California Constitutional Revision Commission

California Constitutional Revision Commission
Name	California Constitutional Revision Commission
Formed	1968
Jurisdiction	California
Headquarters	Sacramento, California
Key people	Ralph Nader; Earl Warren; Pat Brown; Ronald Reagan; Alan Cranston

California Constitutional Revision Commission The California Constitutional Revision Commission was a state-appointed body convened to examine and propose reforms to the Constitution of California; it operated in the late 1960s and contributed to a series of proposed amendments, studies, and ballot measures that influenced subsequent debates in California politics. The commission engaged lawmakers, jurists, advocacy groups, and civic leaders to consider changes touching on finance, judiciary, taxation, and administrative organization. Its work intersected with figures from the California Supreme Court, state executive offices, and civic reform movements.

History and Establishment

The commission arose amid reform impulses following the tenure of Governor Pat Brown and the election of Governor Ronald Reagan, alongside pressures from the California Legislature and civic organizations like the League of Women Voters of California. Sparked by concerns similar to those addressed in prior inquiries such as the Little Hoover Commission (California) and subsequent to deliberations influenced by jurists from the California Supreme Court like Stanley Mosk and Robert Finch, the body drew attention from national reformers including Ralph Nader and senators such as Alan Cranston. The commission’s creation reflected reform patterns seen in other states after events like the California Constitutional Convention of 1879 and reforms influenced by the Progressive Era.

Mandate and Powers

Charged by statutes enacted by the California Legislature and oversight involving the Governor of California, the commission’s mandate included review of structural provisions of the Constitution of California, recommendations for amendments, and preparation of ballot language for voter consideration. It examined provisions related to the California State Senate, California State Assembly, fiscal clauses affecting the Franchise Tax Board, and administrative arrangements touching on entities such as the University of California and the California State University, Sacramento. While lacking power to impose amendments, the commission could submit measures to the ballot for decisions by the electorate of California and advise agencies including the State Controller of California and the California Attorney General.

Membership and Organization

Membership combined former legislators, jurists, municipal officials, and civic leaders appointed by the Governor of California and confirmed by the California State Senate. Among notable participants were retired judges from the California Court of Appeal, former state legislators associated with factions in the Democratic Party (United States) and Republican Party (United States), legal scholars from Stanford Law School and UC Berkeley School of Law, and municipal leaders from cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. The commission organized subcommittees mirroring entities like the California Department of Finance and panels akin to the California Fair Political Practices Commission to study election law, taxation, and executive reorganization.

Key Activities and Recommendations

The commission produced reports and draft amendment texts addressing revision of taxation clauses referencing the Franchise Tax Board and modifications to appropriations connected to the California State Treasurer. It recommended reorganizing aspects of the California judiciary, proposing changes to appointment processes reminiscent of debates about the Judicial Council of California and considerations similar to reforms advanced by figures such as Earl Warren. The commission’s proposals included options for ballot initiatives on legislative reapportionment tied to the Reapportionment Act debates, revisions to provisions affecting the University of California Board of Regents, and fiscal reforms that would interact with the California Budget Act and operations of the California Department of Education.

Impact and Controversies

Reactions spanned endorsements from civic groups like the League of Women Voters and opposition by interest coalitions including labor organizations and industry associations with ties to California’s Public Employees Retirement System debates. Controversies emerged over proposals touching on taxation linked to the Franchise Tax Board and pension language implicating debates around the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). Critics accused the commission of partisanship in matters resonant with Governor Ronald Reagan’s policy positions, while defenders cited comparisons to national reform efforts like the Hoover Commission and historical antecedents such as the Progressive movement and the Constitutional Convention (U.S. states) pattern. Media coverage from outlets in Los Angeles and San Francisco framed the commission’s work within broader statewide debates involving the California Legislature and gubernatorial politics.

Legacy and Subsequent Reforms

Although not all recommendations became law, the commission influenced later reforms—some enacted through ballot measures, others incorporated into legislative statutes and administrative practice. Its work fed into discussions that affected subsequent initiatives like the California Proposition 13 (1978) debate over taxation and property law, and informed later constitutional revision efforts and panels such as successors to the Little Hoover Commission (California). Legal and academic commentators at institutions including UC Berkeley and Stanford University referenced the commission’s reports in analyses of the Constitution of California and state institutional reform, while practitioners in the California Bar Association used its recommendations in litigation and advocacy. The commission remains part of the historical lineage of constitutional reform efforts that shaped governance in California.

Category:Government of California Category:Politics of California