Midterm POLS Flashcards
According to the lecture, which theory best describes California politics?
Hyperpluralistic Theory
California’s economy is shaped like a(n) _____________________________ , with many people doing well at the top, many barely getting by at the bottom, and fewer and fewer in the middle.
Hourglass
Where would California’s economy, with an annual gross domestic product $2.7 trillion, rank if it were an independent nation?
Fifth
The region in California, between San Jose and San Francisco, which revolutionized the computer industry in the 1990s is known as __________.
Silicone Valley
How many total initiatives were on the 2022 California general election ballot?
7
In what industry were 500,000 jobs created between 1940 and 1946 in California?
Defense industry
After Spain colonized Mexico in 1769, California’s political system was made up of missions, presidios, and pueblos. Which of these were the military bases of Spain?
Presidios
A revolt took place in California in the 1840’s between the native-born, Spanish-speaking Californios and the American settlers led by John Fremont. What was this revolt known as?
Bear Flag Rebellion
In the 1870s, which political organization blamed difficulties on the railroad and the Chinese?
The Workingmen’s Party
“Wave theory” suggests that a state’s political development follows its social and economic development. California’s “first wave” of political development was founded on a rural, resource-based economy.
True
California’s “second wave” of political development was founded on the military industry of World War II, and included new, largely middle-class immigrants.
True
Today, approximately __________ of California’s population is Native American.
Less than 1%
What event occurred in 1848 that later brought many immigrants from Europe and China to California?
Gold was discovered
The first state capital of California was ___________________________.
San Jose
Which was not one of the Big Four Sacramento merchants who established the Southern Pacific railroad in 1861?
Hiram Johnson
The Southern Pacific railroad was described as “The Octopus” because __________.
it placed political allie’s in state and local offices
Which California governor representing the Progressive movement was elected in 1910?
Hiram Johnson
Which California governor, elected in 1966, moved the state in a more conservative direction?
Ronald Reagan
During World War II, more than 100,000 Californians from this ethnic group were sent to “internment” camps.
Japanese Americans
In Los Angeles in 1943, Anglo sailors and police attacked Mexican Americans wearing a distinctive style of clothing. The resulting violence was known as the ___________________________.
Zoot suit riots
The term used to describe a “political system whereby power is shared by two or more levels of government” is known as _________________.
Federalism
Some of the issues California has with the federal government involve ________.
All of these
According to the United States Constitution, which Amendment describes the “Reserved Powers Clause,” which grants to the states any power not already delegated to the federal government?
Tenth
When a state sends more tax dollars to the federal government in Washington, D.C., than it gets back in federal spending, it is called a “donor state.”
True
California’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives consists of how many members?
52
What do we call payments from the national government to states to help fulfill public policy objectives?
Grants in aid
Language in Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution that says when state and federal laws conflict the federal laws win, is known as the ___________________________.
Supremacy clause
Name one way outlined in the U.S. Constitution whereby states may cooperate with one another? Choose the best answer.
All of these
There are two types of state constitutions. “Positive Law” constitutions are based on basic and enduring principles, whereas “Higher Law” constitutions ar
True
About how many times has California’s Constitution been amended?
514
California has had two constitutions since becoming a state. The first state constitution was created in 1849. The second was created in ___________.
1878
Which is not one of the ways the California state constitution can be amended?
Executive order
In 2003, which California governor was removed from office by the voters?
Gray Davis
Proposition 8 was passed in 2008 to ban _____________________ in California?
Gay marriage
Of the 396 initiatives on the California ballots since 1912, approximately what percentage have been adopted?
35
What is the term used in the article by Mark Baldassare and Cheryl Katz to describe the division of power between the people of California and their elected representatives?
Hybrid democracy
Name the candidate in the 2010 California governor’s race who spent $142 million of his/her own money, largely on television advertisements.
Meg Whitman
Which proposition on 2022 ballot provides additional funding for arts and music education in public schools?
