Posc exam 1 Flashcards
What are some of the challenges facing California?
Natural Disasters, Infrastructure and Housing, and Budgetary Issues
Why is it so hard for the government to come up with solutions?
Diversity, Size, and Federal System
How do Californians make it even more difficult for government to come up with solutions?
Direct Democracy, Term Limits, Recalls, and 2/3 requirement to change taxes
Is there hope? Why bother with California?
Impact on national politics, one of the largest economies in the world
Democratic Theory
Everyone has a voice in making governing decisions, even in a representative democracy
Problems with democratic theory?
Not everyone can participate and Homeowners, older, college-educated people are more likely to vote.
Elite Theory
A few elites or small groups (the people with the money) are the ones who get to make the political decisions
Pluralist Theory
There are many groups, and all of them have access to make political decisions. No one group dominates all the time
Hyperpluralism
No one rules because power is so thinly scattered, lurching from one decision to the next. Leads to policy gridlock.
Individualism
The collective good vs individual interests.
Political Culture
The shared beliefs, values, and customs of a society affect how the society governs itself. Often informed by a society’s history.
Traditionalistic
a few people are elites and control the government, they work to maintain their elite status and uphold the status quo
Individualistic
government exists to support businesses and individuals, and the people in government use it for their financial gain. Government and policy are seen as transactional
Moralistic
government can be used to support the public good, and serving in government is a noble thing.
Which one of Elazar’s categorizations does California lean?
moralistic
Political Development
The growth and change that occur within political systems. How a political system matures over time
Becoming a state in 1850, and establishing a government
Unification
Build the state’s economy, and create political leaders
Modernization
Who were the first inhabitants of California?
Native americans
What was California’s political development that led to it becoming a state?
Gold rush, population increasing
How did California continue to evolve once it became a state?
The Central pacific railroad, increase in population, the workingmen’s party, the constitution of 1879
