Test Bank for California Government and Politics Today, 16th Edition by Mona Field

CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY, 16TH ED. Mona Field Glendale Community College CHAPTER 1. CALIFORNIA POLITICS IN PERSPECTIVE Chapter Summary Chapter 1 gives a current overview of California’s unique yet complex role as a state within the United States. California is unique in its diverse population, political party registration, and powerhouse economy, all of which have a tremendous impact nationally and internationally. explaining the state’s status as number one in population relative to the other forty-nine states, the chapter explores California’s political standing in the nation. In addition, it explains the role of the federal government in relation to the states and introduces the terms federalism and unitary powers. Concepts such as ballot initiative, globalization, liberal, and conservative are introduced. Discussion Questions 1. Discuss the relationship between the federal and state governments. Which tasks are allocated to the states? What impact does federalism have on California? 2. Discuss population growth in California, including the history and the range of attitudes about population growth. Include in your discussion the “Debating the Issues” box on page 6. Express your personal views and substantiate them with evidence. 3. Explain how population, economic events, and federal policies have impacted Californians. 4. Discuss the ways in which the federal government’s actions have impacted California’s economy through the decades. 5. In looking at the "Compared to California" box on page 3, why is there a difference in the minimum wage among the states? Why is there a difference in the cost of living among the states?