California Government Code

This act shall be known as the Government Code.

The provisions of this code in so far as they are substantially the same as existing statutory provisions relating to the same subject matter shall be construed as restatements and continuations, and not as new enactments.

All persons who at the time this code takes effect, hold office under any of the acts repealed by this code, which offices are continued by this code, continue to hold them according to their former tenure.

No action or proceeding commenced before this code takes effect, and no right accrued, is affected by this code, but all procedure thereafter taken therein shall conform to the provisions of this code so far as possible.

Unless the provision or the context otherwise requires, these general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions shall govern the construction of this code.

Title, division, part, chapter, article, and section headings do not in any manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of the provisions of this code.

Whenever a power is granted to, or a duty is imposed upon, a public officer, the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by a deputy of the officer or by a person authorized, pursuant to law, by the officer, unless this code expressly provides otherwise.

Whenever, by any law, the director of any state department is made a member of a state board, commission, or committee, or of the governing body of any state agency or authority, the director may designate a deputy director of that department holding a position specified in subdivision (f) or (g) of Section 4 of Articl…

(a) If by law, any officer whose office is created by the California Constitution is made a member of a state board, commission, or committee, or of the governing body of any state agency or authority, the officer may designate a deputy of his or her office holding a position specified in subdivision (c) of Section 4 o…

The provisions of Sections 7.5 and 7.6 do not affect or modify in any manner the provisions of Section 7.

Notwithstanding anything in this code to the contrary, the Directors of Finance, General Services, and Education may appoint any deputy or assistant director in their respective departments to act in their place and stead on the State Allocation Board, irrespective of whether said deputy or assistant director holds a p…

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Controller, the Treasurer, the Director of Finance, or the Superintendent of Public Instruction may designate any deputy of his or her office to act in his or her place and stead on any state board, commission, committee, or governing board of a state agency…

At the request of the Controller, two employees of that officer, in addition to those provided for in Section 7.9, shall be classified and compensated as career executives at category level IV or category level V.

Writing includes any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. Whenever any notice, report, statement, or record is required or authorized by this code, it shall be made in writing in the English language unless it is expressly provided otherwise.

Whenever reference is made to any portion of this code or of any other law of this State, the reference applies to all amendments and additions now or hereafter made.

“Section” means a section of this code unless some other statute is specifically mentioned. “Subdivision” means a subdivision of the section in which the term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned.

The present tense includes the past and future tenses; and the future, the present.

The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter.

“Spouse” includes “registered domestic partner,” as required by Section 297.5 of the Family Code.

The Legislature hereby declares its intent that the terms “man” or “men” where appropriate shall be deemed “person” or “persons” and any references to the terms “man” or “men” in sections of this code be changed to “person” or “persons” when such code sections are being amended for any purpose. This act is declaratory…

The singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular.

“Shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive.

“Oath” includes affirmation.

“Signature” or “subscription” includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not write, such signer’s or subscriber’s name being written near the mark by a witness who writes his own name near the signer’s or subscriber’s name; but a signature or subscription by mark can be acknowledged or can serve as a signature or…

(a) In any written communication with a public entity, as defined in Section 811.2, in which a signature is required or used, any party to the communication may affix a signature by use of a digital signature that complies with the requirements of this section. If a public entity elects to use a digital signature, that…