California State Legislature
General information
Type:	State legislature
Term limits:	12 years[1][2][3]
Session start:	January 5, 2026
Website:	Official Legislature Page
Leadership
Senate President:	Eleni Kounalakis (D)
House Speaker:	Robert Rivas (D)
Majority Leader:	Senate: TBD House:Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D)
Minority Leader:	Senate:Brian Jones (California) (R) House:Heath Flora (R)
Structure
Members:	40 (Senate), 80 (Assembly)
Length of term:	4 years (Senate),2 years (Assembly)
Authority:	Art IV, California Constitution
Salary:	$132,703/year + Per diem
Elections
Last election:	November 5, 2024
Next election:	November 3, 2026
Redistricting:	California Citizens Redistricting Commission has control

TheCalifornia State Legislature is thestate legislature ofCalifornia. It is abicameral body consisting of thelower house, theCalifornia State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, theCalifornia State Senate, with 40 members.

Both chambers of the California legislature have been controlled by theDemocratic Party since 1959 except from 1969 to 1971 when theRepublican Party held both chambers and from 1994 to 1996, when Republicans briefly held a majority in the Assembly.

California's voters imposedterm limits on their state senators and state assembly members in1990. Senators could not serve for more than two terms (total of eight years) and assembly members could not serve for more than three terms (total of six years). California voters modified these limits in2012 that modified term limits to allow legislators to serve 12 years total—but could spend all 12 in either chamber (total of three Senate terms or six Assembly terms).

The California legislature has been full-time since 1966.^[4]

California has a Democratictrifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

See also:California House of Representatives,California State Senate,California Governor

Senate

Main article:California State Senate

TheCalifornia State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Sacramento. Thelieutenant governor is the ex officio president of the Senate. The officers of the Senate are elected at the start of each legislative session.

Prior to 1968, state Senate districts were restricted such that one county could only hold at most one seat. This led to the situation of Los Angeles County, with 6 million residents as of 1968, receiving 600 times less representation than residents of Alpine County and Calaveras County, some of California's least populous counties. TheReynolds v. Sims decision by the United States Supreme Court compelled all states to draw up districts that were apportioned by population rather than geography. As such, boundaries were changed such that equal representation was provided.

Senators serve four-year terms. The terms of the senators are staggered so that half the membership is elected every two years. The senators representing the odd-numbered districts are elected in years evenly divisible by four. The senators from the even-numbered districts are elected in the intervening even-numbered years.

As of the 2020 Census, California state senators represented an average of989,419 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented933,550 residents.

Partisan composition

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

Democrats won control of the California State Senate in 1974. In2024, they won a 30-10 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the California Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin'sParty Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Before 1992

Republicans controlled the state Senate with majorities from 1896 to 1956. Democrats split the chamber 20-20 in the 1956 elections, and they won a majority in 1958. From 1958 to 2022, Democrats controlled the chamber except for when it was split evenly in 1968 and 1972, both years when native Californian Richard Nixon (R) was elected president.

State Assembly

Main article:California State Assembly

TheCalifornia State Assembly is thelower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members to the Assembly, representing a relatively equal amount of constituencies.

As of the 2020 Census, California state representatives represented an average of494,709 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented466,775 residents.

Due to the state's large population and relatively small legislature, the Assembly has the largest population per representative ratio of anylower house legislature in the United States; only the federal U.S. House of Representatives has a larger ratio.

Partisan composition

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

Democrats won control of the California State Assembly in 1996. In2024, they won a 60-20 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the California Assembly following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin'sParty Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Before 1992

Republicans controlled the assembly from 1942 to 1956. Between 1958 and 1994, the only election where Republicans won a majority was 1968, the same year that Republican Richard Nixon became the first native Californian to be elected president.

Elections

2026

See also:California State Senate elections, 2026 andCalifornia State Assembly elections, 2026

Elections for theCalifornia State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is onNovember 3, 2026. The primary isJune 2, 2026. The filing deadline isMarch 6, 2026.

