Power and Politics in California

by DeBow, Ken; Syer, John C.

• ISBN13: 9780321355997
• ISBN10: 0321355997
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

California has recently experienced a "political earthquake" and the emergence of the "Era of Arnold." The eighth edition of Power and Politics in California examines why these events occurred, and where they are leading California in the context of longer-term institutional and procedural dilemmas surrounding California politics.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Political Earthquake: California Enters the Era of Arnold	1	(28)
A Governorship ``Terminated''	2	(4)
Recalling Governor Davis: What Were Voters Saying, and What Did They Get?	5	(1)
Is California Governable? Some Longer-Term Concerns	6	(2)
Politics By Initiative	8	(2)
Demographics	10	(1)
Economics	11	(3)
The Macro View	11	(1)
A Micro View	12	(2)
California Politics on the National Stage	14	(3)
Hurray for Hollywood!	14	(1)
In the Limelight and Setting the Trend	15	(2)
Political Disunity	17	(1)
Limitless Demands and Limited Resources	18	(5)
Water Wars	18	(5)
Urban Sprawl	23	(1)
Institutional Change	23	(3)
Political Structures---How Can They Be Changed?	24	(1)
Piecemeal Constitutional Change	25	(1)
A Political Response	26	(1)
Summary	26	(1)
References	27	(2)
California's Political History	29	(24)
California Before the Gold Rush	29	(2)
U.S. Military Occupation	30	(1)
California's First Constitution	31	(1)
The Big Four	32	(2)
California's Second Constitution	34	(1)
Progressivism in California	35	(4)
Depression Era Politics	39	(1)
Earl Warren and the Politics of Nonpartisanship	39	(2)
The End of Republican Dominance	41	(1)
California Governorship: No Experience Necessary	41	(3)
California Governorship: Return of the Professionals	44	(1)
A New Governor Reaches for the Political Center	45	(4)
Entrance and Departure of Gray Davis	49	(1)
Summary	50	(1)
References	51	(2)
Interest Group Power in California	53	(18)
Influencing Strategies	54	(3)
Campaign Contributions	54	(1)
Appointment Politics	55	(1)
Lobbying	55	(1)
Public Relations and Media Use	56	(1)
Initiative, Referendum, and Recall	56	(1)
Legal Action	56	(1)
Protest	57	(1)
Lobbying in California	57	(8)
Rise of Megalobbying	59	(1)
Inside Lobbying	60	(3)
Outside Lobbying	63	(2)
Money and Power: The Sacramento Connection	65	(2)
Interest Group Power: Good for the Political System?	67	(1)
Regulation of Lobbyists and Interest Groups	68	(2)
Summary	70	(1)
References	70	(1)
The Politics of Diversity	71	(20)
Native Americans	72	(3)
Casino Politics	74	(1)
Latino/Hispanic Americans	75	(2)
How Much Strength in Numbers?	76	(1)
Asian/Pacific Americans	77	(2)
African Americans	79	(3)
Women and Politics	82	(2)
Lesbian and Gay Politics	84	(2)
Diversity and the Future	86	(2)
Summary	88	(1)
References	89	(2)
Political Parties and Media: Linking the Public to the Process	91	(24)
California as a Weak Party State	91	(6)
Party Rank and File: Instability as the Norm	94	(3)
Tilting at Windmills? California's Minor Parties	97	(3)
Why Do Minor Parties Keep Trying?	99	(1)
Major-Party Voters: Who Are the Republicans and Democrats?	100	(4)
Electoral Activists: Official	104	(1)
Electoral Activists: Unofficial	105	(1)
Strengthening Parties: Can It and Should It Be Done?	106	(2)
The Power of Media	108	(5)
Covering the Capital	108	(2)
Access to Newsmakers	110	(1)
What Is Newsworthy?	111	(1)
A Creative Tension?	112	(1)
Editorial Influence	112	(1)
Summary	113	(1)
References	113	(2)
Elections in California	115	(32)
The California Voter	115	(5)
The Absentee Voter	119	(1)
California and Direct Democracy	120	(7)
The Recall	120	(4)
Initiative and Referendum	124	(3)
Government by Initiative	127	(8)
Drafting Stage	130	(1)
Qualifying Stage	130	(1)
Campaigning Stage	131	(2)
The Voters' Choice	133	(1)
Judicial Review	134	(1)
Electioneering, California Style	135	(2)
Polling	136	(1)
Endorsements	137	(1)
Campaign Media	137	(4)
Direct Mail	137	(1)
Television Commercials	138	(1)
Free Media	139	(2)
The High Costs of Elections: Can Anything Be Done	141	(4)
Campaign Disclosure	142	(1)
Campaign Contribution Limits	142	(3)
Summary	145	(1)
References	145	(2)
The California Legislature	147	(24)
Legislative Districts	148	(2)
Legislative Functions	150	(3)
Lawmaking	151	(1)
Budget Passage	152	(1)
Confirmations	152	(1)
Constituent Relations	152	(1)
Oversight	153	(1)
The Legislative Process	153	(2)
Powers of Leadership	155	(5)
Assembly Speaker	155	(3)
Assembly Rules Committee	158	(1)
President of the Senate	158	(1)
President Pro Tempore of the Senate	158	(1)
Senate Rules Committee	159	(1)
Leadership Selection	160	(3)
Assembly	160	(3)
Senate	163	(1)
Legislative Staff	163	(1)
Term Limits	164	(3)
Is an Amateur Legislature the Solution?	167	(2)
Are There Other Feasible Reforms Out There?	169	(1)
Summary	170	(1)
References	170	(1)
The Executive Branch	171	(24)
Elected Executives	173	(7)
Appointed Executives	180	(1)
The Governor's Powers	181	(3)
Budget and Veto	181	(1)
Appointments	182	(1)
Beyond Formal Powers	183	(1)
Gubernatorial Contrasts	184	(8)
Ronald Reagan	184	(1)
Edmund G. ``Jerry'' Brown, Jr.	185	(1)
George ``Duke'' Deukmejian	186	(1)
Pete Wilson	187	(2)
Gray Davis	189	(2)
Arnold Schwarzenegger	191	(1)
Summary	192	(1)
References	193	(2)
Budgetary Politics in California	195	(22)
The Budget Cycle	197	(8)
Executive Preparation	197	(4)
Legislative Amendment	201	(2)
Line-Item Veto	203	(2)
Revenue Sources	205	(1)
Are Californians Heavily Taxed?	205	(1)
Where Does the Money Go?	206	(1)
An Era of Permanent Budget Crisis?	207	(5)
Revenue Constraints	208	(1)
Increased demands for State Spending	209	(2)
Ballot Box Budgeting	211	(1)
Budget Reform	212	(2)
Summary	214	(1)
References	214	(3)
The California Judiciary	217	(18)
A Changed Judicial System	219	(6)
Superior Courts	219	(1)
Courts of Appeal	220	(1)
Supreme Court	220	(5)
Judicial Selection	225	(1)
The Judicial Bureaucracy	226	(3)
Lobbying the Judiciary	229	(1)
The Administration of Criminal Justice	230	(3)
Corrections System	231	(2)
Summary	233	(1)
References	233	(2)
Local Government in California	235	(16)
County Governments	236	(4)
Municipal Governments	240	(2)
The Progressives' Vision for Municipal Government	241	(1)
Special Districts	242	(1)
Regional Governments	243	(2)
The Structural Debates	245	(2)
The Local Fiscal Crunch	247	(2)
Coping with Fiscal Woes: The Locals Get Creative	248	(1)
Summary	249	(1)
References	250	(1)
Glossary of Key Terms	251	(4)
Index	255