The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature, the upper house being the California State Senate. The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

The Assembly consists of 80 members, with each member representing at least 465,000 people. Due to a combination of the state's large population and a legislature that has not been expanded since the ratification of the 1879 Constitution,[1] the Assembly has the largest population-per-representative ratio of any state lower house and second largest of any legislative lower house in the United States after the federal House of Representatives.

Members of the California State Assembly are generally referred to using the titles Assemblyman (for men), Assemblywoman (for women), or Assemblymember (gender-neutral). In the current legislative session, Democrats have a three-fourths supermajority of 62 seats, while Republicans control a minority of 18 seats.

Leadership

The Speaker presides over the State Assembly in the chief leadership position, controlling the flow of legislation and committee assignments. The Speaker is nominated by the caucus of the majority party and elected by the full Assembly. Other leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses according to each party's strength in the chamber.

The current Speaker is Democrat Robert Rivas (29th–Hollister). The Majority Leader is Democrat Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (4thWinters), while the minority leader is Republican James Gallagher (3rdYuba City).[2]

Terms of office

Members are allowed, by current term limits, to serve 12 years in the legislature in any combination of four-year State Senate or two-year State Assembly terms. However, members elected to the Legislature prior to 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years), few if any legislators remain from this era, though it could affect future candidates running after a hiatus from office.

Every two years, all 80 seats in the Assembly are subject to election. This is in contrast to the State Senate, in which only half of its 40 seats are subject to election every two years.

Meeting chamber

The chamber's green tones are based on the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. The dais rests along a wall shaped like an "E", with its central projection housing the rostrum. Along the cornice appears a portrait of Abraham Lincoln and a Latin quotation: legislatorum est justas leges condere ("It is the duty of legislators to pass just laws"). Almost every decorating element is identical to the Senate Chamber.

Candidate qualifications

To run for the Assembly, a candidate must be a United States citizen and a registered voter in the district at the time nomination papers are issued, and meet the criteria of the term limits described above. According to Article 4, Section 2(c) of the California Constitution, the candidate must have one year of residency in the legislative district and California residency for three years.[3]

Employees

The chief clerk of the Assembly, a position that has existed since the Assembly's creation, is responsible for many administrative duties. The chief clerk is the custodian of all Assembly bills and records and publishes the Assembly Daily Journal, the minutes of floor sessions, as well as the Assembly Daily File, the Assembly agenda. The chief clerk is the Assembly's parliamentarian, and in this capacity gives advice to the presiding officer on matters of parliamentary procedure. The chief clerk is also responsible for engrossing and enrolling of measures, and the transmission of legislation to the governor.[4]

The Assembly also employs the position of chaplain, a position that has existed in both houses since the first legislative session back in 1850. Currently, the chaplain of the Assembly is Imam Mohammad Yasir Khan, the first chaplain historically that practices Islam.

The position of sergeant-at-arms of the Assembly has existed since 1849; Samuel N. Houston was the first to hold this post, overseeing one deputy. The sergeant-at-arms is mostly tasked with law enforcement duties, but customarily also has a ceremonial and protocol role. Today, some fifty employees are part of the Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms Office.[5]

Current session

Composition

6218
DemocraticRepublican
AffiliationParty
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
DemocraticRepublicanIndependentVacant
End of previous legislature60191800
Begin62180800
Latest voting share78%23%0%

Past composition of the Assembly

Officers

PositionNamePartyDistrict
SpeakerRobert RivasDemocratic29th–Hollister
Speaker pro TemporeJim WoodDemocratic2nd–Healsburg
Assistant Speaker pro TemporeStephanie NguyenDemocratic10th–Elk Grove
Majority LeaderCecilia Aguiar-CurryDemocratic4thWinters
Assistant Majority LeaderMiguel SantiagoDemocratic54th–Los Angeles
Assistant Majority Leader for
Policy and Research
Dawn AddisDemocratic30thMorro Bay
Majority WhipMatt HaneyDemocratic17thSan Francisco
Assistant Majority WhipsEloise Gomez ReyesDemocratic50thColton
Josh LowenthalDemocratic69th–Long Beach
Democratic Caucus ChairRick Chavez ZburDemocratic51st–Los Angeles
Republican LeaderJames GallagherRepublican3rd–Yuba City
Republican Floor LeaderHeath FloraRepublican9th–Ripon
Republican Chief WhipLaurie DaviesRepublican74th–Laguna Niguel
Republican Caucus ChairTom LackeyRepublican34th–Palmdale
Chief ClerkSue Parker
Chief Sergeant-at-ArmsAlisa Buckley
ChaplainImam Mohammad Yasir Khan (Al Misbaah)

The Chief Clerk, the Chief Sergeant-at-Arms, and the Chaplains are not members of the Legislature.