Elections for theCalifornia State Assembly will take place in 2026. The general election is onNovember 3, 2026. The primary isJune 2, 2026. The filing deadline isMarch 6, 2026.

2024

See also:California State Senate elections, 2024 andCalifornia State Assembly elections, 2024

Elections for theCalifornia State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was onNovember 5, 2024. The primary wasMarch 5, 2024. The filing deadline wasDecember 8, 2023.

Elections for theCalifornia State Assembly took place in 2024. The general election was onNovember 5, 2024. The primary wasMarch 5, 2024. The filing deadline wasDecember 8, 2023.

2022

See also:California State Senate elections, 2022 andCalifornia State Assembly elections, 2022

Elections for theCalifornia State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 7, 2022. The filing deadline was March 11, 2022.

Elections for theCalifornia State Assembly took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 7, 2022. The filing deadline was March 11, 2022.

2020

See also:California State Senate elections, 2020 andCalifornia State Assembly elections, 2020

Elections for the office ofCalifornia State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 3, 2020. The filing deadline was December 6, 2019.

Elections for the office ofCalifornia State Assembly took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 3, 2020. The filing deadline was December 6, 2019.

2018

See also:California State Senate elections, 2018 andCalifornia State Assembly elections, 2018

Elections for theCalifornia State Senate took place in 2018. Atop-two primary election took place on June 5, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2018. The filing deadline for write-in candidates was May 22, 2018.^[5]

Elections for theCalifornia State Assembly took place in 2018. Atop-two primary election took place on June 5, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2018. The filing deadline for write-in candidates was May 22, 2018.^[6]

2016

See also:California State Senate elections, 2016 andCalifornia State Assembly elections, 2016

Elections for theCalifornia State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2016, for candidates filing with signatures. The deadline for candidates using a filing fee to qualify was March 11, 2016.^[7]

Elections for theCalifornia State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2016, for candidates filing with signatures. The deadline for candidates using a filing fee to qualify was March 11, 2016.^[8]

2014

See also:California State Senate elections, 2014 andCalifornia State Assembly elections, 2014

Elections for theCalifornia State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014.

Elections for theCalifornia State Assembly took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014.

2012

See also:California State Senate elections, 2012 andCalifornia State Assembly elections, 2012

Elections for the office of California State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 5, 2012, and the general election was held onNovember 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2012.

Elections for the office of California State Assembly took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 5, 2012, and the general election was held onNovember 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2012.

2010

See also:California State Senate elections, 2010 andCalifornia State Assembly elections, 2010

Elections for the office of California State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on June 8, 2010, and the general election was held onNovember 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2010.

Elections for the office of California State Assembly took place in 2010. The primary election was held on June 8, 2010, and the general election was held onNovember 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2010.

Sessions

Article IV of the California Constitution establishes when the Legislature is to be in session. Section 3 of Article IV states that the Legislature is to convene in regular session on the first Monday of December in each even-numbered year to organize. The Legislature must adjourn by November 30th of the following even-numbered year.

Section 3 also provides thegovernor of California the power to call special sessions of the Legislature.

2025

See also:2025 California legislative session andDates of 2025 state legislative sessions

In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on December 2, 2024, and adjourn on September 13, 2025.

Click [show] for past years' session dates.

