PS 103A: California Politics

Lecture 1January 10, 2004

Course Introduction The recall’s role in California politics

•Today’s version of Progressive institutions

•Campaigning in CA’s complex environment

•Effects on policy?

What this course is not about

What this course is about

Course plan and logistics

The Recall’s Role in California Politics

Today’s version of Progressive institutions

•1911 device with ambiguous criteria: corruption vs. dissatisfaction

•The old industry of paid signature gatherers

•How democratic is direct democracy?

The Recall’s Role in California Politics

Campaigning in California’s complex environment

•Wholesale vs. retail campaigning

•Media coverage in a megastate

•The politics of ethnicity

The Recall’s Role in California Politics

Effects on policy?

•Reaction against Gray Davis policies: electricity deregulation, car tax, and budget

•No mandate for political reforms, as the 2005 special election demonstrated

•Do Californians want to spend more or less? How about their Governor?

Schwarzenegger the Budget Cutter(Feb. 23, 2005)

Schwarzenegger the Spender (January 5th State of the State Address)

$222 Billion in bonds over ten years

Schwarzenegger’s Rough Week

Dan Walters: Schwarzenegger's credibility at risk as he repositions his image

Angelides calls governor's idea 'lot of hype' State treasurer pans infrastructure plan, challenges numbers

Schwarzenegger's Budget Would Trigger Billions in New Spending

What This Course is Not About

How to be a good citizen.

•Preface. “We believe that increased participation by an informed citizenry in the politics of California is vitally needed…”

Power and Politics in California,

John H. Culver and John C. Syer, 1980

What This Course is Not About

What This Course is Not About

What This Course is Not About

What This Course is Not About

An Introduction to American Politics

•Begins with the Constitution

•Under a fixed set of rules, leaders react to an ever more complex society

•Consensus on the basic features of our political system and what there is to learn

What This Course Is About What you need to know in Sacramento

Mixture of political science research and political journalism

A state where the rules constantly change and no consensus tells us what to teach you

Course Plan and Logistics Part I: Political Institutions in Flux Part II: The Politics of Diversity Part III: Perspectives on Policy

Theme A: Cycles in California Politics Theme B: What Makes CA Different? Theme C: How Do We Know What We

Know?

Course Plan and Logistics Midterm on February 14: 25% of grade

Paper due on March 9: 30% of grade•Campaign plan or policy analysis

Final on March 23: 40% of grade

“Section” attendance and participation: 5% of grade

Course Plan and Logistics Short biographies to begin each class:

•One will be extra credit on midterm

•Two will be extra credit on final

Last half hour is discussion section:•You must attend four over the quarter

•Be ready to discuss the readings