California Government Solved Exam Questions
Course Introduction
This course provides an in-depth exploration of the political institutions, processes, and policies unique to California. Students will examine the state's constitution, structure and functions of state and local government, interactions among executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and the ways in which direct democracy initiatives, referenda, and recalls shapes public policy. The course also addresses major issues facing California, such as diversity, environmental challenges, urbanization, and the dynamics of interest groups and political parties, with an emphasis on the relationship between state and federal government.
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
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/273
Page 2
Chapter 1: California Government: Promise and Practice
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/4474
Sample Questions
Q1) The largest number of immigrants living in California came from A) Canada.
B) Philippines.
C) Mexico.
D) China.
Answer: C
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's government is more majoritarian than other states because of A) direct democracy.
B) a greater number of lobbyists.
C) the plural executive.
D) low voter turnout.
Answer: A
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Chapter 2: The Constitution and the Progressive Legacy
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Sample Questions
Q1) In California, the voters have the power of direct action through A) the Internet, MTV, and Facebook.
B) information learned through a political science course.
C) veto power, pardon power, and confirmation power.
D) initiative, referendum, and recall.
Answer: D
Q2) Which one of the following was a suggestion by the California Constitutional Revision Commission?
A) Require all judges in California to be elected by the people.
B) Allow property taxes to be raised by 1 percent every 10 years.
C) Have the governor and the lieutenant governor run as a team.
D) Make it easier to terminate public employment.
Answer: C
Q3) 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
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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) Which of the following is an example of a public interest group?
A) National Football Association
B) Sierra Club
C) Blue Cross of California
D) Screen Actors Guild
Answer: B
Q2) What are contract lobbyists?
A) They are employees of a trade, professional, or labor association and represent that group's interest only.
B) They are lobbyists that seek long-term contracts, usually five to ten years, for development and construction companies that build administrative buildings, courts, and fire and police stations.
C) They are advocates-for-hire and often represent multiple clients on a variety of issues at the same time.
D) They specialize in policy that involves the governor, president, and foreign heads of state.
Answer: C
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Chapter 4: Parties and Elections in California
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31 Verified Questions
31 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Of California's nearly 39 million residents, approximately how many are eligible to vote?
A) 27 million
B) 24 million
C) 17 million
D) 12 million
Q2) Discuss the roles played by third parties in California. How likely are they to attain political power in California?
Q3) What website is used to register to vote in California?
A) www.facebook.com
B) www.sos.ca.gov/election
C) www.gov.org
D) www.ca.com
Q4) In California, approximately how many signatures are required for statutory initiatives to be on the ballot?
A) more than 250,000
B) more than 300,000
C) more than 400,000
D) more than 500,000
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Chapter 5: The California Legislature
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The rules of the legislature
A) permit the majority to rule.
B) favor the Democrats.
C) favor the Republicans.
D) permit a minority to block important legislation.
Q2) Since California elections are winner-take-all elections, it has the impact of
A) excluding minorities from public office.
B) excluding third parties from holding seats in the state legislature.
C) reducing the cost of running for office.
D) increasing the number of women office holders.
Q3) What are the two types of representation?
A) forward and reverse
B) formal and informal
C) delegate and trustee
D) political and delegation
Q4) What are some of the negative aspects of term limits on the California legislature?
Q5) What are the major differences between the U.S. Congress and the California legislature?
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Chapter 6: The Governor and the Executive Branch
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30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) After the primary election in 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger
A) tried to run unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor.
B) was a lame duck governor and made no public appearances.
C) campaigned actively and successfully for Proposition 14 and against Proposition 24.
D) accepted an appointment as the ambassador to Austria.
Q2) Why did Arnold Schwarzenegger's popularity fade away in 2005?
A) He nominated Gray Davis to serve on the California Supreme Court and attended the Democratic National Convention as a keynote speaker.
B) He attended high-end fundraisers in Hollywood and allowed oil companies to drill off the coast of Santa Barbara, thereby causing a major oil spill.
C) He pursued a costly special election, and antagonized the members of his own party with his moderate positions on many issues.
D) His Terminator Five movie was a box office failure thereby causing an economic downfall for the entertainment industry.
Q3) Why is the role of the governor in the budget process and his line-item veto power considered among his strongest powers?
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Chapter 7: The California Judiciary
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In California, what court has judicial discretion?
A) traffic courts
B) superior courts
C) courts of appeal
D) supreme court
Q2) Superior Courts in California adjudicate
A) civil and criminal cases.
B) only civil cases.
C) only criminal cases.
D) appeals only.
Q3) Who is the current chief justice of the California Supreme Court?
A) Ronald George
B) Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye
C) Carol Corrigan
D) Goodwin Liu
Q4) 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 Constitution requires that the governor and the legislature
A) pass a balanced budget.
B) engage in deficit financing.
C) reduce the rate of inflation.
D) ignore the Federal Reserve Bank.
Q2) Which tax contributes the least revenue to the state of California?
A) personal income tax
B) sales tax
C) corporate tax
D) they contribute approximately equally
Q3) Fees for students attending the California State University and community colleges have
A) remained the same.
B) dropped substantially.
C) been reduced by federal subsidies.
D) increased substantially.
Q4) Why does income from taxes vary in California? Which taxes are likely to vary the most?
Q5) Outline the budget process in California. Who has the greatest amount of influence and power in this process?
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Chapter 9: Local Government
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) What are the major expense categories for California cities? From what sources do cities receive their revenue?
Q2) What role do special districts play in California? Cite an example of a special district and its mandated purpose.
Q3) In general, over the last few decades, voter turnout in California local government elections has been
A) decreasing.
B) increasing.
C) fluctuating.
D) constant.
Q4) What are the five most populous counties in California?
A) Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Kern, and Monterey
B) Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside
C) Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Santa Clara, and Sacramento
D) Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Santa Clara
Q5) What are the functions of county governments in California and how are they organized?
Q6) Explain how Dillon's Rule impacts local governments in California and how it is applied.
Page 11
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Chapter 10: Public Policy in California
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30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) What is a major reason why some residents of Duroville cannot live in a public housing project?
A) The project requires residents to participate in an alcohol rehab program, and many residents fail to complete the program.
B) The project requires residents to have homeowner's insurance and many residents cannot afford the monthly premiums.
C) The project requires residents to be in the U.S. legally, and many residents of Duroville are not.
D) The project requires residents to have a minimum monthly income of $2,000 to qualify and many residents do not have jobs that issue tax forms.
Q2) Currently, Indian tribes pay what percentage of their revenues back to the state to help other tribes that do not have gaming operations?
A) 0 percent
B) 2 percent
C) 5 percent
D) 8 percent
Q3) What is the condition of California's infrastructure? What can be done about it?
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