2024 See also:2024 California legislative session andDates of 2024 state legislative sessions In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2024, and adjourn on August 31, 2024. 2023 See also:2023 California legislative session andDates of 2023 state legislative sessions In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on December 5, 2022, and adjourn on September 14, 2023. 2022 See also:2022 California legislative session andDates of 2022 state legislative sessions In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2022, and adjourn on August 31, 2022. 2021 See also:2021 California legislative session andDates of 2021 state legislative sessions In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on December 7, 2020, and adjourn on September 10, 2021. 2020 See also:2020 California legislative session andDates of 2020 state legislative sessions In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 6, 2020, and adjourn on August 31, 2020. Effect of coronavirus pandemic See also:Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020 Coronavirus pandemic Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more. Political responses overviewState reopening plansDocumenting America's Path to RecoveryElection changesChanges to vote-by-mail and absentee voting proceduresFederal responsesState responsesState executive ordersStay-at-home ordersMultistate agreementsNon-governmental reopening plansEvictions and foreclosures policiesTravel restrictionsEnacted state legislationState legislative session changesSchool closuresState court closuresInmate releasesLocal government responsesDiagnosed or quarantined politiciansBallot measure changesArguments about government responsesThe 1918 influenza pandemicPandemic Response Accountability CommitteeUnemployment filingsLawsuitsBallotpedia's polling on the coronavirus pandemicSubmit Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. TheCalifornia State Legislature suspended its session, effective March 16, 2020, through May 4, 2020. The suspension had originally been scheduled to last through April 13, 2020. The legislature adjourned on August 31, 2020.[9][10] 2019 See also:2019 California legislative session andDates of 2019 state legislative sessions In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 7, 2019, through September 13, 2019. 2018 See also:2018 California legislative session andDates of 2018 state legislative sessions In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 3, 2018, through August 31, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, clickhere. 2018 See also:2018 California legislative session andDates of 2018 state legislative sessions In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 3, 2018, through August 31, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, clickhere. 2017 See also:Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions In 2017, the legislature was in session from December 5, 2016, through September 15, 2017. 2016 See also:Dates of 2016 state legislative sessions In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 4 through August 31. The formal session ended on August 31, but constitutionally the session adjourned sine die on November 30. 2015 See also:Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions In 2015, the legislature was in session from December 1, 2014, through September 12, 2015. Major issues in 2015 Major issues during the 2015 legislative session included medical marijuana, tuition in the University of California system, a proposed tax increase, internet privacy, regulation of web-based businesses, and healthcare for illegal immigrants.[11] 2014 See also:Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 6 to August 30. Major issues in 2014 Major issues during the 2014 legislative session included the biennial budget, prison overcrowding, and water bonds.[12] 2013 See also:Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions In 2013, the legislature was in session from December 3, 2012, to September 13, 2013. Major issues in 2013 Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included property taxes for education and tax breaks for students.[13] 2012 See also:Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 4 to August 31. 2011 See also:Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 3 through September 9, 2011. The legislature was convened in an extraordinary session to act upon legislation that addressed the fiscal emergency proclaimed by GovernorJerry Brown (R) on January 20, 2011.[14] 2010 See also:Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions In 2010, the legislature was in session from January 12 to August 31. The legislature held a special session from Aug 27, 2009, to January 11, 2010. The legislature also held three other special sessions during the year on improving the tax system, the budget shortfall, and fiscal emergencies.[15] On July 28, 2010, GovernorArnold Schwarzenegger (R) issued a declaration of fiscal emergency. This is allowed underCalifornia's Constitution as approved in 2004 underproposition 58. Upon issuance of a declaration of fiscal emergency, the legislature immediately reconvened and was not able to adjourn until after the fiscal situation was resolved.[16][17]

Role in state budget

See also:California state budget and finances

Californiaon

Check outBallotpedia articles about policy in your state on:

Budgets •Civil liberties •Education •Elections •Energy •Environment •Healthcare •Pensions

The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[18]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies beginning inApril.
2. Agencies submit their budget requests to thegovernor inSeptember.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to thestate legislature inJanuary.
4. The legislature adopts a budget inJune. A majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year beginsJuly 1.

