Ch 1: Promise and Practice

what legislative changes have been made in regards to redistricting?

switch in power from legislature to citizens’ commission starting in 2012, resulting in less gerrymandering and more competition (prop 11)

what legislative changes have been made in regards to party primary elections?

now use the top-two system which consists of one preliminary election that results in the top two candidates (regardless of party) advancing to the final election in november

what legislative changes have been made in regards to approval of the state budget

legislative can approve by majority instead of 2/3rds, tax increases still require 2/3rds

what changes have been made in regards to term limits

lengthened to 12 years max (6 terms for legislature, 3 terms for senate, two terms for statewide officials)

what are the main reasons for current political challenges

ease of passing initiatives which allows interests groups to have a lot of power, term limits that prevent representatives from fully learning their jobs, difficulty raising taxes, reforms not being widely supported/voted on

dominating raceial demographic of ca

latino (40%

demographics regarding resident origins

50% of CA residents born in state, 27% foreign-born (double that of the U.S.)

demographics regarding income

median household income slowly dropping, state poverty slightly higher than nation’s, large income gaps between tax brackets and regions 

political demographics in regards to geography

coastal regions = more liberal, inland = more conservative, state level = republicans marginalized, local levels = more tense/polarized