GC ch 2 Flashcards
Only about –/– of initiatives are approved by the voters, and the am out of money spent correlates only very loosely with the probability of approval
1/3 (one third)
— — (which flourished from 1900 to 1917) the leaders of this movement focused on one goal: making government more responsive to the political, social, and economic concerns of the people.
Progressive movement
today California has the second highest number of — — , behind Alabama, and has the second longest state —, behind Louisiana. The California — is over 100 pages long
Constitutional amendments
Constitution
constitution
Written by residents of the territory in anticipation of statehood, this constitution contains many of the basic ideas underlying California government today
The 1849 constitution
Written by a constitutional convention in —, this is the basic document, with amendments, that is in force today
the 1879 constitution
During this period, the progressives amended TH constitution and passed laws to return government to the people, temper the power of special interests, and make government responsive to the peoples desires and needs. The most prominent reforms of this period were the initiative, referendum, and recall
From 1900 to 1917
Amendment after amendment lengthened the states constitution, resulting in a document that at one point was almost 100,000 words long. Several commissions proposed substantive changes, but only changes adopted came from two constitutional revision commissions, one in the 1960’s and the other in the 1990’s, that shortened and clarified language in the constitution but made no substantial changes to its provisions
From 1918 to present
In — the newly elected president of the US Zachary Taylor proposed that California draft a constitution and apply for admission as a state directly to congress, instead of applying as a territory first and moving to state status later
1849
California’s bill of rights is known as
“Declaration of Rights”
1849 constitution
The framework of the government rested on — of — (executive, legislative, judicial) and checks and balances; like the — —-
Separation of powers
Federal government
1849 constitution
Executive power was — a it is today, with the separate election and jurisdiction of the governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller, treasurer, attorney general, surveyor general and superintendent of public instruction. This — weakens the governor; who cannot appoint, or remove, senior members of his or her own administration. Moreover, echo of these statewide officials is a potential competitor for the Governor’s office, and each can put out statements that contradict what the governor is saying
Divided
Division
1849 constitution
Begins with an extensive — - —
Bill of Rights
1849 constitution
The legislature was elected and consisted of two houses, one called the – and the other the –
Senate
Assembly
The 1879 constitution
A new political party, the — —, which supported many — deals, and which held 51 to 152 seats at the convention, played a significant role in the discussion of convening the constitution
Workingmen’s Party
Populist
California’s declaration of rights can aloe be amended through the — — which allows individuals or groups to put proposed changes before the voting public sat any election
initiate process
1900-1917: The Progressive Movement
This is the norm in local elections, by which no party label is a fixed to the candidates names on the ballot. Of the more than 19,000 elected public officials in California, less than 300 are elected in partisan races.
nonpartisanship
1900-1917: Progressive Movement
Before the institution of — —, political parties chose their candidates in party conventions (with their stereotypes of the smoky back rooms) or caucuses, meetings of party members at the local level. In a — —, each prospective party nominee has to obtain more votes than any other prospective nominee to run as the party’s candidate in the general election in November
Primary election
1900-1917: Progressive Movement
This is the ballot that we vote on today, with a “—” for each office and the candidates listed for that office. Before this reform, in some elections, voters cast ballots for their preferred party, not for individual candidates
The Office Block Ballot
1900-1917: Progressive Movement
These grassroots processes (the initiate, referendum, and recall) give citizens he ability to rein in the abuse power by elected officials or to ignite those same public officials if they are paralyzed by inaction and partisan bickering
Direct democracy
The – – had its rots in the economic and political changes that swept the US after the civil war. It was foreshadowed by the populist movement, which dominated American politics from 1870-1896
Progressive movement
In California, one giant corporation, the – – –, stood above all others. It represented a concentration of wealth and power that gave t undue influence not only economically but also politically. To a degree perhaps unparalleled in the nation, the – – – and a web of associated interests ruled the state
Southern pacific railroad
1907: a group of lawyers, new paper publishers, and other political reformers met in LA. they founded the Lincoln Republicans, later to become the — of — — – clubs, dedicated to ending the control of California politics by the southern pacific railroad ad linking themselves to the national progressive movement
League of Lincoln-Roosevelt Republican Clubs
In 1910, — — became the candidate for governor of the Lincoln-Roosevelt League. He campaigned up and down the state, focusing on one main issue: the – – –
Hiram Johnson
Southern Pacific Railroad
In 1911, the voters passed the —, the —, and the —. these three reforms, widely known as direct democracy, placed enormous power and control over government in the hands of the voters
Initiative, referendum, recall