CAL GOV'T EXAM - Governing California in the 21st Century (6th Ed.) Practice Quiz

The budget must be passed by a majority of those present and voting in both chambers of the legislature.

a) true

b) false

a) true

Most states require a two-thirds majority to pass their budgets each year.

a) true

b) false

b) false

According to the text, California's total population, its foreign-born population, and the approximate number of undocumented immigrants living in the state are:

a) 50 million, 5 million, and 2 million.

b) 34 million, 8.8 million, and 2.4 million.

c) 25 million, 20 million, and 18 million.

d) 39.3 million, 10.2 million, and 2.67 million.

d) 39.3 million, 10.2 million, and 2.67 million

"Latino" or "Hispanic" is one of the racial categories in the U.S. census, which is taken every 10 years.

a) true

b) false

b) false

Compared to the proportion of immigrants who speak English at home in the U.S. population, the proportion of immigrants in California who speak English at home is

a) greater.

b) lesser.

c) the same

b) lesser.

According to this book, the inability of the California legislature to make decisions that benefit the state as a whole is due to

a) the influence of interest groups.

b) the two-thirds requirement to raise taxes.

c) California's size and diversity.

d) all of the above

d) all of the above

California's current term limits are

a) 8 years for the governor, 4 years for the Assembly, and 6 years for the state Senate.

b) 6 years for the governor, 6 years for the Assembly, and 8 years for the state Senate.

c) 8 years for the governor, 12 years for the Assembly, and 12 years for the state Senate.

d) 8 years for the governor, 8 years for the Assembly, and 12 years for the state Senate.

c) 8 years for the governor, 12 years for the Assembly, and 12 years for the state Senate

Undocumented immigrants were able to obtain a driver's permit in California as of 2015.

a) true

b) false

a) true

"Majoritarian" as applied to California government means that

a) the state requires majority rule in all major decisions.

b) the state does not have a "republican" form of government; it has a "majoritarian" form.

c) the state makes many important decisions through direct democracy and the initiative process.

d) the California legislature uses majority rule for all decisions.

c) the state makes many important decisions through direct democracy and the initiative process.

California's institutions of higher education produce sufficient numbers of graduates to meet the the state's workforce needs in the foreseeable future.

a) true

b) false

b) false

The popular direct-democracy process by which citizens can place a constitutional amendment or statute on the ballot is called a(n)

a) referendum.

b) initiative.

c) recall.

d) nonpartisan election.

b) initiative

The individual who served as governor during much of the Progressive period was

a) Chester Rowell

b) Edward Dickson

c) Hiram Johnson

d) Samuel P. Huntington

c) Hiram Johnson

The process by which a petition signed by a specific percentage of those who cast votes in the last gubernatorial election enables voters to approve or reject a law enacted by the legislature is a(n)

a) popular referendum

b) initiative

c) recall

d) nonpartisan election

a) popular referendum

The process by which an elected official is removed from office before his or her term expires is called a(n)

a) referendum

b) initiative

c) recall

d) nonpartisan election

c) recall

Progressive reformers pointed to this company whenever they spoke about machine politics and corporate privilege in Sacramento:

a) Standard Oil Company

b) Bank of America

c) Southern Pacific Railroad

d) Northern Securities Company

c) Southern Pacific Railroad

The only sitting California governor to be recalled from office was

a) Ronald Reagan

b) Jerry Brown

c) Gray Davis

d) Pete Wilson

c) Gray Davis

Which of the following direct-democracy devices allows voters to approve or reject constitutional amendments or statutes and the majority of bond measures put on the ballot by the legislature?

a) initiative

b) direct primary

c) legislative referendum

d) recall

a) initiative

In which historical block was the greatest number of initiatives titled?

a) 1912-39

b) 1940-69

c) 1970-99

d) 2000-16

c) 1970-99

Which of the following is not a Progressive Era reform?

a) nonpartisan elections

b) primary elections

c) the office block vote

d) party caucuses

d) party caucuses

Which of the following is not a legal way to amend the California constitution?

a) The legislature can convene a constitutional convention by a 2/3 vote

b) The governor can sign into law a proposed amendment passed by the legislature

c) The legislature may propose a constitutional amendment by a 2/3 vote

d) The electorate can propose a constitutional amendment through the initiative process

b) The governor can sign into law a proposed amendment passed by the legislature

The term third house refers to which of the following entities?

