TEST BANK AND STUDY GUIDE TO ACCOMPANY CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY THIRTEENTH EDITION BY MONA FIELD Glendale Community College 1
Test Bank and Study Guide to accompany California Government and Politics Today, Thirteenth Edition, by Field Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Instructors may reproduce portions of this book for classroom use only. All other reproductions are strictly prohibited without prior permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 10 09 08 Longman is an imprint of www.pearsonhighered.com ISBN: 0205801544 2
TEST BANK CHAPTER ONE 1. Discuss the relationship of the federal and state governments. Which tasks are allocated to the states? 2. Discuss population growth in California, including the history and the range of attitudes about population growth. Express your personal views and substantiate them with evidence. 3. Explain how economic events and federal policies have impacted Californians. CHAPTER TWO 1. Explain the importance of California s location and geography in the state s history and development. 2. Give an overview of ethnic diversity in California and explain the social and political impacts. 3. Discuss the cultural and political attitudes in California and share your views on the issues of today. CHAPTER THREE 1. Explain California s historical turning points. Select three events that helped shape the state and explore them. 2. Clarify the role of scapegoating throughout California history. Identify the ethnic or cultural communities that have been targets and why. 3. Compare and contrast the United States Constitution with the California State Constitution. Explain how California guarantees a higher level of democracy and freedom. CHAPTER FOUR 1. Clarify the relationship between individual freedom and social equality. Do they always conflict? 2. What are the challenges facing Californians in providing public education? 3. Define the monocultural electorate and discuss how it is changing and why. 3
CHAPTER FIVE 1. Explain why state politics are not given much media attention. How does this impact public policy at the state level? 2. Evaluate the role of business and labor in political advocacy. Which groups have which tools for influencing political outcomes? 3. Explain the tools and activities used by special interest groups to impact public policy. CHAPTER SIX 1. Discuss the decline in voter affiliation with the two major parties. What are some causes and consequences? 2. Describe some of the nonpartisan issue-oriented organizations and how their members contribute to the political process. 3. What are some issues of daily life that motivate people to get politically active? What issues might cause you to get involved? CHAPTER SEVEN 1. Describe some of the expenses in a political campaign. Why does money play such a large role in elections? 2. Explain the three forms of direct democracy and their historic origins. Does today s direct democracy fulfill the original goals? 3. Discuss the consequences of the gap between the actual population of the state and the electorate. How does this gap impact policy? CHAPTER EIGHT 1. Discuss how the drawing of legislative district lines contributes to the partisan battles in Sacramento. How might this process be improved? 2. Describe how an idea becomes a law. What forces interact during this process? 3. Describe some recent laws enacted by the Legislature and signed by the governor. What interest groups supported or opposed those laws during the legislative process? 4
CHAPTER NINE 1. Explain the governor s most important powers and how they impact California. 2. Discuss at least three state boards or commissions that impact your life. What role does the governor play in these boards and their decisions? 3. Explain the office-block ballot and how California elects its executive officers. How does the current system impact the policy process? CHAPTER TEN 1. Describe the timeline and the key decision-makers involved in the state budget process and explain the role of special interest groups, both public and private. 2. Discuss California s tax structure. Who has the option to alter this? What is the role of borrowing in California s state budget and services? 3. Describe the key features of Proposition 13 (1978) and its long-term impacts on California s budget and services. CHAPTER ELEVEN 1. Compare and contrast the selection of judges in California with the system used by the federal government. How do California voters participate in judicial selection? 2. Describe the role of the governor in judicial selection. Discuss the way a list of possible judicial appointees is developed. 3. Explain the three levels of courts in the state. Discuss the process by which a case moves from one level to another. CHAPTER TWELVE 1. Discuss the issues facing California s prison system. How do these issues impact all Californians? 2. Compare types of crimes, including white collar crimes, and discuss the impact on the people of California. 3. Explain the civil and criminal justice systems and their specific purposes. 5
