California Politics and Government A Practical Approach

by Gerston, Larry N.; Christensen, Terry

• ISBN13: 9780495006787
• ISBN10: 0495006785
• Edition: 9th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-12-19
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

CALIFORNIA POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT is a brief "nuts and bolts" book with contemporary examples that offer students a real life view of politics while illustrating the complex principles at work in California Government. In addition to introducing California's complex political system to students, major issues as economics, education, and immigration are discussed as along with their impact on California politics. Coverage of interests groups, campaigns and state/federal relations is particularly notable. Furthermore, the text integrates public policy coverage throughout the text, instead of consigning it to individual chapters-making connections and focusing students on the real impacts and practical effects of legislation and other government activities on their lives.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. viii
About the Authors	p. x
California's People, Economy, and Politics: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow	p. 1
Colonization, Rebellion, and Statehood	p. 2
Railroads, Machines, and Reform	p. 3
The Workingmen's Party	p. 4
The Progressives	p. 4
The Great Depression and World War II	p. 6
Postwar Politics	p. 7
California Today	p. 9
Into the Future	p. 13
Notes	p. 13
Learn More on the World Wide Web	p. 14
Learn More at the Library	p. 14
Political Parties and Direct Democracy: Too Much Democracy?	p. 15
The Progressive Legacy	p. 16
Party Organization-Structure and Supporters	p. 17
Direct Democracy	p. 21
Legislative "Initiatives," Constitutional Amendments, and Bonds	p. 23
Political Parties, Direct Democracy, and California Politics	p. 27
Notes	p. 27
Learn More on the World Wide Web	p. 27
Learn More at the Library	p. 28
Voters, Candidates, Campaigns, and the Media: Mixing Money and Marketing	p. 29
The Voters	p. 30
The Candidates	p. 31
Campaigning California Style	p. 34
What the Money Buys	p. 35
Reporting on California Politics	p. 38
Elections, Campaigns, and the Media	p. 41
Notes	p. 41
Learn More on the World Wide Web	p. 42
Learn More at the Library	p. 42
Interest Groups: The Power Behind the Dome	p. 43
The Evolution of Group Power in California	p. 44
The Groups	p. 45
Techniques and Targets: Interest Groups at Work	p. 48
Regulating Groups	p. 52
Notes	p. 53
Learn More on the World Wide Web	p. 54
Learn More at the Library	p. 54
The Legislature: The Perils of Policy Making	p. 55
The Making and Unmaking of a Model Legislature	p. 56
How a Bill Becomes a Law	p. 62
Other Factors	p. 66
Unfinished Business	p. 66
Notes	p. 67
Learn More on the World Wide Web	p. 68
Learn More at the Library	p. 68
Courts, Judges, and Politics: California Law	p. 69
The California Court System	p. 70
The Courts at Work	p. 73
Running the Courts	p. 75
The High Court as a Political Battleground	p. 76
Courts and the Politics of Crime	p. 79
Politics and the Courts	p. 80
Notes	p. 81
Learn More on the World Wide Web	p. 81
Learn More at the Library	p. 81
The Executive Branch: Coping with Fragmented Authority	p. 82
The Governor: First Among Equals	p. 83
The Supporting Cast	p. 89
The Bureaucracy	p. 92
Making the Pieces Fit	p. 93
Notes	p. 94
Learn More on the World Wide Web	p. 95
Learn More at the Library	p. 95
Taxing and Spending: Budgetary Politics and Policies	p. 96
The Budgetary Process	p. 97
Revenue Sources	p. 99
Spending	p. 103
Modern State Budgets: Too Little, Too Much, or Just Right?	p. 107
Notes	p. 108
Learn More on the World Wide Web	p. 108
Learn More at the Library	p. 108
Local Government: Politics at the Grassroots	p. 109
Counties and Cities	p. 110
Power in the City: Council Members, Managers, and Mayors	p. 113
Executive Power	p. 115
More Governments	p. 116
Direct Democracy in Local Politics	p. 118
Local Limits	p. 121
Notes	p. 121
Learn More on the World Wide Web	p. 122
Learn More at the Library	p. 122
State-Federal Relations: Conflict, Cooperation, and Chaos	p. 123
California's Clout with the President	p. 124
California's Clout with Congress	p. 125
Terrorism	p. 126
Immigration	p. 127
Air Pollution	p. 129
Water	p. 131
Shared Resources	p. 131
Changed Rules, New Directions	p. 132
Notes	p. 133
Learn More on the World Wide Web	p. 134
Learn More at the Library	p. 134
Glossary	p. 135
Index	p. 140
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