Politics and Government in California

1. The California Phenomenon. Geography. Demography. Sociology and Culture. Economy. Ecology. Political Power. 2. The Development of California Politics and Government. The Forced Birth of the Great State of California. A Constitutional Statehood. Economic and Class Conflicts - The Constitution of 1879. Constitutional Revision. The Progressive Versus the Railroad Magnates. Living High Before the Crash. World War II: The National Government Revives the California Boom. 1842 - 1866: Era of the Moderate Progressives. Reagan: Anomaly or Portent of a Conservative Trend? Edmund G. Brown, Jr., and the Politics of Limitation. The 1978 Gubernatorial Election. Jerry Brown's Record. 3. The Politics of the 1980s into the 1990s. Elections in 1980s. Elections of the 1990s. Political Parties. Interesting Groups. Lobbying. 4. Voters, Nominations, and Elections. Who May vote. Voter Participation. Who May Run for Office? Primary Elections. The November General Election. California's Ballot Form. The Administration of Elections. Campaigns. 5. Referendum, Initiative, and Recall: Democracy Through Petition. Referendum by Petition. Direct Initiative. Initiative and Referendum in Counties and Cities. Evaluation of the Initiative and Referendum. Recall. 6. The Legislature. The Composition and Structure. Reappointment - Controversies and Plans. Qualifications, Terms, and Compensation. Members of the Legislature. Sessions. Legislative Reorganization. Legislative Action. Evaluating the California legislature. 7. The Executive Administration. The Governor. The Lieutenant Governor. The Attorney General. The Secretary of State. The Controller. The Treasurer. The Beard of Equalization. The Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Insurance Commissioner. The Administrative Branch. 8. The Judiciary. Organization, Jurisdiction, and Personnel. The Case of Rose Bird. The Lucas and George Courts. The Administration of Justice. Improving the Administration of Justice. Getting Tough on Crime. 9. Local Government in California. Relation of the Local Units to the State Government. The County. The City. The City and County of San Francisco. The Case of Los Angeles. Special Districts. Regional Government. Citizen Participation. 10. Financing California Government. State Revenue: Where the Money Comes From. State Expenditures: Where the Money Goes. The Budget Process. The Gann Spending Limitation. Financing Local Government. The Tax Revolt: Proposition. 11. Economic Growth and Quality of Life. Water Pollution Issues. Air Pollution. Transportation. Earthquakes. 12. Major Political and Social Issues. The Situation of Racial Minorities. Gay Rights. Education. Immigration. The Homeless. [read more]