75 questions

1. In California, the initiative and recall were instituted during the ____________ Era.

Populist

Progressive

New Deal

post Vietnam War

 

 

 

2. According to a study by the Center for Responsive Government, coverage of state politics by the media

is very extensive.

compares favorably to coverage of national politics.

has improved greatly in recent years.

All of the above

None of the above

 

 

 

3. __________ are a larger percentage of the California than of the overall U.S. population.

Latinos

Asian Americans

African Americans

All of the above

a and b, but not c.

 

 

 

4. Violent crime in California is

substantially higher than the national average.

about average for the nation.

substantially below the national average.

impossible to compare with the rest of the nation, since maintenance of national crime statistics would be unconstitutional.

 

 

 

5. As organizations, political parties in California are

weak.

controlled by networks of precinct captains.

dominated by the state party chairs.

because of their control of patronage, able to dictate positions on issues to office holders.

 

 

 

6. In California, the closest thing to C-SPAN (the Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network) is

Cal-SPAN.

the California Channel.

the Golden State Network.

State Government In Focus.

 

 

 

7. Evidence from the 2000 primary provided suggests that the blanket primary

often led to ?raids? by one party into another party?s primary.

favored extreme liberals and extreme conservatives.

led to the nomination of weaker candidates.

had little impact.

 

 

 

8. Increased spending on public housing would tend to be favored by liberals and

conservatives.

communitarians.

libertarians.

None of the above

 

 

 

9. Republican voters are ___________ than Democrats.

much more conservative

slightly more conservative

slightly more liberal

much more liberal

 

 

 

10. Opponents of the initiative have made all of the following arguments except

propositions are often too complicated for voters to assess them intelligently.

initiatives have furthered the power of wealthy interest groups.

the process does not allow for compromise among different interests.

survey research shows that most voters dislike the idea of initiatives.

 

 

 

11. Approval of an initiative or referendum requires the approval of ______ of those voting.

two-fifths

a majority

threefifths

twothirds

 

 

 

12. Dennis Kearney was

founder of the Progressive Movement in California.

leader of the Workingmen?s Party.

the first governor of California to be recalled from office.

president of the Southern Pacific railroad.

 

 

 

13. ______ proposed constitutional amendments placed on the ballot through the initiative process have been ______ by the voters.

All but three … rejected

Most … rejected

Most … accepted

All but three … accepted

 

 

 

14. In recent decades, changes made through the initiative process have included

establishment of term limits for elected state officials.

establishment of the California Lottery.

a guarantee for public schools of over 40 percent of state general fund revenues.

All of the above

 

 

 

15. At the present time, __________ may vote in at least most contests in the Republican and Democratic primaries.

only those registered with the party

those registered with the party plus those who register as ?decline to state?

any registered voter

anyone eligible to register to vote in general elections

 

 

 

16. On most issues, _________ are more conservative than others.

African Americans

Anglos

Asian Americans

Latinos

 

 

 

17. The most common method of amending the California constitution has been by

referendum.

initiative.

constitutional convention.

executive order.

 

 

 

18. In general, the most conservative parts of California tend to be

northern.

southern.

coastal.

interior.

 

 

 

19. Since the present California constitution was adopted there has/have been _____ constitutional convention(s) in the state.

no

one

three

thirty five

 

 

 

20. Democrats in 2004 controlled __________ statewide elected positions.

all

most

about half of

only two

 

 

 

21. According to Janda, Berry, and Goldman, the ?modern dilemma? involves conflicts between

freedom and equality.

freedom and order

equality and order.

All of the above

 

 

 

22. Compared to other parts of the country, California tends to be more liberal on

social issues.

economic issues.

both social and economic issues.

neither social nor economic issues.

