The California Citizens Redistricting Commission (“CRC”) is charged with completing the decennial job of drawing district lines for state Senators, state Assemblymembers, members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the California State Board of Equalization (“BOE”) members. Article XXI of the California Constitution established the CRC. Article XXI describes the redistricting of the Senate, Assembly, Congressional, and BOE districts every 10 years. In 2008, Proposition 11 amended Article XXI, which now has three major sections.
Section 1 states the year after the national census is taken, the Citizens Redistricting Commission must adjust the boundary lines of the Congressional, state Senate, Assembly, and Board of Equalization. This ensures district conform with the standards and process set forth in this Article XXI of the California Constitution.
Section 2 explains the CRC must conduct an open and transparent process, which enables full public consideration and comments concerning the drawing of district lines. The CRC draws district lines according to the redistricting criteria specified in Article XXI. Also according to Section 2, each commissioner must be a registered voter in California for at least five years with the same political affiliation.
Section 3 provides that the CRC is the sole legal standing to defend any action regarding a certified final map. The commission must inform the Legislature if funds or other resources are not adequate, the Legislature then must provide adequate funding to defend any action regarding any of the certified maps.
You can find the full transcript of the audio in today’s podcast here.