The California Republic : Institutions, Statesmanship, and Policies

The essays in The California Republic explore the evolution of Progressivism in California and also its contemporary policy consequences. Designed to work in tandem with other texts or as a stand-alone reader, the book examines themes ranging from founding principles to institutions, from local government to statesmanship, and from elections to policy analysis. By daring to use a variety of approaches, these essays lead to a greater understanding of the polity of the nation's largest state and a deeper appreciation of the nature of republican government. Preface ; Introduction: Republican Government In California / Brian P. Janiskee And Ken Masugi -- Pt. I. California In A Federal System. Popular Sovereignty, The Right Of Revolution, And California Statehood / Herman Belz ; Nature And Convention In The Creation Of The 1849 California Constitution / Gordon Lloyd ; California And The Seventeenth Amendment / Ralph A. Rossum ; Californians And Their Constitution: Progressivism, Direct Democracy And The Administrative State / Edward Erler -- Pt. Ii. Institutions. Broken Promise: The Rise And Fall Of The California Legislature / Dan Walters ; No Allegiance But To The State: California Governors Hiram Johnson And Gray Davis / Brian T. Kennedy ; The Progressive Court / Harold Johnson ; The Elections Of 2002: Clear Cut Or Ambiguous? / Richard H. Reeb, Jr. -- Pt. Iii. Local Government. The Problem Of Local Government In California / Brian P. Janiskee ; Local Government Finance In California / Steven B. Frates ; The California Tax Revolt / Jon Coupal -- Pt. Iv. Statesmanship. Armageddon In The West: California's Hiram Johnson / Scot J. Zentner ; Nixon, California, And American Politics / John J. Pitney, Jr. ; Ronald Reagan And The Transformation Of Modern California / Steven F. Hayward -- Pt. V. Policies And Perspectives. Affirmative Action And Proposition 209 / Ward Connerly ; Western Justice: John Ford And Sam Peckinpah On The Defense Of The Heroic / John Marini ; California Farming In A Classical Context / Victor Davis Hanson ; The Politics Of California Public Education / Larry Peterman ; The Least Secure Right: Privately Owned Firearms In California / Daniel C. Palm ; California's Political Mass Media / Richard H. Reeb, Jr. ; An Epic Legacy / Stephen Schwarz ; Water, Water Everywhere And Nary A Drop To Drink / Ric Williams. Edited By Brian P. Janiskee And Ken Masugi. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 333-348) And Index. Even before its budget crisis and recall election, California held a unique position in the United States. Often lauded as having the fifth largest economy in the world, California leads the nation in other measures as well, particularly cultural and political trends. But were it an independent state, it would have one of the world's most unusual democracies. In The California Republic Brian P. Janiskee and Ken Masugi bring together a diverse group of contributors to shed light on the Progressive nature of California government. In addition to thorough treatment of perennial issues like affirmative action, gun control, and education, the work goes outside the conventional understanding of political issues to examine such topics as the Hollywood western, the electronic media, and California's revolutionary founding. Accordingly, the contributors include not only political scientists and historians, but journalists and political activists as well. The result is a clear exploration of the evolution of Progressive government in California and its contemporary policy consequences.