llows generally the separation of powers set forth in the national constitution; however, various provisions limit the power of both the legislature and the Governor, such as the $300,000 limit on debt except with voter approval and direct popular election of a number of state officials in addition to the Governor, including the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Controller, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, Members of the Board of Equalization, and the nonpartisan election of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and Supreme Court and other state judges. According to the League of Women Voters, "in comparison with other states California limits the governor's patronage both in number of positions to be filled and in the practice of making certain appointments."
The trend in the first three quarters of the 20th century in California was to expand the powers of the Governor who has "extensive financial control, broad powers of appointment and authority over the entire organization and administration of the executive branch." However, the bicameral legislature, the 40 member Senate and the 80 member Assembly, retains important powers, especially regarding the approval of various gubernatorial appointments and over the purse. California is the only state in which a two thirds' majority of each house is required to enact a budget. Three recent constitutional amendments have limited the Governor's flexibility in fiscal matters: (1) the 1978 Gann-Jarvis Proposition 13 which froze property tax valuations at 1975 levels and required that future property tax and income tax increases be approved by 2/3's majorities in both houses of the legislature, (2) the 1979 Gann Initiative which limits increases in state expenditures to population growth and rises in the cost of living and (3) the 1988 Proposition 98 which requires that 40 per cent of the state's general fund go to public education. Schrag says that "Proposition 13 all but des...