California is one of 44 states in which the governor hasline item veto authority.^[18][19]

The governor is required to submit a balanced budget to the legislature. In turn, the legislature is required to adopt a balanced budget.^[18]

Legislators

Salaries

See also:Comparison of state legislative salaries

Pension

California does not provide pensions for legislators who took office after 1990.^[21]

When sworn in

See also:When state legislators assume office after a general election

California legislators assume office the first Monday in the December following their election.^[22]

Redistricting

See also:Redistricting in California

In California, a non-politician commission draws both congressional and state legislative district lines. Established in 2008 by ballot initiative, the commission comprises 14 members: fiveDemocrats, fiveRepublicans, and four belonging to neither party. A panel of state auditors selects the pool of nominees from which the commissioners are appointed. This pool comprises 20 Democrats, 20 Republicans, and 20 belonging to neither party. The majority and minority leaders of both chambers of thestate legislature may each remove two members from each of the aforementioned groups. The first eight commission members are selected at random from the remaining nominees. These first eight comprise three Democrats, three Republicans, and two belonging to neither party. The first eight commissioners appoint the remaining six, which must include two Democrats, two Republicans, and two belonging to neither party.^[23]

Commissioners must meet the following requirements in order to serve:^[23]

1. Members must have voted in at least two of the last three statewide elections.
2. Members cannot have switched party affiliation for at least five years.
3. "Neither commissioners nor immediate family may have been, within 10 years of appointment, a candidate for federal or state office or member of a party central committee; an officer, employee, or paid consultant to a federal or state candidate or party; a registered lobbyist or paid legislative staff; or a donor of more than $2,000 to an elected candidate."
4. Members cannot be "staff, consultants or contractors for state or federal government" while serving as commissioners. The same prohibition applies to the family of commission members.

In order to approve a redistricting plan, nine of the commission's 14 members must vote for it. These nine must include three Democrats, three Republicans, and three belonging to neither party. Maps drawn by the commission may be overturned by public referendum. In the event that a map is overturned by the public, theCalifornia Supreme Court must appoint a group to draw a new map.^[23]

TheCalifornia Constitution requires that districts be contiguous. Further, the state constitution mandates that "to the extent possible, [districts] must ... preserve the geographic integrity of cities, counties, neighborhoods and communities of interest." Districts must also "encourage compactness." State Senate and Assembly districts should be nested within each other where possible.^[23]

2020

See also:Redistricting in California after the 2020 census

TheCalifornia Citizens Redistricting Commission voted 14-0 in favor of a new state Assembly and Senate district maps on December 20, 2021, and delivered those maps to thesecretary of state on December 27, 2021.^[24][25] These maps took effect for California's 2022 state legislative elections.

Terms and term limits

California voters imposedterm limits on theCalifornia Legislature in 1990, when they voted in favor ofProposition 140 by a margin of 52-48%. Proposition 140 limited state assembly members to three two-year terms and state senators to two four-year terms, and imposed a lifelong ban against seeking the same office once the limits have been reached. These term limits were modified in 2012 with the passing of Proposition 28, which permits a politician to serve in either or both chambers of the legislature for a maximum of 12 lifetime years.

Bates v. Jones

In the case ofBates v. Jones, Bates--a termed-out Assemblyman--sued in federal court to have the provisions of Proposition 140 declared unconstitutional. A federal court agreed with his claim, before theUnited States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled against him, keeping the limits in place.

Proposition 45 in 2002

Main article:California Proposition 45 (2002)

California State Senate president pro temJohn Burton (D-San Francisco) vigorously sponsored an effort in 2002 to rollback the provisions of 1990s Proposition 140 by puttingProposition 45 on the March 2002 ballot. Voters rejected Proposition 45 by a margin of 42-58%. Had Proposition 45 passed, it would have allowed state legislators to serve for four years beyond the limits allowed by Proposition 140.

Proposition 93 in 2008

Main article:California Proposition 93 (2008)

Proposition 93, aninitiated constitutional amendment supported byDon Perata was defeated 53.6% to 46.4% during thestatewide primary election on February 5, 2008. Had it passed, members of the California State Legislature would have been allowed to remain in their current office up to 12 years.

Proposition 28 in 2012

Main article:California Proposition 28, Change in State Legislative Term Limits Initiative (June 2012)

Proposition 28 was aninitiated constitutional amendment that was approved with 61.0% to 39.0% of the vote during thestatewide primary election on June 5, 2012. The ballot measure reduced the total number of years a politician can serve in the California State Legislature from 14 years to 12 years and permitted a politician to serve in either or both chambers of the legislature for a maximum of 12 years. The changes did not apply to any legislator who was already in office at the time that the initiative was approved; the rules governing the terms of those who are in the California State Legislature as of June 5, 2012, were calculated under the previous rules.

