485BPOS

SEC. File Nos.  033-06180

811-04694

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

____________

FORM N-1A

Registration Statement

Under

the Securities Act of 1933

Post-Effective Amendment No. 40

and

Registration Statement

Under

The Investment Company Act of 1940

Amendment No. 42

____________

THE AMERICAN FUNDS TAX-EXEMPT SERIES II

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071-1447

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

(213) 486-9200

____________

COURTNEY R. TAYLOR, Secretary

The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071-1447

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

____________

Copies to:

Michael Glazer

Bingham McCutchen LLP

 355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 4400

Los Angeles, CA 90071-3106

(Counsel for the Registrant)

____________

Approximate date of proposed public offering:

It is proposed that this filing become effective immediately pursuant to paragraph (b) of rule 485.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Los Angeles, and State of California, on the 21st day of November, 2012.

THE AMERICAN FUNDS TAX-EXEMPT SERIES II

By:  /s/ Neil L. Langberg                                           

(Neil L. Langberg, President)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below on November 21, 2012 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.

	Signature	Title
(1)	Principal Executive Officer:
	/s/ Neil L. Langberg	President
	(Neil L. Langberg)
(2)	Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer:
	/s/ Karl C. Grauman	Treasurer
	(Karl C. Grauman)
(3)	Trustees:
	William H. Baribault*	Trustee
	James G. Ellis*	Trustee
	Leonard R. Fuller*	Trustee
	W. Scott Hedrick*	Trustee
	R. Clark Hooper*	Chairman of the Board (Independent and Non-Executive)
	Merit E. Janow*	Trustee
	Laurel B. Mitchell*	Trustee
	Frank M. Sanchez*	Trustee
	Margaret Spellings*	Trustee
	Steadman Upham*	Trustee
	/s/ Karl J. Zeile	Trustee and Vice President
	Karl J. Zeile)
	*By: /s/ Courtney R. Taylor
	(Courtney R. Taylor, pursuant to a power of attorney filed herewith)

Counsel represents that this amendment does not contain disclosures that would make the amendment ineligible for effectiveness under the provisions of rule 485(b).

/s/ Katherine H. Newhall                                                

(Katherine H. Newhall)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, William H. Baribault, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

     (City, State)

/s/ William H. Baribault                                                             

William H. Baribault, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, James G. Ellis, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Ari M. Vinocor

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

     (City, State)

/s/ James G. Ellis                                                             

James G. Ellis, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Leonard R. Fuller, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Ari M. Vinocor

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

     (City, State)

/s/ Leonard R. Fuller                                                             

Leonard R. Fuller, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, W. Scott Hedrick, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

     (City, State)

/s/ W. Scott Hedrick                                                             

W. Scott Hedrick, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, R. Clark Hooper, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital Income Builder (File No. 033-12967, File No. 811-05085)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund, Inc. (File No. 033-54444, File No. 811-07338)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   The New Economy Fund  (File No. 002-83848, File No. 811-03735)

-   The New Economy Fund

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Neal F. Wellons

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

     (City, State)

/s/ R. Clark Hooper                                                             

R. Clark Hooper, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Merit E. Janow, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital Income Builder (File No. 033-12967, File No. 811-05085)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund, Inc. (File No. 033-54444, File No. 811-07338)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   The New Economy Fund  (File No. 002-83848, File No. 811-03735)

-   The New Economy Fund

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Neal F. Wellons

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

     (City, State)

/s/ Merit E. Janow                                                             

Merit E. Janow, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Laurel B. Mitchell, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

     (City, State)

/s/ Laurel B. Mitchell                                                             

Laurel B. Mitchell, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Frank M. Sanchez, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Los Angeles, CA, this 13th day of June, 2012.

     (City, State)

/s/ Frank M. Sanchez                                                             

Frank M. Sanchez, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Margaret Spellings, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Balanced Fund (File No. 002-10758, File No. 811-00066)

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   The Income Fund of America (File No. 002-33371, File No. 811-01880)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   International Growth and Income Fund (File No. 333-152323, File No. 811-22215)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Jeffrey P. Regal

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at                                                      Washington, DC, this 18th day of June, 2012.