CHAPTER THIRTEEN 1. Compare and contrast the two types of city government. Discuss the roles of council, mayor and city manager. 2. Describe the two types of city elections. What are the pros and cons of each system? What are some emerging alternatives? 3. Discuss the role of interest groups in city politics. Describe some typical areas of conflict. CHAPTER FOURTEEN 1. Explain the difference between unincorporated areas and cities. What services do both get from the county government? 2. Describe the role of K-12 and community college districts. What are their sources of funding? Discuss the governance structures of these education districts. 3. Compare and contrast the two types of regional agencies. Which issues do they handle? CHAPTER FIFTEEN 1. What are some of California s top challenges? What solutions have been proposed? 2. Discuss the ethnic diversity of California and its implications for future generations in the state. 3. How does the class gap impact California s economy and society? 6
STUDENT STUDY GUIDE CHAPTERS 1-3 1. Describe California s economic and political situation. (p. 1-3) 2. What is the future population of California? Why is this significant? (2) 3. What is the significance of California s two-tiered society? (2) 4. What is California s political status in relation to national politics? (3) 5. Describe some areas of daily life which are controlled by state politics. (3) 6. What are three factors that determine the outcome of initiatives? (4) 7. Define federalism. Which powers belong to the national government and which to the states? (4-5) 8. Define unitary government. Discuss the authority of local government. (4) 9. What are some impacts of federal government decisions on California? (4) 10. How large is California geographically? How does it compare to other states and other countries? (8) 11. Discuss the economic and political impacts of California s location. (10-11) 12. Discuss the major industries in California based on natural resources and their political influence. How much of the land in California is owned by various levels of government? (11) 13. Explain the social, cultural, and economic characteristics of California s diverse population. (10-12) 14. Define political culture. Discuss that of California. (15) 15. What are some of the state s problems? How are their effects manifested in the political process? (15-16) 16. Define conservative and liberal. Which political party is linked to which political philosophy? (16-17) 17. Why do we have so little information on the way of life of the state s original residents? (20) 18. Who colonized California? How did they treat the native people? (20-21) 19. Define manifest destiny. Explain how the U.S. gained control of California from Mexico. What happened to the Californios? (21) 20. What is the legacy of the Spanish and Mexican periods in California? (21-22) 21. Explain why, how, and when California became a state. What was the importance of the compromise enacted by Congress? (21) 22. Discuss the role of scapegoating in California s history. (23) 23. Discuss the legacy of the Progressive movement in California. Define nonpartisan and direct democracy. (23) 24. Describe key political and economic events of the twentieth century and their impact on California. (24-25) 25. Explain how the elected lawmakers share power with voters. (25) 26. Compare and contrast California s constitution with the federal one. (25) 27. How can the voters of California amend the state constitution? (25-26) CHAPTERS 4-6 1. Define civil liberties. What is their relationship to government? (p. 28) 2. Discuss the difference between civil liberties and civil rights. (28) 3. Explain the conflicts between personal freedoms, corporate profits, and public needs. Give examples. (29) 4. Give a brief history of ethnic discrimination in California. (29-31) 7
5. Define demographic shift. What is the role of the citizenship, the franchise, and financial influence in elections in ethnic empowerment efforts? (33-35) 6. Why are some ethnic communities less effective politically? (33-35) 7. Explain how ethnic groups can be underrepresented. (33-35) 8. Discuss how women and gays are politically represented. (35) 9. How did the election of Gov. Schwarzenneger link media to politics? (38) 10. How do people form their political attitudes? (38) 11. How and why do newspapers inform us more fully than TV news? (39) 12. Describe image-making and its importance in California politics. (39) 13. Define interest groups. What are some of the larger private sector pressure groups? What can you learn from the table on page 34? (40-41) 14. Explain the