California Proposition 63, English as Official State Language Initiative (1986)

California Proposition 63
Election date November 4, 1986
Topic English language policy
Status Approved
Type Initiated constitutional amendment	Origin Citizens

California Proposition 63 was on the ballot as an initiated constitutional amendment in California on November 4, 1986. It was approved.

A “yes” vote supported this ballot initiative to designate English as the official language of California and allow residents to sue the state for noncompliance.

A “no” vote opposed this ballot initiative to designate English as the official language of California and allow residents to sue the state for noncompliance.

Election results

California Proposition 63
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		5,138,577	73.25%
No		1,876,639	26.75%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposition 63 was as follows:

“

Official State Language. Initiative Constitutional Amendment

”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for this measure was:

“

Provides that English is the official language of State of California. Requires Legislature to enforce this provision by appropriate legislation. Requires Legislature and state officials to take all steps necessary to ensure that the role of English as the common language of the state is preserved and enhanced. Provides that the Legislature shall make no law which diminishes or ignores the role of English as the common language. Provides that any resident of or person doing business in state shall have standing to sue the state to enforce these provisions. Summary of Legislative Analyst's estimate of net state and local government fiscal impact: This measure would have no direct effect on the costs or revenues of the state or local governments.

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Constitutional changes

See also: Article III, California Constitution

The ballot measure added Section 6 to Article III of the California Constitution. The following underlined text was added:

Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.

(a) Purpose.

English is the common language of the people of the United States of America and the State of California. This section is intended to preserve, protect and strengthen the English language, and not to supersede any of the rights guaranteed to the people by this Constitution.

(b) English as the Official Language of California.

English is the official language of the State of California.

(c) Enforcement.

The Legislature shall enforce this section by appropriate legislation. The Legislature and officials of the State of California shall take all steps necessary to insure that the role of English as the common language of the State of California is preserved and enhanced. The Legislature shall make no law which diminishes or ignores the role of English as the common language of the State of California.

(d) Personal Right of Action and Jurisdiction of Courts.

Any person who is a resident of or doing business in the State of California shall have standing to sue the State of California to enforce this section, and the Courts of record of the State of California shall have jurisdiction to hear cases brought to enforce this section. The Legislature may provide reasonable and appropriate limitations on the time and manner of suits brought under this section.

Background

See also: History of English as official language ballot measures and laws

The following is a list of state ballot measures to designate English as an official state language:

State official language ballot measures
State	Year	Measure	Origin	Language(s)	Yes	No	Outcome
Nebraska	1920	Amendment 3: English as Official State Language	Convention	English	83.63%	16.37%	a
Hawaii	1978	Amendment 31: Preamble, Official Languages, and Motto Measure	Convention	English and Hawaiian	69.72%	30.28%	a
California	1986	Proposition 63: English as Official State Language	Initiative	English	73.25%	26.75%	a
Arizona	1988	Proposition 106: English as Official State Language	Initiative	English	50.50%	49.50%	a
Colorado	1988	Amendment 1: English as Official State Language	Initiative	English	61.15%	38.85%	a
Florida	1988	Amendment 11: English as Official State Language	Initiative	English	83.87%	16.13%	a
Alabama	1990	Amendment 1: English as Official State Language	Legislature	English	88.52%	11.48%	a
Alaska	1998	Measure 6: English as Official State Language	Initiative	English	68.60%	31.40%	a
Utah	2000	Initiative A: English as Official State Language	Initiative	English	67.18%	32.82%	a
Arizona	2006	Proposition 103: English as Official State Language	Legislature	English	74.00%	26.00%	a
Missouri	2008	Amendment 1: English as Official State Language	Legislature	English	86.31%	13.69%	a
Oklahoma	2010	State Question 751: English as Official State Language	Legislature	English	75.54%	24.46%	a
Idaho	2026	HJR 6: English as Official State Language Amendment	Legislature	English	TBD	TBD	TBD

Path to the ballot

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in California

In California, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 8 percent of the votes cast at the preceding gubernatorial election. For initiated amendments filed in 1986, at least 630,136 valid signatures were required.

See also

1986 Measures

• 1986 Measures
• English language policy on the ballot
• 1986 legislative sessions

California

• California ballot measures
• California ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• California Voter Guide (November 1986)