 

 

 

23. A ____________ would tend to favor equality over freedom but freedom over order.

liberal

conservative

communitarian

libertarian

 

 

 

24. Anglos now make up __________ of California?s population.

about 80 percent.

about 60 percent

a little less than half

about a third

 

 

 

25. California ranks first in the country in

total population.

number of seats in the electoral college.

number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

All of the above

None of the above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26. Members of the state assembly are elected for _____ year terms, and may serve _____________ terms.

two . . . . a maximum of three

four . . . . a maximum of two

six . . . . a maximum of two

six . . . . an unlimited number of

 

 

 

27. The most powerful position in the state senate is that of

Lieutenant Governor.

speaker

president

president pro tem

 

 

 

28. The ______ is California’s chief investment officer.

controller

treasurer

legislative analyst

director of finance

 

 

 

29. How many partisan elections in California have been won by a candidate of one of the five minor parties currently on the ballot in California?

One

Ten

Fifty

Over one hundred

 

 

 

30. The Governor of California nominates or appoints many of the following except

persons in civil service positions.

trial court judges.

top level officials in state agencies.

vacancies on county boards of supervisors.

 

 

 

31. Since 1994, the Republican share of major party political support has

increased

stayed about the same

declined

fluctuated widely

 

 

 

32. Partisan offices make up about ___ percent of all elected positions in California.

one

ten

fifty

ninety

 

 

 

33. Since 1990, there has been a decrease in the numbers of ______________ serving in the state legislature.

African Americans

Latinos

women

All of the above

None of the above

 

 

 

34. In the California legislature, the chairs of standing committees are

always members of the majority party.

usually members of the majority party.

assigned in proportion to each party?s share of the seats.

chosen without regard to party.

 

 

 

35. Today, most executive departments

report directly to the governor.

report to other members of the state’s “plural executive.”

are grouped under agencies that report to the governor.

are independent of the governor and of other elected executives.

 

 

 

36. From now on, the statewide primary will be held in early ________ of even-numbered years.

January

March

June

September

 

 

 

37. On the California ballot

candidates for a given office are listed alphabetically.

candidates for a given office are listed at random.

each party’s candidates are listed down a column.

each party’s candidates are listed across a row.

 

 

 

38. “The Secret Boss of California,” ______, was a very powerful lobbyist in the 1930s and 1940s.

Hiram Johnson

Artie Samish

Upton Sinclair

Clayton Jackson

Jessie (“Big Daddy”) Unruh

 

 

 

39. The California attorney general’s office

represents the state in most civil matters.

represents the state in criminal matters on appeal.

issues advisory opinions on the constitutionality of state laws and local ordinances.

All of the above

None of the above

 

 

 

40. The California legislature has a total of ______ seats.

40

80

100

120

535

 

 

 

41. To be eligible to register to vote in California, one must be

U.S. citizen.

a resident of the state for at least a year.

literate in English or some other language.

able to pass a standardized civics test.

All of the above

 

 

 

42. After each census, the legislature is charged with redistricting

itself.

California?s delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

the Board of Equalization.

All of the above.

 

 

 

43. Absentee votes now constitute roughly _____ percent of ballots cast in statewide general elections.

five

ten

twenty-five

fifty

None of the above. California law no longer provides for absentee voting

 

 

 

44. ______ has/have a winnertakeall presidential primary in California.

The Democratic party

The Republican party

Both the Democratic and Republican parties

Neither the Democratic nor the Republican party

 

 

 

45. _______________ has/have probably ended the “strong speaker” era.

Term limits.

The open primary.

Campaign finance reform.

Scandals

 

 

 

46. The Board of Equalization deals with

taxes.

state employment practices.

water rights.

voting rights.

 

 

 

47. A comparison of the voting records of Democratic and Republican state legislators shows that

there is little or no difference between the parties.

Democrats tend to be slightly more conservative.

Democrats tend to be slightly more liberal.

Democrats are much more liberal.

 

 

 

48. ____________ holds the record for longest service as Assembly Speaker.

Jesse Unruh

Robert Monaghan

Paul Horcher

Willie Brown.

 

 

 

49. The California lieutenant governor’s duties include

succeeding to the governorship should it become vacant.

serving as president of the state senate.

Serving as acting governor when the governor is out of state.

All of these

None of these

 

 

 

50. In recent years, the proportion of voters who are Anglo has been decreasing, with the largest increases coming from ______________ voters.

African American

Asian American

Latino

Native American

 

 

 

 

 

51. At the local level in California

there are no provisions for direct democracy.

the initiative process is rarely used.

tax increases are always exempt from the referendum.

most recall votes go against the incumbent.

