Paul Mason (author)
Encyclopedia
Paul Mason was an author, parliamentarian, historian, and assistant Secretary of the California State Senate
in the first half of the 20th Century. Mason wrote the first edition of Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure
in 1935.
Mason is known primarily for two published works: "The Constitutional History of California" and the "Manual of Legislative Procedure."
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures
(NCSL), Mason's Manual has become the most widely used legislative procedure guide in the U.S., currently in use by 77 of the 99 state legislative bodies in the United States.
Before Mason's death in 1985, he assigned the copyright of his manual to the NCSL. The book is edited by an NCSL commission every few years to keep it up-to-date with the latest legal precedents.
Mason's other seminal work was his Constitutional History of California. In this treatise, Mason examines the Spanish alcalde origins of California's legal system, through the Mexican era, up through the framing of the Constitutions of 1849 and 1879.
In the California Senate, Mason served for many years under longtime Secretary of the Senate Joseph Beek
.
Secretary of the California State Senate
The Secretary of the California Senate is a nonpartisan officer of the Senate and is elected at the beginning of each two-year session. The Secretary's primary role is the chief parliamentarian of the Senate . The Secretary also oversees the clerical workforce on the floor of the California State...
in the first half of the 20th Century. Mason wrote the first edition of Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure
Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure
Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure, commonly referred to as Mason's Manual. This 700+ page book serves as the official parliamentary manual of most state legislative bodies in the United States. "Adopted as the authority on questions of parliamentary law and procedure in California, it is to...
in 1935.
Professional career
Paul Mason served for many years in California government: Chief Assistant Secretary of the California Senate (1929-1932); Chief, Division of Driver's Licenses (1937-1953); Director of Motor Vehicles (1954-1958); and Legislative Secretary to Governor Goddwin Knight (1954-1958).Mason is known primarily for two published works: "The Constitutional History of California" and the "Manual of Legislative Procedure."
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures
National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan non-governmental organization established in 1975 to serve the members and staff of state legislatures of the United States...
(NCSL), Mason's Manual has become the most widely used legislative procedure guide in the U.S., currently in use by 77 of the 99 state legislative bodies in the United States.
Before Mason's death in 1985, he assigned the copyright of his manual to the NCSL. The book is edited by an NCSL commission every few years to keep it up-to-date with the latest legal precedents.
Mason's other seminal work was his Constitutional History of California. In this treatise, Mason examines the Spanish alcalde origins of California's legal system, through the Mexican era, up through the framing of the Constitutions of 1849 and 1879.
In the California Senate, Mason served for many years under longtime Secretary of the Senate Joseph Beek
Joseph Beek
Joseph Allan Beek was the longest-serving Secretary of the Senate in California history . The Secretary of the California State Senate is a nonpartisan officer of the Senate who advises the presiding officer and Senators on parliamentary procedures and is the chief recordkeeper of the Senate...
.