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To ensure California government delivers results, we need to put the Government Performance and Accountability Act on the November 2012 ballot. Sign up here to learn more and be a part of the movement.

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Why CA’s Government Doesn’t Work

California is an inspirational place of freedom, opportunity, imagination, innovation, and natural beauty that has produced an unparalleled quality of life. This is the California Dream.

But, the state faces many problems, some of which can be traced back to the origins of California statehood. Delegates framing the initial state constitution borrowed heavily from other state constitutional documents, finally passing a California Constitution on September 9, 1850.

It soon became apparent that the original constitution was not up to the task of guiding such a growing, prosperous, and diverse state. Lawmakers tried amendments, a constitutional convention, and the initiative process to help fix a flawed constitution. As a result of those reforms and initiatives, California’s constitution is now the third longest in the world, eight times longer than the U.S. Constitution.

Many initiatives passed each election cycle are either invalidated by the courts or tie the hands of lawmakers by dedicating more and more revenue for specific purposes. Moreover, the process has largely been hijacked by deep-pocketed special interests with a financial stake in the measures they back or block.

Our government has not kept pace with the needs of Californians, and the global economic crisis has pushed our outdated methods to the breaking point. California lacks many of the tools other states use to better manage themselves in these challenging times.

We need to address the systemic challenges holding California back. The status quo isn't acceptable anymore, and if we don’t do something soon, it’s going to take us over a cliff. It's time to address our state's challenges head-on.

The key to saving California is fixing our broken government. We need state government to be responsive, smart, transparent, and accountable. Progress and success should be judged by results. State government should be innovative and cost-effective in improving our schools, our roads and public transit systems, our public safety services, and more.

The California Forward Action Fund and its sister organization California Forward conduct broad consultation and analysis of critical problems facing the state, and through this process identify common sense, nonpartisan steps Californians can take to make government work for everyone.