Los Angeles County Municipal Code Art. I Name and Rights of the County

The County of Los Angeles, as it now exists, is a body corporate and politic, [1] and as such has all the powers specified by the constitution and laws of the State of California, [2] and by this Charter, [3] and such other powers as are necessarily implied.

The County is not a corporation, nor even a municipal corporation. Strictly speaking, a county is not a corporation at all. It is a legal subdivision of a state charged with governmental powers. Estate of Miller, 5 Cal. (2d) 588, 55P (2d) 491 (1936); Whelan v. Bailey, 1 Cal. App. (2d) 334, 36 P. (2d) 709 (1934). But see Sacramento v. Chambers, 33 Cal. App. 142, 164 P. 613 (1917), to the effect that a county is a quasi corporation. (Gov. Code, Sec. 23003.) A county is a legal department of the state. Watson v. Los Altos School District, 149 Cal. App. (2d) 768 at 772, 308 P. (2d) 872 (1957).

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Gov. Code, Sec. 23004.

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The Charter may be called the "organic law of the County." People v. McAleer, 33 Cal. App. 135, 164 P. 425 (1917).

The powers mentioned in the preceding Section can be exercised only by a Board of Supervisors, [4] or by agents and officers acting under their authority or by authority of law of this Charter.

This Section shall remain in effect until December 4, 2028 or until the County Executive assumes office, and as of that date, is inoperative.

Gov. Code, Sec. 23005.

County is organized on the principle of separation of powers, the legislative and quasi-judicial powers of the County being conferred upon the Board of Supervisors and the executive and administrative powers of the County being conferred upon the other elective officers of the County. Whenever laws of the State, heretofore or hereafter enacted, delegate executive or administrative powers or impose executive or administrative duties on Boards of Supervisors, such powers shall be exercised and duties performed in the County by the County Executive.

This Section shall become operative on December 4, 2028 or as soon as the County Executive assumes office.

The corporate name shall be "County of Los Angeles," which must be thus designated in all actions and proceedings touching its corporate rights, properties and duties. Its boundaries and County seat shall remain the same as they now are, until otherwise changed by law.