POLS 111 Ch. 1, POLS 111 CH. 2, POLS 111 CH3, POLS 111 CH4, POLS 111 CH. 5, POLS 111 CH. 6, POLS 111 CH.7, POLS 111 CH.8, POLS 111 CH.9, Pols 111 Ch 10

Problematic features of 1849 Constitution

- so few provisions for taxation that the state found itself in deficit within its first 5 years - no limits on the governor's power to pardon people for state crimes - no limits on legislative salaries - so few limitations on spending that the state was was in deficit within its first 5 years

The 1879 Constitution included the following rules about the railroad industry:

- state officials would be barred from riding for free on all railroad lines - railroad companies could not raise rates on one line to compensate for reductions made to compete on alternative lines - the industry would be regulated by a special commission focused on railroads

Factors that contributed to the decline of the Progressive Party after 1912

- the Progressive Party lost the 1912 presidential election, sapped supporters' enthusiasm and limited its ability to provide patronage - the public grew tired of the number of political reforms enacted by the Progressives - Progressives generally opposed WW1, which was supported by the overwhelming majority of the American public - the party did not support a number of reforms endorsed by labor

Features of the 1849 California Constitution

- the right to vote was limited to white males 21 years of age or older who had lived in California for at least 6 months - African Americans were prohibited from testifying against whites in court - All laws and other provisions were to be published in both English and Spanish

The largest change to the California budgeting process happened in the ____ with the creation of a ____ budget

-1920s -unified: going from a process in which each agency submitted its own budget requests to the legislature to a process in which the executive branch submitted a unified budget helped streamline and rationalize the budget process

At the first meeting of the California legislature in 1850, lawmakers divided the state into ____ counties. Since 1907, the state has had ____ counties

-27 -58

Accurate statements about third parties in California

-3rd parties can act as spoilers that alter the outcome of elections -3rd parties can help spur political action on issues neglected by the major parties -3rd parties can increase turnout in elections

Features of Proposition 30 (2012)

-4 year increase in the state sales tax rates -7 year increase in the tax rates for citizens making over $250,000 in income

The wealthiest 1% of Californians pay about ____ of all income-tax revenue, and the wealthiest 10% pay about ____

-50% -80%

Accurate statements about the lieutenant governor

-the lieutenant governor acts as governor if the elected governor dies, resigns, or leaves the state -the lieutenant governor can cast tie-breaking votes in the Senate -required to serve on several important state boards -the governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately

If you are not currently registered to vote in the state of California, what do you need to do before the next election?

-visit a branch of the California Department of Motor Vehicles -Obtain, fill out, and mail in a voter registration form from any U.S. post office or library -fill out a registration form through the secretary of state's website

What are reasons that election campaigns in California are typically so expensive?

-voters have weak attachments to the two major political parties which increases the cost of campaigns because candidates must raise more money to reach voters -the state's immense size means that candidates must spend enormous amounts of money buying the broadcast time to air ads across the state -the state has many expensive political consultants that seem essential to electoral success

Under state law, when are you required to reregister to vote?

-when you change addresses -when you change your name

Accurate statements about where states get their revenue

-while California receives a relatively large percentage of its revenue from the sales tax (23%), there are many states that receive a larger percentage of their revenues from the sales tax -although all property-tax revenues go to the local level of government in California, there are 15 states that do not levy property taxes at all -California receives a higher share of its revenue from personal income taxes than Nevada, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming -Although California receives only 7% of its revenue from corporate income taxes, there are a number of states that receive a smaller percentage of their revenues from corporate income taxes

Accurate statements about the demographics of California's counties

-while most of the highest income counties are in the San Francisco Bay Area, there are a number of counties in Southern California and eastern California that have median incomes above $70,000 -Most counties in the state have populations where fewer than 45% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher -Whites compose a larger percentage of the population in Northern California counties than in Southern California counties

The lower the credit rating given to states...

...the higher the interest rate that states must pay to induce investors to purchase bonds

Suppose there was a political party in California that had the support of roughly 20% of registered voters in every Assembly district across the state. What percentage of the total seats in the Assembly would this party be likely to win?

0%. Assembly races are winner-take-all elections, which means that third parties are generally excluded from the legislature even if they have substantial support statewide. Without a majority of votes in any single district, these parties often cannot place a representative in Sacramento

Stages of the budget process in order from earliest to latest

1. executive proposal: the governor first comes up with a single unified budget to submit to the legislature 2. Legislative adoption: this part of the process has gone much more smoothly since Proposition 25 in 2010 eliminated the need for a two-thirds majority in both houses 3. Gubernatorial action: the governor has the authority to remove individual items (a line-item veto). The legislature can override that veto, though it requires a two-thirds majority 4. Implementation: the final step requires the various agencies and departments of the government to put the new budget into action

What is the minimum number of days before an election that voters in the state of California need to register

15

You are allowed to preregister to vote in California once you turn how many years old?

16 years old

In 2017, the state legislature passed a bill that increased the gas tax on regular fuel by ________ cents a gallon and on diesel fuel by ________ cents a gallon.

17, 30

What are the super agencies the executive branch is divided into?

1. State and Consumer Services 2. Youth and Adult Corrections 3. Environmental Protection 4. Health and Human Services 5. Labor and Workforce Development 6. Business, Transportation, and Housing 7. Resources

Constitutional requirements for California's budget

1. The governor must submit a unified budget to the legislature within the first 10 days of the calendar year 2. The budget bills must be introduced immediately in each house by the respective appropriations chairs 3. The legislature must pass the budget by June 15 of each year, and the budget must be balanced 4. Appropriations from the general fund must be passed in each house by a majority vote of the membership 5. When the governor signs the budget bill(s), he or she is allowed to reduce or eliminate an appropriated dollar amount (the line-item veto)

Suppose your aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, and her health insurance company dropped her policy rather than pay the large costs associated with her treatment. What would this action be called?

A rescission (Rescissions were a major problem with California's health insurance marketplace prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Affordable Care Act prohibited health insurance companies from rescinding policies after policyholders file insurance claims.)

Accurate statement about the Board of Equalization (BOE)

A set of reforms enacted in 2017 stripped the BOE of much of its power and moved it to two new unelected entities: the Department of Tax and Fee Administration and the Office of Tax Appeals

If the state passed a law that guaranteed universal health care with substantial government subsidies and potentially no out-of-pocket expenses for all Californians, what type of system would this law create?

A single payer health care system

The number of undocumented people living in California has been growing rapidly over the last ten years and is currently at approximately 800,000.

False (About 2.5 million people are undocumented in California, a figure that has remained constant for over a decade.)

T/F? Nearly every local newspaper and television station has a correspondent in Sacramento to cover politics

False. Despite the fact that reporters and news staff have to be located in Sacramento to adequately cover state politics, there are actually very few media correspondents in Sacramento

T/F? In December of 2014, Congress ordered the Department of Justice to spend nearly 10% of its yearly budget on enforcing federal marijuana laws against medical marijuana providers in the state of California

False. In 2014, Congress actually prohibited the Department of Justice from spending any funds to interfere with California's medical marijuana laws

T/F? The governor has used the line-item veto when signing the budget every year since 1977

False. In 2016, for the first time in over 40 years, the governor did not use the line-item veto when signing the budget.

T/F? Jerry Brown served a total of 12 years as governor of the state of California

False. Jerry Brown served 16 years as governor. He was governor from 1975 to 1983 and from 2011 to 2019

T/F? Unlike other state governors, such as Ronald Reagan, former California governor Jerry Brown never ran for president

False. Jerry Brown was a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for president in 1976,1980, and 1992

T/F? Orange Country is the most Republican county in the state

False. Lassen and Modoc Counties are

T/F? the legislature enacted a large increase in gasoline taxes in 2017 with majority support among both Republican and Democratic members of the Assembly Senate

False. Legislature enacted the increase in gasoline taxes without any Republican support in the state Assembly and with only one Republican yes vote in the state Senate

T/F? Initiatives have become so popular in California because they are the only laws that cannot be challenged in the courts once they are enacted

False. Like any other law, initiatives are subject to judicial interpretation and review

T/F? If California adopted laws to allow for so-called "clean-money elections," it would be the first state in the country to do so

False. Maine and Arizona have recently adopted laws that allow for clean-money elections

T/F? Progressives in the state of California were strongly committed to combating racism and reducing anti-immigrant sentiment.

False. Many Progressives were racists and enacted a number of laws discriminating against Japanese Americans

T/F? Most states in the country currently use a blanket primary system.

False. Most states use either an open or a closed primary system. Only Alaska, Louisiana, Washington, and California use a blanket primary system

T/F? All local public officials in the state of California are elected in partisan races (i.e., with a partisan label affixed to a candidate's name on the ballot)

False. Of the more than 19,000 elected officials in California, fewer than 300 are now elected in partisan races

T/F? Approximately 75% of Californians over the age of 5 speaks English at home.

False. Only 61% over the age of 5 speak English at home in California.

