California Executive

California, like many other states, has a "Plural Executive"

Office
Incumbent
Party
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R)
Lt. Governor John Garamendi (D)
Attorney General Jerry Brown (D)
Secretary of State Debra Bowen (D)
Controller John Chiang (D)
Treasurer Bill Lockyer (D)
Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner (R)
Superintendent of Public
Instruction		 Jack T. O'Connell  (D)
Board of Equalization 1st Betty T. Yee 
2nd Bill Leonard 
3rd Michelle Steel
4th Judy May Chu 		 (D)
(R)
(R)
(D)

  1. Governor
    1. Executive Powers
      1. Commander-in-chief (California National Guard)
      2. Law Enforcement
      3. Executive Clemency
      4. Extradition
    2. Appointment Powers
      1. Administrative
      2. Commissioners
      3. Judicial
      4. Political
    3. Legislative Powers
      1. State of the State Address
      2. Special Sessions of the Legislature
      3. Vetoes
        1. General veto
        2. Item vetoes
    4. Financial Powers
      1. Submits state budget
      2. Limits on the Governors' discretion
        1. Federal Grants and Mandates
        2. Entitlements
        3. Earmarking
          1. Proposition 98 (1988)
        4. Proposition 4 (1979): The Gann Limit

  2. Lieutenant Governor
    1. Acting Governor
    2. Presides over State Senate
    3. Serves on State Lands Commission, UC Regents, CSU Board of Trustees

  3. Attorney General
    1. Chief Counsel and Prosecutor for state
    2. Ultimate authority over local law enforcement
    3. issues binding "advisory opinions" on constitutional issues before Supreme Court Acts
    4. provides summaries and titles for state ballot measures (initiatives)
    5. Serves on Commission on Judicial Appointments

  4. Controller
    1. Responsible for state Fiscal control, tax administration, local fiscal matters, and administration
    2. member of State Lands Commission, Franchise Tax Board, and Board of Equalization

  5. Treasurer
    1. collects, deposits state funds, and sells bonds

  6. Secretary of State
    1. Manages state elections
    2. Chief state record keeper

  7. Superintendent of Public Instruction
    1. Nonpartisan election and head of Department of Education
    2. Controls, with Board of Education, which is appointed by governor, one-third of all state expenditures
    3. Sets policies for school districts, including textbook adoptions, and child care centers, handicapped and disadvantaged persons, and other programs

  8. State Insurance Commissioner
    1. California's newest elected officer, created in 1988 by Proposition 103
    2. Responsible for regulating all insurance businesses in California

  9. Board of Equalization
    1. Four elected members representing districts of equal populations:
    2. Administers and collects state and local sales and use taxes; and excise taxes (gasoline, alcohol, cigarettes)
    3. Reviews county tax assessments and procedures; responsible for maintaining equal assessment to market value ratios among counties
    4. Assesses the property of railroads and public utilities
    5. Acts as the appellate body for the Franchise Tax Board

  10. Some Recommendations of State Constitutional Revision Commission
    1. Provide for Single-Ticket Election of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor
    2. Reduce the Number of Statewide Elective Offices
      1. The Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Treasurer, and the State Insurance Commissioner should be appointed by the Governor, rather than elected, and subject to legislative confirmation.
    3. Reorganize and Restructure the Revenue Collection System
      1. The Board of Equalization should be abolished and its regulatory and executive functions, along with the functions of the Franchise Tax Board, be combined into a Department of Revenue.
      2. A state tax appeals body should be established, appointed by the Governor and subject to legislative confirmation.