Political Science Chapter 3 Concepts And Terms For California

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Democracy

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Envisions an engaged citizenry prepared to exercise its power over rulers.

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Direct Democracy

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A system that permits its citizens to vote directly on laws and policies.

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Representative Democracy or Republic

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A system in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making.

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Popular Sovereignty

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A principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people.

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Authoritarian Government

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A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions.

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Totalitarian Government

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A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it.

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Initiative

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Also known as direct legislation. The two step process for creating any state law or any state constitutional amendment.

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First step in Direct Legislation

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Citizens circulate petitions throughout the state gathering signatures from California voters. The time limit for gathering is 150 days. For the initiative to qualify, a certain percentage of signatures is needed. 1) For state laws, 5 percent of voters in the last Governor's election. 2) For constitutional amendments, 8 percent of voters in the last Governor's election.

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Second step in Direct Legislation

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Once the initiative is qualified, the initiative, now called proposition, is submitted for approval by California voters. A majority vote is needed for the proposition to pass.

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Proposition

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An initiative or referendum that has qualified for approval.

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Referendum

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Allows voters to approve or reject state laws or amendments passed by the state legislature.

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First step in the Referendum

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Citizens circulate petitions throughout the state gathering signatures from California voters. The time limit for gathering is 90 days after the enactment of the state law. If it qualifies to be on the ballot, the referendum prevents the law from taking effect until the voters decide whether it should become a law. In this case, the law would be "vetoing" a state law. 1) 5 percent of voters in the last Governor's election.

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Second step in Referendum

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Once the referendum is qualified, the referendum, now called a proposition, is submitted for approval by California voters. A majority vote is needed for the proposition to pass.

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Recall

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Allows voters to determine whether to recall a state or local elected official before his or her term of office expires.

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First step to Recall

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Citizens circulate petitions, stating the reasons for recall, within the electoral district, city, or state gathering signatures from California voters. The time limit for gathering signatures is 150 days. If the recall qualifies, an election must be held between 60 and 80 days from the date the recall is qualified for the ballot.

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Second step to Recall

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California voters are given two choices on the ballot for a recall election. The first choice is to consider if the elected official should be recalled. The second choice is to select from a list of names the individual that should replace the elected official, if the recall is successful. The recall requires a majority vote. If the recall is successful, the candidate replacing the elected official only needs the most votes to win (known as a plural vote).

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Police Powers

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Most important city responsibility which enforces local, state, and federal laws.

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City Council/City Manager

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Under the council-manager form of government, the voters elect a _____________, which in turn appoints a professionally trained ____________ to run the administration.

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Legislate

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All California cities have the power to ___________, as long as their local policies don't conflict with state or federal law.

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State Constitution/State Legislatures

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California cities derive their powers as municipal corporations from these.

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Dual Federalism

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Layer cake. The responsibilities of national governments and state governments are clearly separated.

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Cooperative Federalism

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Marble cake. Federalism, national policies, state policies, and local policies overlap in many areas.