Deck 33: Recent California Politics

Question 1

The greatest beneficiaries of Proposition 13 were

A)renters.
B)public employees.
C)home owners.
D)owners of large business properties.

Answer 1

owners of large business properties.

Question 2

The growing "dysfunctional" nature of the California political process was revealed in

A)the unwillingness of voters to approve campaign finance reform initiatives.
B)the pervasive and potentially corrupting influence of money in California politics.
C)a major decrease in the use of the initiative process since the 1970s.
D)the overturning of term limits by a federal court.

Answer 2

the pervasive and potentially corrupting influence of money in California politics.

Question 3

The most pressing challenge facing newly elected Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was the state

A)budget deficit.
B)electric energy crisis.
C)violent crime rate.
D)water crisis.

Answer 3

budget deficit.

Question 4

The most important accomplishment of Jerry Brown's first term was passage of the

A)Agricultural Relations Act.
B)California Aqueduct Act.
C)Infrastructure Enhancement Act.
D)Governor Mansion Rehabilitation Act.

Question 5

Whom did the director of the California League of Conservation voters congratulate as the best environmental governor the state has ever had?

A)Jerry Brown.
B)Pete Wilson.
C)Gray Davis.
D)Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Question 6

Proposition 140,approved by the voters in November 1990,dealt with

A)further reductions in property taxes.
B)a limitation on gay rights.
C)limits on the number of terms elected officials could serve.
D)statewide water rationing.

Question 7

During his first term as governor,Ronald Reagan

A)implemented the withholding of state income taxes.
B)reduced funding for the state's colleges and universities.
C)praised University of California President Clark Kerr.
D)proposed reductions in college tuition.

Question 8

An important factor in Ronald Reagan's victory in the 1966 California gubernatorial election was

A)turmoil on college campuses.
B)resentment against taxation.
C)white backlash against black demands.
D)all of the above.

Question 9

According to the textbook,the state's ongoing fiscal crisis was caused by the

A)extreme partisanship of the state legislature.
B)supermajority requirement for tax increases.
C)absence of experienced leaders in state government.
D)all of the above

Question 10

In the special election of 2005,voters approved a Schwarzenegger-supported initiative to

A)change the way legislative districts were drawn.
B)altar the requirements for teachers to be granted permanent status.
C)curb the political clout of public employee unions.
D)none of the above

Question 11

Proposition 187,on the ballot in 1994,

A)was denounced by Governor Pete Wilson as "racist and xenophobic."
B)was defeated by a wide majority of California voters.
C)denied social services to undocumented aliens.
D)was passionately supported by Democrat Kathleen Brown.

Question 12

During his first term as governor,Jerry Brown

A)was an early supporter of Proposition 13.
B)refused to support the 1976 farm worker initiative.
C)pledged to approve no new taxes or general tax increases.
D)enjoyed strong support from state business groups.(447)

Question 13

In 2008 an initiative to "eliminate the right" of same-sex couples to marry

A)won majority approval.
B)was overturned by the California state supreme court.
C)was endorsed by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
D)failed to qualify for the ballot.

Question 14

According to the textbook,one of the few substantial changes achieved by Governor George Deukmejian was the

A)criminal justice system.
B)confirmation of Chief Justice Rose Bird.
C)doubling of the budget for the Agricultural Labor Relations Board.
D)closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.

Question 15

In preparation for his re-election campaign in 2006,Republican Governor Schwarzenegger

A)vetoed a massive "budget-breaking" infrastructure bill.
B)moved away from the center of the political spectrum.
C)hired a former advisor to Democrat Gray Davis to serve as his chief of staff.
D)opposed an increase in the state minimum wage.

Question 16

The most acute crisis to hit California during the Davis administration involved the

A)degrading of the ozone layer.
B)pricing and supply of electricity.
C)imposing of term limits on veteran lawmakers.
D)diminishing supply of water for southern California.

