In California, both the Secretary of State, Business Programs Division and the Department of Financial Protection & Innovation (DFPI) handle oversight and enforcement of corporate and business laws. The latter focuses mostly on consumer protection.
Most California laws pertaining to corporations can be found in California's Corporations Code. Public access to the Code is linked above, and it can also be found on Lexis and Westlaw.
Some other relevant laws might be found in California's Business & Professions Code. Public access to the Code is linked above, and it can also be found on Lexis and Westlaw.
Most regulations on corporations and business associations can be found in Title 4 (Business Regulations) of the California Code of Regulations. Public access to the Title is linked above, and it can also be found on Lexis and Westlaw.
Some helpful practice guides on California corporate law are listed and linked below:
Advising California Nonprofit Corporations
Ballantine and Sterling California Corporation Laws
California Business Law Deskbook
California Business Litigation
California Corporations Form Finder
California Practice Guide: Corporations
California Small Business Guide: Formation, Operation, and Taxation
Counseling California Corporations
Forming and Operating California Limited Liability Companies
Delaware corporate law is particularly important, as over half of all publicly traded companies choose to incorporate in Delaware, mostly due to their lower corporate taxes and their well-established corporate case law. In Delaware, corporate laws & regulations are overseen by the Delaware Division of Corporations.
Almost all Delaware laws pertaining to corporations and business associations can be found in Title 8 (Corporations) of the Delaware Code. Public access to the Title is linked above, and it can also be found on Lexis and Westlaw. Certain other relevant statutes might be found in Title 5 (Banking) or Title 6 (Commerce and Trade).
Most Delaware regulations pertaining to corporations can be found in Title 20 (Corporations) of the Delaware Administrative Code. Public access to the Title is linked above, and it can also be found on Lexis and Westlaw.
Some helpful practice guides on Delaware corporate law are listed and linked below:
Balotti and Finkelstein's Delaware Law of Corporations and Business Organizations
Corporate and Commercial Practice in the Delaware Court of Chancery
Delaware Corporation Law and Practice
Delaware Corporations Form Finder
Delaware Corporations: Staying in Good Standing
Symonds & O'Toole on Delaware Limited Liability Companies
The Delaware Corporation: Legal Aspects of Organization and Operation
Westlaw has compiled several 50-state statutory surveys on various corporate law issues, which can be located on their 50 State Statutory Surveys: Business Organizations page.
Westlaw also has a few regulatory surveys on their 50 State Regulatory Surveys: Business Organizations page.
Lexis also has compiled several surveys on their 50 State Surveys, Statutes & Regulations: Business & Corporate Law page.
FindLaw has a list of states and their respective state Codes or Titles that govern corporate law.
