Jonah Patel
California's current constitution, ratified on May 7, 1879, has been amended numerous times since its adoption. From 1911 to 1986, it was amended or revised over 500 times, and since then, it has been amended an average of five times per year. The state's constitution is one of the longest in the world, and its length has been attributed to factors such as the influence of previous Mexican civil law and the fact that many initiatives take the form of constitutional amendments. California's constitution can be amended through legislative proposal, convention, or initiative, all of which require voter approval.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Constitutions | 2 |
| Current Constitution Ratified | May 7, 1879 |
| Number of Amendments | 480-524 |
| Last Amendment | November 5, 2024 |
| Universities Mentioned | University of California, Stanford University |
| Number of Articles | 35 |
| Article III Sections | 9 |
| Article IV Sections | 23 |
| Article VIII Label | Usury |
| Article XVI Label | Public Finance |
| Article XVIII Label | Amending and Revising the Constitution |
| Article XIX Label | Motor Vehicle Revenues |
| Article XIX A Label | Loans from the Public Transportation Account or Local Transportation Funds |
| Article XXXV Label | Medical Research |
| Article XXXV Sections | 7 |
| Article XXXV Added | 2004 |
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What You'll Learn
- California's constitution has been amended over 500 times since 1879
- Amendments are proposed by the state legislature or by petition
- Amendments require voter approval
- The constitution is one of the longest in the world
- Amendments have added specific provisions, like defining English as the official language
California's constitution has been amended over 500 times since 1879
California's current constitution, which was ratified on 7 May 1879, has been amended over 500 times since its adoption. It is one of the longest in the world, second only to Alabama's, which has over 950 amendments. The length of the California Constitution has been attributed to various factors, including the influence of previous Mexican civil law, a lack of faith in elected officials, and the fact that many initiatives are constitutional amendments.
The state's first constitution was adopted in 1849, following the American Conquest of California and the Mexican-American War, and was used until 1879. California has held two state constitutional conventions: in 1849 and 1879. The current constitution has 35 articles and has been amended 524 times since its enactment.
The California Constitution can be amended with a legislative, citizen-initiated, or convention-referred constitutional amendment, all of which require voter approval. The procedures for amending the California Constitution have been criticised as being too lax, resulting in a document filled with irrelevant details and incoherent policies created by conflicting majorities. However, it should be noted that the state constitution is a fundamental document outlining the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters.
The California Constitution has been amended to include specific provisions such as defining English as the official language and establishing a compensation commission. It also includes strong protections for the corporate existence of cities and counties, granting them broad plenary home rule powers. Additionally, it confers upon women equality of rights in "entering or pursuing a business, profession, vocation, or employment," making it the earliest state constitutional equal rights provision on record.
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Amendments are proposed by the state legislature or by petition
California's current constitution has been amended several hundred times since its ratification in 1879. The state constitution can be amended through a legislative proposal, a convention to revise the constitution, or an initiative.
The state legislature can also propose a convention to revise the constitution, which requires a roll call vote with two-thirds of each house's membership concurring. Any amendment proposed by the convention may then be submitted to the voters at a general election.
The electors may also amend the constitution by initiative. A constitutional amendment initiative requires a petition to be submitted to the Secretary of State with the certified signatures of 8% of voters. The initiative process is intended to preserve the constitutional right of voters in California to engage in direct democracy.
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Amendments require voter approval
California's current constitution, enacted in 1879, has been amended an average of five times per year, resulting in over 480 amendments as of 2025. This makes it the second-longest state constitution in the US, and if California were a sovereign state, its constitution would rank as the second- or third-longest in the world.
The state's constitution can be amended through a legislative proposal, a convention to revise the constitution, or an initiative. In the first method, a roll call vote in the Legislature is required, with two-thirds of the members of each house concurring. The second method also requires a roll call vote in the Legislature, with two-thirds of each house's membership agreeing to convene a constitutional convention. Any amendment proposed by the convention may then be submitted to the voters at a general election. The third method involves electors amending the Constitution by initiative, which requires a petition to be submitted to the Secretary of State with the certified signatures of 8% of electors.
In addition to these methods, the California Constitution Revision Commission, composed of citizen and legislative members, has also proposed amendments. The electorate approved the creation of this commission in 1962, and it worked on a comprehensive revision of the constitution from 1964 to 1974. The electorate ratified the commission's revisions in 1966, 1970, 1972, and 1974, but rejected the 1968 revision, which would have made the state's superintendent of schools an appointed rather than an elected official.
Regardless of the method used to propose an amendment, all amendments to the California Constitution require voter approval. This can be achieved through a statewide ballot proposition, which can be approved by a simple majority vote in a referendum. The most recent amendment to the California Constitution was approved by voters on November 5, 2024, with the approval of Proposition 3.
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The constitution is one of the longest in the world
California's current constitution, enacted in 1879, has been amended or revised over 500 times. The constitution gradually became increasingly bloated, leading to abortive efforts towards a third constitutional convention. By 1962, the constitution had grown to 75,000 words, which at that time was longer than any other state constitution except Louisiana's.
The California Constitution is one of the longest in the world. If California were a sovereign state, its constitution would rank as the second- or third-longest in the world by total word count. This length has been attributed to a variety of factors, such as the influence of previous Mexican civil law, a lack of faith in elected officials, and the fact that many initiatives take the form of a constitutional amendment.
The constitution can be amended with a legislative, citizen-initiated, or convention-referred constitutional amendment, all of which require voter approval. Amendments can be put on the ballot by anyone who can gather enough signatures, and a simple majority vote of 50% + 1 is enough to pass an amendment. This ease of amendment has led to criticism that the procedures for amending the California Constitution are too lax, resulting in a constitution filled with irrelevant detail and incoherent policies.
The California Constitution strongly protects the corporate existence of cities and counties and grants them broad plenary home rule powers. It also confers upon women equality of rights in "entering or pursuing a business, profession, vocation, or employment." This is the earliest state constitutional equal rights provision on record.
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Amendments have added specific provisions, like defining English as the official language
California's current constitution has been amended numerous times since its enactment in 1879. On average, it has been amended five times per year, resulting in a total of over 480 amendments as of 2024.
One factor contributing to the length of California's constitution is the influence of previous Mexican civil law. The ease of amending the constitution has also played a role, as it can be amended through legislative proposal, convention, or initiative, all of which require voter approval.
Amendments have indeed added specific provisions to the constitution. For example, Article III, Section 6 defines English as the official language of California. This amendment aligns with the sentiment expressed by some that a nationally designated language promotes a unified and cohesive society. Opponents, however, argue that such laws could violate First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and press, as well as equal protection and due process provisions.
Another specific provision added by amendment is Article III, Section 8, which establishes a compensation commission. Additionally, the constitution has been amended to include Article XXXV, which relates to medical research and was added when Proposition 71, the Stem Cell Research Initiative, was approved in 2004.
The California Constitution also mentions two universities expressly: the public state-run University of California and the private Stanford University. The University of California is one of only nine state-run public universities in the US whose independence from political interference is guaranteed by the state constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
California's current constitution has been amended between 480 and 524 times.
The California Constitution can be amended with a legislative, citizen-initiated, or convention-referred constitutional amendment, all of which require voter approval.
Examples of amendments include the addition of English as the official language of California, and the establishment of a compensation commission.
Sources of law within the state of California include the state's constitution, statutes, and case law.
