Jonah Patel
California's constitutional officers are important political institutions provided for by the California Constitution. These include the Governor, Lt. Governor, Insurance Commissioner, State Superintendent, Controller, Treasurer, and Secretary of State. Each officer has specific duties, such as ensuring compliance with state laws, managing fiscal resources, overseeing elections and education, and more. These roles are generally elected, and their salaries are determined by the California Citizen's Compensation Commission.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Constitutional Officers | 7 |
| Officers | Governor, Lt. Governor, Insurance Commissioner, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Controller, Treasurer, Secretary of State |
| Lt. Governor's role | Ceremonial, President of the State Senate, can only cast a vote in the case of a tie |
| Controller's role | Chief fiscal officer, responsible for accounting, disbursement, and auditing |
| Treasurer's role | Authority in investment and finance, state's lead asset manager, banker, and financier |
| Secretary of State's role | Oversee campaigns, elections, lobbyist filings, campaign expenditure filings, and business filings |
| Superintendent of Public Instruction's role | Execute functions of California Department of Education, chief spokesperson for California's public schools, ex officio member of governing boards for California's higher education system |
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What You'll Learn
The Governor of California
Newsom's political career began in 1996 when he was appointed to San Francisco's Parking and Traffic Commission. He went on to serve on the Board of Supervisors and was first elected to the board in 1998. Newsom served as the mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011, during which he gained recognition for his support for same-sex marriage. He then served as the lieutenant governor of California from 2011 to 2019, where he continued to advocate for progressive causes such as the repeal of the death penalty and the reclassification of nonviolent offenses.
As governor, Newsom has faced criticism for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some arguing that his lockdown measures were overly restrictive and economically damaging. However, he has also been praised for his innovative solutions and commitment to standing up for California's values. Newsom has been open about his severe dyslexia, which has shaped his approach to governance and problem-solving. He has often relied on audio interpretations of documents and reports, and his ability to "think differently" has been cited as a strength in his governance.
Newsom's top priorities for his administration include standing up for California values, such as civil rights, immigration, environmental protection, and access to quality schools at all levels. He has also focused on economic development, job creation, and addressing the state's housing crisis. Newsom has advocated for universal healthcare and criminal justice reform, and he has been a strong supporter of same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization. While some of his policies have been controversial, Newsom has demonstrated his commitment to leading California through innovative and groundbreaking solutions.
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The Lt. Governor
The Lieutenant Governor of California is the second-highest executive officer in the state. The Lt. Governor is elected independently and separately from the governor, although both are up for election every four years. The Lt. Governor can serve a maximum of two terms.
The current Lt. Governor of California is Eleni Kounalakis, who assumed office in 2019. She is the first woman to hold this position. Prior to her political career, Kounalakis was president of AKT Development, a respected housing development firm. She also served as a member of California's First 5 Commission and the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism.
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The Treasurer
One of the Treasurer's primary duties is to provide transparency and oversight for the state’s investment portfolio and bank accounts. Funds held in the treasury that are not needed immediately are invested in safe, liquid securities designed to use the state’s financial resources efficiently. The Treasurer also serves as the agent for the sale of all state bonds and is the trustee on most of the state’s outstanding debt. The Treasurer's Office oversees an investment portfolio that has averaged more than $140 billion during the current administration and has grown to over $240 billion.
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The Insurance Commissioner
The current Insurance Commissioner is Democrat Ricardo Lara, who was elected in 2018. He is California's 8th Insurance Commissioner. Lara has pledged to protect Californians from insurance fraud and to embrace new technology to improve access, affordability, and privacy in the insurance industry. As a State Senator, he authored laws to help prevent prescription drug abuse and crack down on fraud involving Californians recovering from substance abuse disorders. Lara also supports efforts to reduce the number of uninsured Californians and lower healthcare costs.
Lara has also focused on tackling climate change and its impacts on California's communities. He wrote the nation's first climate insurance law, SB 30, to engage the insurance industry in fighting climate-linked environmental disasters like wildfires and rising sea levels. He has also sponsored legislation to fund innovative insurance projects to protect communities from increasing climate disasters. For his work to reduce super pollutants, he received the United Nations 2017 Climate and Clean Air Award.
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The Controller
California, the fifth-largest economy in the world, has eight statewide constitutional officials, including the State Controller, who are elected every four years. The State Controller acts as the state's chief fiscal officer, accountant, bookkeeper, and auditor. The Controller is responsible for tracking and controlling the disbursement of state funds from the treasury. The Controller also audits government agencies that spend state funds and administers the payroll system for state government employees and California State University employees.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several constitutional officers in California, including the Governor, Lt. Governor, Insurance Commissioner, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Controller, Treasurer, Secretary of State, and State Superintendent.
The Lt. Governor is the President of the State Senate and has the authority to cast a vote in the case of a tie. The Insurance Commissioner is responsible for insurance-related matters, while the Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees the state's public schools. The Controller manages the state's fiscal resources and audits relevant state departments. The Treasurer has authority in investment and finance and serves as the state's lead asset manager. The Secretary of State oversees campaigns, elections, lobbyist filings, and business filings.
Most of California's constitutional officers are elected, including the Insurance Commissioner and Superintendent of Public Instruction, who are appointees of the Governor in other states.
Yes, the Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner are not explicitly created by the Constitution but are generally considered constitutional officers. The State Superintendent, also known as the SPI, is a non-partisan office, and the Lt. Governor's role is largely ceremonial.
