Isabella Carter
The Constitution of California is the primary organising law for the state of California, outlining the duties, powers, structures, and functions of its government. California has had two constitutions, with the first being drafted in both English and Spanish and adopted in 1849, following the Mexican-American War and in advance of California's admission to the Union in 1850. The current California Constitution was ratified in 1879 and has since been amended or revised over 480 times.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First Constitution of California | Ratified on November 13, 1849 |
| Current Constitution of California | Adopted in 1879 |
| Number of Articles | 35 |
| Number of Amendments | 480-524 |
| Number of Revisions | 2 |
| Number of Times Amended or Revised | Over 500 |
| Length | 75,000 words |
| Universities Mentioned | University of California, Stanford University |
| Article III | "State of California" |
| Article IV | "Legislative" |
| Article IX | "Education" |
| Article X | "Water" |
| Article XA | "Water Resources Development" |
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What You'll Learn
The first California Constitution was ratified in 1849
The first California Constitution was ratified on November 13, 1849, and was published in both English and Spanish. It was drafted by American pioneers, European settlers, and Californios (Hispanics of California) and was adopted at the 1849 Constitutional Convention of Monterey, following the American Conquest of California and the Mexican-American War. The constitution was also approved in the same year by the United States Congress, which failed to set up any government for California.
The constitution was used until 1879, when the second constitution became effective. The first constitution was amended and ratified on May 7, 1879, following the Sacramento Convention of 1878-79. The California Constitution is one of the longest in the world, and by 1962, it had grown to 75,000 words, which was longer than any other state constitution except Louisiana's. This led to the creation of a California Constitution Revision Commission, which worked on a comprehensive revision of the constitution from 1964 to 1976.
The California Constitution is the primary organizing law for the state of California and describes the duties, powers, structures, and functions of the state government. It is worth noting that the constitution strongly protects the corporate existence of cities and counties and grants them broad plenary home rule powers. The constitution also mentions two universities: 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 United States whose independence from political interference is guaranteed by the state constitution.
The California Constitution can be amended or revised through legislative proposal, convention to revise the constitution, or initiative. All amendments require voter approval, and from 1911 to 1986, the California Constitution was amended or revised over 500 times.
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The current California Constitution was ratified in 1879
California's current constitution was ratified on May 7, 1879, and has been amended over 480 times since then. The constitution was first drafted in 1849 following the American Conquest of California and the Mexican-American War, and in advance of California's admission to the Union in 1850. The 1879 constitution has been described as the second constitution of the state, replacing the first which was used until that year.
The California Constitution is one of the longest in the world, and by 1962 it had grown to 75,000 words, longer than any other state constitution except Louisiana's. The length 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 take the form of a constitutional amendment. For example, several amendments involved the authorization of the creation of state government agencies, including the State Compensation Insurance Fund and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The constitution also distinguishes between universities, with the University of California being one of only nine state-run public universities in the United States whose independence from political interference is expressly guaranteed by the state constitution.
The constitution can be amended or revised through a legislative proposal, a convention to revise the constitution, or an initiative. A legislative proposal requires a roll call vote in the legislature with two-thirds of the members of each house concurring. A convention to revise the constitution also requires a roll call vote with two-thirds of each house's membership concurring, and any amendment proposed by the convention may then be submitted to the voters at a general election. An initiative requires a petition to be submitted to the Secretary of State with the certified signatures of 8% of the total vote for all candidates for Governor at the most recent gubernatorial election.
The current California Constitution has 35 articles and outlines the state's framework for governance, including the duties, powers, structures, and functions of the government, as well as individual and civil rights.
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The California Constitution is one of the world's longest
California's first constitution was approved and adopted in 1849, following the American Conquest of California and the Mexican-American War, and in advance of California's Admission to the Union in 1850. The constitution was drafted in both English and Spanish and was amended and ratified on May 7, 1879, following the Sacramento Convention of 1878–79.
