1986 California Proposition 63

Referendum making English the official state language Proposition 63 of other years California Proposition 63 (disambiguation)California Proposition 63 Proposition 63 California 1986 11 04 Official State Language California 5,138,577 1,876,639 1986 California Proposition 63 results map by county.svg County results Yes #28497c 80–90% 1px #AAAAAA solid #47729E 70–80% 1px #AAAAAA solid #7D9CBB 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid #B6C8D9 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid Source: Statement of Vote 1986 California Secretary of State 51 https://archive.org/details/statementofvote41986cali/page/n63/mode/2up 3 September 2025 The 1986 Proposition 63, titled Official State Language, was a proposition in the state of California on the November 4, 1986 ballot. The ballot initiative created Article III, Section 6 of the California Constitution and made English the official language of the state. The measure passed with 73.25% of the vote.MacKaye 1990 136California Proposition 63, English as the Official Language Initiative (1986) https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_63,_English_as_the_Official_Language_Initiative_(1986) 2023-07-04 Ballotpedia en Due to superseding federal laws and complete absence since 1986 of supporting state legislation that would be necessary for it to take effect, the provision is effectively null and was later designated as merely "advisory" by the state attorney general.Dillow Gordon English-only law likely would go unenforced https://www.ocregister.com/2006/05/21/english-only-law-likely-would-go-unenforced/ 13 October 2024 Orange County Register May 21, 2006 Ballot summary The ballot summary included the following text: Provides that English is the official language of the state of California; requires the legislature to enforce this provision by appropriate legislation; charges the legislature with preserving and enhancing the role of English as the common language of the state, requiring that no law may be passed that ignores or diminishes this role; and provides for any resident or person doing business in the state to sue the state to enforce these provisions.California Proposition 63, English as the Official Language Initiative (1986) https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_63,_English_as_the_Official_Language_Initiative_(1986) 2023-07-04 Ballotpedia en See also List of California ballot propositions 1980-1989 1998 California Proposition 227 2016 California Proposition 58 Languages of the United States Modern English References Notes 25em Works cited 60em MacKaye S. D. 1990 California proposition 63: Language attitudes reflected in the public debate. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 508 1 135–146 10.1177/0002716290508001011 145764482 External links Proposition 63: The California English Language Amendment California Constitution: Article III, Section 6 Category:1986 California ballot propositions Category:Language policy in the United States Category:Language referendums