T/F? Since 1999, there have been many new cities incorporated in California, and there are now over 1,000 cities in the state

False. Only 9 cities have incorporated since 1999, raising the total number of cities to 482 in 2018

T/F? Every state except New York, Illinois, and California demands strict obedience to Dillon's Rule

False. Only a few states, including Alabama, Idaho, and Nebraska, demand strict obedience. In California, it is very liberally construed

T/F? Californians have voted on more initiatives in the state's history than the residents of any other state.

False. Oregon has voted on 384 and California has had 378

T/F? Under current campaign finance law, political action committees (PACs) in the state of California are allowed to contribute more money to gubernatorial, state Assembly, and state Senate candidates than individuals are

False. PACs have the same contribution limits for gubernatorial, state Assembly, and state Senate candidates as do individuals

T/F? State Senate districts in 1961 were drawn to ensure that each district included roughly the same number of residents

False. Prior to 1964, there was tremendous variation in population across Senate districts

T/F? If you make $65,000 a year in the state of California, you pay the same income tax rate (13.3%) as someone who makes over $1 million a year

False. Proposition 30 established 3 new brackets for taxpayers who make more than $305,100 per year: at 11.3, 12.3, and 13.3 percent income. The 13.3% income tax rate applies only to incomes exceeding $1 million

T/F? From 1952 to 1988, Democratic presidential candidates won every presidential vote in California except for one (1964)

False. Republican

T/F? An initiative passed by a majority of voters has never been struck down by the California State Supreme Court

False. Several have

T/F? Lobbying expenditures have increased in every legislative session between 1993 and 2016.

False. Slight dip between 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 sessions

T/F? Taxes on Indian revenues are an important source of revenue for the state of California

False. Taxes on Indian gambling revenues are so small (less than one-tenth of 1% of state revenue) that they are not even reported in the state budget

T/F? Because of the relatively large size of the state legislature, California's districts are among the smallest in the country

False. The Assembly has only 80 seats, and the Senate has only 40 seats. This relatively small number of seats, coupled with the state's large population, makes California's districts some of the largest in the country

T/F? The governor of California is able to appoint members to various boards, such as the Regents of the University of California. This appointment power gives the governor complete control over the board

False. The Regents of the University of California is a 26-member board consisting of 7 ex officio members, including the governor. While the governor has significant impact, he or she does not have complete control

T/F? The California Constitution requires that the attorney general follow the governor's orders in determining which issues will receive the most attention and resources

False. The attorney general's office is able to set its own agenda, which may run counter to the governor's agenda, and there is no constitutional obligation for the attorney general to cooperate in any way with the governor

T/F? The state constitution gives the cabinet a number of policy-making responsibilities, including amending the governor's proposed budget and reviewing all line-item vetoes

False. The cabinet is often more a symbolic body than a structure of governing, and it has no official policy function under the state constitution

T/F? The state legislature has successfully overridden a governor's veto at least once in every legislative session since 1977

False. The state legislature has successfully overridden the governor's veto only 7 times since 1946

Similar to justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, justices of the California Supreme Court hold office for life once their appointments are confirmed

False. They are appointed for 12 years. As with all state appellate court judges, justices face noncompetitive retention elections at the end of their terms

T/F? California's constitution currently prohibits political parties from endorsing judges who run in nonpartisan elections

False. This is viewed as unconstitutional because it violated Californians' rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association

T/F? The state must build approximately 14,000 houses each year to meet the demand created by its growing population

False. To keep up with its growing population, California needs to build approximately 180,000 new homes each year.New policies enacted in 2017 and 2018 may add about 14,000 new homes each year, but this is far fewer than would be required to meet demand

T/F? Third-party candidates tend to win more than major party candidates in winner-take-all electoral systems

False. Traditionally, 3rd party candidates do not win in a winner-take-all system, a fact that both major parties emphasize to warn voters against throwing their votes away

T/F? As of 2018, contributions to or expenditures by judicial candidates in California are completely unregulated by state law

False. Under state law, any contributions to or expenditures of $100 or more by judicial candidates must be itemized

T/F? Every state in the country makes use fo the initiative process to pass laws.

False. Unlike California, there are 27 states that do not have the initiative.

T/F? California's approach to services for its citizens today can be summarized by the statement, "If you're eligible, we'll serve you."

False. While this has traditionally been a guiding ethos for the government of California, budget strains in the past decade have led to caps being implemented for several programs, including Medical-Cal and other health-related initiatives

T/F? There is no limit to the number of bills a member of the Assembly or the Senate can introduce during a legislative session

False. an individual state senator may introduce no more than 40 bills in a two-year session, whereas Assembly members can introduce no more than 50 bills

T/F? Ballot measures backed by citizen groups in California succeed at a much lower rate than those that are sponsored by narrow economic interests

False. citizen groups are more successful in their use of the initiative process than narrow economic interests

T/F? The state has approximately 400 non school special districts

False. excluding the school districts, the state had 4,884 special districts in 2017

Since 1967, governors in the state of California have vetoed approximately half of the bills passed by the legislature

False. governors have vetoed only about 13% of legislative bills since 1967

T/F? Democratic governor Jerry Brown did not veto a single bill during his last five years in office

False. he signed 1,895 of them and vetoed 319, including some that were strongly supported by his allies

T/F? Repealing the gas tax income was a referendum item on the November 2018 ballot that passed.

False. it was on the 2018 ballot but did not pass

T/F? Under current state law, initiatives can appear on primary, general, and special-election ballots

False. the law was changed in 2012 to require that ballot initiatives appear only on the general election ballot in November

T/F? In 2017-18, there were nine standing or permanent committees

False. there are far more standing and permanent committees in the legislature

infraction

Far less serious crimes than felonies, and are typically punished with citations or tickets. Ex: -traffic violations -fishing without a license -possession of less than one ounce of marijuana

Responsibilities of controller

Gathering, auditing, and reporting financial results; managing the financial systems; computing and paying taxes; and producing operating budgets. Serves as chairperson of the Board of Equalization

Some observers of the 2018 gubernatorial campaign accused Gavin Newsom of running advertisements before the June primary election that encouraged turnout in favor of Republican candidate John Cox. Why might these accusations make sense in the context of the state's electoral politics?

Given that a Democratic candidate will likely win a statewide election against a Republican, Democratic frontrunners often want the 2nd place vote getter in the primary to be a Republican. Newsom, therefore, may have attempted to ensure that Cox received more votes in the primary than a fellow Democrat

What was the effect of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2005 decision in Gonzales v. Raich?

The Supreme Court Ruled that the Commerce Power gives Congress the authority to regulate and to punish the manufacture and cultivation of marijuana despite California law allowing for compassionate use

California Democratic Party v. Jones

The Supreme Court case that found California's version of blanket primary as unconstitutional in 2000. It invalidated Proposition 198

Gay and lesbian couples in California were allowed to be legally married only after which event occurred?

The United States Supreme Court ruled in Hollingsworth v. Perry

Identify where all members of the California state legislature have offices

Legislators have offices in both Sacramento and in their districts

California Income Inequality

- low earners are now earning incomes nearly 20% lower than 1980 - incomes of top earners have increased by 40% since 1980 -Bay Area incomes are twice as large as those in the Central Valley, on average -local, state, and federal safety net programs have significantly reduced income inequality

Problems with California's "top-two" primary system

- no "write-in" votes are allowed on the November ballot - once someone is on the ballot, they cannot be removed, even by their party

What qualifies a third party for the California ballot?

- one-third of the total number of voters registered on the 154th day before the primary election on the 123rd day before the presidential general election are registered with the new party -petition by collecting signatures equal to 10% of those who voted in the last gubernatorial election

Statement that best characterizes the powers exercised by county boards of supervisors in California

county boards of supervisors have both legislative authority to pass ordinances and executive authority to administer them

Proposition 9 (1974)

created the Political Reform Division within the office of the secretary of state to administer and oversee key provisions of the law

Main Purpose of Proposition 11 (2008)

creating a citizen's commission in charge of redistricting

What does judicial discretion allow judges to do?

decide which cases they will review and which cases they will not; is a tool to moderate workloads of judges

Political scientists talk about two poles of representation style: the ____ who tries to find out what constituents want and then act according to their wishes, and the ____ who believes that he or she has been chosen to act based on his or her own judgement

delegate trustee

winner-take-all

describes California's electoral system in which the candidate receiving the highest number of votes wins the election

The institution of the office block ballot in California has had what effect?

it reduced the number of people voting the straight party ticket because it listed each office separately rather than listing all the candidates running for each office by party

Proposition 64

legalize marijuana

simple resolution

legislation that relates to the operations of a single chamber or expresses the collective opinion of that chamber on public policy issues

Proposition 28

legislators are allowed to serve a total of 12 years in the legislature. Because an Assembly term is 2 years and a Senate term is 4 years, you would be allowed to serve 1 Assembly term and 2 Senate terms. reduced the term limits in the legislature from 14 to 12 years

Proposition 73

limited contributions to legislative and statewide candidates to $1,000 per donor, including individuals, labor unions, and corporations. Struck down in 1990

Main Purpose of Proposition 25 (2010)

lowering the number of votes in the legislature required to pass a state budget

fiscalization of land use

making decisions for a local government based primarily on what will raise the most money for the government

Responsibilities of treasurer

manages the state's money after it comes in and before it is spent; manages investment of money

