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California Polytechnic State University, Pomona
Political Science 481 — Fall 2014
California Government
Dr. Mario Guerrero
@marioguerrero
E-mail: [email protected]
Voice: (909) 869-3885
Classroom: CLA Building, Room 126
Time: TTh 5:00 - 6:50PM
WWW: http://marioguerrero.info/courses/pls481
gChat: mariog Facebook: marioguerrero
Office: Building 94, Room 316
Office Hours: TTh 1:00-3:00pm; By appointment
1 Course Description
This course examines the California political system. California is the most populous
state in the Union. Over 38 million people live in California, which comprises approximately 12 percent of the total population in the nation. In addition, California has the
highest gross domestic product (GDP) of any state in the Union. California boasts a
GDP of $1.891 trillion, an amount only surpassed by the GDP of ten countries. As one of
the most heavily populated and richest states in the nation, California has a particularly
prominent role as one of fifty laboratories of democracy.
The purpose of this class is to learn about the differing political institutions and practices
of the great state of California. This will allow you to comparatively analyze federalism in the United States and examine the relationships amongst the several levels of
government. The course is organized into two general themes, intended to address the
fundamental underlying ideas and processes of California politics. Questions covered in
this class include but are not limited to: Is California a shining example of the power
of federalism or is it a horrible failure? How does direct democracy give and remove
power from the hands of the people? Are Californians well represented by its political
institutions? What contemporary problems do we currently face in California politics?
2 Required Text
In an effort to save you money, there are no textbooks or printed reader for this course.
All required readings will be found online. Please visit the course website for frequent
updates. If you have trouble with accessing course materials or prefer printed readings,
please contact me to make alternate arrangements.
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Political Science 481: California Government
3 Course Requirements
Your final grade is based on five different components. These components are designed
to give a fair and comprehensive assessment of your progress in this course.
Percentage
10%
10%
20%
30%
30%
Assignment
Group Study Guide: Students are expected to contribute to a study
guide at some point throughout the quarter.
Data Assignments: In four different data assignments, you will learn
a new skill for analyzing state politics data. These assignments will
typically require you to create a graph, table, or statistical test, and
provide a brief explanation of it.
Midterm Exam: To held on Tuesday, October 30.
Policy Report: Students will use a state politics dataset to present an
argument about crime or education policy. The policy report is 6-8
pages in length and is due Thursday, December 4.
Final Exam: To be held on Tuesday, December 8, 6:00-8:00pm.
4 Communication
Office hours are great for getting detailed answers and clarification. I encourage everyone to come to office hours at some point in the quarter. It will help me to get to know
you better and it will help you do well in this class. Office hours have been statistically
proven to help your grade.
Whenever I am in my office (94-316), I am happy to meet with you. I am guaranteed to
be in my office during dedicated office hours, but you can also schedule an appointment
so we can meet when it is convenient for you. Feel free to contact me online via gchat
(mariog), Facebook chat (marioguerrero), or AIM (SuperMario917). I am frequently
online and will be happy to answer your questions whenever I can.
5 Academic Honesty
Cal Poly Pomona takes academic honesty very seriously. Cheating is not tolerated and
students will be held accountable for cheating on an assignment or an exam. Violators
will receive an F in the course and then be referred to the Dean of Students and Judicial
Affairs for further disciplinary action that may result in suspension. There should be no
reason for you to feel compelled to cheat in this class. If you feel overwhelmed with the
course, please do not hesitate to contact me for help.
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Political Science 481: California Government
6 Special Assistance
A wide range of services is available to support students in their efforts to meet the course
requirements. Cal Poly Pomona offers counseling for personal and academic concerns at
the Counseling and Psychological Services at no additional charge to students (Building 66-110, 909-869-3220). Additionally, Student Health Mental Services (Building 46,
909-869-3070) provides a range of services to help students identify and overcome obstacles stemming from financial, emotional, social, or family situations. The Disablility
Resource Center (Building 9-103, 909-869-3333) also provides academic support services
to eligible students with temporary and permanent disabilities. You must register with
DRC prior to receiving these accommodations.
Separately from these services, the University Writing Center (Library 2921) provides
assistance to students writing papers. The Writing Center offers students 30-minute
one-on-one appointments. Writing Center tutors specialize in reading for content, but
will also read papers for grammar and style. Please utilize this resource if you know you
need help with your writing.
7 Course Schedule
Please note that the following schedule is subject to change throughout the quarter.
UNIT 1 DIRECT DEMOCRACY
Week 0: 9/21-9/27
Thursday, September 25, 2014 Course Introduction: What is expected of me within
this course? Why is California Government important?
Readings
No Reading
Week 1: 9/28-10/4
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 Direct Democracy: What is the value of direct democracy, if any?
Terms
Readings
Laboratories of democracy, initiative, referendum, recall, direct initiative,
indirect initiative, direct democracy at the federal level, public opinion on
direct democracy
Arthur Lupia and John Matsusaka. 2004. Direct Democracy: New Approaches to Old Questions. Annual Review of Political Science 7:463-482.
