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More About This Textbook
Overview
Taking a unique nuts-and-bolts approach, CALIFORNIA POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT gives insight into real-life politics as it vividly illustrates the complex principles at work in state government. Current examples and clear explanations give readers a solid understanding of the ins and outs of California government. Thoroughly updated, the new edition addresses many complex economic, social, education, and immigration issues and their impact on state politics. It includes new court cases, updates on the ongoing budget crisis, coverage of the 2012 elections, changes in government regulations, and more. In addition, public policy coverage is thoroughly integrated throughout the text, helping readers make connections and see firsthand the impact and practical applications of government and legislation in their own lives.
Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
"Overall, it is an excellent text, concise, accessible, and up to date with a fair, neutral perspective.""The greatest stength of the book is its coverage of most of the key areas of California government, and its compatability with my class. The charts and diagrams are great too."
Product Details
Related Subjects
Meet the Author
Larry N. Gerston, professor emeritus of political science at San Jose State University, interacts with the political process as both an author and an observer. As an author, he has written ten academic books in addition to CALIFORNIA POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT: A PRACTICAL APPROACH, including MAKING PUBLIC POLICY: FROM CONFLICT TO RESOLUTION (1983), POLITICS IN THE GOLDEN STATE (with Terry Christensen, 1984), THE DEREGULATED SOCIETY (with Cynthia Fraleigh and Robert Schwab, 1988), AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: POLITICS, PROCESS AND POLICIES (1993), PUBLIC POLICY: PROCESS AND PRINCIPLES (1987), PUBLIC POLICYMAKING IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY: A GUIDE TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT (2002), RECALL! CALIFORNIA'S POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE (with Terry Christensen, 2004), AMERICAN FEDERALISM: A CONCISE INTRODUCTION (2007), CONFRONTING REALITY: TEN ISSUES THREATENING TO IMPLODE AMERICAN SOCIETY AND HOW WE CAN FIX IT (2009), and NOT SO GOLDEN AFTER ALL: THE RISE AND FALL OF CALIFORNIA (2012). As an observer, Gerston serves as the political analyst for NBC11, a San Francisco Bay Area television station, where he appears on a regular basis. He has written more than a hundred op-ed pieces for newspapers throughout the nation and speaks often on issues such as civic engagement and personal political empowerment.
Terry Christensen is a San Jose State University Professor Emeritus of Political Science. Among his other awards for scholarship and service to the university, he was named Outstanding Professor in 1998. He is the author or co-author of nine books and frequent newspaper op-ed pieces. Local and national media regularly call on him for analysis of politics in California and Silicon Valley. In addition to other books co-authored with Larry Gerston, his works include PROJECTING POLITICS: POLITICAL MESSAGES IN AMERICAN FILMS (with Peter Haas, 2005), and LOCAL POLITICS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GOVERNING AT THE GRASSROOTS (with Tom Hogen-Esch, 2006). Christensen is experienced in practical politics at the local level as an advocate of policy proposals, an adviser to grassroots groups, and an adviser and mentor to candidates for local office—many of whom are his former students. He has served on numerous civic committees and commissions. He was the founding executive director of CommUniverCity San Jose (www.communivercitysanjose.org), a partnership between the City of San Jose, San Jose State University, and adjacent neighborhoods. Through CommUniverCity hundreds of students are learning about life and politics in their community through service projects selected by neighborhood residents and supported by the city.
Table of Contents
Preface viii
About the Authors x
California's People, Economy, and Politics: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow 1
Colonization, Rebellion, and Statehood 2
Railroads, Machines, and Reform 3
The Workingmen's Party 4
The Progressives 4
The Great Depression and World War II 6
Postwar Politics 7
California Today 9
Into the Future 13
Notes 13
Learn More on the World Wide Web 14
Learn More at the Library 14
Political Parties and Direct Democracy: Too Much Democracy? 15
The Progressive Legacy 16
Party Organization-Structure and Supporters 17
Direct Democracy 21
Legislative "Initiatives," Constitutional Amendments, and Bonds 23
Political Parties, Direct Democracy, and California Politics 27
Notes 27
Learn More on the World Wide Web 27
Learn More at the Library 28
Voters, Candidates, Campaigns, and the Media: Mixing Money and Marketing 29
The Voters 30
The Candidates 31
CampaigningCalifornia Style 34
What the Money Buys 35
Reporting on California Politics 38
Elections, Campaigns, and the Media 41
Notes 41
Learn More on the World Wide Web 42
Learn More at the Library 42
Interest Groups: The Power Behind the Dome 43
The Evolution of Group Power in California 44
The Groups 45
Techniques and Targets: Interest Groups at Work 48
Regulating Groups 52
Notes 53
Learn More on the World Wide Web 54
Learn More at the Library 54
The Legislature: The Perils of Policy Making 55
The Making and Unmaking of a Model Legislature 56
How a Bill Becomes a Law 62
Other Factors 66
Unfinished Business 66
Notes 67
Learn More on the World Wide Web 68
Learn More at the Library 68
Courts, Judges, and Politics: California Law 69
The California Court System 70
The Courts at Work 73
Running the Courts 75
The High Court as a Political Battleground 76
Courts and the Politics of Crime 79
Politics and the Courts 80
Notes 81
Learn More on the World Wide Web 81
Learn More at the Library 81
The Executive Branch: Coping with Fragmented Authority 82
The Governor: First Among Equals 83
The Supporting Cast 89
The Bureaucracy 92
Making the Pieces Fit 93
Notes 94
Learn More on the World Wide Web 95
Learn More at the Library 95
Taxing and Spending: Budgetary Politics and Policies 96
The Budgetary Process 97
Revenue Sources 99
Spending 103
Modern State Budgets: Too Little, Too Much, or Just Right? 107
Notes 108
Learn More on the World Wide Web 108
Learn More at the Library 108
Local Government: Politics at the Grassroots 109
Counties and Cities 110
Power in the City: Council Members, Managers, and Mayors 113
Executive Power 115
More Governments 116
Direct Democracy in Local Politics 118
Local Limits 121
Notes 121
Learn More on the World Wide Web 122
Learn More at the Library 122
State-Federal Relations: Conflict, Cooperation, and Chaos 123
California's Clout with the President 124
California's Clout with Congress 125
Terrorism 126
Immigration 127
Air Pollution 129
Water 131
Shared Resources 131
Changed Rules, New Directions 132
Notes 133
Learn More on the World Wide Web 134
Learn More at the Library 134
Glossary 135
Index 140