In California, resolutions are formal statements adopted by a legislative body — the state Legislature, a city council, a county board of supervisors, or a similar public body — to express a position, authorize an administrative action, or handle internal business. They are not laws. A resolution cannot change the California codes, create a binding rule on the public, or impose penalties on its own, and in most cases it does not need a signature from the Governor or a mayor to take effect.
What a Resolution Actually Does
The defining feature of a resolution is what it can’t do. A bill that passes both houses of the Legislature and is signed by the Governor becomes a statute and changes state law. A resolution expresses intent, states a policy preference, or takes care of housekeeping. It bypasses the Governor entirely, which also means the executive branch has no formal check on its adoption.
The same split exists locally. An ordinance is a city or county’s version of a statute. A resolution is the tool a council or board uses when it is acting administratively rather than legislating.
The Three Types of State Resolutions
The California Legislature uses three categories, each with its own prefix and purpose.
Joint resolutions (AJR or SJR) are how the Legislature speaks to the federal government. A joint resolution might urge Congress to pass a particular bill or oppose a proposed federal regulation. Both chambers must approve it, but the Governor’s signature is not required.1California Department of General Services. State Administrative Manual 6925 – Joint Resolutions (AJR/SJR)
Concurrent resolutions (ACR or SCR) handle matters that involve both chambers or state the Legislature’s position on a policy question. Common uses include calling joint sessions, establishing committees, and designating commemorative days. Both houses must approve, and again the Governor is not involved.
House resolutions (HR in the Assembly, SR in the Senate) address the internal business of a single chamber: procedural rules, recognitions, and similar matters. Only the originating chamber votes.
Ceremonial measures make up a sizable share of the Legislature’s resolution output and tend to move quickly because they are uncontroversial and carry no legal consequences.
Constitutional Amendments Are Not Resolutions
Proposed amendments to the California Constitution use a different track. They are introduced as Assembly Constitutional Amendments (ACA) or Senate Constitutional Amendments (SCA), require a two-thirds vote in each chamber, and then go to the voters on the ballot. They share one feature with resolutions — no gubernatorial signature — but they carry the highest legal authority in the state. A California joint resolution can ask Congress to propose a federal constitutional amendment, but the Legislature has no power to amend the U.S. Constitution itself.1California Department of General Services. State Administrative Manual 6925 – Joint Resolutions (AJR/SJR)
How a State Resolution Gets Adopted
The early steps mirror a bill’s. A member introduces the measure, it receives a number (such as ACR 1 or SJR 5), and it is referred to a policy committee for a hearing and vote. Ceremonial or noncontroversial measures often move through committee on a streamlined track.
Passage requires only a simple majority in each relevant chamber. That is lower than the two-thirds threshold the Legislature needs for urgency bills, tax increases, or constitutional amendments. Once a joint or concurrent resolution clears both chambers, it is enrolled and filed with the Secretary of State. A house resolution needs only a majority in its own chamber and takes effect on adoption.2Office of the Chief Clerk. Constitution of California – Article IV
Local Resolutions vs. Ordinances
At the city and county level, the distinction between resolutions and ordinances comes down to permanence and legal force. An ordinance is a local law: zoning restrictions, public health codes, noise limits, and other binding rules enforceable with fines or other penalties. An ordinance generally must be read at a council meeting before adoption, though the council can waive a full reading by majority vote if the title appeared on the published agenda and the full text was available to the public.3California Legislative Information. California Government Code 36934
A local resolution is an administrative tool. City councils and county boards use resolutions to adopt budgets, set fee schedules, approve contracts, declare positions on policy issues, and recognize community members. Resolutions generally take effect immediately on adoption and require a recorded majority vote of the full council or board membership.4California Legislative Information. California Government Code 36936
One practical risk is that a local government may try to accomplish through a resolution what really requires an ordinance. If a city uses a resolution to impose a new ongoing regulatory requirement with penalties, that action can be challenged on the grounds it should have gone through the ordinance process. When a local action looks like a permanent rule rather than a one-time administrative decision, the ordinance process — with its public reading and notice requirements — is likely the correct path.
Open Meeting Rules Apply
Every local resolution must be adopted at a public meeting that complies with the Ralph M. Brown Act, California’s open meeting law. Agendas for regular meetings must be posted at least 72 hours in advance with a brief description of each item, and members of the public have the right to address the body on any item within its jurisdiction before a vote. A resolution cannot be quietly adopted without public notice.
Why “Joint Resolution” Means Something Different in Congress
If you have seen the term “joint resolution” in federal news coverage, set that meaning aside when reading California material. At the federal level, a joint resolution (H.J. Res. or S.J. Res.) carries the full force of law, requires the President’s signature, and is functionally identical to a bill. The U.S. Senate’s own guidance states there is “no real difference between a joint resolution and a bill.” Federal joint resolutions are commonly used for continuing or emergency appropriations. The one exception is a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which needs a two-thirds vote in each chamber and ratification by three-fourths of the states, with no presidential signature required.5U.S. Senate. Types of Legislation
In California, a joint resolution is just a message to Washington. In Congress, it can become binding law. Same words, very different legal weight.
Where to Find California Resolutions
State resolutions are searchable at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. You can search by resolution number, author, keyword, or session year. Because the site tracks bills and resolutions in the same system, specify the measure type (AJR, ACR, SJR, SCR, HR, or SR) to narrow your results. Full text, history, committee analyses, and vote records are all available there.
Local resolutions have no statewide database. Start with the jurisdiction’s official website; most cities and counties publish meeting agendas and minutes online, and many maintain searchable archives of adopted resolutions by year and number. If the online records are incomplete, the city clerk or county clerk’s office keeps the official copies and can fulfill a records request. Under the California Public Records Act, these documents are available to anyone who asks.