What are some of the conditions that make governing California difficult and possibly "exceptional?"

What will be an ideal response?


Although this question is addressed throughout the book, the short answer is that California's problems exist on a massive scale: it is "hyper-diverse" with respect to demographics, geography, society, politics, and economics. In other words, among the U.S. states California contains the largest population, largest economy, most diverse landscapes and land uses, and tremendous racial and ethnic diversity. (Students might provide some details about the state's characteristics here.) These conditions combine to create complex issues that require long-range solutions, careful planning, and sometimes consensus and compromise, yet these are difficult to achieve in a state where citizens fundamentally distrust politicians and have the means to take matters into their own hands (i.e., through direct democracy). Some of the issues that respondents might mention are immigration, climate change, budgetary issues (taxation, balancing budgets), economic conditions (unemployment, recession or relative prosperity), prison populations or prison population reduction (realignment), and infrastructure needs. The state's Democratic Party leanings also distinguish it from other states: 61.7% of Californians voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Democrats possessed supermajority status in both houses of the legislature as of 2016.

Political Science

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The population in a survey is

A) the group of respondents that were given the survey but did not complete it. B) the country about which we wish to obtain information. C) the larger group about whom we wish to obtain information. D) the group of respondents who were given the survey and completed it.

Political Science

Advocates of collective security as a road to peace believe that

a. there should be multiple security alliances in the global system b. all threats to peace must be a common concern for everyone c. public condemnation and economic boycotts will be unsuccessful in deterring violations d. All of these are true.

Political Science

The right to life, liberty, and property, according to John Locke, are__________ rights, rights so fundamental that government cannot take them away

A) alienable B) constitutional C) legal D) natural E) worldwide

Political Science

Why can economic growth cause political upheaval in a developing society?

a. Once people see that improvement is possible, they become bitter at their relative deprivation. b. The newly rich resist the tax hikes needed for continued development. c. The very poor typically organize a Marxist revolution. d. The new middle class begins to demand a comprehensive welfare state.

Political Science