Political Science: California Government Exam Bank
Course Introduction
This course provides an in-depth exploration of California's governmental structures, political processes, and public policy issues. Students will examine the California Constitution, the organization and function of state and local governments, and the roles played by the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The course also covers topics such as direct democracy, political parties, interest groups, and recent statewide policy challenges. Emphasis is placed on understanding how Californias diverse population, unique economy, and political culture shape governance and decision-making at both state and local levels.
Recommended Textbook
Governing California in the Twenty-First Century 5th Edition by J. Theodore Anagnoson
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10 Chapters
301 Verified Questions
301 Flashcards
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Page 2
Chapter 1: California Government: Promise and Practice
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) What did Proposition 28 change?
A) It allows legislators to serve 12 years.
B) It allows the governor to seek unlimited terms.
C) It lowered the requirement for tax increases from two-thirds to a simple majority.
D) It permits the governor to appoint mayors in charter cities.
Answer: A
Q2) The proportion of immigrants over age five who speak English at home is
A) 40 percent.
B) 61 percent.
C) 72 percent.
D) 90 percent.
Answer: B
Q3) California, in terms of its economy, is ranked
A) within the top ten economies of the world.
B) at a low level because of the loss of manufacturing jobs.
C) below most third world countries.
D) nineteenth because of the shale oil revolution.
Answer: A
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3
Chapter 2: The Constitution and the Progressive Legacy
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30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) California's 1849 (first) constitution borrowed heavily from the A) U.S. Constitution.
B) the Compromise of 1850.
C) federal court decisions.
D) congressional enabling legislation.
Answer: A
Q2) What political party played a significant role in California's 1879 constitution?
A) Republican
B) Whig
C) Democrats
D) Workingmen
Answer: D
Q3) The initiative, referendum, and the recall comprise a series of Progressive reforms generally known as
A) legislative control.
B) direct democracy.
C) executive prerogative.
D) voter control.
Answer: B
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Page 4
Chapter 3: Interest Groups and the Media in California
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In 2012, lobbyists represented approximately ________ interest groups.
A) 1,000
B) 1,800
C) 2,552
D) 3,468
Answer: D
Q2) Why did Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) have little impact on California?
A) California required the governor and legislature to review any donation from a political action committee (PAC).
B) California was the first state to ban political action committee (PAC) donations during a general election.
C) California did not allow political action committees (PACs) to raise unlimited funds before the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
D) California allowed political action committees (PACs) to raise unlimited funds before the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
Answer: D
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Page 5
Chapter 4: Parties and Elections in California
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31 Verified Questions
31 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Approximately how much money was spent on the Proposition 8 campaign in California?
A) $2 million
B) $40 million
C) $80 million
D) $150 million
Q2) What major player provided nearly $2 million for the recall of Governor Gray Davis?
A) Darrell Issa
B) Arnold Schwarzenegger
C) Cruz Bustamante
D) Brian Cain
Q3) In California, what proposition eliminated affirmative action programs?
A) Proposition 8
B) Proposition 13
C) Proposition 187
D) Proposition 209
Q4) In order for a political party to qualify for the ballot in California, what procedures are available? Do the existing procedures require the expenditure of significant resources?
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Page 6
Chapter 5: The California Legislature
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) How many members serve in the California Senate?
A) 40
B) 60
C) 75
D) 80
Q2) Term limits had at least one positive effect on the state legislature. Term limits have resulted in
A) reduced reliance on money in running campaigns.
B) less influence in legislative affairs by interest groups.
C) more women being elected to the legislature.
D) greater control by third parties.
Q3) Why have Californians typically distrusted the California legislature? Has the distrust lessened, and if so, what has led to the turnaround?
Q4) In May 2010, ________ percent of Californians approved of the job the legislature was doing.
A) 10
B) 16
C) 30
D) 70
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Chapter 6: The Governor and the Executive Branch
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Sample Questions
Q1) State employees
A) report directly to the governor.
B) report only to their union representatives.
C) answer only to the legislature.
D) are sometimes in agencies that are not under the control of the governor.
Q2) Which of the following is an informal power of the governor?
A) vetoing legislation
B) granting clemency
C) using the public to make his case
D) drawing up the budget
Q3) What specific area requires the governor to get the legislature's cooperation?
A) budget
B) interest group connections
C) the line-item veto
D) great speeches
Q4) The lieutenant governor serves as acting governor when the governor is
A) out of the state.
B) running for president.
C) in a major dispute with the legislature.
D) the candidate of a third party.
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Chapter 7: The California Judiciary
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30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Superior Courts in California adjudicate
A) civil and criminal cases.
B) only civil cases.
C) only criminal cases.
D) appeals only.
Q2) Discuss an example of the conflict between federal and state law that California courts have to adjudicate.
Q3) What kind of caseload do the California courts have? How do the courts expedite the disposition of civil and criminal cases?
Q4) Which U.S. Supreme Court justice has been a vocal critic of state judicial elections?
A) Sonia Sotomayor
B) Sandra Day O'Connor
C) Carol Corrigan
D) John Roberts
Q5) Most criminal cases in California are resolved through A) plea bargaining.
B) appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court.
C) incarceration.
D) clemency granted by the governor.
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Chapter 8: The State Budget and Budgetary Limitations
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The California income tax is considered to be a
A) regressive tax.
B) progressive tax.
C) use tax.
D) property tax.
Q2) Which of the following does NOT explain why state revenues vary so much?
A) the economy
B) the state budget relies exclusively on property taxes
C) the personal income tax relies more on capital gains than on taxes on wage earners
D) the state budget is limited by initiatives that are too restrictive
Q3) Which of the following is NOT part of the budget forming process in California?
A) proposal by the executive branch
B) enactment by the legislature
C) approval by the California Supreme Court
D) implementation by the executive branch
Q4) Cite some examples of how various propositions have limited the ability of the state government in California to allocate and spend tax revenues.
Q5) What arguments do liberals and conservatives make about taxes in California?
Q6) What was the intent of Proposition 13? What impact did it have in California?
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Chapter 9: Local Government
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Sample Questions
Q1) The process of municipal incorporations, by which a city is created, is usually initiated by
A) the governor and the supreme court.
B) the mayor and the city council.
C) the county Local Agency Formation Commission.
D) the state legislature and Franchise Tax Board.
Q2) What U.S. city was the starting point for the Occupy Movement?
A) Oakland
B) San Francisco
C) New York
D) Washington, D.C.
Q3) Which California city did NOT declare bankruptcy?
A) Vallejo
B) Stockton
C) San Bernardino
D) Irvine
Q4) What are the functions of county governments in California and how are they organized?
Q5) Explain how Dillon's Rule impacts local governments in California and how it is applied.
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Chapter 10: Public Policy in California
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30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Proposition 98 guaranteed that the public schools in California would A) be rebuilt after 35 years of use.
B) receive at least 40 percent of the general fund each fiscal year.
C) receive a 20 percent increase in personnel.
D) have all maintenance deferred for at least 10 years.
Q2) Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, is characterized by its
A) high cost per beneficiary and the large proportion of persons in the state covered.
B) high cost per beneficiary and the small proportion of persons in the state covered.
C) low cost per beneficiary and the small proportion of persons in the state covered.
D) low cost per beneficiary and the large proportion of persons in the state covered.
Q3) The biggest problem facing groundwater in California is A) evaporation.
B) underutilization.
C) soil erosion.
D) contamination.
Q4) What is the condition of California's infrastructure? What can be done about it?
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