Proposition 99 (1988)

mandated a 25-cent tax on cigarettes, with the proceeds to be spent on antismoking campaigns and medical research

What is an accurate statement about nonpartisan elections in the state of California?

most local elections in the state are nonpartisan

Constituency service (casework)

occurs when a member of the legislature intervenes with the bureaucracy in order to solve a specific problem for a constituent

crowdsourcing

occurs when individuals or organizations obtain ideas, fundraising contributions, and policy support by enlisting a large group of people online

Fewer than _____ of initiatives that qualified for the ballot were approved by voters before 1940

one-third

Workingmen's Party in California during the 1870s

opposition to the presence of Chinese workers in California

Super PACs

organizations that can spend unlimited amounts for or against candidates and ballot measures but cannot give directly to or coordinate campaign activities with candidates

What was a provision of Proposition 25 (2010)?

penalizes legislators if they fail to pass a budget by the state's constitutional deadline

If passed, what would Proposition 77 (2005) have accomplished?

placed a panel of 3 retired judges in control of redrawing the state's legislative districts after each census

clean-money election laws

policies that would provide public funding to candidates who demonstrate a base of public support and who agree to forgo any other private donations

The ____ is employed when voters are displeased with a law passed by the legislature, and the ____ occurs whenever the legislature proposes a constitutional amendment.

popular referendum legislative referendum

The personal income tax in the state of California is best characterized as a ____, while the sales tax is best characterized as a ____

progressive tax regressive tax

What policies could a California State Assemblyman pursue to balance the state budget given the state's constitution and the limitations voters have placed on budgetary matters through the initiative process?

reduce state spending on higher education by raising tuition at all University of California and California State University campuses

Cities that adopted the institutions advocated by the Progressive movement, such as nonpartisan elections and direct democracy, are often referred to as what?

reform governments

Proposition 61

regulate drug prices

Proposition 98

required a minimum percentage of the state budget to be spent on K-12 education

Brown Act (California)

required that "all meetings of the legislative body of a local agency shall be open and public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the legislative body of a local agency, except as otherwise provided"

Proposition 14

required that legislative candidates run in a single open primary, with the top two vote-getters meeting in the general election

Proposition 49 (2002)

requires that several hundred million dollars be spent on after-school programs (supported by Arnold Schwarzenegger)

Proposition 218 (1996)

requires voter approval before local tax increases and prohibits property-related fees; the proceeds must be spent on transportation projects

Retention elections for appellate court judges in California

retention elections are held at set intervals, and voters are simply asked whether the judge should remain on the appellate bench

When you register to vote in California, which official is responsible for processing your registration form?

secretary of state is the chief elections officer, responsible for maintaining a database of registered voters and for overseeing all federal and state elections in the state

In the state of California, the leader of the Assembly is called the ____, and the leader of the Senate is called the ____.

speaker president pro tempore

line agencies

state executive branch organizations that have their own statutory authority to carry out functions and provide services

Features of the California state legislature but not of the U.S. Congress

term limits for representatives

During which decade were fewer initiatives approved by voters than in any other decade?

the 1950s

the "Declaration of Rights" refers to:

the bill of rights found in the state of California's constitution

Assembly Rules Committee

the committee's responsibilities include hiring staff, assigning bills to committees, and reviewing legislative rules

Dillon's Rule

the constitutional doctrine that gives state governments ultimate authority over local governments

Who elects the speaker of the Assembly?

the entire membership of the Assembly

Who are the five major players in the state's budget politics?

the governor and the leaders of both parties in both houses of the legislature

The elimination of the California Postsecondary Education Commission in 2011 is an example of which power?

the governor can use a line-item veto to effectively kill a state program

What personnel are usually included in the cabinet?

the heads of each of the super agencies of state government and the director of finance

If Standard & Poor's chose to lower California's credit rating from AAA to AA, then

the lower the credit rating given to states, the higher the interest rate that states must pay to induce investors to purchase bonds

Judicial review

the power of a judge, on a state or federal court, to determine whether or not a law, agency, policy, or some action of government is valid

logrolling

the practice of legislators exchanging votes on proposed pieces of legislation

Preemption

the rule of law that if the federal government, through Congress, has enacted legislation on a subject matter, it shall be controlling over state and local laws

Why is it difficult to split an existing county to make a new county in California?

the state's constitution requires affirmative majority votes in both the entire county affected and the territory of the proposed new county

What do fiscal years between 2012 and 2018 demonstrate about the California state budget?

the state's current tax system is capable of producing massive budget deficits and massive budget surpluses

What term is often used to refer to interest groups, given their standing and influence in the legislative process

the third house

What is a primary reason for the dysfunction and lack of accountability that characterizes the state of California's legislature?

the two-thirds vote requirement for raising state taxes

Proposition 54, which prohibits the legislature from voting on any bill until it has been in print and published on the internet for 72 hours, is designed to limit which action?

the use of "gut and amend". This tactic occurs when an issue that was presumed dead suddenly reappears in an active bill that previously dealt with an entirely different topic

T/F? Each member of the legislature has only 4 staff members, and the personnel budget for legislative workers cannot, by law, exceed $10 million a year

there are over 2,000 legislative aides, and the personnel budget for legislative workers in 2015 was $216 million. While minority members have only 4 or 5 staff members, it is not unusual for majority legislators to have 13 or 14 staff members

How did Progressive reforms, such as primary elections and the office block ballot , affect party politics in California?

they weakened the state's political party system

Proposition 11

took redistricting of the state legislature away from the legislature and put it in the hands of the newly created Citizens' Redistricting Commission

Proposition 215

-approved by voters in 1996 -allowed seriously ill people to use, possess, and cultivate marijuana for medical reasons with a doctor's approval

Californian's feelings about the initiative process in their state

a strong majority of Californians view the initiative process as a good thing but believe that it is in need of some change

Proposition 50

allows a house of the legislature to suspend a member's pay and privileges with a two-thirds vote

Main Purpose of Proposition 33 (2012)

altering the rules of governing the auto insurance industry

Most common form of county government in California

an elected five-member board of supervisors

If the governor of California declares a state of emergency in response to a wildfire, what does he or she issue?

an executive order. which are permitted by the constitution or under laws passed by the legislature. most significant in times of an emergency

A ballot in which the names of candidates are grouped under the titles of the offices to be filled.

an office block ballot

capital gains income

any income from selling stocks or other investments that have appreciated in value

How are vacancies in most of the plural executive offices filled?

appointments by the governor which are subject to the approval within 90 days of both houses of the legislature

Proposition 71 (2004)

authorizes the sale of $3 billion in bonds to fund stem-cell research in the state

Proposition 64

-approved by voters in 2016 -allowed all persons 21 years or older to use and grow marijuana for personal use

Governor's responsibilities as head of state

-attending groundbreaking ceremonies -lighting the capitol Christmas tree -attending memorial ceremonies

Accurate statements about California budget expenditures

-between K-12 and university funding, 39% of state expenditures are devoted to education -nearly 70% of California's expenditures go to health, human services, and education -while the level of funding is close, California universities receive about 1% more of state expenditures than do prisons

What items may pass the state legislature?

-bills -constitutional amendments -resolutions

Informal powers of the governor

-raising money for political campaigns -developing a vision or an agenda for the state -having access to the public to make his or her case

During the 2015-16 campaign cycle, the average cost of a seat in the California Assembly was ____, and the average cost of a seat in the California Senate was ____.

$1,010,528 $1,877,994

Suppose you wanted to change the state's constitution to require public financing for all campaigns. If you were relying on professional signature gatherers ( who charge at least $1.50 per signature), what is the minimum amount of money you could reasonably expect to spend in order to qualify this amendment for the ballot?

$1.5 million

If you buy a house in California today for $500,000, you will pay approximately ____ in property taxes next year. If your new neighbor has owned their somewhat more expensive $750,000 home since 1975 and originally paid $100,000 for it, they will pay approximately ____ in property taxes next year.

$5,000 $1,000

What is the median household income for the U.S. ?

$55,322

What was the median household income in California for 2012-2016?

$63,783

Approximately how much more money would your household have to make each year to earn MORE than the median household in the state of California?

$77,000

If the state general fund receives $200 billion in revenue for a given year, what is the minimum amount of money that must be spent on the state's public schools that year according to Proposition 98?

$80 billion (Proposition 98 (1988) guarantees that the state's public schools receive at least 40 percent of the general fund each year.)

Reasons political parties are relatively weak in California

- There are strict term limits for state legislators which frees legislator from party discipline -gerrymandering was eliminated -The state uses a "top-two" open primary system which weakens political parties from controlling which candidates run in elections

What would be required before amending California's constitution if you wanted to add language that guaranteed public financing of all statewide election campaigns.

