SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A state appeals court ruled that California lawmakers violated the state Constitution when they passed a bill aimed at giving Gov. Jerry Brown's tax initiative top billing on the November ballot.

The 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento ruled Friday that lawmakers were wrong to sidestep a two-thirds vote requirement on AB 1499 last year.

Democrats passed the bill on a majority vote last June. They said the bill that moved the governor's measure ahead of other initiatives on the ballot was related to the budget and could be enacted immediately.

Republicans were unsuccessful in trying to stop the bill from taking effect before voters approved Proposition 30 in November.

The appeals court said that while the lawsuit is moot, lawmakers can't make that maneuver in the future.

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