🏛️ Constitution & Amendments
The basic idea that ultimate authority rests with the people
What is popular sovereignty?
California’s lower chamber, consisting of 80 members.
What is the California State Assembly?
The annual budget the governor must submit that cannot exceed the state’s projected revenue.
What is a balanced budget?
The trial‑level courts that handle criminal, civil, family, probate and juvenile cases.
What are Superior Courts?
What is the yearly financial plan that the governor prepares to show how much the state can spend on programs and services?
What are a balanced budget and revenue?
A rule that keeps state power within clearly defined limits.
What is limited government?
How long an Assembly member serves before re‑election.
What is a two‑year term?
The power that lets the governor strike out individual line items while approving the rest of a bill.
What is a line‑item veto?
The intermediate appellate courts that sit in six districts and review Superior Court decisions.
What are the Courts of Appeal?
What is the yearly financial plan that the governor prepares to show how much the state can spend on programs and services?
What is the annual budget?
The system that allows each branch to check the others (e.g., veto, impeachment).
What is Checks and balances
The upper chamber, composed of 40 members who serve longer terms.
What is the California State Senate?
The recall‑style process that enables voters to remove the chief executive before the term ends.
What is a gubernatorial recall?
The highest court that decides constitutional and major statutory questions.
What is the California Supreme Court?
What vote thresholds in both houses are required to override a full gubernatorial veto?
What are a two‑thirds vote in both the Assembly and the Senate?
The system that divides authority among three separate branches.
What is separation of powers?
The three steps the legislature follows when turning a bill into law (hint: one is a committee stage).
What are committee review, floor debate, and gubernatorial action?
The address the governor delivers each January outlining priorities and proposing legislation.
What is the State of the State address?
What type of election shows party labels on the ballot for most judges?
What are partisan elections?
What is the joint step called in which the legislature reviews and approves the governor’s budget proposal?
What is the budget‑approval process?
The document that outlines both the powers and duties of state officials and is more detailed than the U.S. Constitution.
What is the California State Constitution?
The three main ways the legislature is influenced when crafting policy (think political actors).
What are political parties, public opinion, and interest groups?
The governor’s authority to grant pardons, commutations, reprieves and parole (usually after a board recommendation).
What are clemency powers?
The body that sets procedural rules for all California courts and allocates resources.
What is the Judicial Council of California?
What power allows the governor to dismiss appointed officials?
What is the removal power?