Members

DistrictNamePartyResidenceFirst electedTerm limitedNotes
1Megan DahleRepublicanBieber2019†2030
2Jim WoodDemocraticHealdsburg20142026
3James GallagherRepublicanYuba City20142026Minority Leader since February 8, 2022
4Cecilia Aguiar-CurryDemocraticWinters20162028Majority Leader since November 22, 2023
5Joe PattersonRepublicanRocklin20222034
6Kevin McCartyDemocraticSacramento20142026
7Josh HooverRepublicanFolsom20222034
8Jim PattersonRepublicanFresno20122024
9Heath FloraRepublicanRipon20162028
10Stephanie NguyenDemocraticElk Grove20222034
11Lori WilsonDemocraticSuisun City2022†2034
12Damon ConnollyDemocraticSan Rafael20222034
13Carlos VillapuduaDemocraticStockton20202032
14Buffy WicksDemocraticOakland20182030
15Tim GraysonDemocraticConcord20162028
16Rebecca Bauer-KahanDemocraticOrinda20182030
17Matt HaneyDemocraticSan Francisco2022†2034
18Mia BontaDemocraticAlameda2021†2032
19Phil TingDemocraticSan Francisco20122024
20Liz OrtegaDemocraticSan Leandro20222034
21Diane PapanDemocraticSan Mateo20222034
22Juan AlanisRepublicanModesto20222034
23Marc BermanDemocraticMenlo Park20162028
24Alex LeeDemocraticSan Jose20202032
25Ash KalraDemocraticSan Jose20162028
26Evan LowDemocraticSunnyvale20142026
27Esmeralda SoriaDemocraticFresno20222034
28Gail PellerinDemocraticSanta Cruz20222034
29Robert RivasDemocraticHollister20182030Speaker
30Dawn AddisDemocraticMorro Bay20222034
31Joaquin ArambulaDemocraticFresno2016†2028
32Vince FongRepublicanBakersfield20162028
33Devon MathisRepublicanPorterville20142026
34Tom LackeyRepublicanPalmdale20142026
35Jasmeet BainsDemocraticBakersfield20222034
36Eduardo GarciaDemocraticCoachella20142026
37Gregg HartDemocraticSanta Barbara20222034
38Steve BennettDemocraticVentura20202032
39Juan CarrilloDemocraticPalmdale20222034
40Pilar SchiavoDemocraticChatsworth20222034
41Chris HoldenDemocraticPasadena20122024
42Jacqui IrwinDemocraticThousand Oaks20142026
43Luz RivasDemocraticNorth Hollywood2018†2030
44Laura FriedmanDemocraticGlendale20162028
45James RamosDemocraticHighland20182030
46Jesse GabrielDemocraticEncino2018†2030
47Greg Wallis RepublicanBermuda Dunes20222034
48Blanca RubioDemocraticBaldwin Park20162028
49Mike FongDemocraticAlhambra2022†2034
50Eloise ReyesDemocraticColton20162028Majority Leader from December 1, 2020, to July 3, 2023
51Rick ZburDemocraticLos Angeles20222034
52Wendy CarrilloDemocraticLos Angeles2017†2030
53Freddie RodriguezDemocraticPomona2013†2024
54Miguel SantiagoDemocraticBoyle Heights20142026
55Isaac BryanDemocraticJefferson Park2021†2032Majority Leader from July 3, 2023 to November 22, 2023
56Lisa CalderonDemocraticWhittier20202032
57Reggie Jones-SawyerDemocraticLos Angeles20122024
58Sabrina CervantesDemocraticRiverside20162028
59Phillip ChenRepublicanYorba Linda20162028
60Corey JacksonDemocraticPerris20222034
61Tina McKinnorDemocraticHawthorne2022†2034
62Anthony RendonDemocraticLakewood20122024Speaker from March 7, 2016 to June 30, 2023
63Bill EssayliRepublicanCorona20222034
64Blanca PachecoDemocraticDowney20222034
65Mike GipsonDemocraticCarson20142026
66Al MuratsuchiDemocraticRolling Hills Estates20162026Previously served from 2012 to 2014.
67Sharon Quirk-SilvaDemocraticFullerton20162026Previously served from 2012 to 2014.
68Avelino ValenciaDemocraticAnaheim20222034
69Josh LowenthalDemocraticLong Beach20222034
70Tri TaRepublicanWestminster20222034
71Kate SanchezRepublicanTrabuco Canyon20222034
72Diane DixonRepublicanNewport Beach20222034
73Cottie Petrie-NorrisDemocraticIrvine20182030
74Laurie DaviesRepublicanLaguna Niguel20202032
75Marie WaldronRepublicanValley Center20122024Minority Leader from November 8, 2018, to February 8, 2022
76Brian MaienscheinDemocraticSan Diego20122024Changed party affiliation on January 24, 2019[6][7]
77Tasha BoernerDemocraticEncinitas20182030Changed her surname back to Boerner after divorcing her husband in 2023.[8]
78Chris WardDemocraticSan Diego20202032
79Akilah WeberDemocraticLa Mesa2021†2032
80David AlvarezDemocraticSan Diego2022†2034
  • † elected in a special election