a) judicial branch

b) executive branch

c) interest groups

d) media

c) interest groups

Over the past two decades, interest-group expenditures in California have

a) declined

b) increased

c) remained relatively the same

d) fluctuated from year to year

b) increased

An individual who offers his or her lobbying services to multiple clients at the same time is called a(n)

a) contract lobbyist

b) "hired gun"

c) citizen lobbyist

d) in-house lobbyist

a) contract lobbyist

The principal function of an interest group is to

a) provide its members with educational and social opportunities

b) contribute money to candidates for public office who favor its programs

c) attain favorable decision from the government on issues that it supports

d) seek to inform the public on the role of interest in the economy

c) attain favorable decision from the government on issues that it supports

Political action committees (PACs)

a) have declined in popularity in recent years.

b) must disclose campaign contributions and expenditures in connection with state and local elections.

c) may make unlimited contributions to political candidates.

d) provide candidates with public funding for their campaign

b) must disclose campaign contributions and expenditures in connection with state and local elections

According to the text, all of the following factors are involved in the media's decision not to cover more political and governmental news except:

a) Californians are not that interested in political and governmental news.

b) The ratings for political and governmental news are lower than other kinds of news, such as the weather, consumer news, and sports coverage.

c) So many news programs cover California political and governmental news that there is little for each station to report.

d) Political and governmental news, except during election campaigns, does not lend itself to sensational coverage.

c) So many news programs cover California political and governmental news that there is little for each station to report

Which former speaker of the California Assembly said "Money is the mother's milk of politics"?

a) Jesse Unruh

b) Willie Brown

c) Antonio Villaraigosa

d) Fabian Nuñez

a) Jesse Unruh

Over the past two decades, the number of newspapers across the United States has _____, and newspaper circulations have _____ in every recent year as well.

a) risen, increased

b) remained the same, increased

c) risen, declined

d) fallen, declined

d) fallen, declined

What is the process called of obtaining ideas, fundraising contributions, or policy support by enlisting online a large group of people?

a) direct appeal

b) crowdsourcing

c) web-based business pattern

d) outsourcing

c) web-based business pattern

Many experts see digital media as a catalyst for _____ the democratic process.

a) threatening

b) enhancing

c) having little effect on

d) undermining

b) enhancing

In the 2012 general election, 18- to 29-year-olds voted at a higher rate than they did in 2008.

a) True

b) False

a) True

In running for the state legislature, incumbents and challengers spend nearly the same amount of money on their political campaigns.

a) True

b) False

b) False

Political campaigns are so expensive in California because

a) campaigns need to hire political consultants

b) campaigns need to spend a substantial amount of money on media advertising

c) political parties are not very involved in the planning and running of campaigns

d) all of the above

d) all of the above

Special-interest groups often use the initiative process to achieve their policy objectives.

a) True

b) False

a) True

Which of the following is not true about Proposition 34, which deals with campaign finance?

a) The League of Women Voters and Common Cause supported Proposition 34

b) Proposition 34 increased allowable individual contributions to candidates to $21,200

c) Proposition 34 has resulted in less control of campaign financing

d) Proposition 34 replaced the stricter campaign finance law enacted through Proposition 208

a) The League of Women Voters and Common Cause supported Proposition 34

Of California's 39 million people, approximately how many are registered to vote?

a) 30 million

b) 25 million

c) 5 million

d) 20 million

d) 20 million

Democrats are the plurality party in California.

a) True

b) False

a) True

The number of voters who decline to state a party affiliation at the time they register is declining.

a) True

b) False

b) False

Most of the Democratic counties encompass major urban areas, whereas most of the Republican counties are more rural in nature.

a) True

b) False

a) True

California presently operates under which of the following primary election systems?

a) open primary

b) blanket primary

c) modified closed primary

d) fully closed primary

b) blanket primary

A line-item veto allows

a) the governor to reject any single item in an appropriations or budget bill.

b) the speaker or the president pro tempore to pull any

single item from the agenda.

c) a single member to block a single piece of legislation

by signing a written objection.

d) a petition by a group of 10 legislators to block any

single piece of legislation.

a) the governor to reject any single item in an appropriations or budget bill.