- a majority of voters in a statewide election would have to vote in favor of the amendment

Provisions of Proposition 13 (1978)

- a reduction of residential property tax rates - a requirement that all tax increases receive two-thirds support in the legislature

The 1996 California Constitutional Revision made these suggestions about reforming the state's government:

- allowing the governor to appoint all of the members of the executive branch that are currently elected separately - requiring that the governor and lieutenant governor run for election as a team

Factors driving the support of the 2003 recall of Governor Gray Davis

- charges that Davis misled voters about the severity of the state's budget crisis during his 2002 re-election campaign - claims that Davis was partially responsible for the state's electricity crisis -

Reforms successfully implemented by the Progressive movement of the early 1900s

- creation of a civil service in which government employees are selected on the basis of merit - instituting primary elections to select party candidates for the general election in November

advisory regional government agencies

-Association of Bay Area Governments -Southern California Association of Governments

What reduced California's budgetary gridlock after 2010

-the increase in tax revenue brought about by the passage of Proposition 30 -the lowered requirements for passing a budget through the legislature imposed by Proposition 25

Reasons California has a relatively high caseload when compared with other state court caseloads?

-California has modified its laws to allow juveniles to be tried as adults in some criminal cases -victims' rights legislation has elevated some misdemeanors to felonies -California's 3 strikes law was enacted in 1994. Although originally designed to punish repeat offenders, this law has had the effect of increasing the workload for courts

Lobbying the executive branch in the state of California

-California's 7 statewide elected administration offices make it difficult for interest groups to coordinate lobbying activities -the size and technical expertise of California's executive branch forces lobbyists to develop expertise and relationships with numerous different agencies

Accurate statements about the blanket primary system

-California's blanket primary system applies to state legislative and congressional elections as well as to the election of statewide officials, such as governor and attorney general -proponents of the blanket primary argue that it will produce more moderate candidates and more competitive races -California instituted its current blanket primary system with the passage of Proposition 14 in 2010

Members of the Commission on Judicial Appointments

-Chief Justice of the supreme court -attorney general -presiding judge on the California Courts of Appeal

California's Presidential primary election

-In an attempt to have more influence in the nomination process, California changed its presidential primary election date to March for the 2000 and 2004 presidential primaries -Other states have shifted the dates of their presidential primaries in response to California's changing primary dates

Conservative Views

-Lowering California's tax rates -Changing the legislature from full-time to part-time

Liberal Views

-Lowering the required supermajority to raise taxes -Instituting public financing of election campaigns

What factors have led to the declining levels of civility in the state legislature?

-the increasing political polarization in the nation overall -the existence of legislative term limits

Accurate statements about noncitizen voting in California

-San Francisco allows noncitizen parents of children enrolled in public schools the right to vote in the city's school board elections -noncitizens are not currently allowed to vote in statewide general elections in California -the California Constitution prohibits noncitizen from voting in primary elections as well as in general elections

regulatory regional government agencies

-South Coast Air Quality Management District -California Coastal Commission -San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission

Accurate statements about the racial and ethnic composition of California's legislature

-The Assembly is more representative in terms of race and ethnicity of the state's population than the Senate is -African Americans are overrepresented in the Assembly relative to their population in the state -Because whites make up only 37% percent of the state's population, they are overrepresented in both the Assembly and the Senate -There are far more Latinos than Asian Americans serving in the state legislature

Accurate statements about city revenues and expenditures in California

-although taxes are an important source of revenue, cities actually received more of their revenue from service charges, such as water, sewage, and parks and recreation fees -cities in California receive only a tiny amount of their revenues from special benefit assessments, licenses and permits, and fines and forfeitures -cities in California spend more than one-third of their money on transportation and public utilities -while public safety spending accounts for more of the budget than any other category, it still made up less than 25% of all city spending in 2015-16

What types of cases is the California Supreme Court required to hear?

-any case involving a death-penalty sentence -any case involving disciplinary issues with judges or attorneys

Arthur Samish

-a notorious lobbyist -the legislature voted to ban Arthur Samish from the capitol building -California Governor Earl Warren said, "On matters that affect his clients, Artie unquestionably has more power than the governor." -Represented the most powerful industries in the state during 1930s and 1940s: oil, liquor stores, transportation, breweries, and racing

Accurate statements about the process of municipal incorporation in California

-a petition for municipal incorporation must be submitted to the county's LAFCo -the county's LAFCo engages in an extensive review of all incorporation plans -state legislators and the governor do not play a role in the incorporation process -a majority of voters living within the boundaries of the proposed new city must approve before a city can be legally born in California

What would be allowed if California adopted an open primary system?

-a registered Republican could cast a ballot in the Democratic Party primary -a voter who registered with no party preference could cast a ballot in the Republican Party primary

Examples of crowdsourcing

-a relatively unknown candidate for city council uses a self-made website to raise campaign money from hundreds of small donors -a state Assembly member sets up a Wikipedia-like website where individuals can draft and edit legislation

In addition to the board of supervisors, what are the other elected or appointed county officers required by general law?

-a sheriff: to enforce the law in areas outside of cities -an assessor: every few years, they estimate the value of each parcel of property -a district attorney: acts as prosecutor for the state in county courts

Why was Proposition 140 successful with voters in 1990?

-across the nation, voters had grown tired of incumbents winning re-election at such high rates -Republicans believed instituting term limits could help them win a majority in the state Legislature -partly a response to the public's aversion to gridlock and divided government

Steps an appellate court candidate must take before becoming a judge

-all appellate court candidates are initially nominated by the governor -all appellate court candidates are approved by the Commission on Judicial Appointments -all appellate court candidates are reviewed by the State Bar of California's Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation

Proposition 208 (1996)

-allowed candidates to accept spending limits in return for increased contribution limits -limited contributions to candidates from individuals, political parties, corporations, unions, and PACs

Accurate statements about the legislative process in California

-bills can only be introduced in the Assembly or the Senate by members of their respective chambers -Committees in the Assembly and Senate cannot act on a bill until it has been in print for 30 days -bill passage requires only an absolute majority -if the governor vetoes a bill, a two-thirds vote in each house is required to override the veto

Primary system after the passage of Proposition 14 (2010)

-candidates run in a single contest against members of their own party and members of other political parties -voters are allowed to vote on candidates from any party

Primary system before the passage of Proposition 14 (2010)

-candidates run in separate contests against members of their own party -voters are allowed to vote on candidates for only one party

Governor's responsibilities as head of government

-develop policies -work to get bills passed through the legislature -implement laws via the bureaucracy

California Electorate (people that show up on Election Day)

-electorate is more educated than the overall population -electorate more conservative than the overall population, Conservatives are more likely to vote -electorate is actually less ethnically diverse than the overall population -electorate is older than the overall population

A California county that is governed under the broad legal framework spelled out in the state's constitution is referred to as a(n) ____ county, while a California county whose voters have adopted their own legal framework is referred to as a(n) ____ county

-general-law -charter

Consistent with Pluralist theory

-government acts as an umpire or referee that oversees the competition between interests -the political system is best understood as a marketplace in which a multitude of interests compete -no single interest or combination of interests is powerful enough to consistently dominate politics

Methods used by the state of California in recent years to help close the budget gap?

-incremental fee increases -cuts in education, health, and social services -issuing bonds to borrow money

Factors that explain the high rate of incumbency re-election

-incumbents have relatively high levels of visibility and name recognition -incumbents raise more money due to their strong ties to the fundraising pipeline -incumbents provide service to their constituents during their time in office

Accurate statements about instant runoff voting

-instant runoff voting is sometimes called ranked-choice voting because voters are allowed to rank all of the candidates for an office by order of preference -a number of city governments in California have recently adopted instant runoff voting -all of the votes are cast at the same time, and there is not a separate runoff election between candidates -if a candidate receives a majority of first-choice preferences when the ballots are initially counted, they win the election without further rounds of vote counting

Examples of the California Supreme Court exercising its power of judicial review

-invalidating a law passed by the legislature to raise property tax rates in the state -eliminating a Department of Motor Vehicles hiring policy that disadvantages elderly applicants -

Federal judges are selected through presidential appointments in order to promote ____ while states like California have chosen to select some of their judges through elections in order to promote ____

-judicial independence -judicial accountability

Accurate statements about the end of legislative sessions in California

-legislators will often use "gut and amend" tactics to pass numerous laws at the end of legislative sessions -at the end of the session, there is intense pressure to get things done, creating a tremendous amount of activity in the legislature -junior members of the legislature often have very little idea of what they are voting on at the end of legislative sessions

Proposition 13 (1978)

-limited how much property taxes could increase each year -prohibited the passage of new property taxes from being imposed by the state or by local governments -increased the size of the majorities required for voters to raise taxes any "special taxes" could be imposed only by a two-thirds margin of the voters in the local area

state regulation of lobbyists and interest groups

-lobbyists are prevented from contributing to officials they are registered to lobby -there are strict limits on the costs of gifts that can be given by a lobbyist to a state-elected or legislative official -anyone who is not a registered lobbyist can only give up to $250 in gifts in any calendar year

Examples of civil cases that might be heard in the California superior courts

-medical malpractice cases -landlord and tenant disputes

Undocumented Immigrants

-more than 2 million undocumented immigrants living in California -California has more undocumented immigrants than any other state -account for only 6.3% of the state's overall population -about 30% of all undocumented immigrants in the U.S. live in California

Immigration in California

-more than 25% of Californians were born in a different country -more than 2 million immigrants from China, Vietnam, Korea, and the Philippines currently living in California -the # of immigrants increased from 1.8 million to about 10.2 million -people from Mexico constitute a plurality (43%) but not a majority of the total immigrant population in California

California's use of vote by mail

-more than 40% of all of the votes cast in the state in 2016 were mail ballots -Californians may request permanent vote-by-mail status, meaning that a mail ballot is sent automatically to their homes before each election -there are 29 states including California that allow citizens to vote by mail without an approved excuse

Reasons that explain why California's revenues are more volatile from year to year than in many other states

-only about 6% of California's revenue comes from corporate taxes -Property taxes are a much more reliable source of revenue; however, because of Proposition 13, they make up a much smaller percentage of the California budget than they do in other states -California collects much of its revenue from sales and income taxes, which are subject to fluctuations in the economy

Arrange the sources of revenue in the state of California from largest to smallest

-personal income tax: 50% of state revenues -sales tax: 20% of state revenues -corporation tax: 6% -motor vehicle fees

A ____ is a general law that applies to all special districts of a given type while a ____ is passed by the legislature to adapt a special district's structure, financing, and authority to unique local circumstances

-principal act -special act

Senate Bill 1253

-provided a public review period for initiatives -the Assembly and Senate must hold a joint hearing on any initiative that collects 25% of the required signatures

Which of the following are ways in which California's judges can be removed from the bench?

