KNOW THE LAW

What are the 3 Branches of CA State Government?

Both state and federal governments in the U.S. are structured with three branches: executive, legislative and judicial. However, they differ in scope, responsibilities, and the extent of their authority.

The Executive Branch is headed by the Governor and is responsible for enforcing state laws, managing the state budget, and overseeing state agencies.

The Legislative Branch of government is the State's law-making authority made up of two houses: the Senate and the Assembly. There are 40 Senators and 80 Assembly members who make state laws, approve the state budget and can impeach and remove the Governor.

The Judicial Branch consists of the State Supreme Court and lower courts that interpret state laws, ensure they are constitutional and resolve disputes.

Learn more at https://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/learn/about-thegovernment/branches-of-government/

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

State Legislators have authority over state laws, but the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution dictates that federal law takes precedence over state law. This includes state constitutions if the federal government has the power to legislate on the specific issue under the U.S. Constitution. This potentially could impact current laws, for example, abortion and same sex marriage laws.

Link to more civics topics :http://lwvsonoma.org/CivicsMenu