New State Ice Company v. Liebmann, 285 U.S. 262 (1932)
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Political Science 481: California Government
Thursday, October 2, 2014 Proposition 8 - Gay Marriage: How exactly is Proposition
8 a story of federalism? checks and balances?
Terms
Readings
Political values, freedom, order, equality, political ideology, liberal, conservative, libertarian, communitarian, full faith and credit clause, Defense of
Marriage Act, California Domestic Partnership Act, Proposition 22, Dennis
Hollingsworth
Jenifer Warren. 2000. Ban on Gay Marriages Win in All Regions but Bay
Area. Los Angeles Times, 8 March.
Lee Romney. 2004. Defiant San Francisco Marries Dozens of Same-Sex
Couples. Los Angeles Times, 13 February.
Jack Leonard. 2008. Voters Will Decide on Gay Marriage. Los Angeles
Times, 3 June.
John Wildermuth. 2008. Harsh Attacks Characterize the Prop. 8 Debate.
San Francisco Chronicle, 1 November.
Dan Morain and Jessica Garrison. 2008. Focused Beyond Marriage. Los
Angeles Times, 6 November.
The Tyranny of the Majority. The Economist, 17 December 2009.
Michael Doyle. 2013. ”Prop. 8 Dismissed, Defense of Marriage Act Struck
Down.” The Sacramento Bee, 26 June.
Abrajano, Marisa. 2010. Are Blacks and Latinos Responsible for the Passage
of Proposition 8? Analyzing Voter Attitudes on Californias Proposal to Ban
Same-Sex Marriage in 2008. Political Research Quarterly 63(4): 922-932.
Week 2: 10/5-10/11
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 Proposition 187 - Immigration: What does Proposition
187 suggest about California’s current political climate?
Terms
Readings
Proposition 63, Dick Mountjoy, ¡i¿Lulac v. Wilson¡/i¿, bifurcated states,
heterogeneous states, homogeneous states
Patrick J. McDonnell. 1994. Proposition 187 Turns Up Heat in US Immigration Debate. Los Angeles Times, 10 August.
Rich Connell. 1994. Proposition 187s Support Shows No Boundaries. Los
Angeles Times, 25 September.
Amy Pyle and Greg Hernandez. 1994. 10,000 Students Protest Proposition
187. Los Angeles Times, 3 November.
Peter H. King. 1994. They Kept Coming. Los Angeles Times, 9 November.
Caroline J. Tolbert and Rodney E. Hero. 1996. Race/Ethnicity and Direct
Democracy: An Analysis of Californias Illegal Immigration Initiative. Journal
of Politics 58(3): 806-818.
Thursday, October 9, 2014 Proposition 19 - Marijuana: Under what circumstances
would the federal government legalize marijuana?
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Political Science 481: California Government
Terms
Readings
Counterculture, Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, Schedule I, federal
enforcement of marijuana, Nixon Commission, Supremacy Clause, Proposition 19, Leo Paoli, Richard Lee, Proposition 36, Proposition 25, Medicinal
Marijuana Program, Gonzales vs. Raich, Proposition 19
John Hoeffel. 2009. Measure to Legalize Pot May be on Californias November
Ballot. Los Angeles Times, 15 December.
Why California Should Just Say No to Proposition 19. Los Angeles Times,
25 August 2010.
Catherine Saillant. 2010. Legalizing Pot Would Free Up Police to Fight Violent Crime, Law Enforcement Group Says. Los Angeles Times, 13 September.
John Hoeffel. 2010. Despite Rejecting Proposition 19, Californians Lean
Toward Legalizing Marijuana. Los Angeles Times, 4 November.
Rick Lyman. 2014. ”Pivotal Point is Seen as More States Consider Legalizing
Marijuana.” New York Times, 26 February.
Week 3: 10/12-10/18
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Lab #1: The Dataset
Terms
Readings
None
None
Thursday, October 16, 2014 Proposition 209 - Affirmative Action: Are affirmative
action programs still necessary in today’s society?
Terms
Readings
Brown vs. Board, Executive Order 10925, Civil Rights Act of 1964, Regents
of the UC vs. Bakee, Adarand Construction vs. Pena, strict scrutiny, Ward
Connerly, Proposition 209
Affirmative Action Still is Needed: No on Prop. 209. Los Angeles Times, 13
October.
Bill Stall. 1996. Prop. 209s Fate May Hinge on 2 Words. Los Angeles Times,
31 October.
Lesher, Dave. 1996. Battle Over Prop. 209 Moves to the Courts. Los Angeles
Times, 7 November.
David A. Lehrer and Joe R. Hicks. 2010. UC Proves Proposition 209s Point.
Los Angeles Times, 12 July.
Adam Liptak. 2013. ”Four Takeaways from the Affirmative-Action Decision.” New York Times, 24 June.
