California State Legislature

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California State Legislature
2023–2024 California State Legislature
Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate Assembly
Leadership
President pro tempore of the Senate	Toni Atkins, D since March 21, 2018
Speaker of the Assembly	Anthony Rendon, D since March 7, 2016
Seats	120
Elections
Senate voting system	First-past-the-post
Assembly voting system	First-past-the-post
Last Senate election	November 8, 2022
Last Assembly election	November 8, 2022
Next Senate election	November 5, 2024
Next Assembly election	November 5, 2024
Meeting place
California State Capitol, Sacramento
Website
legislature.ca.gov

The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate and the Assembly. The legislature convenes at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

Structure

The California State Legislature is composed of two houses:

• The Senate, which has 40 members.
• The Assembly, which has 80 members.

Leadership

The leadership of the California State Legislature includes:

• The President pro tempore of the Senate, currently Toni Atkins.
• The Speaker of the Assembly, currently Anthony Rendon.

Elections and Terms

Members of the Senate serve four-year terms, with half of the seats up for election every two years. Members of the Assembly serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. Both houses use a first-past-the-post voting system.

Sessions

The California State Legislature meets in regular session from December to August each year. Special sessions may be called by the Governor.

Functions

The primary function of the California State Legislature is to enact laws. It also has the power to propose amendments to the state constitution, approve the state budget, and confirm appointments made by the Governor.

Committees

The legislature operates through a system of committees, which handle specific areas such as finance, education, and health. Each house has its own set of committees, and there are also joint committees that include members from both houses.

Related Pages

• California State Senate
• California State Assembly
• Governor of California
• California State Capitol
• Constitution of California
• Politics of California