POLITICAL SCIENCE 140: INTRODUCTION TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Prof. Mary M. McKenzie, mary.mckenzie@gcccd.net

 

FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE

 

Your exam will consist of 50 multiple choice, T/F, and an essay section.  You will need a scantron and a blue book.  The exam is worth 80 points.

Exam date: May 22.

 

I.                   Vocabulary you should know


 

At-large/district elections

Ballot-box budgeting

Big Five

Cruise-control spending

Cultural amalgamation, separatism, assimilation

Dillon’s rule

General law and charter counties/cities

General-purpose, single-purpose local government

Home rule

Incorporation

LULUs

May Revision

NIMBY-ism

Ordinance

Progressive/regressive tax

Strong/weak mayor

Tax-service paradox

Two-thirds problem


 

II.                Possible essay topics

 

1.      What are the different forms of local government?  Which form of city government do you think is the best?

2.      Why is a state’s budget a political (and not just a financial) document?  Where do states get their money and what do they spend it on? 

3.      What is the budgetary process in California?  What are its strengths and weaknesses? 

4.      What are the most vexing problems associated with population growth in California?  How has state government attempted to deal with these problems until now?

5.      What does Lawrence mean when he describes “California Policy as a Group Struggle”?  According to him, how does hyperpluralism affect education policy?

This exam will cover: State & Local, chs. 10 ,11, and 12, and California, chs. 11, 12, and 13.