Proposition 140

a) limits the time that legislators can serve in Sacramento.

b) limits the legislature from raising property taxes.

c) sets aside 40 percent of the budget for education purposes.

d) requires the speaker to assign staff to the minority party.

a) limits the time that legislators can serve in Sacramento

The legislature is composed of

a) 80 members in the Senate and 40 in the Assembly

b) 120 members in a single body

c) 60 members in each body

d) 80 members in the Assembly and 40 in the Senate

d) 80 members in the Assembly and 40 in the state

A two-thirds vote is needed to pass

a) appropriation bills

b) budget bills

c) tax bills

d) all of the above

c) tax bills

Partisanship in the legislature

a) has declined because of apportionment

b) has declined because of the blanket primary now in effect

c) has led to greater ease in getting budgets improved

d) has increased in recent years

d) has increased in recent years

The powers of the speaker of the California Assembly include all of the following except

a) the power to assign parking spaces

b) the power to assign office space

c) the power to assign members to committees but not remove them during the current term

d) the power to assign a member to a committee against both the member's wishes and the wishes and needs of his or her constituency

c) the power to assign members to committees but not remove them during the current term

Proposition 140 resulted in all of the following except

a) an increase in office budgets

b) the establishment of term limits

c) a reduction of committee staff and personal staff

d) layoffs of some of the most knowledgeable staff experts from committees

a) an increase in office budgets

The legislative process is biased in favor of

a) issues favored by the public

b) the status quo

c) change that interest groups favor

d) legislation proposed by the governor, who can introduce a limited number of bills directly to both houses, bypassing some of the steps of the legislative process

c) change that interest groups favor

California has some of the largest legislative districts in the nation. This means that

a) elections in California tend to be expensive

b) citizen access to legislators is unusually good because legislators need to face the voters so often

c) legislators appear in the media more often because they represent so many people

d) California has an unusually large number of legislators

a) elections in California tend to be expensive

Term limits have resulted in which of the following:

a) an increase in expertise among legislators, who have only a few years to make a name for themselves

b) an increase in citizen legislators, people with little or no political experience who are able to run because seats are open

c) an increase in staff members, who are needed to help legislators with little experience

d) a decline in the knowledge needed to pass good quality legislation

d) a decline in the knowledge needed to pass good quality legislation

Which of the following is not part of the plural executive?

a) the chancellor of the California State University

b) the secretary of state

c) the attorney general

d) the controller

a) the chancellor of the California State University

Which of these powers does the governor have that the president does not have?

a) legislative veto

b) line-item veto

c) power to declare war

d) power to appoint judges

b) line-item veto

Which of the following activities of the governor would be considered part of his or her role as head of government?

a) proposing a budget

b) vetoing legislation

c) proposing new air quality standards

d) all of the above

d) all of the above

Which of the following groups of employees are under administrative control and report ultimately to the governor?

a) legislative aides

b) supreme court clerks

c) highway patrol

d) professors at California State University, Fullerton

c) highway patrol

How many state boards and commissions are there?

a) fewer than 50

b) between 50 and 150

c) between 150 and 300

d) more than 300

d) more than 300

The California governor is "invisible" under normal conditions for all of the following reasons except:

a) California's governors appear in events where they are visible to the public, but for the most part, there is little public interest in those events

b) For almost every recent governor, there has been little

media interest in Sacramento.

c) The governor splits his or her power with other state

executives, who are also trying to attract the media.

d) The governor's star power is only of interest to those

who like superhero movies.

d) The governor's star power is only of interest to those

who like superhero movies.

The governor manages the executive branch, but this power is limited by all of the following except:

a) There are so many appointees of the governor, many

of whom belong to agencies the governor doesn't

know much about.

b) Some of California government is outside the governor's power to supervise, such as the University of

California and California State University.

c) The boards and commissions whose members the

governor appoints are mostly, except in extreme cases,

outside of his or her power.

d) The attorney general must approve appointments to

many boards and commissions, and that appointment approval is difficult for the governor to obtain.

d) The attorney general must approve appointments to

many boards and commissions, and that appointment approval is difficult for the governor to obtain.

