California State Assembly

Infobox Legislature
name = California State Assembly
coa_pic = CaliforniaAssemblySeal.png session_room = California Assembly chamber.jpg
house_type = Lower house
leader1_type = Speaker of the Assembly
leader1 = Karen Bass
party1 = (D-Los Angeles)
election1 = May 13 2008
leader2_type = Speaker pro Tempore
leader2 = Sally J. Lieber
party2 = D
election2 = October 24 2006
leader4_type = Minority Leader
leader4 = Michael Villines
party4 = R
election4 = November 10 2006
members = 80
p_groups = Democratic Party
Republican Party
meeting_place = Assembly Chamber,
California State Capitol, Sacramento, CA, US
website = http://www.assembly.ca.gov/

The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing a relatively equal amount of constituencies, with each district having a population of at least 420,000. Due to the state's large population and relatively small legislature, the Assembly has the largest population per representative ratio of any lower house legislature in the United States; only the federal U.S. House of Representatives has a larger ratio. Since a referendum in 1990, members of the Assembly are restricted by term limits, confining them to three two-year terms (six years).

The Assembly convenes at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

Leadership of the Assembly

The Speaker of the Assembly presides over the Assembly in the chief leadership position, controlling the flow of legislation and committee assignments. The Speaker is elected by the majority party caucus, followed by confirmation of the full Assembly on passage of a floor vote. Other Assembly 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 Karen Bass of the 47th district (D-Los Angeles). The Majority Leader is Alberto Torrico of the 20th district (D-Newark). The Minority Leader is Michael Villines of the 29th district (R-Fresno).

Assembly Chamber

The assembly meets in the chamber located at the opposite end of the State Senate chamber. It is modeled from the British House of Commons and is primarily decorated in green tones. The dais rests along a wall shaped like an "E" the central projection housing the rostrum. Along the cornice appears a portrait of Abraham Lincoln and a quotation from him in Latin: 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.

Assembly

Candidates Qualifications to be Voted on at the Primary Elections

To run for Member of the Assembly, the candidate must be a United States citizen and a registered voter in the district at the time nomination papers are issued and may not have served three terms in the State Assembly since November 6, 1990. According to Article IV, 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, even though it is the legal opinion of the California Secretary of State's office that these provisions violate the United States Constitution.Fact|date=September 2008

tate Assembly Members

See:
*California State Legislature, 2007-2008 Session
*California State Legislature, 2005-2006 Session
*California State Legislature, 2003-2004 Session
*California State Legislature, 2001-2002 Session
*California State Legislature, 1999-2000 Session
*California State Legislature, 1997-1998 Session

Officers information

Sergeant-at-Arms is the division which protects the assemblymen of the California State Assembly. The chief sergeant at arms is the head of this division. This position has existed since December 15, 1849 when Samuel N. Houston became California's first Sergeant at Arms. [http://www.assembly.ca.gov/sergeant/ Official website of the Sergeant at Arms]

ee also

*Bill (proposed law)
*California State Assembly Districts
*California Assembly elections, 2006
*List of Speakers of the California State Assembly
*California State Legislature
*Members of the California State Legislature
*California State Senate
*California State Capitol
*California State Capitol Museum
*Districts in California

References

External links

* [http://www.assembly.ca.gov/ California State Assembly]
* [http://www.electionvolunteer.com/race/AD Current Candidates for the State Assembly]
* [http://www.joincalifornia.com/page/8 California Legislative District Maps (1911-Present)]
* [http://www.legislature.ca.gov/legislators_and_districts/districts/assemblydistricts.html Map of Assembly Districts]
* [http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_calendar2008.htm California Election Calendar]