difference between interest groups and PACs. (40) 15. Give examples of less affluent interest groups. (42) 16. How and why do interest groups lobby government? (40-43) 17. What activities does lobbying include? (43) 18. How have term limits for legislators changed lobbying? (43) 19. How can individuals track the influence of lobbying? (44) 20. Give examples of lobbies that anyone can join. (Appendix A) 21. Discuss the party affiliations and loyalty of elected officials. (47-48) 22. Why are political parties weaker in California than in other states? (48-49) 23. How many offices are elected in California? How many are partisan? (48) 24. Discuss party affiliation, loyalty, and the role of swing voters. (48-49) 25. Define the civil service system and how it impacts the power of political parties. (48) 26. How are the major parties different from each other? (49) 27. Discuss the pattern of changing party affiliation. (49, Table 6.1) 28. Define ballot status. Which minor parties in California have official ballot status? How do they retain this status? (50) 29. Discuss voter registration and turnout issues. (49) 30. Define the semi-open primary. (55) 31. Describe the overall structure of political party organization. (51, Figure 6.1) 32. Describe how nonpartisan, issue-oriented organizations create opportunities for Californians to participate in politics. (52-53) 33. Describe some ways in which Californians are politically active without direct involvement in political parties. (52-53) CHAPTERS 7-9 1. Explain the purpose of primary elections, both partisan and nonpartisan. (p. 55) 2. Explain Instant Runoff Voting, and how it may save public money. (p. 55-56) 3. What is the difference between a plurality and a majority? (55) 4. Which elections are held in spring and which in November? (56) 5. Why do more and more voters prefer vote-by-mail ballots? (56) 6. Why do incumbents have an advantage in elections? How is an open seat different from a race with an incumbent? (56) 7. How do candidates spend their campaign dollars? (57) 8. To what does the term decline to state refer? (51, 58) 9. What is the function of the FPPC? How was it created? (42, 58) 8
10. Contrast representative democracy with direct democracy. (58-59) 11. What is the most commonly used form of direct democracy? (59) 12. How does a direct democracy ballot item get on the ballot? (59-60) 13. What was the original intention of direct democracy? (59) 14. What are some of the pros and cons of direct democracy today? (60-61) 15. What is the monocultural electorate? How might it change? (62) 16. Describe the membership of the Assembly and Senate and the terms of office for each body. (64) 17. Which has more population, a Senate district or an Assembly district? (64) 18. Explain Proposition 140 and why it was passed. (64-65) 19. Discuss some of the pros and cons of term limits. (64-65) 20. Define redistricting and gerrymandering. What is the difference? (66) 21. How do gerrymandered districts impact the role of primary elections? (66) 22. What is a safe district? How does it impact the election of extremes? (66) 23. Describe the legislative process. What are some key moments for a piece of legislation? (67) 24. Describe the titles and functions of Assembly and Senate leaders. (67-68) 25. Describe the roles of standing committees and conference committees. (69-70) 26. In what circumstances does the legislature function at its worst? (73) 27. What are some of the governor s most important powers? What are some of the less-used or less important powers? (75-78) 28. Describe the veto and override powers. (75) 29. What is the item veto and when can it be used? (75) 30. Describe the governor s role in initiating the budget process. (75) 31. Define executive clemency. (78) 32. Which agency heads comprise the governor s cabinet? (76-77, 79-80) 33. What are some of the checks and balances regarding the governor s appointment powers? (79, Table 9.1) 34. Describe the plural executive, their terms, term limits, and duties. (81-83) 35. Describe some of the state agencies that keep Californians safe. (84) CHAPTERS 10-12 1. When does the governor present his budget proposal each year? (p. 85) 2. Which Cabinet agency provides the data for the governor s budget? (86) 3. Which legislative office evaluates the governor s budget? (88) 4. Why is April 15 an important day for the state budget process? (87) 5. What is the May revise? (87) 6. What is the deadline for the legislature to vote on the budget? By what margin must the legislature approve the budget? Could this change? (87) 7. Explain the role of the item veto in the budget process. (87) 8. What are the major sources of state revenues? (89, Figure 10.1) 9. What are the major expenditures of the state? (Figures 10.2, 10.3) 10. Explain the role of bonds. How are bonds approved by voters? (90) 11. Describe the root causes of Proposition 13. What major changes in property taxation were created by Proposition 13? (91-92) 12. Describe some long-term political and budget changes caused by Proposition 13. (91-92) 13. Why did the U.S. Supreme Court call Proposition 13 unwise? (91) 14. Describe the origins and purposes of Proposition 98. (91) 9
