California State Government is divided into three branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The State Constitution separates the functions of each branch.
The Executive Branch consists of the agencies, departments, boards, and commissions that serve the people of the State of California. The administration of this branch is conducted by elected officials: the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, and Chair of the Board of Equalization.
The Legislative Branch is composed of two houses: the Senate and the Assembly. There are 40 Senators and 80 Assembly Members.
The Judicial Branch consists of the State Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, and Trial Courts (Superior Courts).
The State Constitution and the Government Code establish civil service procedures. The Department of Personnel Administration (DPA) and the State Personnel Board (SPB) enact regulations based on these Constitutional and statutory authorizations. In addition, policies are established in the collective bargaining agreements.
The State Constitution provides for a State Personnel Board appointed by the Governor to administer the civil service system. SPB is responsible for ensuring that civil service, permanent appointments, and promotions are based on merit and competitive exams. DPA manages the non-merit aspects of the State's personnel system such as collective bargaining, labor relations, administration of salary and benefits, hours and working conditions, training, performance evaluations, layoffs, and grievances.
Collective bargaining agreements, called Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), between employee organizations (unions) and the State define wages, hours, and conditions of employment affecting employees who are assigned to one of the State's 21 bargaining units. Each unit is made up of employees performing similar or related duties wh a community of interest in wages, hours, and working conditions. Each bargaining unit elects an employee organization, which has exclusive rights to represent employees in that unit in bargaining with the State or during an adverse action.
Employees designated managerial, supervisory, confidential, or other excluded designations are not covered by collective bargaining agreements. DPA is responsible for defining wages, hours, and conditions of employment for these employees.