Seating chart

Speaker
R. Rivas
SanchezChenDaviesLackeyTaGallagherBryanOrtegaCalderonHoldenPetrie-NorrisIrwin
Joe PattersonV. FongJim PattersonDixonEssayliFloraZburGipsonNguyenLeeMuratsuchiJackson
AlanisDahleHooverMathisWilsonGraysonTingConnollyLowenthalLowMcCartySchiavo
WallisWaldronBennettHartBauer-KahanQuirk-SilvaFriedmanPellerinM. FongBainsSantiagoWicks
WardMaienscheinMcKinnorJones-SawyerBontaKalraRubioWoodVillapuduaJ. CarrilloArambulaRodriguez
W. CarrilloPachecoAddisBoernerPapanL. RivasReyesWeberCervantesRendonRamosValencia
BermanGabrielHaneyAguiar-CurryR. RivasSoriaAlvarezGarcia

Standing Committees

Current committees, chairs and vice chairs include:[9]

CommitteeChairVice Chair
Accountability and Administrative ReviewCottie Petrie-Norris (D)Diane Dixon (R)
Aging and Long-Term CareJasmeet Bains (D)Tri Ta (R)
AgricultureEsmeralda Soria (D)Devon Mathis (R)
AppropriationsChris Holden (D)Megan Dahle (R)
Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, & Internet MediaSharon Quirk-Silva (D)Greg Wallis (R)
Banking and FinanceTim Grayson (D)Phillip Chen (R)
BudgetPhil Ting (D)Vince Fong (R)
Business and ProfessionsMarc Berman (D)Heath Flora (R)
Communications and ConveyanceTasha Boerner (D)Jim Patterson (R)
EducationAl Muratsuchi (D)Megan Dahle (R)
ElectionsGail Pellerin (D)Tom Lackey (R)
Emergency ManagementFreddie Rodriguez (D)Marie Waldron (R)
Environmental Safety and Toxic MaterialsAlex Lee (D)Josh Hoover (R)
Governmental OrganizationMiguel Santiago (D)Tom Lackey (R)
HealthJim Wood (D)Marie Waldron (R)
Higher EducationMike Fong (D)Tri Ta (R)
Housing and Community DevelopmentBuffy Wicks (D)Joe Patterson (R)
Human ServicesCorey Jackson (D)Kate Sanchez (R)
InsuranceLisa Calderon (D)Bill Essayli (R)
Jobs, Economic Development, and the EconomyCarlos Villapudua (D)Josh Hoover (R)
JudiciaryBrian Maienschein (D)Bill Essayli (R)
Labor and EmploymentAsh Kalra (D)Heath Flora (R)
Local GovernmentJuan Carrillo (D)Diane Dixon (R)
Military and Veterans AffairsPilar Schiavo (D)Laurie Davies (R)
Natural ResourcesLuz Rivas (D)Heath Flora (R)
Privacy and Consumer ProtectionJesse Gabriel (D)Joe Patterson (R)
Public Employment and RetirementTina McKinnor (D)Tom Lackey (R)
Public SafetyReggie Jones-Sawyer (D)Juan Alanis (R)
Revenue and TaxationJacqui Irwin (D)Greg Wallis (R)
RulesJames Ramos (D)Marie Waldron (R)
TransportationLaura Friedman (D)Vince Fong (R)
Utilities and EnergyEduardo Garcia (D)Jim Patterson (R)
Water, Parks, and WildlifeRebecca Bauer-Kahan (D)Devon Mathis (R)

Recent sessions

See also

References

  1. ^ "California Constitution of 1879, prior to any amendments" (PDF). California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  2. ^ "Officers of the California State Assembly | Assembly Internet". assembly.ca.gov. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "California Constitution Article IV § 2". California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  4. ^ About Us, Office of the Chief Clerk, California State Assembly.
  5. ^ History Archived June 16, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, Sergeant-at-Arms Office, California State Assembly.
  6. ^ "California Republican Party gets even smaller: A GOP lawmaker defects to the Democrats". The Sacramento Bee. January 24, 2019.
  7. ^ "Assemblyman Brian Maienschein Switches Parties, From Republican to Democrat". KNSD (NBC San Diego). January 24, 2019.
  8. ^ "Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Representing the 77th California Assembly District". a77.asmdc.org. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "Committees". January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2022.

External links

38°34′35″N 121°29′36″W / 38.57639°N 121.49333°W / 38.57639; -121.49333