15. What portion of the state budget is mandated by the federal government or by voter-approved initiatives? (91-92) 16. How does the economy impact the role and potential of government? (92-93) 17. How does the process of federal judge selection contrast with California s methods for judge selection? (95) 18. What is the role of trial courts? (95-96) 19. Discuss the role of arbitration and mediation in the judicial system. (96) 20. How and why can an individual appeal a trial court decision? (96) 21. What is the highest court in the state? How many justices sit on it? (98) 22. How do most trial court judges begin their judicial careers? (98) 23. What are the basic requirements to become a California judge? (98) 24. How are the appellate and Supreme Court justices chosen in California? (98) 25. What is the role of the electorate in California s judicial branch? Distinguish between trial court judges and appeals judges and justices. (98-99) 26. Describe the causes and consequences when voters removed three state Supreme Court justices in the 1980s. (99) 27. Explain the nonelectoral method for removing a judge from office. (100) 28. What is the judicial council? (101) 29. What is the current political philosophy of the state Supreme Court? (101) 30. What are the two basic types of legal procedures? (104) 31. What are the three types of crimes? How do penalties differ for each? (104) 32. Define the three strikes constitutional amendment passed by voters. What have been its impacts on our justice system? (104-105) 33. Describe the costs to taxpayers of the state prison system. (105) 34. How do communities attempt to stay free of crime? (106) 35. Which crime rates have declined in recent years? Which increased? (107) 36. What are some examples of white-collar crime? (107) 37. Explain relative state spending on prisons, colleges, and schools. (107) 38. Describe the system through which an alleged criminal moves from arrest to possible conviction. Include the practice of plea bargaining. (107-108) 39. What proportion of a jury is required to convict a criminal? (108) 40. What are some examples of civil cases? How are most resolved? (109) 41. Define the terms plaintiff and defendant. (109) 42. Explain the privatization of the judicial system. Who benefits most? (96,109) 43. Describe grand juries. How do they differ from trial juries? (109-110) 44. Describe criticisms of the jury system and some recent improvements. (109-110) CHAPTERS 13-15 1. What are California s three types of local government? (p. 113) 2. If there is an area that is not part of a city, what is that area called? (113) 3. Explain the process of incorporation. (113) 4. What services do cities provide for their residents? (114) 5. What are some revenue sources for cities? (114) 6. Describe the two basic forms of city government. (115-116) 7. Discuss gerrymandering. What factors might cause gerrymandering in city government? (117-118) 8. Explain the difference between at-large and district-based city elections. (117-118) 10
9. Describe some of the groups that might seek influence in city politics. (117) 10. Contrast a full-time City Council member with a part-time one. (118-119) 11. Describe the Brown Act and its purpose. (119) 12. Explain why land use and open space are major issues in city politics. (119) 13. How many counties does California have? Which is the largest in area? In population? (122-123) 14. Which services do counties provide for unincorporated areas? (123) 15. What services do counties provide for all residents? (123) 16. What are the sources of county funds? (123) 17. Discuss the size and functions of Boards of Supervisors. (123) 18. What are special districts? Who governs them? (124) 19. Explain what charter schools are, and how they are operated and funded. (124) 20. Discuss the role of education districts in California. (125-126) 21. What are some issues in education funding? (125-126) 22. What is the role of community colleges? (127) 23. Describe the two types of regional agencies. (127) 24. What are some issues of the multi-issue regional agency? (127) 25. Give examples of single-issue regional agencies. (127) 26. What problems face California today? (130-137) 27. Discuss globalization and the impact it has on the economy. (131) 28. Define underclass and class gap. (132) 29. What are regressive taxes? Give examples. (132) 30. Discuss acculturation and ethnocentrism. (133) 31. What environmental issues face all Californians? (134) 32. How is everyone impacted by California government decisions? (137) 11