Both documents have a bicameral legislature. The California Legislature is comprised of the state assembly (an 80 member body) and the state senate (a 40 member body). In both houses of the California Legislature, representation is based on districts that are determined by the size of population. By contrast, the federal legislature has a bicameral legislature in which representation is based on the core democratic principle of one person, one vote in the House of Representatives (435 members) and a Senate where all states, big and small, are represented by two Senators. Senators are elected for four years in California, whereas U.S. Senators serve six-year terms. In both the California State Assembly and U.S. House of Representatives, terms are for two years. As of 1990, all legislators in California are limited to serving two terms. Β
The chief executives in both the Federal and State governments are quite similar. The difference is in the other parts of the executive branch. In the State of California, the Lieutenant Governor (the equivalent to the U.S. Vice President) is elected by the voters and runs separately from the Governor. The Attorney General, Controller (chief financial officer parallel to the Secretary of the Treasury), Secretary of State, the Superintendent of Public Instruction and Treasurer are all elected by the voters, whereas these same or parallel functions at the Federal level are appointed by the President as part of the Executive Cabinet.
In the Judicial Branch we also see a greater degree of voter direct control in the State government than at the Federal level. I'll quote the Constitution directly: "Judges of the Supreme Court shall be elected at large and judges of Courts of Appeal shall be elected in their districts at general elections at the same time and places as the Governor. Their terms are twelve years. . . . "[Article VI, Section 16a]. This clearly contrasts with the appointment of Federal judges by the President, whose powers at that level are further enhanced by the fact that Justices in all Federal courts serve life terms. Β Here are a few additional comments. There is a system of checks and balances (veto, override) between the three branches. Both documents include a Bill of Rights. As a state, California has specific constitutional guidelines for such fundamental State responsibilities as education, transportation, marriage, energy and water. The State Constitution has greater detail on managing such matters, whereas the federal Constitution is a general framework for operating the government. In general, the State's Constitution is much longer and more complex. Finally, California added the initiative, referendum and recall to its Constitution during the era of progressive reforms at the turn of the 20th century.
