California Politics: A Primer - Softcover

Van Vechten, Renée B.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1483375595 ISBN 13: 9781483375595

Publisher: CQ Press, 2016

Synopsis

California Politics: A Primer concisely explains how California’s history, political culture, rules, and institutions work together to shape its political landscape. Author Renee Van Vechten begins with a brief political history of the state, then walks through direct democracy, the legislature, executive branch, and court system, covers local government, and concludes with discussion of the state’s budget process, campaigns and elections, political engagement, and major policy issues facing the state. The thoroughly revised Fourth Edition includes new maps and coverage of the political problems raised by persistent drought, prison reform, immigration, political disengagement among young Californians, new laws affecting voting and elections, and the controversy over mandatory vaccination of schoolchildren.

About this title

About the Author:

Renée B. Van Vechten is associate professor of political science at the University of Redlands, where she teaches courses primarily in American Government and California Politics. She received her PhD in political science from the University of California, Irvine. In 2002–03, she was a Kevin Starr Fellow in California Studies, and in 2008, was honored with the Rowman and Littlefield Award for Innovative Teaching in Political Science, the American Political Science Association′s national teaching award at that time. She is also engaged in the scholarship of teaching and learning. A lifelong resident of Southern California, she has spent the better part of her professional life studying, writing, and lecturing about California institutions.

Review:

"This well-organized and clearly written book provides students with a solid foundation in California government and works well in an introductory course. In addition to explaining the nuts and bolts of everything from institutions to the budget to the initiative process, it explores political debates and controversies and motivates students to learn what is at stake in state level politics."

Author: Ronnee Schreiber

"The strengths of Van Vechten’s text are its brevity and its preference for straight talking. Students appreciate the absence of hyperbole and exaggeration that tends to accompany a lot of the discussion of California politics. I am relieved to have found the book, especially since it is so much more affordable and readable than others. "

Author: Sarah John

"Van Vechten′s book is the best introduction to California politics available. Covering topics from direct democracy to citizen engagement, her analysis of California politics is of such high quality that I often use this book as my main political science textbook, even in American politics courses."

Author: David Selby

About this edition

• Publisher: CQ Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1483375595
• ISBN 13: 9781483375595
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 192