The line-item veto allows the governor to adjust any appropriations item up or down, including reducing it to zero.

a) true

b) false

b) false

All of the following are true of the governor's appointments to the cabinet except:

a) Most cabinet appointments are routine, given to

the governor's political supporters and campaign

contributors.

b) The cabinet as a whole has no official policy function,

unless the governor wants to give it a role.

c) Some cabinet and subcabinet positions require an

appointment of someone with qualifications that are spelled out in law.

d) The superagency heads are usually considered part of the governor's cabinet.

a) Most cabinet appointments are routine, given to

the governor's political supporters and campaign

contributors.

The job of the lieutenant governor, one columnist wrote not entirely in jest, consists of getting up in the morning, checking that the governor is still alive, and then making arrangements for lunch!

a) This statement is probably true

b) This statement is probably false

b) This statement is probably false

All death-penalty sentences are automatically appealed directly to the California Supreme Court for review.

a) true

b) false

a) true

The California Supreme Court is similar to the U.S. Supreme Court in that it has nine justices.

a) true

b) false

b) false

Most civil cases in California are resolved before going to trial.

a) true

b) false

a) true

Voters in California are highly informed about the candidates running in judicial elections.

a) true

b) false

b) false

Initiatives passed in California are not subject to either judicial interpretation or judicial review.

a) true

b) false

b) false

In recent years, campaign spending in judicial elections

a) has increased

b) has decreased

c) has remained the same

d) cannot be determined

a) has increased

Chief Justice Rose Bird and Associate Justices Cruz Reynoso and Joseph Grodin were voted out by citizens who were angry about the judges' decisions concerning

a) same-sex marriage

b) the death penalty

c) Proposition 13

d) term limits

b) the death penalty

Judges selected by the governor to serve on the supreme court and the courts of appeal in California must be approved by

a) the state legislature

b) the attorney general

c) the Commission on Judicial Appointments

d) none of the above

c) the Commission on Judicial Appointments

Superior courts in California adjudicate the following types of actions:

a) civil and criminal cases

b) only civil cases

c) only criminal cases

d) only appeals

a) civil and criminal cases

One method of removing judges in the state of California is

a) removal by the governor

b) censure by the state legislature

c) agreement between the speaker of the Assembly and the attorney general

d) a recall election

d) a recall election

Both the governor and the legislature are obliged by the California Constitution to pass a balanced budget.

a) true

b) false

a) true

The state of California cannot pass its budget in 2016-17 unless the Assembly and state Senate pass the budget by

a) 50 percent plus 1 vote

b) 55 percent

c) 66.7 percent

d) 75 percent

a) 50 percent plus 1 vote

The state of California cannot raise state taxes unless the Assembly and state Senate pass the relevant law by

a) 50 percent plus 1 vote

b) 55 percent

c) 66.7 percent

d) 75 percent

c) 66.7 percent

Proposition 13 requires

a) property taxes to be lowered to the level when the property was last sold. Property tax values can rise 2 percent per year.

b) property taxes to be set at 1975 levels; property is reassessed when it is sold. Property tax values can rise as much as 2 percent per year.

c) property taxes to be lowered to 1945 levels; property is reassessed when it is sold. The level of the tax can rise 3% per year

d) Property taxes to be raised to the appropriate level when the property on both sides of a house or business has been sold -- all the property is then reassessed at current values. The level of the tax can rise 2 percent per year if the property is not sold.

b) property taxes to be set at 1975 levels; property is reassessed when it is sold. Property tax values can rise as much as 2 percent per year.

Proposition 98 requires education spending to be at least

a) 50 percent of the entire state budget

b) 50 percent of the general fund

c) 33.3 percent of the general fund

d) 40 percent of the general fund

d) 40 percent of the general fund

What is the general fund?

a) The general fund includes all revenues that are not otherwise allocated into special or bond funds

b) The general fund includes all tax revenue

c) The general fund includes all state revenue, including special and bond funds

d) The general fund includes all state revenue except bond funds, because these are used to construct state facilities and are paid back over a several decade period

a) The general fund includes all revenues that are not otherwise allocated into special or bond funds

The governor's line-item veto allows

a) the governor, if he or she wishes, to lower any appropriation item

b) the governor, in conjunction with an agency, to veto any bill in its entirety

c) the governor to "pencil" any line or sentence in any bill

d) the governor to raise or lower any appropriation item, including lowering the item to zero

a) the governor, if he or she wishes, to lower any appropriation item

The governor's line-item veto may be overridden by a 50 percent plus one vote in both houses of the legislature.

