1. How would this be accomplished?
Through a new state Constitutional convention. After a successful vote or initiative passed to call for new state convention, there would be a second vote ratifying the new constitution. Once ratified, a 2-year gap period would occur where the appropriate state’s agencies would be reorganized by region. Much of the state bureaucracy already is. The first agenda item then for the new State Assembly and Board of Directors would be to set a formula for the funding of the entire state government apparatus left over based on regional income per capita.
2. Wouldn’t the courts or Congress strike it down?
There’s nothing unconstitutional about setting up a new form of state government, as long as the government has a form of Republic. Many states have a different system of government (i.e. Nebraska has a non-partisan single chamber for the legislature, New England states have forms of direct democracy). The proposal does not break California into new states, just a new system of government.
3. How do you elect seven persons to the Board of Directors?
The top seven vote earners would be elected to the Board of Directors. This ensures automatically that more political voices besides an established Democrat or Republican would have a chance to be representative of California. The State Assembly would vote on which Director does what (Attorney General, etc.), representing the majority view of who could be better at what particular job.
4. Wouldn’t this cost so much to reorganize?
Yes and no. It’s hard to ascertain how much it would cost to reorganize the state, but considering that you have more local control than ever, and the ability to either shift taxes to what you wish, or eliminate taxes you do not wish to pay, and how to prioritize what’s important in your community compared to whatever is important to Sacramento at that moment, the cost of doing business the way they are is much, much more expensive.
5. Wouldn’t this be just another layer of government?
The new State Assembly and Board of Directors would be focused more on just a few general issues considering the whole state. Your new Regional governments would have a chance to focus on your everyday lives. It’s not another layer of government, but rather a new formula of government that makes it more representative and responsive than ever before.
Special Note:
California State Constitutional Amendment
A constitutional amendment may be placed on the ballot by either a two-thirds vote in
the California State Legislature or by signatures equal to 8% of the votes cast in the
last gubernatorial election through the exercise of the initiative power by the voters. This would be the mechanism to call for a new state convention.
Proposed state | Population (Circa 2010) |
Jefferson | 949,409 |
North California | 3,820,438 |
Silicon Valley | 6,828,617 |
Central California | 4,232,419 |
West California | 11,563,717 |
South California | 10,809,997 |
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