Democracy in California
Politics and Government in the Golden State
2nd Edition
Published on 9. July 2007
Book
Paperback/Softback
144 pages
978-0-7425-4836-7 (ISBN)
Description
In Democracy in California, Brian P. Janiskee and Ken Masugi clearly explain the politics and character of California's governmental institutions and the dynamics affecting the lives of its citizens. The Second Edition is updated throughout and includes special discussions of the recent 2006 election, the 2005 special election, and the 2003 recall effort.
Reviews / Votes
Non-Californians and even some Californians struggle to understand the State's various political, social, and economic crosscurrents. Democracy in California sorts through the complexities of this diverse and trend-setting state. The book artfully puts the present situation in the context of the state's history. If you want to understand California's exceptionalism, beyond the trite cliches, here's a good place to start. -- Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register In their succinct, highly-readable, and now updated guide to California politics, Janiskee and Masugi provide a historical overview and contemporary account of the major constitutional features, governmental arrangements, fiscal practices, and diverse social characteristics of the Golden State. Aiming high, they consciously model their Democracy in California on Tocqueville's Democracy in America. They offer thoughtful meditations on Tocqueville's insights into the principles, problems, andprospects of democratic life. Their aim is uncannily accurate. This is an indispensable book for anyone wishing to understand and assess the successes and failures of California politics and government... -- Ralph A. Rossum, Claremont McKenna College Democracy in California is the best book of its kind. With a view to the enduring questions of political life, the authors present a view of the Golden State unlike that of any other textbook available today. The case studies are especially useful, providing students with readable and memorable examples of the central ideas of each chapter. The result is a cogent yet comprehensive account of America's most important state. -- Scot Zentner, California State University-San Bernardino In their succinct, highly-readable, and now updated guide to California politics, Janiskee and Masugi provide a historical overview and contemporary account of the major constitutional features, governmental arrangements, fiscal practices, and diverse social characteristics of the Golden State. Aiming high, they consciously model their Democracy in California on Tocqueville's Democracy in America. They offer thoughtful meditations on Tocqueville's insights into the principles, problems, and prospects of democratic life. Their aim is uncannily accurate. This is an indispensable book for anyone wishing to understand and assess the successes and failures of California politics and government. -- Ralph A. Rossum, Claremont McKenna CollegeMore details
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 233 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
267 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7425-4836-7 (9780742548367)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Brian Janiskee is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at California State University at San Bernardino, where he is also a faculty member in the national security studies program. In addition, he is a fellow at the Claremont Institute and active with its Center for Local Government. He has published several articles in topics ranging from special districts to crime policy to presidential elections. He lives in Highland, California. Ken Masugi was director of the Center for Local Government of the Claremont Institute. He is editor of Interpreting Tocqueville's 'Democracy in America' (described in the American Political Science Review as representing a 'revolution in Tocqueville scholarship') and coeditor of four other books on modern and American political thought. He has served in the federal government as a speechwriter for high-level officials, including members of the Cabinet.
Content
Introduction Chapter 1 Diversity Chapter 2 A Progressive Constitution Chapter 3 Public Opinion and the Media Chapter 4 Parties and Interest Groups Chapter 5 Campaigns and Elections Chapter 6 The Legislature Chapter 7 The Executive Chapter 8 The Courts Chapter 9 The Budget and Government Finance Chapter 10 Local Government Epilogue Glossary