California State & Local Government
Nonpartisan California Veteran Hub
California is the largest state in the country by population and the world's 4th-largest economy. Power runs from Sacramento down through 58 counties, 482 cities, more than 1,000 school districts, and over 2,000 special districts. Use the tabs below to go deep.
Executive
Led by the Governor and a slate of independently elected statewide officers — the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. California uses a 'plural executive' model: officers can come from different parties because each runs in their own statewide race.
Legislative
Bicameral: the 80-member State Assembly and 40-member State Senate. Meets at the Capitol in Sacramento. Two-year session with a January reconvene.
Judicial
Trial courts (Superior Court in each of the 58 counties) → Courts of Appeal (6 districts) → California Supreme Court (7 justices). Appellate and Supreme Court justices face retention elections; trial-court judges run in contested elections.