Synopses & Reviews
Thoroughly updated with the coverage of the 2008 elections, the Fifth Edition of CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT offers a balanced exploration of the institutional and behavioral aspects of the state's political foundations. Not only does this text fulfill the state politics requirement of the Cal State University system, but its comparative perspective and attention to issues of ethnicity make it a valuable complement to any general government text. Pedagogical features include a glossary of terms specific to the state of California, chapter-opening epigrams, and an extensive Notes section at the end of the text.
Synopsis
Thoroughly updated with coverage of the 2008 elections, this easy-to-use text offers a balanced exploration of the institutional and behavioral aspects of the state's political foundations.
About the Author
John L. Korey has taught American and California Politics at California Polytechnic University for nearly forty years. Korey has presented numerous conference papers and written many articles on California politics.
Table of Contents
1. "America, Only More So" California and the Nation Population Trends Democracy, California Style 2. The State Constitution and Direct Democracy A Different Sort of Document Historical Background Direct Democracy Changing the Constitution The Continuing Controversy 3. Public Opinion and the Media How People Think About Politics Is California Different? Regions Ethnicity The Media 4. Political Parties and Interest Groups Parties Interest Groups 5. Campaigns and Elections Partisan Versus Nonpartisan Elections Statewide Elections Other Local Elections Registration The Ballot Absentee Voting Voting Turnout Ethnicity and Voting Parties and Elections Campaign Finance Campaign-Management Firms 6. The State Legislature Redistricting Membership Leadership Lawmaking The Role of Parties Back to the Future? 7. The State's Plural Executive Governor Lieutenant Governor Attorney General Secretary of State Insurance Commissioner Superintendent of Public Instruction Treasurer Controller Board of Equalization Organization of the Executive Branch The State Civil Service Streamlining the Plural Executive 8. The Judicial Process Court Structure Judicial Selection Removal of Judges Accountability Versus Independence Courts, Constitutions, and Federalism The Criminal Justice System 9. Local Governments and Tribal Governments Local Governments and the State General-Purpose Governments Special-Purpose Governments Direct Democracy in Local Government Contracting Councils of Governments Reorganizing Local Government Tribal Governments and California Politics 10. Financing California Government Trade-offs Overview: California and Other States Compared Budgetary Constraints State Government Finance Local Government Finance