THE

POLITICAL CODE

OF THE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

IN FIVE PARTS.

TITLE OF THE ACT. $ 1.

PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS. 88 2-20. PART I. OF THE SOVEREIGNTY AND PEOPLE OF THE STATE, AND OF THE

POLITICAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF ALL PERSONS SUBJECT TO ITS

JURISDICTION. $$ 30-60.
II. OF THE CHIEF POLITICAL DIVISIONS, THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT,

AND LEGAL DISTANCES OF THE STATE. 88 75-208.
III. OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE. 88 220–3900.
IV. OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ('OUNTIES, CITIES, AND Towns. $8 3901-

4462. V. OF THE DEFINITION AND SOURCES OF LAW; THE COMMON LAW;

THE PUBLICATION AND EFFECT OF THE CODES; AND THE EXPRESS

REPEAL OF STATUTES. 88 4466-4505.
Pol. Code-1

(1)

THE

POLITICAL CODE

OF THE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

AN ACT

TO ESTABLISH A POLITICAL CODE.

[Approved March 12, 1872.] The People of the State of California, represented in Senate and Assembly,

do enact as follows:

as follows:

TITLE OF THE ACT.

§ 1. Title and divisions of this act. $1. Title and divisions of this act. This act shall be known as The Political Code of the State of California, and is divided into five parts, Part I. Of the Sovereignty and People of the State, and of the Political

Rights and Duties of All Persons Subject to its Jurisdiction. II. Of the Chief Political Divisions, Seat of Government, and Legal

Distances of the State. III

. Of the Government of the State. IV. Of the Government of Counties, Cities, and Towns. V. Of the Definition and Sources of Law; the Common Law; the

Publication and Effect of the Codes; and the Express Repeal

of Statutes. Mode of citing: Post, $ 20. "Preliminary provisions”: See code commissioners' note, post, LegisLegislation $1. Enacted March 12, 1872.

lation $ 326.

THE POLITICAL CODE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS.
2. When code takes effect.
3. Not retroactive.
4. Construction of the Political Code.

Provisions similar to existing laws, how construed.
6. Tenure of offices preserved.

Construction of repeal as to certain officers. & Aetions, etc., not affected by this code. $ 9. Limitations shall continue to run.

§ 10. Holidays. Saturday half-holiday. Public schools.
§ 11. Monday following to be observed, when.
§ 12. Computation of time.
$ 13. Certain acts not to be done on holidays.
$ 14. Seal defined.
§ 15. Joint authority.
§ 16. Words and phrases.
§ 17. Words and terms used in the Political Code defined.
§ 18. Statutes, laws, or rules inconsistent with code repealed.
§ 19. Certain statutes preserved.

$ 20. This act, how cited, etc.
§ 2. When code takes effect. This code takes effect at twelve o'clock,
noon, of the first day of January, eighteen hundred and seventy-three.

Statutory construction. See post, Legislation § 326, for code commissioner's note.

Same provision: Civ. Code, $ 2; Code Civ. Proc., § 2; Pen. Code, § 2.
Existing enactments and proceedings, how affected: Post, $$ 8, 18.
Effect of the codes: Post, $8 3–19, and 8 4478-4484.
Publication of the codes: Post, § 4194.
Operation of statutes: Post, $$ 323–330.
Promulgation of statutes: Post, $$ 318, 526-528.

Legislation § 2. Enacted March 12, 1872.
§ 3. Not retroactive. No part of it is retroactive, unless expressly
so declared.

Same provision: Civ. Code, $ 3; Code Civ. Proc., § 3; Pen. Code, $ 3.
Accrued rights, not affected: Post, $$ 8, 18.
Impairing vested rights: See post, $ 8.

Legislation § 3. Enacted March 12, 1872.
§ 4. Construction of the Political Code. The rule of the common law
that statutes in derogation thereof are to be strictly construed, has no
application to this code. The code establishes the law of this state
respecting the subjects to which it relates, and its provisions and all
proceedings under it are to be liberally construed, with a view to effect
its objects and to promote justice.

Similar provision: Civ. Code, $ 4; Code Civ. Proc., $ 4; Pen. Code, $ 4.

Legislation § 4. Enacted March 12, 1872. § 5. Provisions similar to existing laws, how construed. visions of this code, so far as they are substantially the same as exist. ing statutes, must be construed as continuations thereof, and not as new enactments.

Similar provision: Civ. Code, $ 5; Code Civ. Proc., $ 5; Pen. Code, $ 5.

Legislation § 5. Enacted March 12, 1872.
§ 6. Tenure of offices preserved. All persons who, at the time this
code takes effect, hold office under any of the acts repealed, continue
to hold the same according to the tenure thereof, except those officers
[offices] which are not continued by one of the codes adopted at this
session of the legislature, and excepting offices filled by appointment.
[Amendment appr 1874; Code Amdts. 1873–74, p. 3.]

Similar provision: Code Civ. Proc., $ 6.
Offices not continued by codes: Post, $ 7.

The pro