https://soundcloud.com/capimpactca/the-california-commission-on-state-mandates
California’s Commission on State Mandates derives its power from Article XIII B, Section 6 of the California State Constitution, which deals with a government spending limitation.
Section 6 of Article XIII B provides that whenever the Legislature or any state agency mandates a new program or a higher level of service on any local
https://soundcloud.com/capimpactca/the-role-of-administrative-agencies-in-state-government
California’s administrative agencies play a key role in state government and in public policy development in this state. That’s because there are over 200 state agencies, departments, boards, and commissions that have the authority to implement, interpret, and enforce state laws and regulations. These entities enjoy quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial powers.
Quasi-legislative power is the
https://soundcloud.com/capimpactca/direct-democracy-in-california-a-brief-history-and-its-functions
Direct democracy is the term we in government use to describe the ability of the voters to take matters into their own hands. In other words, it is the ability of the voters to enact or repeal laws, or recall elected officials. California is one of two dozen
https://soundcloud.com/capimpactca/the-impact-of-the-state-budget-on-public-policy
California’s budget process continues to be and have a major impact on the state’s public policy agenda. From my vantage point, this is because numerous policy changes are enacted every year as part of the state budget. In other words, state public policy continues to be done as
https://soundcloud.com/capimpactca/overview-of-californias-judicial-branch
Just like the federal government, California has three branches of its state government – legislative, executive, and judicial. Article VI of the state constitution provides for the judicial branch of government. With a population just shy of 40 million it’s not a surprise that California’s judicial branch of government is the largest in the
Today’s post and podcast is an overview of California’s executive branch of government. Today’s post will be broken into two sections, the provisions for the executive branch in California’s state constitution and the levels of executive branch government in California.
https://soundcloud.com/capimpactca/overview-of-californias-executive-branch
The executive branch of California state
https://soundcloud.com/capimpactca/overview-of-county-government-in-california
Counties in California are provided for under the state constitution as well as the Government Code. The Legislature has provided counties with corporate powers that are required to provide for the health and welfare of the general public within their respective county lines. They provide numerous services on behalf of the state, such as
https://soundcloud.com/capimpactca/overview-of-city-government-in-california
The over 475 cities in the state of California provide a wide range of municipal services including police, fire, parks, and libraries. A city’s government is headed by an elected or appointed Mayor to whom department heads are generally responsible. The City Council usually appoints a City Manager to oversee the city services.
Cities
https://soundcloud.com/capimpactca/role-of-local-government-in-california
The role of local government cannot be overstated. The 58 counties, the 482 cities, and over 3000 special districts from transportation agencies to local air districts, water boards, and vector control agencies, all play a very critical role in making and implementing public policy throughout the state of California.
Counties are specified as “political
https://soundcloud.com/capimpactca/comparing-california-government-to-other-state-governments
Structurally speaking, California state government is not unique among the other states. All fifty states provide for a republican form of government in their individual constitutions. And all the states are based upon the federal government model with three branches of state government: the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch. Let’s