The California Constitution is one of the longest in the world. By 1962, the constitution had grown to 75,000 words, which at the time was longer than any other state constitution except Louisiana's. 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 take the form of a constitutional amendment. The constitution was amended over 500 times between 1911 and 1986, contributing to its length.
The California Constitution strongly protects the corporate existence of cities and counties and grants them broad plenary home rule powers. It is one of the nation's most influential constitutions, protecting direct democracy, limiting taxation, and securing individual liberty. The constitution gives charter cities supreme authority over municipal affairs, allowing their local laws to supersede state law. It also distinguishes between constitutional amendments and constitutional revisions, with the latter considered a "substantial change to the entire constitution" rather than a less extensive change.
The California Constitution also expressly mentions two universities: 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. Stanford University, meanwhile, enjoys a constitutional clause shielding its properties from taxes as long as they are used for educational purposes.
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The California Constitution has been amended over 480 times
California's first constitution was approved in 1849, drafted in both English and Spanish, and came into effect in 1850, when California became the 31st state. The constitution was amended and ratified in 1879, and since then, it has been amended or revised over 480 times, with the most recent amendment occurring in 2024.
The California Constitution is one of the longest in the world, and its length 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. From 1911 to 1986, the California Constitution was amended or revised over 500 times, and by 1962, it had grown to 75,000 words, longer than any other state constitution except Louisiana's. This led to the creation of a California Constitution Revision Commission, which worked on a comprehensive revision of the constitution from 1964 to 1976.
The constitution can be amended or revised through a legislative proposal, a convention to revise the constitution, or an initiative. A legislative proposal requires a roll call vote in the Legislature with two-thirds of the members of each house concurring. To convene a constitutional convention also requires a roll call vote with two-thirds of each house's membership, and any amendments may then be submitted to voters at a general election. For an initiative, a petition with the certified signatures of 8% of the total vote for all candidates for Governor at the most recent gubernatorial election must be submitted to the Secretary of State.
Amendments to the California Constitution have included the addition of specific provisions, such as defining English as the official language of California and establishing a compensation commission. Several amendments involved the authorization of the creation of state government agencies, including the State Compensation Insurance Fund and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The constitution also strongly protects the corporate existence of cities and counties and grants them broad plenary home rule powers.
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The California Constitution was drafted in English and Spanish
The California Constitution, drafted in 1849, is the primary organising law for the US state of California. It describes the duties, powers, structures, and functions of the government of California. Notably, it was drafted in both English and Spanish by American pioneers, European settlers, and Californios (Hispanics of California). The constitution was adopted at the 1849 Constitutional Convention of Monterey, following the American Conquest of California and the Mexican-American War, and in advance of California's Admission to the Union in 1850.
The constitution has undergone numerous changes since its original drafting. It was rewritten from scratch several times before the drafting of the current 1879 constitution, which has itself been amended or revised. The California Constitution is one of the longest in the world, and by 1962, it had grown to 75,000 words, which at that time was longer than any other state constitution except Louisiana's. This length has been attributed to various 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 was amended and ratified on 7 May 1879, following the Sacramento Convention of 1878-79. The 1878-79 Constitutional Convention Working Papers contain the records created during the convention, including administrative records, minutes, resolutions, and other documents. The California Constitution strongly protects the corporate existence of cities and counties and grants them broad plenary home rule powers.
In the early 1960s, the California Legislature believed that a revision to the Constitution was necessary. The electorate approved the creation of a California Constitution Revision Commission, which worked on a comprehensive revision of the constitution from 1964 to 1976. The Commission ultimately removed about 40,000 words from the constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The first California Constitution was written in 1849. It was drafted in both English and Spanish and was ratified on November 13, 1849, before California became a state in 1850.
The California Constitution has been amended or revised over 500 times between 1911 and 1986. The current constitution has been amended 524 times.
The current California Constitution was written in 1879. It was amended and ratified on May 7, 1879, following the Sacramento Convention of 1878-79.