R. Michael Alvarez and Lisa Garcia Bedolla. 2004. The Revolution Against
Affirmative Action in California: Racism, Economics, and Proposition 209.
State Politics & Policy Quarterly 4(1): 1-17.
Week 4: 10/19-10/25
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 Lab #2: Statistics Basics
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Political Science 481: California Government
Terms
Readings
None
No Readings.
DATA ASSIGNMENT #1 DUE: Tuesday, October 21 — The Dataset
Thursday, October 23, 2014 Recall Elections. Under what circumstances do voters
prematurely remove officeholders?
Terms
Readings
Recall, North Dakota and Wisconsin, Gray Davis, Darrell Issa, two question
format
Michael Finnegan. 2003. Official Opens Door for Start of Davis Recall Drive.
Los Angeles Times, 26 March
Joel Ryan. 2003. Leno Roasts Recall Candidates. eOnline, 23 September.
Dan Morain, Nancy Vogel, and Jenifer Warren. 2003. After 5 Years, Davis
Leaves a Lasting Imprint. ]it Los Angeles Times, 15 November
Walter J. Stone and Monti Narayan Datta. 2004. Rationalizing the California
Recall. PS: Political Science and Politics 37(1): 19-21.
Week 5: 10/26-11/1
MIDTERM EXAM: Tuesday, October 30, 2014
Thursday, November 1, 2014 Lab #3: Graphs & Tables
Terms
Readings
None
No Readings.
DATA ASSIGNMENT #2 DUE: Thursday, November 1 — Basic Statistics
UNIT 2 CALIFORNIA INSTITUTIONS
Week 6: 11/2-11/8
Tuesday, November 4, 2014 The Constitution: What distinguishes the CA Constitution from the US Constitution?
Terms
Readings
Federalism, US Constitution, CA Constitution, CA Constitutional Convention, Amending, Revising, Progressive Era Reforms
The United States Constitution
The California Constitution
James Madison, 1788. ”Federalist No. 46.” The Federalist Papers.
Thursday, November 6, 2014 The Legislature: What are the similarities and differences between the CA legislature and the US Congress?
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Political Science 481: California Government
Terms
Readings
Assembly, Senate, term length, term limits, redistricting, bill, legislating
J. Theodore Anagnoson. 2013. The California Legislature. Governing California in the Twenty-First Century. New York: WW Norton Press.
DATA ASSIGNMENT #3 DUE: Thursday, November 6 — Graphs & Tables
Week 7: 11/9-11/15
Tuesday, November 11, 2014 No Class: Veteran’s Day
Readings
No Readings.
Thursday, November 13, 2014 Lab #4: Advanced Analysis
Readings
No Readings.
Week 8: 11/16-11/22
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 Crime and Education in California: What do education and crime policy tell us about politics in this state?
Terms
Readings
Conflict, government, institutions, coercion, policy output, school districts,
Master Plan, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, funding, Three
Strikes Law, Polly Klaas, Brown vs. Plata
A Primer: The Impact of Three Strikes After More Than a Decade, California
Legislative Analysts Office, October 2005.
LAUSD School Facilities and Academic Performance, National Clearinghouse
and Educational Facilities, 2004.
Thursday, November 20, 2014 The Executive: In what ways does a divided executive benefit the state of California?
Terms
Readings
Divided executive, gubernatorial responsibilities, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, Superintendent of Public Instruction
J. Theodore Anagnoson. 2013. The Governor and the Executive Branch.
Governing California in the Twenty-First Century. New York: WW Norton
Press.
DATA ASSIGNMENT #4 DUE: Thursday, November 20 — Advanced Analysis
Week 9: 11/23-11/29
Tuesday, November 25, 2014 The Judiciary: Should the CA Judiciary be subject to
elections or should they be appointed for life terms?
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Political Science 481: California Government
Terms
Readings
Criminal law, civil law, Superior Courts, Court of Appeals, State Supreme
Court, district attorney, public defender, commissioner, trial jury, grand jury,
judicial commissions, Rose Bird
J. Theodore Anagnoson. 2013. The California Judiciary. Governing California in the Twenty-First Century. New York: WW Norton Press.
Thursday, November 27, 2014 No Class: Thanksgiving Holiday
Readings
No Readings.
Week 10: 11/30-12/6
Tuesday, December 2, 2014 Politics at the Local Level: What is the relationship
between the different levels of government?
Terms
Readings
Local government responsibilities, general law, charters, Board of Supervisor,
council-manager, council-mayoral, special districts
Terry Christensen and Tom Hogen-Esch. ”Introduction to the Study of Local
Politics: Why We Bother and How We Go About It?” In Local Politics: A
Practical Guide to Governing at the Grassroots.
Thursday, December 4, 2014 Course Conclusion: Why you should care about California politics.
Readings
No Reading
POLICY REPORT DUE: Thursday, December 4
FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, December 8, 6:00 - 8:00pm, CLA Building, Room
6-007
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