Governance and Public Services
Could California deliver essential services and run a national government on its own?
Yes — and in many ways, it already does. California’s public institutions are mature, its services are wide-ranging, and its democratic infrastructure is robust. Independence would not require building new systems from scratch, but transferring jurisdictional authority to a national level.
Institutional Maturity and Administrative Readiness
California already operates over 250 departments, agencies, and public institutions, delivering nearly every function expected of a sovereign state. These include:
- Tax collection and budget planning
- Healthcare regulation and public health services
- Public education systems (K–12 and higher ed)
- Environmental protection and land use policy
- Transportation, licensing, and civil infrastructure
- Courts, law enforcement, and emergency response
The challenge of independence is not one of capacity — but jurisdiction. Independence would shift federal responsibilities to state systems already equipped to handle them.
Transitioning Federal Services to National Programs
California would need to assume authority over federal programs, including healthcare, retirement, income support, education aid, and federal law enforcement. Each of these transitions is manageable within existing systems.
Examples by Area:
- 🔹Health and Human Services
- Replace Medicare and Medicaid with a national system
- Regulate pharma pricing and provider reimbursement
- Centralize health records and care standards
- 🔹 Retirement and Disability
- Create a national retirement program to replace Social Security
- Absorb disability, family leave, and survivor benefits
- Maintain continuity for all current federal beneficiaries
- 🔹 Education Systems
- Expand funding for tuition-free higher education
- Fully control curriculum, credentialing, and research investment
- Integrate workforce development nationally
- 🔹 Justice and Emergency Services
- Replace FBI/DEA with national investigative agencies
- Integrate cybersecurity, intelligence, and cross-border coordination
- Expand national disaster response capacity
Creating a National Government Structure
California’s governance system already includes:
- An elected governor and executive cabinet
- A bicameral legislature
- An independent judiciary
- Dozens of statewide departments and constitutional offices
Independence would require:
- A new national constitution or charter
- A formalized national executive, legislature, and judiciary
- Clear definitions of power between national, regional, and local governments
California’s strong democratic traditions — including ballot initiatives, term limits, and public transparency — provide a solid base for this transformation.
Coordination with Local and Tribal Governments
An independent California would continue to rely on its diverse regional partnerships. It would:
- Maintain relationships with counties, cities, school districts
- Form legal compacts with tribal governments
- Guarantee tribal sovereignty and co-governance
- Allow for expanded regional autonomy in areas like environmental protection, public safety, and taxation
Local and Indigenous communities would remain essential partners in the national governance framework.
Digital Infrastructure and Administrative Integration
Independence gives California the opportunity to modernize its systems beyond current federal constraints.
Key innovations:
- A centralized national ID and citizen record system
- Integrated portals for taxes, healthcare, education, and benefits
- National data privacy laws and AI regulation
- A public-facing digital government platform
With full control over digital policy, California could become a global leader in civic technology and administrative transparency.
Summary of Governance Findings
- California already performs nearly all functions required of a sovereign nation
- Federal services can be transitioned into national programs with planning and continuity
- A national government can be structured from California’s existing democratic institutions
- Local and tribal governments will retain autonomy through legal compacts
- Independence offers a rare opportunity to modernize and streamline governance
California is not starting from scratch — it is consolidating what it already does best.
This section is part of the California National Viability Brief.
California Vision
Learn More About The Future We're Building