Assignment task:
How are states like California able to influence future national policies on same-sex marriage, immigration, and regulation of toxic chemicals? "California and other large states are able to adopt new policies prompted by conservative and liberal activists throughout the state through direct democracy. California has more members of Congress than any other state, thus giving the state substantial legislative influence regardless of which party is in power in Washington DC. California's small and homogenous population, which is representative of the country, provides opportunities to "test" the public mood about a policy. If policies on divisive matters like legalization of marijuana are successful in one state, other states may enact similar legislation, prompting the federal government to respond