Comparative State Politics Exam Bank
Course Introduction
Comparative State Politics examines the political systems, institutions, and processes of governance within subnational units, such as states or provinces, primarily focusing on federal or decentralized countries. The course explores how state governments structure power, enact policies, and interact with national and local authorities. Students analyze the diversity in state-level political cultures, party systems, electoral dynamics, policymaking, and the influence of socioeconomic factors on political outcomes. Through comparative frameworks and case studies, the course provides tools to evaluate sources of variations in governance, policy innovation, and state capacity highlighting the consequences for citizens, broader national development, and intergovernmental relations.
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
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) What is one of the major problems California faces to balance the budget?
A) Legislators do not attend the necessary budget meetings, thereby causing serious delays.
B) California's constitution requires citizen approval of the budget before the legislature can pass a budget bill.
C) California requires a two-thirds vote to raise or lower taxes.
D) Legislators have used filibusters to stop the budget committee.
Answer: C
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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Chapter 2: The Constitution and the Progressive Legacy
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The following is NOT a Progressive reform.
A) nonpartisan elections
B) primaries
C) office block ballot
D) term limits on the state legislature
Answer: D
Q2) Elections held at the local level in which no party label is shown on the ballot are
A) special elections.
B) nonpartisan elections.
C) off year elections.
D) recall elections.
Answer: B
Q3) Elections by which a political party nominates candidates to represent it in the general election are called
A) nonpartisan elections.
B) recall elections.
C) run off elections.
D) primary elections.
Answer: D
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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) What was the reaction of many citizens to the 2003 Los Angeles Times story about Arnold Schwarzenegger's inappropriate sexual behavior?
A) Many citizens thought the story was a good source of information to use when voting for a candidate.
B) Many citizens thought the newspaper was taking incumbent Governor Gray Davis' side.
C) Many citizens thought the newspaper made up the story to sell papers.
D) Many citizens thought the story was poorly written and lacked proper grammar.
Answer: B
Q2) What California political figure is credited with the quote: "Money is the mother's milk of politics."
A) Clay Jackson
B) Alan Robbins
C) George Deukmejian
D) Jesse Unruh
Answer: D
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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) What groups comprise the California electorate, and which are most and least likely to vote?
Q2) Discuss the roles played by third parties in California. How likely are they to attain political power in California?
Q3) One theory is that third parties in California act as A) lobbyists.
B) spoilers.
C) a drain on public funding of campaigns.
D) issue "killers."
Q4) An absentee ballot is now available to any voter who A) has filed the appropriate paperwork with the lieutenant governor's office.
B) paid the appropriate fees.
C) can show a valid California driver's license.
D) wants one.
Q5) In California, Proposition 34, passed in 2000, established a law regarding A) campaign finance reform.
B) property taxes.
C) blanket primaries.
D) education spending.
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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) What are some of the negative aspects of term limits on the California legislature?
Q2) 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.
Q3) What factors make the California legislature weaker in comparison to Congress?
A) the Speaker of the House, presidential recess appointments, and congressional staffers
B) logrolling, the vice president of the United States, filibusters
C) term limits, low media coverage, and the line-item veto
D) oversight, gerrymandering, court decisions
Q4) 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.
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Chapter 6: The Governor and the Executive Branch
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) What factors suggest that the governor of California is "invisible"?
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) One of the most important powers the governor has in terms of the budget process is the
A) appointment power.
B) role of commander-in-chief.
C) line-item veto.
D) day-to-day management of state agencies.
Q4) Who is the current lieutenant governor?
A) Cruz Bustamante
B) Abel Maldonado
C) Gavin Newsom
D) John Garamendi
Q5) 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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Sample Questions
Q1) Jurisdiction refers to
A) the power of the governor to overturn decisions made by the California Supreme Court.
B) the kind of law the court handles and the geographic location.
C) the ability of the Assembly to withhold a bill before a vote within the chamber.
D) the ability of the Senate to withhold a bill before a vote within the chamber.
Q2) What arguments have been made in favor of appointing judges in California rather than electing them? What are the concerns regarding the election of judges in California?
Q3) How many women serve on the California Supreme Court?
A) none
B) three
C) four
D) six
Q4) What kind of caseload do the California courts have? How do the courts expedite the disposition of civil and criminal cases?
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Page 9
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 Legislative Analyst's Office provides A) advice to the governor.
B) nonpartisan and independent reviews of the budget.
C) recommendations on bond issues.
D) advice to the legislature.
Q2) Liberals argue that California's taxes are A) moderate.
B) too high.
C) too low.
D) likely to be repealed.
Q3) What arguments do liberals and conservatives make about taxes in California?
Q4) The publicly funded agencies most affected by the restrictions of Proposition 13 are A) fire departments.
B) police departments.
C) school districts.
D) prisons.
Q5) What was the intent of Proposition 13? What impact did it have in California?
Q6) Outline the budget process in California. Who has the greatest amount of influence and power in this process?
Page 10
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Chapter 9: Local Government
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In general, over the last few decades, voter turnout in California local government elections has been
A) decreasing.
B) increasing.
C) fluctuating.
D) constant.
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) The most common form of local government in California cities is the
A) mayor-council system.
B) council-manager system.
C) commission government.
D) councils of government.
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 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/4483
Sample Questions
Q1) In 2013, the percentage of California's bridges that were deficient or obsolete was A) 11.1 percent.
B) 22.8 percent.
C) 31.0 percent.
D) 37.3 percent.
Q2) The 2013-2014 drought in California
A) had little effect on large cities.
B) caused the state to declare a statewide emergency.
C) is likely to end quite soon.
D) led to increased water usage.
Q3) The largest group of people without health insurance in California are A) senior citizens.
B) U.S. citizens.
C) illegal aliens.
D) children.
Q4) What does groundwater management entail, and what are the problems that are currently being encountered in California?
Q5) What is public policy? What are some of the challenges California faces in creating and implementing public policy?
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