-recall election petitioned by voters -impeachment: by the Assembly and convicted by a two-thirds majority of the state Senate -regulatory commission investigation: after investigation of complaints regarding misconduct or incapacity, the Commission on Judicial Performance, may punish, censure, or remove a judge from office

Accurate statements about redistricting in California

-redistricting is done every 10 years -the Citizens Redistricting Commission is given the responsibility of drawing new districts -since the passage of Proposition 11, legislative and gubernatorial approval is no longer required

expenditure

-repairs for highways -funding for prisons: a major category of spending for California

Proposition 54

-required that all bills be in print and posted online before being passed out of the legislature -was the first crowdsourced ballot initiative in the nation -it required that the legislature make a video recording of every official public legislative meeting available to the public

Roles local agency formation commissions (LAFCos) have in California

-reviewing and approving the incorporations of new cities, the formation of new special districts, and any proposed changes of jurisdictional boundaries, including annexations and detachments of territory, secessions, consolidations, mergers, and dissolutions -reviewing and approving contractual service agreements between local governments and between local governments and the private sector -defining the official spheres of influence for each city and special district -initiating proposals for consolidation, dissolution, mergers, and reorganizations if such changes seem necessary or desirable

If you were elected to the state Assembly in 2020, what could you do after serving your first term?

-serve one additional term in the Assembly and two terms in the Senate -serve two terms in the Senate

Formal powers of the governor

-serving as commander in chief of the National Guard -Making recommendations to the legislature during a State of the State address -granting of clemency, including pardons and reprieves

Accurate statements about gubernatorial appointments

-some gubernatorial appointments require confirmation by other bodies, such as the state Senate, but others do not. Appointments to the governor's personal staff, for instance, require no confirmation -some gubernatorial appointees work at the governor's pleasure, while others serve for fixed-length terms -Once appointed, individuals do not have to answer to the governor, although the governor can apply political pressure -over the course of an administration, a governor can make more than 2,500 appointments to the state government

revenue

-some portion of every lottery ticket goes to the state of California as revenue -sales tax

Accurate statements about California's immigration related laws

-state law enforcement agencies are allowed to detain an immigrant for federal immigration enforcement if the immigrant has committed a violent crime, is a repeat offender, or has committed one of 800 other crimes -landlords are prohibited from reporting a tenant's immigration status -colleges and universities that offer Cal Grants are required to create policies that safeguard their campuses from immigration officials

Accurate statements about the budget process in the state of California

-the California Constitution gives the power of preparing the budget to the governor, not the legislature -until the 2011-12 budget, a supermajority of two-thirds was required to approve a budget. Now only a simple majority in both houses of the legislature is needed -a supermajority of two-thirds is required to raise a new revenues -the governor cannot add items to the budget after it has been passed by the legislature; he or she can remove budget lines through the line-item veto

examples of "the spending lobby" at work

-the California State University system lobbies the state government for more spending on higher education -the city of Long Beach lobbies the state government to provide construction grants for the Port of Long Beach

Accurate statements about justices and judges in California

-the Supreme Court is 17% white while the trial courts are 67% white -the majority of judges and justices in the state of California identify as heterosexual -the percentage of women on the Supreme Court is larger than the percentage of women serving in the courts of appeal

Responsibilities of the attorney general of California

-the attorney general has oversight responsibilities for local district attorneys and county sheriffs -acts as the chief counsel in all state legislation, including cases appearing before the state supreme court -

Accurate statements about population and housing growth in California since 2011

-the disparity between the growth rate of the population and the growth rate of housing was smallest in 2016. The largest disparity between population and housing growth occurred in 2012. -more housing was built in 2017 than in any other year since 2011 -the housing crisis, did not result from a sudden and unprecedented increase in population -the state's population has grown at a higher rate than its construction of housing units in every year since 2011

Important limits on the governor's power in the state of California?

-the executive branch includes several independently elected officials who may be from the opposing party of the governor -there are many state-level organizations that cannot be directly controlled by the governor (indirectly: by appointments, budgetary threats, or strongly voiced public opinion) -governors serve terms of 4 years and are limited to serving 2 terms

What does the story of Jurupa Valley illustrate about municipal incorporation in California?

-the heavy burden of legal obligations and fiduciary responsibilities that come with incorporation can often be difficult for new municipalities to handle -local governments are highly dependent on state revenue and often cannot survive a diversion of revenue from Sacramento

Accurate statements about the line-item veto

-the line-item veto permits the governor to reduce or delete any appropriation in a spending bill -although Congress briefly granted the president line-item veto power in 1996, the power was quickly rescinded by the Supreme Court -for the 1st time in over 3 decades, the line-item veto was not used by the governor in 2016 -the line item veto does not allow the governor to increase appropriations or add spending items to bills passed by the legislature

Accurate statements about strong mayor-council systems

-the mayor is elected independently of the city council -the city council is responsible for legislative policy making, but the mayor can veto legislation passed by the city council -the city's budget is proposed by the mayor, not the city council -the mayors have broad authority to make appointments to positions within city government

Accurate statements about gubernatorial appointments to the judiciary in California since 1975

-the percentage of African American appointments declined between Jerry Brown's and George Deukmejian's terms in office -Democrat Jerry Brown appointed fewer female judges during his first administration (1975 to 1982) than Republicans Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger did during their administrations -no governor has ever allocated more than 10% of his appointments to the judiciary to Asian Americans -Jerry Brown appointed a larger percentage of African American, Latino, and Asian American judges and justices between 2011 and 2018 than he did between 1975 and 1982

Powers of the speaker of the Assembly

-the power to assign parking spaces and offices for members of the legislature -the power to assign and remove representatives from all Assembly committees -the power to appoint who will serve as the majority floor leader

What are problems that have been identified with the California tax system?

-the sales tax focuses on goods instead of services -while the income tax is progressive, the sales tax system and the system as a whole are regressive -ballot measures have imposed rigid spending demands -the income tax relies too heavily on capital gains taxation

Requirements to create a special district

-the voters in the proposed district must apply to their county's LAFCo. -once your proposal is reviewed and approved, it moves to an election in which only the voters residing inside your proposed district boundaries may vote -a simple majority is required for approval in most cases -a two-thirds majority is required if new special taxes are involved

Factors that have encouraged the proliferation of interest groups in California

-the weakness of California's two major political parties -institution of term limits for statewide legislative offices means that legislators have less experience with lawmaking and must rely on lobbyists to write intricate legislation

Reasons why developers have not built more housing in California in recent years

-there is a shortage of affordable land to build on -there is a shortage of construction labor -

Reasons independent expenditure committees have come under scrutiny in recent years

-they sometimes make it difficult to identify the source of the contributions by candidates and initiative campaigns -they allow for great sums of money from outside the state to influence the state's politics and elections

Accurate statements about council-manager forms of government

-under a council-manager form of government, voters elect a city council to engage in all legislating -the city manager directly controls the bureaucracy and supervises the performance of department heads; this manage is selected by the city council, not by voters -nearly all small- and medium-sized California cities use a council-manager plan -mayors are directly elected in about a third of council-manager plan cities, but they perform mainly ceremonial duties and have no independent executive powers, such as the veto or budget control

What could the governor of the state of California do through the use of the line-item veto?

-use the line-item veto to lower any line-item appropriation in the budget by any amount -eliminate state government entities by reducing their appropriations to $0

What could the governor do with a budget bill passed by the legislature that allocated $6 billion in funding for the California State University system and $8 billion in funding for the University of California system?

-veto the bill in its entirety -reduce the amount of funding for the California State University system to 0$ -reduce the amount of funding for the University of California system to $6 billion

Approximately how many undocumented immigrants have been granted legal California state driver's licenses since 2015?

1,000,000

In June 2014, major studies by Oakland's Pacific Institute, the Natural Resource Defense Council, and researchers from UC Santa Barbara suggested four practical solutions to California's water problems. -Rank each of these suggested solutions by how much water they are predicted to conserve each year, from the lowest predicted amount to the highest.