District maps

State Senate

State Assembly

Veto overrides

See also:Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in California are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers.

Are there other special rules?

Authority:Article IV, Section 10 of theCalifornia Constitution.

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

See also:Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States andBallotpedia:Who Runs the States, California

Partisan breakdown of the California legislature from 1992-2013

California State Senate:From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the California State Senate for all 22 years. The California State Senate is one of 16 state senates that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. During the final three years of the study, California was under Democratictrifectas.

Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.

California State House of Representatives:From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the California State House of Representatives for all 22 years. The California State House is one of 18 state Houses that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. During the final three years of the study, California was under Democratictrifectas.

Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of theOffice of the Governor of California, theCalifornia State Senate and theCalifornia House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

SQLI and partisanship

To read the full report on theState Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, clickhere.

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the California state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. California has never had a Republican trifecta, but did have Democratic trifectas between the years 1999 and 2003 and again after 2010 to the present. California fell steadily in the SQLI ranking until finally reaching the bottom-10 in 2010. The state reached its highest ranking (28th) in 1998 and 1999, first under divided government and then under a Democratic trifecta. The state’s lowest ranking (48th) occurred recently in 2012 under a Democratic trifecta. Except for the years 1995 and 1996, the California legislature has been consistently under Democratic control.

• SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 37.00
• SQLI average with Republican trifecta: N/A
• SQLI average with divided government: 35.21

Chart displaying the partisanship of California government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

Joint legislative committees

See also:Public policy in California

A list of California's joint standing committees can be found below:

Constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process forreferring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states,initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are alsomany other types of statewide measures.

The methods in which the California Constitution can be amended:

See also:Article II andArticle XVIII of theCalifornia Constitution andLaws governing ballot measures in California

TheCalifornia Constitution can be amended in these ways:

• Through the process of alegislatively referred constitutional amendment. This procedure is defined inSection 1 of Article XVIII of theCalifornia Constitution. According to that section:

• Two-thirds of the membership of each chamber of theCalifornia State Legislature must propose an amendment, which then goes on a statewide ballot to be ratified or rejected by the state's voters.
• The state legislature is allowed to propose revisions (not just amendments) to the constitution.
• If measures conflict, and they both get more than 50 percent of the vote, the one with the highest number of votes prevails.
• Ratified amendments take effect on the fifth day after the secretary of state files the statement of the vote for the election.

• Through the process of aninitiated constitutional amendment, according toSection 3 of Article XVIII andSection 8 of Article II.

• Petitioners can collectsignatures equaling eight percent of the most recent total number of votes cast for the office ofgovernor to qualify a proposed amendment for the ballot.
• SeeBallotpedia's page on laws governing the initiative process in California for full details on the process and requirements of aninitiated constitutional amendment in California.

• Through the process of aconstitutional convention. According toSection 2 of Article XVIII, if two-thirds of the members of each chamber of thestate legislature agree, a question as to whether to call a convention or revise the constitution goes on the state's next general election ballot.

See also

Elections	California State Government	State Legislatures	State Politics
California elections, 2024 California elections, 2022 California elections, 2020 California elections, 2018	California State Senate California House of Representatives Governor of California California Supreme Court	State legislative elections:2025,2024,2023,2022,2021,2020,2019, and2018	State government trifectas State government triplexes State executives State courts Ballot measures The State Legislative Decade

External links

• California State Legislature

Footnotes

	v • e State ofCalifornia Sacramento (capital)
Elections	What's on my ballot? |Elections in 2026 |How to vote |How to run for office |Ballot measures
Government	Who represents me? |U.S. President |U.S. Congress |Federal courts |State executives |State legislature |State and local courts |Counties |Cities |School districts |Public policy