California Politics: A Primer

About the Author
Preface
1. Introduction
	Principles for Understanding California Politics
2. Critical Junctures
	Early California
	The Rise of the Southern Pacific Railroad
	Progressivism
	The Power of Organized Interests
	Growth and Industrialization in the Golden State
	The Initiative Process Takes Hold
	Hyperdiversity in a Modern State
	Recalling a Governor
	Pushing Ahead With More Reforms
	The Return of Jerry Brown
	Conclusion: Political Earthquakes and Evolving Institutions
3. Direct Democracy
	The Statewide Initiative Process
		Preparation Stage: Drafting, Public Review, and Titling
		Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification
		Campaign Stage: Persuading Potential Voters
		Postelection Stage: Court Challenges and Implementation
		The Power of the Initiative Process
	Referendum
	Recall
	Direct Democracy at the Local Level
	Conclusion: The Perils and Promises of Hybrid Democracy
4. The State Legislature
	Design, Purpose, and Function of the Legislature
	California Representatives at Work
		Lawmaking and Policymaking
		Annual Budgeting
		Constituency Service and Outreach
		Executive Branch Oversight
	Leaders
	Conclusion: Of the People, for the People
5. The Executive Branch
	California’s Plural Executive
	California’s Governor
		Head of State
		Chief Executive
		Legislative Powers
		Budgeting Power
		Chief of Security
		Sources of Power
	The Constitutional Executive Officers
	Administrators and Regulators
	Conclusion: Leading State Government
6. The Court System
	The Three-Tiered Court System
	On and Off the Court
	Court Administration
	Juries
	Criminal Justice and Its Costs
	Conclusion: Access to Justice
7. Other Governments
	County Government
	Municipal Governments
	Special Districts
	School Districts
	Regional Governments
	Federalism
	Tribal Governments
	Conclusion: The State’s Interlocking Systems
8. The California Budget Process
	California Budgeting 101
	Mechanics of Budgeting: Revenue
	Mechanics of Budgeting: Expenditures, Deficits, and Debt
	Political Constraints on Budgeting
	Tax Burden: Highest in the Nation?
	Conclusion: Budgeting Under Variable Conditions
9. Political Parties, Elections, and Campaigns
	Democratic Stronghold, but Weakly Partisan
	Party in the California Electorate
	Party in Government
	Party Organizations
	Elections: Continuity and Change
	California Campaigns
	Conclusion: A Complex Electorate
10. Political Engagement
	Citizens and Politics
	Predictors of Political Participation and Disengagement
	The Five Californias
		One Percent
		Elite Enclave
		Main Street
		Struggling
		Disenfranchised
	News and Media Habits
	Types of Political Participation
	Major Voting Trends
	Special Interest Groups: Indirectly Connecting Citizens to Government
	Conclusion: An Evolving Political Community
11. Concluding Thoughts
Notes
Index