HJTA-Bowen Respondent's Brief

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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIATHIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT_____________________________)HOWARD JARVIS TAXPAYERS )ASSOCIATION, et al., ))

Plaintiffs and Appellants

) No. C060441)v. ))DEBRA BOWEN, SECRETARY )OF STATE, et al., ))

Defendants and Respondents

. )_____________________________ )On Appeal from the Superior Courtin and for the County of SacramentoSuperior Court No. 34-2008-80000048-CU-WM-GDSThe Honorable Michael P. Kenny

REAL PARTY IN INTEREST/RESPONDENT LEGISLATURE’SBRIEF

DIANE F. BOYER-VINELegislative CounselState Bar No. 124182ROBERT A. PRATTPrincipal Deputy Legislative CounselState Bar No. 137704MARIAN M. JOHNSTONDeputy Legislative CounselState Bar No. 061643Office of Legislative Counsel925 L Street, Suite 900Sacramento, California 95814Telephone: (916) 341-8186Facsimile: (916) 341-8395Attorneys for Real Party inInterest/Respondent California StateLegislature

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................1ARGUMENT ....................................................................................................3I THE APPEAL SHOULD BE DISMISSED AS MOOT.........................3II THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE POSSESSES ALLLEGISLATIVE POWER NOT LIMITED BY THE STATECONSTITUTION ...................................................................................7A. THE LEGISLATURE MAY LEGISLATE WHEREVER IT ISNOT CONSTITUTIONALLY RESTRAINED ..........................7B. THE LEGISLATURE MAY SUPERSEDE PRIORSTATUTES; NEW STATUTES CAN ALWAYS BEENACTED ...................................................................................8

C. SECTIONS 3 AND 4 OF ARTICLE II COMMIT THEELECTION PROCESS TO THE LEGISLATURE AND DONOT RESTRICT IT FROM DETERMINING HOW TOPLACE LEGISLATIVE MEASURES ON THE BALLOT .....11D. STATUTORILY SPECIFIED BALLOT LANGUAGE DOESNOT INTERFERE WITH FAIR ELECTIONS ........................14E. BOND MEASURES SUBMITTED BY THE LEGISLATURETO THE ELECTORS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THEPROVISIONS GOVERNING INITIATIVES ANDREFERENDA ............................................................................18F. THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT ONLYTHE ATTORNEY GENERAL DRAFT BALLOTLANGUAGE ..............................................................................22

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III THE RIGHT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW GUARANTEES THAT THELEGISLATURE DOES NOT MISUSE ITS POWER TO DRAFTELECTIONS MATERIALS ................................................................28A. JUDICIAL REVIEW ENSURES THAT BALLOTLANGUAGE SPECIFIED BY STATUTE IS NOT FALSE ORMISLEADING ...........................................................................28B. THE LEGISLATURE MAY NOT UNILATERALLYREPEAL THE AVAILABILITY OF JUDICIAL REVIEW ....31IV THE LEGISLATURE’S PRACTICE OF DRAFTING BALLOTLANGUAGE IS NOT EXTRAORDINARY ......................................45V NOTHING WARRANTS HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY OFCHAPTER 267 OF THE STATUTES OF 2008 ..................................47CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................49

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