ARTICLE XVII: DEFINITIONS
Article XVII defines key terms used throughout the San Francisco Charter, including procedural concepts (business day, confirmation, notice), democratic mechanisms (initiative, referendum, special municipal election), protected categories for discrimination (race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and others), and voting-related terminology (elector, voter, general municipal election).
This article explains what important words mean when they're used in San Francisco's Charter. For example, a 'business day' is any weekday when government offices are open; 'confirmation' means the Board of Supervisors approves something by majority vote; and 'discrimination' covers unfair treatment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other non-merit factors. It also defines how voting works in San Francisco—such as when general municipal elections happen (every even-numbered year on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November) and what an initiative or referendum is. The definitions cover other procedures and roles too, like what 'notice' means and who counts as a 'voter.'
- Complex:The 'Discrimination' definition lists many overlapping or interrelated categories in a single definition, making it dense; the 'Initiative' definition has two numbered sub-parts with multiple conditions that require careful parsing.
- Could be simpler:The 'General municipal election' definition includes an outdated reference to 2022 ('until and including 2022') which is now in the past and could be simplified to just state the current rule without the historical transition.
AI-generated · claude-haiku-4-5 · informational only, not legal advice.
Official text
ARTICLE XVII:DEFINITIONS
For all purposes of this Charter, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:
"Business day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday on which governmental agencies are authorized by law to close.
"Confirm" or "confirmation" shall mean the approval by a majority of the members of the Board of Supervisors.
"Discrimination" shall mean violations of civil rights on account of race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability or medical condition, political affiliation, sexual orientation, ancestry, marital or domestic partners status, gender identity, parental status, other non-merit factors, or any category provided for by ordinance.
"Domestic partners" shall mean persons who register their partnerships pursuant to the voter-approved Domestic Partnership Ordinance.
"Elector" shall mean a person registered to vote in the City and County.
"For cause" shall mean the issuance of a written public statement by the Mayor describing those actions taken by an individual as a member of a board or commission which are the reasons for removal, provided such reasons constitute official misconduct in office.
“General municipal election” shall mean the election for local officials or measures to be held in the City and County on the Tuesday immediately following the first Monday in November in every year until and including 2022. Thereafter, “general municipal election” shall mean the election for local officials or measures to be held in the City and County on the Tuesday immediately following the first Monday in November in all even-numbered years.
"Initiative" shall mean (1) a proposal by the voters with respect to any ordinance, act or other measure which is within the powers conferred upon the Board of Supervisors to enact, any legislative act which is within the power conferred upon any other official, board, commission or other unit of government to adopt, or any declaration of policy; or (2) any measure submitted to the voters by the Mayor or by the Board of Supervisors, or four or more members of the Board.
"Notice" shall mean publication (as defined by ordinance), and a contemporaneous filing with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors or other appropriate office.
"One-third," "a majority" or "two-thirds" of the Board of Supervisors or any other board or commission of the City and County shall mean one-third, a majority or two-thirds of all members of such board or commission.
"Published" shall have the meaning ascribed to the term by the Board of Supervisors by ordinance. The Board of Supervisors shall seek a recommendation from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors before adopting such an ordinance.
"Referendum" shall mean the power of the voters to nullify ordinances involving legislative matters except that the referendum power shall not extend to any portion of the annual budget or appropriations, annual salary ordinances, ordinances authorizing the City Attorney to compromise litigation, ordinances levying taxes, ordinances relative to purely administrative matters, ordinances necessary to enable the Mayor to carry out the Mayor's emergency powers, or ordinances adopted pursuant to Section 9.106 of this Charter.
"Special municipal election" shall mean, in addition to special elections otherwise required by law, the election called by (1) the Director of Elections with respect to an initiative, referendum or recall, and (2) the Board of Supervisors with respect to bond issues, election of an official not required to be elected at the general municipal election, or an initiative or referendum.
"Statewide election" shall mean an election held throughout the state.
"Voter" shall mean an elector who is registered in accordance with the provisions of state law.
(Amended November 2003; Proposition A, Approved 11/5/2009; Proposition D, Approved 11/6/2012; Proposition H, Approved 11/8/2022)