California’s Constitution establishes several statewide offices that oversee the functions, policies, and programs of state government. While the Governor is the most prominent and powerful statewide official, several other constitutional officers have significant authority and responsibilities that affect the day-to-day lives of Californians, including the Attorney General, the Controller, and the Insurance Commissioner. In addition, the Constitution establishes the Board of Equalization, the only elected tax board in the United States.
Elections for all of these executive branch offices are held every four years, during non-presidential election years. Term limits apply: Individuals may only be elected to two four-year terms for any office. However, a person may hold a position for more than eight years if they are appointed to fill a vacancy and then elected to two four-year terms.
This glossary identifies current constitutional officeholders in the executive branch and highlights the roles and responsibilities of each office.
State Constitutional Offices
Attorney General
Incumbent: Rob Bonta
- Appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill a vacancy in April 2021.
- Elected to a full four-year term in 2022.
Role in a nutshell:
- Leads the California Department of Justice as the state’s top lawyer and law enforcement officer.
Key duties:
- Acts as representative for the People of California in civil and criminal matters that come before trial, appellate, and supreme courts in California and at the federal level.
- Ensures that laws are enforced fairly and impartially.
- Coordinates statewide law enforcement efforts, assists local and federal law enforcement agencies, and provides legal counsel to state officers as well as to state departments, boards, and commissions.
Board of Equalization
Incumbents:
- First District: Ted Gaines
- Elected in 2018, reelected to final four-year term in 2022.
- Second District: Sally J. Lieber
- Elected to a four-year term in 2022.
- Third District: Antonio Vazquez
- Elected in 2018, reelected to final four-year term in 2022.
- Fourth District: Mike Schaefer
- Elected in 2018, reelected to final four-year term in 2022.
- Statewide (Ex Officio): Malia M. Cohen, California State Controller
- Elected to a four-year term in 2022.
Role in a nutshell:
- Oversees California’s property tax system, the Alcoholic Beverage Tax, and the Insurance Tax.
Key duties:
- Oversees and aids in the assessment practices of California’s 58 county assessors, promoting a uniform property tax system across the state.
- Directly assesses certain public utilities and properties — such as property used by telephone companies or by gas and electric companies — and allocates the assessed values among the counties where the properties are located.
- Holds hearings and decides on taxpayer appeals related to the tax programs that the Board constitutionally oversees.
- Manages the Private Railroad Car Tax — the only property tax administered and collected by the state.
Controller
Incumbent: Malia M. Cohen
- Elected to a four-year term in 2022.
Role in a nutshell:
- Responsible for tracking and protecting California’s public funds.
Key duties:
- Audits state expenditures, monitors the fiscal condition of state and local governments, and administers payroll systems for state government and California State University employees.
- Safeguards lost and forgotten property turned over to the state — such as bank accounts and insurance benefits — until claimed by the rightful owners.
- Chairs the Franchise Tax Board and sits on numerous boards and commissions, including the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS).
- Serves as one of five members of the California State Board of Equalization in an “ex officio” capacity.
Governor
Incumbent: Gavin Newsom
- Elected in 2018, reelected to final four-year term in 2022.
Role in a nutshell:
- Oversees the executive branch — except for independent entities like the University of California Board of Regents as well as offices and departments overseen by other constitutional officers.
Key duties:
- Executes the laws of the state.
- Fills numerous positions throughout the executive branch as well as judicial vacancies and newly created judgeships.
- Submits a proposed state budget by January 10 of each year and a revised budget by May 14 of each year.
- Reviews bills passed by the Legislature and may 1) sign or veto any bill and 2) reduce or eliminate any item of appropriation.
- Serves as commander-in-chief of the state militia and as California’s official communicator to other states and to the federal government.
Insurance Commissioner
Incumbent: Ricardo Lara
- Elected in 2018, reelected to final four-year term in 2022.
Role in a nutshell:
- Leads the California Department of Insurance, which oversees the insurance industry and is charged with protecting California’s insurance consumers.
Key duties:
- Implements and enforces California’s insurance laws.
- Regulates property and casualty insurance, including home and auto.
- Licenses California’s insurance and title businesses as well as various agents and brokers, including bail bond agents.
Lieutenant Governor
- Elected in 2018, reelected to final four-year term in 2022.
Role in a nutshell:
- Governor-in-waiting — automatically becomes governor if a vacancy occurs.
Key duties:
- Serves as acting governor when the governor leaves California.
- Serves as president of the state Senate and casts tie-breaking votes.
- Serves on several boards and commissions, including the boards that oversee the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California.
Secretary of State
Incumbent: Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D.
- Appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill a vacancy in December 2020.
- Elected to a full four-year term in 2022.
Role in a nutshell:
- California’s chief elections officer.
Key duties:
- Administers election laws, including testing voting equipment, publishing a voter information guide, compiling election returns, and certifying election results.
- Maintains key databases, including of registered voters and lobbyists, campaign contributions, domestic partners, advance health care directives, and local, state, and federal elected officials.
- Keeps the complete record of the official acts of the legislative and executive branches, including laws passed by the Legislature.
- Provides several business-related services, including approving articles of incorporation for new California corporations and qualifying out-of-state and international corporations to do business in California.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent: Tony Thurmond
- Elected in 2018, reelected to final four-year term in 2022.
- This is a nonpartisan office — candidates are listed on the ballot without any political party affiliation.
Role in a nutshell:
- Oversees the California Department of Education and, by extension, all public schools in the state.
Key duties:
- Administers education laws and regulations, including policies adopted by the California State Board of Education.
- Leads the operational aspects of the public school system, including teacher licensing.
- Serves on numerous boards and commissions, including the University of California Board of Regents, the California State University Board of Trustees, and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Treasurer
Incumbent: Fiona Ma
- Elected in 2018, reelected to final four-year term in 2022.
Role in a nutshell:
- California’s banker, investor, and lead asset manager.
Key duties:
- Safely invests tax dollars on behalf of the state and local governments through the Pooled Money Investment Account to manage the state’s cash flow and strengthen the financial security of local governments.
- Sells state bonds, including voter-approved general obligation bonds.
- Chairs or serves on several boards, commissions, and authorities, including state pension boards and the California Housing Finance Agency.
- Chairs dozens of bond finance committees.
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