The California Constitution: A Never-Ending Story (Except, It Kinda Is Now?)
Ah, California. The land of sunshine, surf, and...amnesia? Apparently, when it comes to its own constitution, the Golden State suffers from a bit of a memory lapse. Buckle up, history buffs (and those who enjoy a good chuckle), because we're diving into the wild world of California's Constitution amendments.
Amending Like a Boss (Maybe a Little Too Much Like a Boss)
California's Constitution, adopted in 1879, is a hefty tome. We're talking about a document that's seen more revisions than a Hollywood script. Fun fact: As of November 2022, the California Constitution has been amended a whopping 523 times. That's more amendments than your average teenager has outfit changes in a week!
From Stagecoaches to Self-Driving Cars: How the Times Have Changed (And the Amendments Have Flown By)
Early amendments dealt with the nitty-gritty of running a brand new state in the Wild West. We're talking about stuff like outlawing banks from issuing their own money (because, you know, gold fever can make people do crazy things) and setting up a fund for public schools (gotta educate those future gold prospectors!).
Fast forward a century, and the amendments start to reflect the ever-evolving California lifestyle. We see amendments for things like legalizing daylight saving time (because who wants to be stuck in pre-dawn traffic when you could be surfing?) and protecting the state's coastline (no concrete jungles here, thanks very much).
The Great Amendment Frenzy: When Less Became More (Finally!)
By the mid-20th century, California's Constitution looked less like a governing document and more like a runaway grocery list. There were amendments for everything from the number of judges on the Supreme Court (because apparently, counting is hard?) to the allowable height of buildings in specific cities (talk about micromanagement!).
Thankfully, Californians realized "less is more" and things slowed down a bit. A commission reviewed the Constitution in the 1960s and 70s, streamlining it and making it a tad less amendment-happy.
So, How Many Amendments Does the California Constitution Have Now?
Hold on to your hats, folks, because the answer is a resounding 523! While the amendment pace has slowed, California's Constitution is still a heavyweight compared to other states. But hey, at least it's a testament to California's love of change and, well, maybe a slight aversion to following the rules exactly. wink wink
