Words giving a joint authority to three or more public officers or other persons are construed as giving such authority to a majority of them, unless it is otherwise expressed in the act giving the authority.
§ 15.Joint authority; Majority exercise
Preliminary Provisions · Enacted 1872 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 15 provides that when a law gives joint authority to three or more public officers or other people, a majority of them can exercise it, unless the law says otherwise.
Full Text of § 15
Plain-English Summary
Section 15 solves a practical problem for any group of three or more officers or people given shared authority by statute.
Rather than requiring every member to act together, the law lets a majority exercise the authority — unless the statute granting the power expressly requires something more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all members of a group with joint statutory authority have to act together?
No. Under Section 15, a majority can exercise the authority, unless the law granting it says otherwise.
Can the statute granting joint authority require more than a majority?
Yes. Section 15’s majority rule applies only if the statute granting the authority doesn’t say otherwise.
Amendment History
Enacted 1872.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: joint authority majority rule CaliforniaCCP section 15