      (City, State)

/s/ Margaret Spellings                                                             

Margaret Spellings, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Steadman Upham, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital Income Builder (File No. 033-12967, File No. 811-05085)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund, Inc. (File No. 033-54444, File No. 811-07338)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   The New Economy Fund  (File No. 002-83848, File No. 811-03735)

-   The New Economy Fund

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Neal F. Wellons

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

     (City, State)

/s/ Steadman Upham                                                             

Steadman Upham, Board member

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
EX-101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
EX-101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
EX-101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
EX-101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
EX-101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
EX-101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Nov. 01, 2012
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America®
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The fund's investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax, consistent with the preservation of capital.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and expenses of the fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section on page 33 of the prospectus and on page 63 of the fund's statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 14% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	14.00%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts	You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount	100,000
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same.
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption	Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption	For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in municipal bonds. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund will not invest in securities that subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests substantially in debt securities rated A- or better or A3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in debt securities rated BBB+ or below and Baa1 or below (including those rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below) or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as "junk bonds." Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit. In addition, the fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same type of projects or industries. The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their respective segments will be invested. The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer, prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. Market conditions - The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund. Investing in bonds - Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Thinly traded securities - There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell. Credit and liquidity support - Changes in the credit quality of banks and financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these securities to decline. Investing in lower rated bonds - Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks may be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds. Investing in similar municipal bonds - Investing significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase. Management - The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives. Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund fits into your overall investment program.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	You may lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Investment results
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Performance Additional Market Index [Text]	rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex	The Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	americanfunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block]	rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	(Results do not include a sales charge;if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this period were: Highest 7.86% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) Lowest -4.42% (quarter ended December 31, 2010) The fund's total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, was 7.83%.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table Footnotes	rr_PerformanceTableFootnotesTextBlock	Class A annualized 30-day yield at August 31, 2012: 2.15%        (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at 800/325-3590.)
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Barclays Municipal Bond Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Barclays Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	10.70%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.22%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.38%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 03, 1979
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds Average
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	10.56%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.75%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.39%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	6.66%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 03, 1979
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Class A
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	3.75%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	1.00%	[1]
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.05%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.55%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	429
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	545
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	671
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,038
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	8.44%
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	5.18%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	4.37%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	3.35%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	4.76%
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	1.72%
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(7.10%)
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	15.25%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	2.08%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	10.23%
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	The fund's total return for the nine months ended
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2012
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	7.83%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	7.86%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2010
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(4.42%)
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	6.10%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.35%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.28%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	6.80%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 03, 1979
Thirty Day Yield Caption	rr_ThirtyDayYieldCaption	Class A annualized 30-day yield at August 31, 2012:
Thirty Day Yield Phone	rr_ThirtyDayYieldPhone	800/325-3590
Thirty Day Yield	rr_ThirtyDayYield	2.15%
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	6.10%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.35%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.27%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 03, 1979
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.36%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.43%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.25%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 03, 1979
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Class B
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	5.00%
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.04%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.29%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	631
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	809
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	908
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,352
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	131
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	409
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	708
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,352
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class B (before taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.41%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.02%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.06%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.63%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Mar. 15, 2000
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Class C
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	1.00%
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.09%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.34%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	236
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	425
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	734
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,613
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	136
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	425
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	734
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,613
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class C (before taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.35%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.32%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.82%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	3.84%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Mar. 15, 2001
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Class F-1
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.16%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.66%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	67
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	211
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	368
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	822
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class F-1 (before taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	10.10%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.05%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.57%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.52%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Mar. 15, 2001
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Class F-2
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.15%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.40%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	41
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	128
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	224
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	505
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class F-2 (before taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	10.39%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	5.77%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Aug. 01, 2008

[1] A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

XML

Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America

The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America®

Investment objective

The fund's investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current
income exempt from federal income tax, consistent with the preservation of
capital.

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your
family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American
Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your
financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section
on page 33 of the prospectus and on page 63 of the fund's statement of
additional information.

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America	Class A		Class B	Class C	Class F-1	Class F-2
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	3.75%		none	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	1.00%	[1]	5.00%	1.00%	none	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none		none	none	none	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none		none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class F-1	Class F-2
Management fees	0.25%	0.25%	0.25%	0.25%	0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	0.25%	1.00%	1.00%	0.25%	none
Other expenses	0.05%	0.04%	0.09%	0.16%	0.15%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.55%	1.29%	1.34%	0.66%	0.40%

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in
the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods
indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The
example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
fund's operating expenses remain the same.

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (USD $)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Class A	429	545	671	1,038
Class B	631	809	908	1,352
Class C	236	425	734	1,613
Class F-1	67	211	368	822
Class F-2	41	128	224	505

For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:

Expense Example, No Redemption Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (USD $)	Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years
Class B	131	409	708	1,352
Class C	136	425	734	1,613

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells
securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate
may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund
shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in
annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment
results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate
was 14% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

The fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in municipal
bonds.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets
in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from
regular federal income tax. The fund will not invest in securities that subject
you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests substantially in debt
securities rated A- or better or A3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical
Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but
determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The
fund may also invest in debt securities rated BBB+ or below and Baa1 or below
(including those rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below) or unrated but determined
by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Securities rated
BB+ or below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as "junk bonds." Some
of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity
support features, including guarantees and letters of credit.

