California · Government Code

GOV §1854: Every person who wilfully and knowingly intrudes himself into any public office to which he has not been elected or appointed, and every person who, having been an executive, administrative or ministe

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A person who unlawfully assumes a public office or continues exercising official functions after their term ends is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Read the full statutory text

Every person who wilfully and knowingly intrudes himself into any public office to which he has not been elected or appointed, and every person who, having been an executive, administrative or ministerial officer, wilfully exercises any of the functions of his office after his term has expired, and a successor has been elected or appointed and has qualified, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.