1. Capturing storm water at homes and business, 2. Reusing treated wastewater for irrigation, landscapes, industry, and recharging ground water basins 3. increasing efficiency in homes and industries by replacing inefficient appliances, reducing waste and leaks, and replacing traditional landscapes with low -water use plants and gardens 4. Increasing efficiency in agriculture through better irrigation techniques and practices

The ____ collects individual budget proposals from state agencies, while the ____ works out any differences between Assembly and Senate budget bills

1. Department of Finance: receives and reviews requests from state agencies and consults the governor during the budgetary process 2. Budget Conference Committee: appointed to work out the differences between the Assembly and Senate budget bills but has become less important since the passage of Proposition 25 in 2010

The first constitution of the state of California was ratified in which year?

1849

While California's constitution includes many ordinary laws, the U.S. Constitution's _____ Amendment concerning the prohibition on alcohol sales was the only experiment in U.S. constitutional history establishing a substantive policy, and it was quickly repealed by the _____ Amendment

18th 21st

In what year did women obtain the right to vote in the state of California?

1911

When was the initiative process added to the California Constitution?

1911 during the Progressive Movement

The number of initiatives qualifying for the ballot more than doubled between the ____ and ____.

1970s 1980s

How many terms can statewide elected officials serve?

2 terms = 8 years

Of the water used in California, ______ percent is for households, business, and industry, while _________ percent is used for agricultural purposes, including irrigation

20% , 80%

Place in order, from lowest to highest, the different levels of the California judiciary system.

3. superior courts: the trial courts of California 2. courts of appeal: cases from superior courts can be appealed to the courts of appeal for review 1. Supreme Court: the highest court in the state; it has discretion over which cases it will hear

Groundwater composes what percentage of the total water used in California in an average year?

35% (On average, 35 percent of the total water used in California is groundwater. In a drought year, pumping groundwater increases as users attempt to compensate for the lack of rain.)

California's total number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives has changed from ____ in 1960 to ______ in 2010.

38 in 1960 53 in 2010

Identify the members of the Assembly Rules Committee

4 members elected by each party's caucus in the state Assembly and a chair appointed by the speaker

How many years are the terms of members of county boards of supervisors?

4-year terms

How many justices must agree with its argument for a party to win its case in the California Supreme Court?

4. a simple majority of the 7 justices must agree

Average levels of voter turnout for different kinds of elections in order from lowest to highest

4. the average voter participation rate in uncontested, one-candidate mayoral elections 3. the average voter participation rate in competitive, two-candidate mayoral elections 2. the state of California's average voter participation rate in recent presidential elections 1. the national average voter participation rate in presidential elections

2015 estimated California's population

40 million

Approximately what percentage of jobs in the state of California will require a college degree by 2030?

40%

Approximately what percentage of Californians under the age of 65 had employer-sponsored health insurance in 2015?

50% (In 2015 about 50 percent of Californians under age 65 had employer-sponsored insurance—that is, they obtained their insurance through their employer, who typically subsidized some of the cost.)

There are ____ superior court divisions and ____ courts of appeal districts in California

58 state trial courts 6 districts in the courts of appeal

If California were a separate country, its economy would be ranked what number in the world?

5th

How many justices sit on the California Supreme Court?

7. 1 Chief Justice, 6 associate justices

What is the baseline state sales tax rate in California?

7.25% Counties or taxing districts are allowed to add between 0.13 and 0.5 percent per local district for local services

What percentage of U.S. residents over age 5 speak English at home?

82%

There are ____ state executive branch agencies and approximately ____ state boards and commissions

85 325

The percentage of Americans who claim they get most of their information about politics from newspapers changed from ____ in 2007 to ____ in 2016

87% 20%

What was the re-election rate for incumbents in the Assembly and state Senate in 2016?

93%

California Senate districts have approximately ____ constituents, and California Assembly districts have approximately ____ constituents

950,000 in Senate 475,000 in Assembly

Which of the following statements about the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) impact on health insurance in California is most accurate?

Although many Californias still do not have health insurance, the ACA has significantly decreased the number of people in the state of California that do not have it.

AB 103

Explicitly prohibits local governments from contracting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house immigrant detainees in local jails.

Which governor said that California represents "an empire of hope and aspiration" in his 2004 State of the State speech?

Arnold Schwarzenegger

How has the power of lobbyists and executive branch bureaucrats to shape policy changed in recent years?

As a result of term limits, lobbyists and bureaucrats now have far greater permanency, experience, and expertise than do legislators. The less experienced and less knowledgeable legislators have become dependent on these individuals for policy details

Best description of councils of government (COGs)

Assemblies of delegates representing a region's counties and cities who meet to discuss common problems. They mainly perform research, planning, and advisory functions and have little or no power or authority to impose their decisions on local jurisdictions

Devolution Revolution

Beginning in the 1970s, local governments were encouraged to solve their own problems using their own revenue rather than relying on state and federal authorities

Which organization contributed the most money to initiative ballot committees in California between 2000 and 2018?

California Teachers Association

Governor Jerry Brown's plan to build two 35-mile-long tunnels to carry water under and around the Delta and to rebuild the Delta levees is called which of the following?

California WaterFix (Proponents argue that the plan would restore wetlands and provide a more reliable source for the 25 million Californians who use the Delta's water. Opponents, however, are concerned about the cost of the tunnels, the possible ecological damage, and the project's financing.)

Prior to 2010, which 3 states required a supermajority to pass their state budgets?

California, Rhode Island, and Arkansas

Proposition 55

Extend tax increases on incomes over $250,000

T/F? All counties in the state of California have roughly the same population

False

Which of the following are reasons why the number of uninsured has been relatively high in California compared to other states?

Correct -California has a relatively low percentage of people who work in large firms. -California has a relatively large percentage of immigrants Incorrect -California's health insurance program for people in poverty, Medi-Cal, was shut down by the passage of the Affordable Care Act. -California citizens are not allowed to enroll in the federal government's Medicare program

Analyze the chart based on the California Household Travel Survey, and then determine which of the following statements are accurate.

Correct -More than two-thirds of trips in California in both the 2000 and 2010-2012 surveys were made as a driver or passenger in a private vehicle. -The percentage of trips made by walking in California more than doubled between the 2000 and 2010-2012 surveys. Incorrect -A larger percentage of trips in California in both the 2000 and 2010-2012 surveys were made by bicycle than by public transportation. The percentage of trips made by driving a private vehicle increased between the 2000 and 2010-2012 surveys.

Which of the following contributed to California's transportation infrastructure problems in recent years?

Correct -Proposition 13 has made it difficult to raise the tax revenues needed to repair or build infrastructure. -Hybrid automobiles have become increasingly popular Incorrect -The state's recent governors have been strongly opposed to new spending on state infrastructure. -Only one agency, Caltrans, controls all of the state's infrastructure funds

Citizens United v. FEC

Court decision that allows corporations and unions nearly complete freedom to spend money during elections as long as they do not coordinate their expenditures with candidates

What is the state of California's health insurance exchange called?

Covered California

Proposition 11

Created an independent "Citizens Redistricting Commission" to take control of redistricting away from the legislature. This weakened political parties by eliminating gerrymandering in the state.

Which statement best characterizes the water rights issued by California's water agencies during the last 100 years?

During the last 100 years, California water agencies have issued water rights for far more water than nature, on average produces (California's freshwater runoff in an average year is about 70 million acre-feet, but since 1914, the state has handed out water rights totaling 370 million acre-feet per year.)

T/F? Registering to vote increases a person's chances of being selected for jury duty and significantly enhances the scrutiny a person receives on their income taxes

False

Proposition 187

Embraced by the Republican Party. A ballot measure that prohibited undocumented individuals from receiving nonemergency medical care, public education, and other services.

Nearly all of the state's airport, harbor and port, transit, water, waste, and hospital districts function as which type of district?

Enterprise districts: are run like businesses and charge user fees for services. In fiscal year 2015-16, the state's enterprise districts generated a total of $21.98 billion in user fees

Nearly two-thirds of California's roads and bridges are poor or structurally deficient.

False (Although a large number of roads and bridges are poor or structurally deficient, it is far less than two-thirds. A 2011 report, for example, found 37 percent of California's roads to be "poor." A 2013 study of the structural quality of California's bridges found that 11.1 percent of California's bridges are structurally deficient.)

Approximately two-thirds of California's students in 2018 met or exceeded the Common Core standards for English language arts/literacy and mathematics.

False (Results of the 2018 statewide standardized testing of students across all grades found that 49.83 percent met or exceeded the English language arts/literacy standard. Eleven percent fewer (38.65 percent) met or exceeded the standard for mathematics.)

The proposed high-speed rail system to connect San Francisco, Sacramento, and Los Angeles has run over budget but is likely to be completed by its originally planned date in 2024.

False (The high-speed rail system was originally projected to cost $68 billion. However, in March 2018 the state revealed that the projected cost would now be at least $77.3 billion and might even exceed $98 billion by its completion. Moreover, it is expected not to be fully operational until 2033.)

T/F? Since the beginning of California's "top-two" primary system in 2010, the vast majority of legislative races in California feature candidates from the same party

False.

T/F? Third parties register less than 2% of voters in all educational groups

False.