In addition, the fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of
issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same type of projects or
industries.

The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in
managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is
divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their
respective segments will be invested.

The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make
decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy
of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities
that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The
investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by
analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer,
prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes
in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the
particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment
adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment
opportunities.

Principal risks

This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal
investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The likelihood
of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.

Market conditions - The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities
held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors,
including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund.

Investing in bonds - Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of
bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be
subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities.
In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or
refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund
having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities.

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the
possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer
of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest
and the security will go into default.

Thinly traded securities - There may be little trading in the secondary market
for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more
difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Credit and liquidity support - Changes in the credit quality of banks and
financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with
respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these
securities to decline.

Investing in lower rated bonds - Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt
securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of
default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than
those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities
may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may
decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks
may be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds.

Investing in similar municipal bonds - Investing significantly in municipal
obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar
types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain
economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for
fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase.

Management - The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's
investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods
and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce
the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment
results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.

Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund fits
into your overall investment program.

Investment results

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied
from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual
total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in
the fund. The Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds Average includes
the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies
reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. Past investment
results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results.
Updated information on the fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting
americanfunds.com.

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results.

Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)

Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this period were:

Highest 7.86% (quarter ended September 30, 2009)
Lowest -4.42% (quarter ended December 31, 2010)

The fund's total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, was 7.83%.

After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other
share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest
individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods
shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual
after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ
from the results shown above.

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):

Average Annual Total Returns Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America	Label	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Class A	Share class A - Before taxes	6.10%	3.35%	4.28%	6.80%	Oct. 03, 1979
Class B	Share class B (before taxes)	4.41%	3.02%	4.06%	4.63%	Mar. 15, 2000
Class C	Share class C (before taxes)	8.35%	3.32%	3.82%	3.84%	Mar. 15, 2001
Class F-1	Share class F-1 (before taxes)	10.10%	4.05%	4.57%	4.52%	Mar. 15, 2001
Class F-2	Share class F-2 (before taxes)	10.39%			5.77%	Aug. 01, 2008
After Taxes on Distributions Class A	Share class A - After taxes on distributions	6.10%	3.35%	4.27%		Oct. 03, 1979
After Taxes on Distributions and Sales Class A	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares	5.36%	3.43%	4.25%		Oct. 03, 1979
Barclays Municipal Bond Index	Barclays Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)	10.70%	5.22%	5.38%		Oct. 03, 1979
Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds Average	Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)	10.56%	3.75%	4.39%	6.66%	Oct. 03, 1979

Class A annualized 30-day yield at August 31, 2012: 2.15%       
(For current yield information, please call American FundsLine®
at 800/325-3590.)

