The law making process in California involves the following steps.

Step 1

The legislation starts from the generation of ideas from any citizen or a group of people who persuades the legislature member to author the bill. The idea in the bill language is then passed to the legislative counsel's office by the legislator where it is drafted into an actual bill. The legislator and those who gave the idea are given chance to review the bill. The bill is then introduced at the Assembly desk where it is assigned a bill number and read for the first time (Califonia Staff Senate).

Step 2

The bill is assigned to a policy committee. People are allowed 30 days to contact their legislator on the position of the bill. The bill appears in the daily file four days before it is heard by the committee. Then, the committee holds various public meetings whereby the citizens are allowed to give their views concerning the bill (Califonia Department of Finance)

Step 3

If the bill is found to have state cost or fiscal impact, it is heard in the assembly or senate appropriations committees. Here, one is allowed to inform the committee why he/she supports the bill based on fiscal argument. When the bill goes through this committee, it is read on the floor of the house for the second time.

Step 4

The third reading is done at this stage where the bill passes through the House of Origin before it goes to the second house to again go through the committee process. The bill is presented by the author and it is voted for. For it to pass, it must be voted for by the majority i.e. 54 in the assembly and 27 in the senate. The amendments may be made during the process. If the bill passes this stage, it goes to the governor (Califonia Staff Senate).

Step 5

Within twelve days, the governor signs, veto a bill or approves it without signing. If it is approved without signature or signed it is taken to the secretary of the state where it is chaptered. If it is vetoed, 2/3 votes in each house is required to override the veto (Califonia Department of Finance).

Number of senators and assembly members

The Californian legislature has 4o senators and 80 members of the assembly