a) true

b) false

b) false

The credit rating assigned to the state of California by Moody's, Fitch Ratings, or Standard & Poor's is important because

a) the credit rating influences the size of California's deficit or surplus in any given fiscal year

b) when the credit rating goes down, the interest rate that the state pays to float its bonds goes up

c) when the credit rating goes up, the amount of interest the state pays goes down

d) all of the above

d) all of the above

Indian gambling revenues have become a significant source of income for the state of California.

a) true

b) false

b) false

The lottery is a significant source of income for K-12 education.

a) true

b) false

b) false

Cities and counties that have home-rule charters have the authority to make their own laws even if they violate state and federal laws.

a) true

b) false

b) false

The U.S. Constitution gives local governments inherent rights and powers that cannot be taken away by state governments.

a) true

b) false

b) false

County boards of supervisors have both legislative and executive authority.

a) true

b) false

a) true

Most cities are governed by council-manager systems.

a) true

b) false

a) true

At the local government level, citizens cannot petition for a referendum or recall election.

a) true

b) false

b) false

Which of the following is not a characteristic of reform government at the local level?

a) at-large council elections

b) nonpartisanship

c) city manager plan

d) concurrent elections

d) concurrent elections

Which of the following counties operates under a single charter as a consolidated city and county?

a) Los Angeles

b) Sacramento

c) San Francisco

d) Orange

c) San Francisco

Which of the following elected officials can be found only in county governments?

a) sheriff

b) mayor

c) council member

d) manager

a) sheriff

ABAG is an example of a COG.

a) true

b) false

a) true

The Sustainable Communities Act (SB 375) prohibits California cities from making regional alliances with other cities.

a) true

b) false

b) false

Medicaid is

a) a national program, administered by the federal government, with little state input.

b) a state program, administered with little federal government guidance or funds

c) a federal/state program, with over half the money coming from the federal government

d) a federal/state program, with over half the money coming from the states

c) a federal/state program, with over half the money coming from the federal government

Duroville was a particularly difficult public policy problem because

a) the trailer park was located on an Indian reservation, where the state has little jurisdiction

b) many of the residents were undocumented, meaning they will have a difficult time qualifying for public housing

c) the many other trailer parks in Riverside County indicate that the problems symbolized by Duroville may be widespread

d) all of the above

d) all of the above

In California, employer-sponsored health insurance or ESI

a) has historically been higher proportionately than in other states because of the size and structure of California's employers and the number of noncitizens in the state

b) has historically been about the same as in other states

c) has historically been lower than in other states because of the size and structure of California's employers and the number of noncitizens in the state

d) has historically been higher than in other states because of the generosity of the state's medical programs

c) has historically been lower than in other states because of the size and structure of California's employers and the number of noncitizens in the state

The individual health insurance market in California, prior to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, was a model that other states might emulate.

a) true

b) false

b) false

California's basic water allocation is as follows:

a) Most is used for households and business, and only a small amount for agriculture. The water for household and business use is divided roughly 50-50 between inside and outside use.

b) About half is used for households and businesses, with the other half for agriculture. The household and business portion is dominated by inside use, which is the greater proportion

c) Most is used in agriculture. The proportion used for households and businesses is divided about 50-50 between inside and outside use

d) Most is used in agriculture. The portion used for households and business is mostly used outside for landscape watering

c) Most is used in agriculture. The proportion used for households and businesses is divided about 50-50 between inside and outside use

The most likely solutions for increasing California's water supply rely on

a) reusing treated wastewater

b) capturing storm water

c) increased efficiency at homes, businesses, and in agriculture

d) all of the above

d) all of the above

California's infrastructure has been neglected for all of the following reasons except

a) most recent budgets have had to cut expenses, and infrastructure is among the easier items to cut

b) the state legislature does not put a high priority on infrastructure issues

c) most politicians in California have long-term horizons

d) California's transportation funds are often mismanaged

c) most politicians in California have long-term horizons

The amount of groundwater pumped during a drought is higher than the average amount pumped in most years.

a) true

b) false

a) true

Indian gaming issues in California have involved the following except

a) tribal-sponsored initiatives

b) federal court decisions over the legality of Indian casinos in California

c) compacts negotiated by the governor and ratified by the state Senate

d) substantial gaming revenues received by local governments in California

d) substantial gaming revenues received by local governments in California