Rethinking California : Politics and Policy in the Golden State

Ch. 1. The three states of California : an introduction -- ch. 2. California's political history -- ch. 3. Political culture and politics in postwar California -- ch. 4. People, diversity, and culture -- ch. 5. California's political economy -- ch. 6. California's constitution and constitutional officers -- ch. 7. California's legislature -- ch. 8. California justice -- ch. 9. Intergovernmental relations -- ch. 10. The policy game -- ch. 11. Non-institutional players : the media, political parties, and interest groups -- ch. 12. The electorate as players : elections and political participation -- ch. 13. Education policy -- ch. 14. Environmental and energy policy -- ch. 15. Immigration policy -- ch. 16. Civil rights policy -- ch. 17. Rethinking California. Notes -- Chapter 15 Immigration Policy -- The Immigration Debate -- Immigration in California's History -- Back to the Future: Proposition 187 and Beyond -- Proposition 187: A Defining Moment in Time -- The 1994 Vote and the Issue of Illegal Immigration -- The Death of Proposition 187 -- Featured Reading: A Nation of Laws and Immigrants -- Summary -- Notes -- Chapter 16 Civil Rights Policy -- Civil Rights Policy in California -- Ending Discrimination Through Affirmative Action -- The Bakke Case -- Proposition 209: The California Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI) -- From Proposition 209 to the Present -- Beyond Race: The Quest for Gender and Sexual Orientation Parity in California -- Women and Equal Rights in California -- The Long March Toward GLBT Equal and Civil Rights -- Contemporary GLBT Developments in California -- Featured Reading: Shame by Tom Brokaw -- Summary -- Appendix: Korematsu v. United States (1944) -- Notes -- Chapter 17 Rethinking California -- Featured Reading: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? -- Notes -- Appendix A California's Counties -- Appendix B California Resources on the Web -- Index

This book explores the state of California — viewing the state as a holistic political culture that reflects the influence of multiple cultures, ethnic groups, and communities of interest. It starts with a broad historical foundation, and travels through cultural analyses and institutional discussions. The evaluation of specific policy issues affecting the state is an important stop along the way, and the crossroads that bring together the variety of analytic paths. This book is suited for individuals interested in California policy work, and gaining a better understanding of that state's unique political culture.