in the executive branch are elected for four-year terms. They include the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, controller, treasurer, attorney general, insurance commissioner, and superintendent of public instruction.

Judicial power is vested in a supreme court of seven justices, courts of appeal, superior courts, and various minor courts. Supreme court justices and appellate court judges are appointed to 12-year terms by the governor and may seek retention by the voters at the end of their terms. All other judges are elected to 6-year terms.

Voters have direct lawmaking power through the use of the initiative and the referendum.

The state is divided into 58 counties, each with a five-member board of supervisors, with the exception of the consolidated city-county of San Francisco, which has 11. California is represented in Congress by 2 senators and 53 representatives.