A resolution to propose to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution of the State, by amending Section 17 of Article II thereof, by amending Section 8 of Article III thereof, by amending Sections 5, 9, 10, and 11 of Article V thereof, by amending Section 4 of Article VII thereof, and by amending Section 9 of Article IX thereof, relating to the Lieutenant Governor.

The California Constitution creates the office of Lieutenant Governor and establishes qualifications for the office and the method of its election. The California Constitution requires the Lieutenant Governor to become Governor when a vacancy occurs in the office of Governor, and to act as Governor during the impeachment, absence from the state, or other temporary disability of the Governor or of a Governor-elect who fails to take office. It further requires the Legislature to provide for an order of precedence after the Lieutenant Governor for succession to the office of Governor. The California Constitution provides that the Lieutenant Governor is the President of the Senate, but votes as part of that body only for the purpose of breaking a tie. The California Constitution authorizes the people to recall a public official and provides for a recall process, which may include requiring the Governor to call an election, and requires, when a recall of the Governor is initiated, that the Lieutenant Governor perform the recall duties of the Governor. The California Constitution exempts the Lieutenant Governor, and employees directly appointed or employed by him or her, from the civil service, and requires that his or her compensation be set by the California Citizens Compensation Commission. The California Constitution establishes the University of California as a public trust to be administered by the Regents of the University of California, the membership of which includes the Lieutenant Governor. Existing statutes also establish various boards and commissions of which the Lieutenant Governor is a member. This measure would eliminate the position of Lieutenant Governor and transfer the specified duties of the Lieutenant Governor to the Secretary of State. Specifically, the measure would provide that the Secretary of State is the President of the Senate, but votes as part of that body only for the purpose of breaking a tie, and would require the Secretary of State to become Governor when a vacancy occurs in the office of Governor, and to act as Governor during the impeachment, absence from the state, or other temporary disability of the Governor or of a Governor-elect who fails to take office. The measure would also require the Secretary of State to perform the recall duties assigned to the Governor, if a recall of the Governor is initiated. The measure would additionally make the Secretary of State an ex officio member of the Regents of the University of California.