Assignment:
California Politics Essays
Please write essays (about 3 to 4 paragraphs each) on three questions. Please use the handout "California Politics: An Introduction with Suggested Online Resources" to gather material. You may also use current periodicals. I especially recommend the Los Angeles Times and the Sacramento Bee for their coverage of state politics. The San Diego Union-Tribune is good for coverage of politics in our region. Instead of using footnotes, simply mention the sources in the essay when you use them. You will be graded primarily on how much reading, research, and critical thinking is evident in your essays.
1. California Politics. Based on the brief guide written by your instructor, what do you find most valuable or interesting about California Government? How do you see democracy working (or not working) in our state? Please note if you have any suggestions for additional topics.
2. Public Policy. The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) does research on a wide range of issues such as higher education, water policy, and environmental concerns. Using the PPIC site, examine a major policy issue. Discuss how state or local government can address this issue.
3. California's Legislature. Explain how our legislature is designed to work. Do you see the job of a legislator as very powerful or very limited? Assuming we elect good people, why does our legislature have trouble handling major state issues? How could we help them do a better job?
4. Social Welfare. California has a history of helping people with challenges, such as low income people, foster youth, and the mentally ill. Can we continue this commitment to social welfare? (You will find the California Budget Project site especially helpful.)
5. The Governor. What do you see as most important in the job of a governor? Why is this an especially difficult job? Using current periodicals or recommended websites, discuss one or more challenges that our next governor will face. What advice would you give him?
6. Taxes and the State Budget. Research at least one recent change in the budget or tax system, or a proposed change, and tell if you think it is a wise idea. Give arguments based on your research. (Notice I included online resources with differing perspectives on this topic.)
7. Local Government. Why do we have cities, counties, school districts, and special districts? What kind of power do they have? From your research, share specific examples of local governments you see making a difference. What could we do to make these bodies more effective?
Here are couple more articles that could be good for making connections between the history we are studying and recent (or current) events...The article about Senator Warren is about how a law professor became known for approach to economics, especially as it relates to ordinary people. The article on the first President Bush relates to many of the key events in your book, especially.
You may use these as enrichment activities, or you may want to use them to liven up our discussions of Chapters 29-31.
Readings:
An Introduction with Suggested Online Resources
By George Gastil