PS 103A: California Politics

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PS 103A California Politics

• Lecture 1
• January 10, 2004

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Course Introduction

• The recalls role in California politics
• Todays version of Progressive institutions
• Campaigning in CAs complex environment
• Effects on policy?
• What this course is not about
• What this course is about
• Course plan and logistics

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The Recalls Role in California Politics

• Todays version of Progressive institutions
• 1911 device with ambiguous criteria corruption
  vs. dissatisfaction
• The old industry of paid signature gatherers
• How democratic is direct democracy?

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The Recalls Role in California Politics

• Campaigning in Californias complex environment
• Wholesale vs. retail campaigning
• Media coverage in a megastate
• The politics of ethnicity

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The Recalls Role in California Politics

• Effects on policy?
• Reaction against Gray Davis policies electricity
  deregulation, car tax, and budget
• No mandate for political reforms, as the 2005
  special election demonstrated
• Do Californians want to spend more or less? How
  about their Governor?

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Schwarzenegger the Budget Cutter(Feb. 23, 2005)
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Schwarzenegger the Spender (January 5th State of
the State Address)
222 Billion in bonds over ten years
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Schwarzeneggers Rough Week
Dan Walters Schwarzenegger's credibility at risk
as he repositions his image
Angelides calls governor's idea 'lot of hype'
State treasurer pans infrastructure plan,
challenges numbers
Schwarzenegger's Budget Would Trigger Billions in
New Spending
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What This Course is Not About

• How to be a good citizen.
• Preface. We believe that increased participation
  by an informed citizenry in the politics of
  California is vitally needed
• Power and Politics in California,
• John H. Culver and John C. Syer, 1980

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What This Course is Not About
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What This Course is Not About
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What This Course is Not About
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What This Course is Not About

• An Introduction to American Politics
• Begins with the Constitution
• Under a fixed set of rules, leaders react to an
  ever more complex society
• Consensus on the basic features of our political
  system and what there is to learn

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What This Course Is About

• What you need to know in Sacramento
• Mixture of political science research and
  political journalism
• A state where the rules constantly change and no
  consensus tells us what to teach you

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Course Plan and Logistics

• Part I Political Institutions in Flux
• Part II The Politics of Diversity
• Part III Perspectives on Policy
• Theme A Cycles in California Politics
• Theme B What Makes CA Different?
• Theme C How Do We Know What We Know?

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Course Plan and Logistics

• Midterm on February 14 25 of grade
• Paper due on March 9 30 of grade
• Campaign plan or policy analysis
• Final on March 23 40 of grade
• Section attendance and participation 5 of
  grade

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Course Plan and Logistics

• Short biographies to begin each class
• One will be extra credit on midterm
• Two will be extra credit on final
• Last half hour is discussion section
• You must attend four over the quarter
• Be ready to discuss the readings