 

 

 

52. In 2004, California?s ?three strikes? law was

upheld by the voters.

repealed by the voters.

repealed by the state legislature.

ruled unconstitutional.

 

 

 

53. The city manager

is directly elected by the voters.

in most California cities, administers the city on a day to day basis.

is appointed by the county board of supervisors to make sure that cities conform to county policies.

is responsible for choosing the members of the city council.

 

 

 

54. State employees on “Career Executive Assignment” (CEA)

must first be in the civil service.

can, with certain exceptions, be removed from their assignment without cause.

if terminated, have return rights to their former classifications.

All of the above

 

 

 

55. If voters refuse to confirm or reelect a supreme court or district court of appeals justice

the governor nominates a replacement.

the rejected incumbent continues to serve until the next gubernatorial election.

the position must remain vacant until the next gubernatorial election.

a special election is held.

 

 

 

56. Grand juries

are located only in large counties.

review capital punishment cases on appeal.

follow the same rules of procedure as petty juries.

All of the above

None of the above.

 

 

 

57. Compared to the rest of the country, state and local government in California relies heavily on

income taxes.

vehicle taxes.

property taxes.

All of the above

None of the above

 

 

 

58. California has ______ counties.

11

58

93

over 6,000

 

 

 

59. Subject to review by the state supreme court, the __________ can remove state judges for cause.

Judicial Council

Commission on Judicial Performance.

California State Bar Association.

attorney general

 

 

 

60. The California Performance Review was established by

Governor Schwarzenegger.

the California Supreme Court.

the California Constitutional Revision Commission.

an initiative passed by the voters.

 

 

 

61. Cities that do not have their own charters are called ____________ cities.

special district

general law

exempt

unincorporated

 

 

 

62. The ______ assists the Governor of California in the preparation of the budget.

Controller

Auditor General

Department of Finance

Office of Management and Budget

 

 

 

63. In 2004, voters approved an initiative raising taxes on

telephones.

personal incomes of over $1 million.

Internet access.

junk food.

 

 

 

64. Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOs) must approve

proposals to incorporate cities.

new taxes.

new county agencies.

contracts between cities and counties.

All of the above

 

 

 

65. If a vacancy occurs in a trial court, it is filled by

gubernatorial appointment.

special election.

appointment by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

appointment by the Judicial Council.

the California State Bar Association.

 

 

 

66. California?s trial courts are called _________ courts.

justice.

superior.

supreme.

municipal

 

 

 

67. After losing their case in the California Supreme Court, the owners of the Pruneyard Shopping Center

had no further course of appeal.

sought to raise one or more “federal questions” before the U.S. Supreme Court.

sought to have the decision overturned by the voters through the initiative process.

sought to have the decision nullified through “preemptive” federal legislation.

 

 

 

68. Roughly, the ___________________ is to the state legislature as the Congressional Budget Office is to the U.S. Congress.

Legislative Counsel

Legislative Analyst’s Office

Auditor General

Controller

 

 

 

69. Special districts

have their own elected governing boards.

have appointed governing boards.

are governed by a city council or county board of supervisors.

Any of the above are possible

 

 

 

70. The voting record of Chief Justice Ronald George places him near the ________ of the court?s ideological spectrum.

liberal end

conservative end

center

None of the above: the chief justice votes on cases only to break ties.

 

 

 

71. Nominations to supreme court or district court of appeals justiceships in California must be approved by

the California Senate.

the state bar.

the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

the Judicial Council.

All of the above

 

 

 

72. Counties in California get most of their money from

property taxes.

sales taxes.

service charges.

other levels of government.

 

 

 

73. The state?s fiscal year begins on

January 1.

April 1.

July 1.

October 1.

 

 

 

74. Economic liberals and conservatives differ on

the types of taxes they prefer.

the types of spending they prefer.

overall levels of taxing and spending.

All of the above

a and b, but not c

 

 

 

75. Proposition 98, passed by the voters in 1988, guaranteed __________ at least forty percent of expenditures from the state’s general fund.

schools (kindergarten through community college).

colleges and universities.

welfare recipients

transportation