[1] A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Nov. 01, 2012
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	The Tax-Exempt Fund of California®
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment objectives
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The fund's primary investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from regular federal and California income taxes.
Objective, Secondary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectiveSecondaryTextBlock	Its secondary objective is preservation of capital.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and expenses of the fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section on page 33 of the prospectus and on page 63 of the fund's statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	15.00%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts	You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount	100,000
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same.
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption	Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption	For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The fund seeks to achieve its objectives by primarily investing in municipal bonds issued by the state of California and its agencies and municipalities within the state. Consistent with the fund's objectives, the fund may also invest in municipal securities that are issued by jurisdictions outside California. Municipal bonds are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of public facilities. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from both regular federal and California income taxes and that do not subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund is intended primarily for taxable residents of California. The fund will invest primarily in debt securities rated BBB- or better or Baa3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in debt securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Such securities are sometimes referred to as "junk bonds." Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit. The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their respective segments will be invested. The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer, prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. Investing in municipal bonds of issuers within the state of California - Because the fund invests primarily in securities of issuers within the state of California, the fund is more susceptible to factors adversely affecting issuers of California securities than a comparable municipal bond mutual fund that does not concentrate its investments in a single state. For example, in the past, California voters have passed amendments to the state's constitution and other measures that limit the taxing and spending authority of California governmental entities, and future voter initiatives may adversely affect California municipal bonds. More detailed information about the risks of investing in California municipal securities is contained in the statement of additional information. Market conditions - The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund. Investing in bonds - Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Thinly traded securities - There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell. Credit and liquidity support - Changes in the credit quality of banks and financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these securities to decline. Investing in lower rated bonds - Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks may be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds. Investing in similar municipal bonds - Investing significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase. Management - The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives. Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund fits into your overall investment program.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	You may lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Investment results
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The Lipper California Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's primary objective and/or strategies. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Performance Additional Market Index [Text]	rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex	The Lipper California Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's primary objective and/or strategies.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	americanfunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block]	rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	(Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this period were: Highest 10.13% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) Lowest -7.29% (quarter ended December 31, 2008) The fund's total return for nine months ended September 30, 2012, was 8.42%.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table Footnotes	rr_PerformanceTableFootnotesTextBlock	Class A annualized 30-day yield at August 31, 2012: 2.53%        (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at 800/325-3590.)
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Barclays California Municipal Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Barclays California Municipal Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	12.28%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.04%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.32%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 28, 1986
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Lipper California Municipal Debt Funds Average
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Lipper California Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	11.72%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.63%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.40%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	5.79%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 28, 1986
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Class A
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	3.75%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	1.00%	[1]
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.33%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.05%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.63%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	437
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	569
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	713
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,132
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	8.13%
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	4.83%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	4.62%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	3.82%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	4.90%
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	0.35%
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(12.05%)
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	20.14%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	3.31%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	11.62%
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	The fund's total return for the nine months ended
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2012
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	8.42%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	10.13%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(7.29%)
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.41%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.30%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.28%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	5.64%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 28, 1986
Thirty Day Yield Caption	rr_ThirtyDayYieldCaption	Class A annualized 30-day yield at August 31, 2012:
Thirty Day Yield Phone	rr_ThirtyDayYieldPhone	800/325-3590
Thirty Day Yield	rr_ThirtyDayYield	2.53%
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.41%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.30%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.28%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 28, 1986
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	6.26%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.39%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.25%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 28, 1986
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Class B
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	5.00%
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.33%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.04%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.37%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	639
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	834
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	950
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,443
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	139
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	434
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	750
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,443
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class B (before taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.79%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.98%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.06%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.58%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Mar. 15, 2000
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Class C
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	1.00%
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.33%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.09%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.42%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	245
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	449
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	776
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,702
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	145
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	449
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	776
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,702
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class C (before taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.73%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.28%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.82%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	3.72%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Mar. 19, 2001
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Class F-1
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.33%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.15%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.73%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	75
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	233
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	406
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	906
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class F-1 (before taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	11.49%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.01%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.57%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.42%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Mar. 20, 2001
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Class F-2
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.33%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.15%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.48%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	49
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	154
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	269
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	604
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class F-2 (before taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	11.77%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	6.21%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Aug. 22, 2008

[1] A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Document Type	dei_DocumentType	485BPOS
Document Period End Date	dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate	Aug. 31, 2012
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	AMERICAN FUNDS TAX EXEMPT SERIES II /CA
Central Index Key	dei_EntityCentralIndexKey	0000794389
Amendment Flag	dei_AmendmentFlag	false
Document Creation Date	dei_DocumentCreationDate	Oct. 31, 2012
Document Effective Date	dei_DocumentEffectiveDate	Nov. 01, 2012
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Class A
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	AFTEX
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Class B
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	TEBFX
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Class C
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	TEBCX
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Class F-1
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	AFTFX
Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America (Prospectus Summary) | Tax Exempt Bond Fund of America | Class F-2
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	TEAFX
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Class A
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	TAFTX
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Class B
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	TECBX
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Class C
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	TECCX
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Class F-1
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	TECFX
Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California | Class F-2
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	TEFEX

XML

Tax-Exempt Fund of California (Prospectus Summary) | Tax-Exempt Fund of California

The Tax-Exempt Fund of California®

Investment objectives

The fund's primary investment objective is to provide you with a high level of
current income exempt from regular federal and California income taxes.

Its secondary objective is preservation of capital.

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your
family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American
Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your
financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section
on page 33 of the prospectus and on page 63 of the fund's statement of
additional information.

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Tax-Exempt Fund of California	Class A		Class B	Class C	Class F-1	Class F-2
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	3.75%		none	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	1.00%	[1]	5.00%	1.00%	none	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none		none	none	none	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none		none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Tax-Exempt Fund of California	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class F-1	Class F-2
Management fees	0.33%	0.33%	0.33%	0.33%	0.33%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	0.25%	1.00%	1.00%	0.25%	none
Other expenses	0.05%	0.04%	0.09%	0.15%	0.15%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.63%	1.37%	1.42%	0.73%	0.48%

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in
the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods
indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The
example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
fund's operating expenses remain the same.

