Section 20001 Of Chapter 1. Endorsements Of Candidates From California Elections Code >> Division 20. >> Chapter 1.
20001
. The Legislature hereby finds the following to be true:
(1) The major political parties have become an integral part of
the American governmental system requiring regulation as to their
structure, governing bodies, and functions by state government in the
public interest.
(2) The Legislature has found it necessary and appropriate in the
regulation of political parties to create and provide for the
convening of state conventions, state central committees, and county
central committees for parties qualified by law to participate in the
direct primary election, by statute.
(3) Over the several years preceding the adoption of this section
organizations of electors using as a part of their names the name of
a political party qualified to participate in the direct primary
election have endorsed candidates for nomination of that party for
partisan office in the direct primary election and have publicized
and promulgated the endorsements in a manner that has resulted in
considerable public doubt and confusion as to whether the
endorsements are those of a private group of citizens or of an
official governing body of a political party.
(4) The voting public is entitled to protection by law from
deception in political campaigns in the same manner and for the same
reasons that it is entitled to protection from deception by
advertisers of commercial products.