T/F? Unlike the federal Constitution, the state of California's constitution contains no protections for freedom of the press.

False.

T/F? Fewer than 10% of Californians fall below the federal government's poverty line

False. 14.3%, this number doesn't take into account California's costs. With these costs in account, California's poverty population is 19.4% in 2016

T/F? California currently has only 3 officially qualified political parties: the Democratic Party, the Republican Party and the American Independent Party

False. 6 qualified parties

T/F? The lines demarcating state Senate districts have remained fixed since 1911

False. After each U.S. Census, the lines demarcating each Senate district are redrawn

T/F? Any person with law degree can serve as a judge or justice in the state of California

False. All potential judges inn California must have at least 10 years of experience practicing law in the state of California or service as a judge of a court of record

T/F? The vast majority of cases heard in California's superior courts are civil cases

False. Almost 80% of the 6.2 million cases heard in California's Superior courts between 2015 and 2016 were criminal in nature. The remaining 20% were civil cases

T/F? Much like the federal government, the state of California is allowed to pass a budget in which expenditures going out are greater than revenues coming in

False. California is required by law to pass a balanced budget every year. This can be particularly tricky in years of recession

T/F? In 1849, California was admitted to the Union as a slave state

False. California was admitted in 1850 as a free state

T/F? The most educated Californians (that is, those with a college or postgraduate degree) are the most likely to be registered with the Republican Party

False. Democratic Party

T/F? The overwhelming majority of California's felony criminal cases are not resolved within 12 months and many continue for two or three years

False. Despite its incredible workload, California's criminal courts typically resolve cases involving felonies within 12 months (85% were resolved in 2015-16)

T/F? California receives more federal funds from the government in Washington D.C. than it pays in federal taxes.

False. Despite receiving many billions in federal funds, California does not get back more from the federal government than it pays in taxes. Federal funds, in general, redistribute money from wealthier states such as California to poorer ones

Why did Gavin Newsom rise to national prominence in 2004?

He directed the city-county clerk to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, in violation of state law. While those marriages were later annulled by the California Supreme Court, the move cemented his popularity in the city

When was Hiram Johnson, a leader of California's Progressive movement, elected governor?

He was elected in 1910. By 1916, the California Progressive Party had disbanded

Between 1980 and 2014, how did the income of median California families change?

It grew by less than 10%, while the income of median U.S. families grew by more than 20%

What did the passage of Proposition 25 (2010) do?

It lowered California's vote requirement, no more supermajority

Which California governor was often parodied as "Governor Moonbeam" because he promoted the establishment of a space academy and the purchase of a communications satellite for the state?

Jerry Brown

What is the role of the judge in cases that are settled through a plea bargain?

Judges determine if the plea bargain is appropriate and if the defendant entered into the plea bargain knowingly

What is California's version of the federal Medicaid plan called?

Medi-cal (Medi-Cal is California's version of the federal Medicaid plan for the poor. Medi-Cal is open to single adults and couples without children who qualify on the basis of poverty.)

Match each health insurance program with its main features.

Medicaid -Paid for by both the federal government and the states -Primarily designed to serve people in poverty Medicare -Paid for with federal funds -Primarily designed to serve senior citizen

NIMBYism

NIMBY is an acronym for "not in my backyard;" it's used to describe opposition by residents to a proposal for a new development close to them. In California, this viewpoint is a common problem that makes building new homes, especially. low-cost homes, difficult

What geographical trend aligns with political identity?

Over the last 40 years, California's coastal regions have become significantly more liberal and aligned with the Democratic Party than the state's inland regions, which have become more conservative and aligned with the Republican Party.

Under current law in California, which of the following statements about owners of zero-emission vehicles is true?

Owners are required to pay a special vehicle fee of $165 per year (Despite some significant hurdles to enacting such a law, the state legislature actually voted to increase revenue for infrastructure projects in 2017 by imposing a $165 fee on all zero-emission vehicles.

Why was the gas tax passed by the state legislature in 2017?

Passed by a Democratic controlled supermajority in the state Assembly and state Senate to fund highway development and repair

Main Purpose of Proposition 140 (1990)

Placing term limits on the legislature

What is a feature of current state law regarding immigration enforcement?

Private employers are prohibited from giving federal immigration workers access to the nonpublic areas of their businesses unless the federal workers have a warrant. (AB 450)

What ballot measure is most responsible for the increased amount of lobbying that local governments engage in at the state level?

Proposition 13

If the state's general fund was $100 billion, what is the minimum amount that the legislature could allocate for K-14 education (in billions of dollars)

Proposition 98 requires that at least 40% of the state's general fund be devoted to K-14 education

Which of the following terms best describes what a government "produces"?

Public policy -The term public policy refers to the actions government takes in various policy areas, such as health, welfare, education, and water.

What is the best explanation why Governors Ronald Reagan and Jerry Brown received more media attention than governors George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson, and Gray Davis?

Reagan and Brown were nationally known political figures and presidential contenders while governors Deukmejian, Wilson, and Davis were not

If your water rights in California stem from the fact that you own a home next to a small lake rather than from a permit given to you by the state's Division of Water Rights, what are your water rights called?

Riparian water rights (Riparian rights are water rights that people have because they own property. There are restrictions on exercising these rights, such as "natural flow" of the water source and requirements that the water source be adjacent to the smallest piece of the property. California and Oklahoma are the only western states to recognize riparian rights.)

felony

Serious crimes: if a person is convicted of a felony, the punishment is incarceration in state prison, or if it is a capital offense, the death penalty. Ex: -burglary or robbery

This company held a monopoly over California's shipping industry and exerted tremendous political influence during the early 1900s

Southern Pacific Railroad

As of November 2018, who is the current Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court?

Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye (appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010)

Troester v. Starbucks

The California Supreme Court ruled that employees regularly performing work off the clock were to be compensated. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that employers were not required to pay employees for working a few minutes off the clock. This illustrated that state courts can offer more protections to workers than those required by the federal government or the U.S. Supreme Court

Which of the following statements best characterizes the project to rebuild the Bay Bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland?

The bridge was finished years behind schedule and cost more than twice the original estimated price

How did the California Supreme Court rule with regard to the levee failure that flooded the town of Linda in 1986?

The court held that the state government was financially liable for the damage because it had not repaired the broken stretch of levee

If the number of votes cast for governor in consecutive gubernatorial elections increased from 10 million to 20 million, what would happen to the number of signatures required to place and initiative on the ballot in the next election?

The number of signatures required would increase from 500,000 to 1 million

Accurate statement about the legislative powers and responsibilities of the governor

The governor is required by the state's constitution to deliver a State of the State address to the legislature at the start of every legislative session

What would happen if a California trial court judge ran for re-election but no one chose to run against them?

The incumbent judge would be automatically re-elected without an election

What is the only position within the state's plural executive created through the initiative process?

The insurance commissioner

jurisdiction

The kind of law handled by a particular court. There are criminal courts that deal with violations of state and local laws, and there are civil courts that hear cases involving disputes between individuals or classes of individuals

When was the largest lobbying expenditure in California?

The largest increase occurred between the 2003-2004 and 2005-2006 sessions

What statement characterizes the impact that California's unique plural elected executive has on its politics?

The state's plural executive means that there are 8 elected independent bases of power that do not report the governor or need to adhere to gubernatorial wishes. This limits the governor's freedom to make and implement policy

Prior to 2014, the state Senate had never suspended any of its members for any reason

True. the senate suspended 3 of its members in 2014 for their participation in a variety of different criminal activities

Proposition 25, which removed the two-thirds vote requirement to pass a budget, and Proposition 11, which took the power to draw the state legislative districts away from the legislature and gave it to a citizens' commission, had what effect?

They have reduced the need for cooperation between the parties and increased the size of Democratic legislative majorities, thus strengthening the governor's ability to lead the state

What role do ratings agencies such as Moody's, Fitch Ratings, and Standard & Poor's play in the California budgeting process?

They release information to the public on how likely California is to repay its bonds. The ratings provided by these agencies determine how costly it is for a state to borrow money from the public in the form of bonds

California's prison guards are currently the highest-paid prison guards in the United States

True

T/F? According to one study, at least 30% of residents in every metropolitan area within California can not afford local rent

True

T/F? All of the state's most populous counties are now charter counties

True

T/F? If you receive medical coverage through Medical-Cal (the name of California's Medicaid program), your health care expenses are partially paid for by the federal government

True

T/F? In the 2016 general election, there were more "early voters" who cast their ballots before Election Day than voters who showed up to vote in person on Election Day.

True

T/F? The California Supreme Court is the only court in the state with discretionary authority?

True

T/F? The Progressive movement viewed political parties as corrupt organizations operating in concert with big corporations to control and manipulate the political system for their own benefit.

True

T/F? The governor has full or shared budget-making power in every state in the country

True

T/F? While 36 states give the governor the power of line-item veto over appropriations bills, only 9 states give the governor the power to exercise the line-item veto for non appropriations bills

True

T/F? While a relatively large proportion of Californians have a college degree compared to the nation as a whole, the state also has a relatively small proportion of people with a high school diploma.

