Opinion ID: 1177478
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: interpretation and application of article xxi

Text: Although former article IV, section 6, by its terms applied only to legislative districts, it was assumed that the once-a-decade rule of Wheeler and Dowell applied to congressional districts as well. [13] On June 3, 1980, article XXI replaced former article IV, section 6. It provides: SECTION 1. In the year following the year in which the national census is taken under the direction of Congress at the beginning of each decade, the Legislature shall adjust the boundary lines of the Senatorial, Assembly, Congressional, and Board of Equalization districts in conformance with the following standards: (a) Each member of the Senate, Assembly, Congress, and the Board of Equalization shall be elected from a single-member district. (b) The population of all districts of a particular type shall be reasonably equal. (c) Every district shall be contiguous. (d) Districts of each type shall be numbered consecutively commencing at the northern boundary of the state and ending at the southern boundary. (e) The geographical integrity of any city, county, or city and county, or of any geographical region shall be respected to the extent possible without violating the requirements of any other subdivision of this section. Article XXI thus expressly includes congressional districts among those subject to the requirement of adjustment following each decennial federal census. (3) Although rephrased, article XXI perpetuates the command of article IV, section 6, by providing that the Legislature shall adjust the boundary lines of the affected districts in the year following each federal census. Therefore, absent evidence that the people intended a different interpretation, it must be inferred that in the drafting and adopting of article XXI, the prior judicial interpretation of that language was considered and a similar interpretation of that article was intended. ( In re Jeanice D. (1980) 28 Cal.3d 210, 216 [168 Cal. Rptr. 455, 617 P.2d 1087]; Perry v. Jordan (1949) 34 Cal.2d 87, 93 [207 P.2d 47].) (4) (See fn. 14.) The Legislative Analyst's explanation of the measure and the arguments for and against it, set forth in the California Ballot Pamphlet for the Primary Election on June 3, 1980, at which time article XXI was adopted, reveal no such contrary intent or understanding. [14] (5) It is a well-recognized rule of construction that after the courts have construed the meaning of any particular word, or expression, and the legislature subsequently undertakes to use these exact words in the same connection, the presumption is almost irresistible that it used them in the precise and technical sense which had been placed upon them by the courts. ( City of Long Beach v. Payne (1935) 3 Cal.2d 184, 191 [44 P.2d 305].) The presumption is equally applicable to measures adopted by popular vote. ( Perry v. Jordan, supra, 34 Cal.2d 87, 93.)