Democracy in California : Politics and Government in the Golden State

California occupies a unique position in the government of the American nation. If it were it an independent nation, California would be the seventh-largest economy in the world. However, many of the institutions developed in the Constitution to enable a large representative democracy to exist do not characterize California government. From its professional legislature to its centralization of power in Sacramento, from its ever-changing stance on race and ethnicity to the citizens' ability to initiate change in the state constitution, the Golden State has embodied the spirit and reality of Progressivism. In this text, Brian P. Janiskee and Ken Masugi explain the politics and character of California's governmental institutions and the dynamics affecting the lives of its citizens. Influenced by Alexis de Tocqueville's observations on American government, the work offers a succinct guide to California politics.