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example Tax-Exempt Fund of California (USD $)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Class A	437	569	713	1,132
Class B	639	834	950	1,443
Class C	245	449	776	1,702
Class F-1	75	233	406	906
Class F-2	49	154	269	604

For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:

Expense Example, No Redemption Tax-Exempt Fund of California (USD $)	Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years
Class B	139	434	750	1,443
Class C	145	449	776	1,702

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells
securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate
may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund
shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in
annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment
results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate
was 15% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

The fund seeks to achieve its objectives by primarily investing in municipal
bonds issued by the state of California and its agencies and municipalities
within the state. Consistent with the fund's objectives, the fund may also
invest in municipal securities that are issued by jurisdictions outside
California. Municipal bonds are debt obligations generally issued to obtain
funds for various public purposes, including the construction of public
facilities.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets
in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from
both regular federal and California income taxes and that do not subject you
to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its
assets in securities that subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The
fund is intended primarily for taxable residents of California.

The fund will invest primarily in debt securities rated BBB- or better or Baa3
or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated
by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's
investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in debt
securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below or unrated but determined by the
fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Such securities are
sometimes referred to as "junk bonds." Some of the securities in which the fund
invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and
letters of credit.

The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in
managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is
divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their
respective segments will be invested.

The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make
decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy
of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities
that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The
investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by
analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer,
prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes
in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the
particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment
adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment
opportunities.

Principal risks

This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal
investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The
likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.

Investing in municipal bonds of issuers within the state of California - Because
the fund invests primarily in securities of issuers within the state of
California, the fund is more susceptible to factors adversely affecting issuers
of California securities than a comparable municipal bond mutual fund that does
not concentrate its investments in a single state. For example, in the past,
California voters have passed amendments to the state's constitution and other
measures that limit the taxing and spending authority of California governmental
entities, and future voter initiatives may adversely affect California municipal
bonds. More detailed information about the risks of investing in California
municipal securities is contained in the statement of additional information.

Market conditions - The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities
held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors,
including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund.

Investing in bonds - Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of
bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may
be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities.
In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or
refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund
having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities.

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the
possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer
of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest
and the security will go into default.

Thinly traded securities - There may be little trading in the secondary market
for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more
difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Credit and liquidity support - Changes in the credit quality of banks and
financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with
respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these
securities to decline.

Investing in lower rated bonds - Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt
securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of
default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than
those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities
may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may
decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks
may be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds.

Investing in similar municipal bonds - Investing significantly in municipal
obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar
types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain
economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for
fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase.

Management - The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's
investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods
and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce
the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment
results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.

Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund
fits into your overall investment program.

Investment results

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing
in the fund. The Lipper California Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the
fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies
reasonably comparable to the fund's primary objective and/or strategies. Past
investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future
investment results. Updated information on the fund's investment results
can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results.

Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)

Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this period were:

Highest 10.13% (quarter ended September 30, 2009)
Lowest -7.29% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

The fund's total return for nine months ended September 30, 2012, was 8.42%.

After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other
share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest
individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods
shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual
after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will
differ from the results shown above.

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):

Average Annual Total Returns Tax-Exempt Fund of California	Label	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Class A	Share class A - Before taxes	7.41%	3.30%	4.28%	5.64%	Oct. 28, 1986
Class B	Share class B (before taxes)	5.79%	2.98%	4.06%	4.58%	Mar. 15, 2000
Class C	Share class C (before taxes)	9.73%	3.28%	3.82%	3.72%	Mar. 19, 2001
Class F-1	Share class F-1 (before taxes)	11.49%	4.01%	4.57%	4.42%	Mar. 20, 2001
Class F-2	Share class F-2 (before taxes)	11.77%			6.21%	Aug. 22, 2008
After Taxes on Distributions Class A	Share class A - After taxes on distributions	7.41%	3.30%	4.28%		Oct. 28, 1986
After Taxes on Distributions and Sales Class A	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares	6.26%	3.39%	4.25%		Oct. 28, 1986
Barclays California Municipal Index	Barclays California Municipal Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)	12.28%	5.04%	5.32%		Oct. 28, 1986
Lipper California Municipal Debt Funds Average	Lipper California Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)	11.72%	3.63%	4.40%	5.79%	Oct. 28, 1986

Class A annualized 30-day yield at August 31, 2012: 2.53%       
(For current yield information, please call American FundsLine®
at 800/325-3590.)                                         

[1] A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.