Big Five (California)

:"This article is about the informal political institution in California. For other uses, see Big Five (disambiguation)."

The Big Five is an informal institution of California state government, consisting of the governor, the Assembly speaker, the Assembly minority leader, the Senate president "pro tempore", and the Senate minority leader. Members of the Big Five meet in private to discuss bills pending in the legislature. Because the party caucus leaders in California's legislature also control the party's legislative campaign funds, the leaders wield tremendous power over their caucus members. They are thus usually able to guarantee their caucus's votes in Big Five meetings. Therefore, if all five members agree to support a bill, it will likely pass into law.

Current members

*Governor: Arnold Schwarzenegger (Republican)
*Assembly Speaker: Karen Bass (Democrat)
*Assembly Minority Leader: Michael Villines (Republican)
*Senate President "pro tempore": Don Perata (Democrat)
*Senate Minority Leader: Dave Cogdill (Republican)