28
Political parties can place a candidate on the ballot if they first submit a petition with signatures amounting to what percent of the voters in the most recent gubernatorial election?
10
Which is not one of the six qualified political parties in California?
Reform
What is the term used to describe non-print sources such as blogs, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook where Californians get political information?
Correct!
Soci@ media
Signatures equal to what percent of the vote in the previous gubernatorial election is needed to qualify a ballot initiative?
5
What is the term used to describe a campaign that is driven by average, regular voters rather than one that is generated by wealthy, well-connected groups?
Grassroots campaign
What term describes the elimination of party labels for judicial and local elections?
Nonpartisan
California residents cannot vote if they are _______________________________.
In prison
Currently, new voters in California may register _________________ an election.
On the same day as
In the 2024 General Election it is expected that, rather than cast their vote at a designated polling place, nearly 90% of California’s voters will have voted through _____________________________________.
An absentee mail ballot
The people who are most likely to vote are _________________________________.
Suburban home owners
According to the Schrag article, “State May Again Be a Model of Progress,” which racial/ethnic group in California is also becoming more influential in other states?
Latinos
According to the article, “Failed State” by John B. Judis, the political problems we see in California are due to the ineptitude of individual governors, not to the systemic economic and political divisions inherent in the Golden State.
False
According to the Scheppach article, “The Constitution Had It Right,” throughout our history there has been a federalism cycle– at times governors and states provide policy leadership, and at other times it comes from the President and Congress
True
Voter turnout in California is generally higher during _________________ elections.
Presidential elections
California chooses two candidates (except presidential candidates) in an election year (on March 5, 2024) to run against each other in November. This selection occurs during the __________________________.
Top two primary election
Which major political party in California generally represents conservative, rural, white, wealthy interests?
Republican
In California, which is considered the highest body in each political party?
State party committee
Which major political party in California tends to support the poor, immigrants, gay rights, health care, abortion rights, education, the environment, and gun control?
Democrat
As of October 2023, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office and the PPIC, approximately what percentage do independent (no party preference) voters in California make up in the electorate?
23%
Political parties that capture only small percentages of the vote in an election, but are nonetheless viewed as important protest vehicles, are known as _____________.
Third parties
The 2024 statewide primary election in California is currently held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in ________________________.
March
In the 2020 presidential election, California’s Electoral College delegates ______________________.
Voted for democratic part Joe Biden
Today’s candidates for statewide offices spend most of their money on _____________.
Television ads
In California, the maximum an individual contributor can give to a legislative candidate’s campaign per election is ___________.
$4,900
In California, the maximum an individual contributor can give to a gubernatorial campaign per election is ____________.
$32,400
Who won the most delegates in California’s 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary?
Bernie Sanders
Where could one go if they wanted more information on elections and campaign contributions in California?
The Secretary of State Office
Which of the following organizations is not an example of an interest group?
California DMW
The technique of a group representative meeting with individual legislators is called _____________________________________________.
Lobbying
Contract lobbyists work for just one organization.
False
Many lobbyists once were ___________________________________________.
Politicians
Interest groups with limited financial resources often help candidates sympathetic to their issues win election by _______________________________________.
Providing volunteers to go door to door
Who are the chairs of the California Republican Party and Democratic Party?
Jessica Patterson and Rusty Hicks
Which California agency can fine elected officials or lobbyists for incomplete or inaccurate financial reports?
the Fair Political Practices Commission
There are many ways people participate in politics, including activities such as contacting officials, discussing political issues, campaign work, campaign contributions, and ___________________________________________.
All of these are correct
Which interest group represents prison guards in California?
California Correctional Peace Officers Association
According to the article “Cash Blitz”, what industry spent the most money in 2020?
oil, gas, and utilities industry
Name the 2022 Democratic and Republican candidates for California governor
Gavin Newsom and Brian Dahle