Question 17

In the recall election of 2003,Gray Davis

A)moved to the right by vetoing a law allowing undocumented aliens to obtain drivers' licenses.
B)received the endorsement of anti-tax crusader Ted Costa.
C)accused his opponents of being part of a nationwide Republican effort to overturn Democratic victories.
D)all of the above

Question 18

California property taxes in the decade before the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978 had increased

A)at about the same rate as the cost of living.
B)nearly twice as much as the cost of living.
C)at a rate below the increase in the cost of living.
D)at a rate higher than the increase in personal income taxes.

Question 19

According to the textbook,the "politics of moderation" was the guiding principle of the

A)Brown administration.
B)Wilson administration.
C)Davis administration.
D)Schwarzenegger administration.

Question 20

The roots of the California tax revolt lay in

A)inflation's erosion of the real income of California taxpayers.
B)increases in state and local taxes at rates greater than the general inflation rate.
C)declining satisfaction among middle-class taxpayers with government services.
D)all of the above

Question 21

Ronald Reagan's political and social philosophy was quite similar to that of his predecessors Edmund G."Pat" Brown and Earl Warren.

Question 22

During his early years in Hollywood Ronald Reagan held the political views of a liberal Democrat.

Question 23

In the June 1978 state election Governor Jerry Brown remained steadfastly opposed to Proposition 13.

Question 24

The wealthiest candidate ever to seek the governorship was billionaire Republican Meg Whitman.

Question 25

In the recall election of 2003,Arnold Schwarzenegger actually received fewer votes than Gray Davis had in 2002.

Question 26

Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman

A)denounced Pete Wilson for his aggressive stand on illegal immigrants.
B)broke all campaign spending records.
C)won the endorsement of the National Association of Latino Officials.
D)endorsed Gavin Newsom's candidacy for Lieutenant Governor.

Question 27

Near the of his second term,the approval rating of Arnold Schwarzenegger

A)rose to the highest in state history.
B)fell to below that of Gray Davis before his recall.
C)remained high among a majority of Republicans.
D)fell to below that of the state legislature.

Question 28

In his first campaign for governor in 1974,Jerry Brown was able to capitalize on public reaction to the Watergate scandal and win an overwhelming victory over his Republican opponent.

Question 29

By the early 2000s,most of the annual state budget was

A)funded by property tax revenues.
B)"locked in" by formulas and programs approved by voters.
C)"held hostage" by the anti-tax Democratic party minority in the legislature.
D)based on federal "matching funds."

Question 30

As a part of balancing the state budget for 1991,Governor Pete Wilson and the state legislature agreed to the largest tax increase in California history.

Question 31

According to the textbook,the California electricity crisis of 2001 was overshadowed by the September 11 terrorist attack.

Question 32

What were the factors which contributed to Ronald Reagan's rise to the California governorship in 1966? Evaluate Reagan's two terms as governor of California.What political ideas did he bring to the office,and how successful was he in securing the policies he advocated?

Question 33

Pete Wilson's strong endorsement of Proposition 187 was a major factor in his successful bid for reelection as governor of California.

Question 34

Governor Pete Wilson strongly attacked the use of affirmative action in California state agencies.

Question 35

California voters in 2010 approved an initiative to allow the two highest vote-getters in a primary (regardless of party)to face each other in the subsequent general election.

Question 36

As governor of California George Deukmejian molded a conservative majority on the state Supreme Court.

Question 37

During his tenure as governor of California Jerry Brown advocated conservative economic policies.

Question 38

During his tenure as governor of California Ronald Reagan was able to honor his pledge never to approve tax increases.

Question 39

Trace the political career of Jerry Brown from 1969 to 2010.What philosophy did he bring to state government,and what were his major accomplishments and failures as governor?

Question 40

Explain the roots of California's "tax revolt" of the late 1970s.Summarize the major provisions of Proposition 13 (1978)and explain its impact on California and the nation.

Question 41

What were the major issues of the governorships of George Deukmejian,Pete Wilson,and Gray Davis? What impact did these governors have on California?

Question 42

Identify the major causes of the state's ongoing fiscal crisis.Which of these causes do you regard as the most important? Why?

Question 43

Why did Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger's popularity decline? How did he attempt to regain support? What,in your view,was his most important achievement as governor? Why?