True

sanctuary state

a state that chooses to limit its cooperation with the federal government on the issue of deporting individuals for violating immigration laws

Although agriculture currently uses 80 percent of the state's water, farm production and food processing account for less than 5 percent of the overall California economy.

True (Farm production and food processing currently account for only 2 percent of the state's overall economy, down from 5 percent in 1960.)

Until 2014, California was the only western state in the United States without some level of state regulation of groundwater.

True (In 2014, the state government enacted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The SGMA includes not only guidelines and regulations for the management of groundwater, but also regulatory language for areas that may not have groundwater basin managers.)

The universal health care system proposed under SB 562 (the Healthy California Act) was projected to cost the state approximately $400 billion per year.

True (The health care system created by SB 562 would have cost the state far more each year ($400 billion) than it currently spends on all other areas of the state budget combined (approximately $170 billion a year). Proponents of SB 562 argued that half of the cost would be offset by funds from existing plans at the federal, state, and local levels.)

T/F? California government has grown in size over the past half century.

True. A byproduct of this growth has been that groups need to lobby the state legislature to protect their interests

T/F? The average cost of winning a state Senate seat in California is over 150 times greater than the average cost of winning a state Senate seat in North Dakota

True. California is the costliest state in which to win a state Senate seat. The least expensive is North Dakota

T/F? the last successful initiative in California organized completely by volunteers was passed in 1984

True. California's size makes it so initiatives cannot be exercised now on a statewide level without a great deal of money, organization, and professional help

T/F? Lobbying expenditures more than doubled between the 1993-1994 session and the 2005-2006 session.

True. Expenditures (1993-1994): $233 million Expenditures (2005-2006): $500 million

T/F? More than three-quarters of the cases filed in California's civil courts are resolved through negotiation between the parties and their attorneys

True. In 2015-16, almost 80% of unlimited jurisdiction civil cases were resolved without trial, while 92% of limited jurisdiction civil cases were disposed of before trial

T/F? An easy way to register to vote in California is to go to the DMV and renew your driver's license

True. In 2018, the state rolled out an automatic voter registration policy that automatically registers eligible citizens when they go to the DMV for their driver's license

T/F? Most states give the governor the power to line-item veto for appropriations bills

True. Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Vermont are the only states that do not grant the governor the power of the line-item veto over appropriation bills

T/F? California granted women the right to vote before the passage of the 19th Amendment.

True. It was the 6th state in the country to allow women's suffrage

T/F? Latinos have been significantly more likely to vote for Democratic presidential candidates than have voters in the state overall in every election since 1980

True. Latinos on average are approximately 20% more supportive of Democratic Party candidates than are voters in the state overall

T/F? The vast majority of California cities conduct at-large city council elections rather than district-based city council elections

True. More than 90% of California cities conduct at-large elections

T/F? Elections for all county offices are nonpartisan

True. The Progressive Era reformers enacted nonpartisan elections as a means to insulate the important business of local government from what they saw as the distracting and corrupting influence of partisan politics

T/F? Most states do NOT give the governor unlimited terms in office

True. There are only 14 states in the country that do not impose term limits on governors

T/F? All Californians have the right to an attorney at public expense if they are charged with a felony or misdemeanor and cannot afford an attorney on their own

True. This right applies to citizens of the state and noncitizens alike

T/F? The superintendent of public instruction is elected on a nonpartisan basis in the state of California

True. Unlike the other elected statewide officers in California's plural executive system, the superintendent of public instruction is selected through a nonpartisan election

T/F? There are 4 states in the country that have fewer residents than any one of California's 53 congressional districts

True. Vermont, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Alaska all have fewer residents than a California congressional district

What position did Jerry Brown NOT hold prior to being elected governor in 2010?

United States senator

What is the biggest fiscal problem facing the state?

Voters' willingness to approve propositions that allocate money without providing a funding source. Too often, the requirement to fund these initiatives leaves other programs underfunded

Infrastructure ambivalence refers to which of the following?

While Californians often demand modern infrastructure, they do not want to pay the high environmental and fiscal costs required to produce it

What is an accurate statement about the U.S. Constitution and local governments?

While the powers of both the national government and state governments are discussed in detail, local governments are never mentioned anywhere in the U.S. Constitution

What is the primary reason the Republican Party has lost support in the state of California over the last 3 decades?

Whit and older voters, an important part of the Republican Party Coalition, are a declining percentage of the state's population

What is an example of a swing district?

a congressional district that is composed of 41% Democrats, 39% Republicans, and 19% independent voters

infraction wobbler

a crime that can be punished as either an infraction or a misdemeanor based on the prosecutor's judgement

a bond

a loan in which the investor is lending the government a certain amount of money for a certain length of time at a certain rate of interest

Which theory best describes the functioning of California Politics?

a mixture of pluralist and elitist theory

approval voting laws

a non-rank order system in which the voters are instructed to vote for one or more candidates

at-large elections

elections in which city council members are selected to represent the entire city rather than just one part of the city

Proposition 8

eliminated the rights of same sex couples to marry in California and was passed in 2008. Was later found to be unconstitutional.

oversight

ensuring that the law is carried out by the bureaucracy as the legislature intended and looking out for potential problems in the implementation of policy

Proposition 55

extended Proposition 30's income tax increases for 12 years

Proposition 20

extended the jurisdiction of the Citizens' Redistricting Commission to congressional districts

The ____ includes all state revenues that are not federal funds, special funds, or bond funds

general fund: the largest of the funds in the annual budget

subject to the state sales tax

goods that are manufactured, bought, and sold

Place categories of interest groups in order from the largest amount spent on lobbying to the smallest amount spent on lobbying in 2015-16.

government ($97 million), oil and gas ($38.5 million), agriculture ($9.7 million) , political organizations ($500,000)

Legislative Analyst's Office

government agency that provides a nonpartisan and independent review of the entire state budget each year, including alternative ways to accomplish the same goals and objectives

pluralist theory

government is an impartial actor that makes policy based on the outcome of interest group struggles

The 2014 case Sacramento Nonprofit Collective v. Holder is an example of what?

how recent decisions by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals have rejected the claim that states have special protection from federal law when it comes to medicinal marijuana use

Proposition 52

in favor of locking in Medi-Cal funding

Proposition 56

increase taxes on tobacco

Proposition 30

increases the state's sales tax rate

Citizen Lobbyist

individuals who have an interest in an issue and want to make their view known to public officials

Proposition 198

instituted a blanket primary system in which all voters received a single ballot containing the names of all candidates from all parties

"the spending lobby"

interest groups representing government entities that spend taxpayers' money to lobby the state government for more money to spend on taxpayers

T F The number of interest groups has grown dramatically in California since 1990

true

T/F? A larger percentage of Latinos are ineligible to vote than any other racial or ethnic group in the state

true

T/F? A legislative referendum must be approved by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the legislature before it appears on the ballot

true

T/F? All of the state's most populous counties are now charter counties

true

T/F? Article XIX of the 1879 Constitution banned private and public employment of Chinese workers in the state of California

true

T/F? Between 2105 and 2016, approximately 6,200,000 cases were filed in California superior courts

true

T/F? Following the Supreme Court's 2005 ruling in Gonzales v. Raich, local governments began relying on the U.S. attorney's office to shut down marijuana dispensaries in their cities

true

T/F? For the last 20 years, California has had two Democratic U.S. senators, and the Democratic Party has controlled the state legislature

true

T/F? In 2015-2016, 80% of cases in the California court system were infractions, and only 4% were felonies

true

T/F? In April 2016, Governor Brown signed a landmark bill that promised to increase the state's hourly minimum wage every year for the next seven years.

true

T/F? Over the last 30 years, state spending on higher education has declined while stating spending on corrections has increased

true

T/F? Prior to 2016, the legislature did not have the authority to suspend a member's pay and privileges

true

T/F? State Senate districts have, on average, grown to include larger and larger numbers of people over time.

true

T/F? State Senate districts in 2001 were drawn to ensure that each district included roughly the same number of residents

true

T/F? The Democratic Party typically registers more voters than the Republican Party in coastal counties

true

T/F? The percentage of voters in California who are Latino has increased in every presidential election between 1980 and 2016.

true

T/F? There are very few counties in the state where the parties have roughly the same number of registered voters

true

T/F? a plurality of voters in every educational group are registered with the Democratic Party

true

T/F? the propensity to register as an independent with no part preference is highest Amon the least educated (that is, those with a high school degree or less)

true

T/F? Term limits have made it more difficult for the governor to exert influence over state legislators

true. mean that state legislators do not have a long-term commitment to the governing process

What fraction of votes of the absolute number of legislators in both houses of the state legislature is required to raise or lower any tax level?

two-thirds

The U.S. Constitution is far more difficult to amend than California's constitution, requiring a ____ majority vote in the House and Senate followed by ratification by ____ of the states

two-thirds three-fourths

not subject to the state sales tax

unlike many other states, California does not subject services to the state sales tax

Proposition 34 (2000)

was approved by a strong majority of voters and passed with close to 60% of the popular vote

While more than 35% of Californians of all age groups are registered ____, middle-aged Californians (35 to 54) are more than twice as likely as younger Californians (18 to 34) and older Californians (55 and over) to be registered ____.

with the Democratic Party with third parties