California: The Politics of Diversity

California: The Politics of Diversity examines the diverse and hyperpluralistic nature of California, particularly its people and the groups to which they belong. In their accessible style, Lawrence and Cummins bring an informed, insightful perspective to the examination of the numerous pressures that make governing the state increasingly challenging. Learning objectives and chapter conclusions offer students a roadmap to key ideas while study questions encourage critical thinking. Textboxes emphasize how California compares to the other states and highlight voices of prominent policymakers. No other textbook on California politics offers as much coverage and in-depth analysis of the state’s political development and institutions that have shaped the Golden State into what it is today. The eleventh edition has been revised to reflect the latest developments in California politics, including: Coverage of the first term of Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration Analysis of the impact of the COVID pandemic on the state’s politics and economyDiscussion of the 2021 gubernatorial recallUpdated analysis of the state’s major policy areas, including water, housing, transportation, health care, education, crime, immigration, and climate changeChanges in demographics and voter turnout in 2022 general electionUpdated and expanded pedagogy and art program Jeff Cummins has provided a revised instructor’s manual, test bank, and new lecture slides. These resources may be found online at the book’s website: https://textbooks.rowman.com/california11e

Table of Contents:
1.Explaining California Politics 2.California’s Political Development 3.Constitutionalism and Federalism: The Perimeters of California Politics 4.Direct Democracy in a Hyperpluralistic Age 5.How Californians Participate 6.Linking People and Policymakers: Media, Parties, and Interest Groups 7.Legislative Politics 8.Executive Politics 9.California’s Judiciary 10.Community Politics 11.Budget Policy: The Cost of Diversity 12.Policies Stemming from Growth 13.Policies Stemming from Diversity

About the Author :
Jeff Cummins is Professor of Political Science at California State University, Fresno. He previously worked for the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) in Sacramento where he advised the legislature on budgetary and policy issues. He also worked for the California State Auditor, performing audits of various state agencies. He teaches several courses on California government, including California Politics and Public Budgeting. He is the author of Boom and Bust: The Politics of the California Budget and his publications on state politics and policy have appeared in such journals as State Politics and Policy Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, and American Politics Research. He frequently provides commentary to news media and has been interviewed by National Public Radio (NPR) affiliates, the New York Times, The Economist, the National Journal, the Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times, and the Fresno Bee. David G. Lawrence is professor emeritus of political science at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. As a teacher, scholar, and former public official, he has applied theory and practice to California politics. He served on a city council as mayor pro tem, chaired a regional planning agency, and is former president of the California Association of Councils of Governments (CALCOG). He currently serves on the Measure A Citizens Oversight Committee, a group that advises the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments on the expenditure of sales tax revenues earmarked for transportation (an estimated $1 billion over 30 years). He is also former president of the California Center for Education in Public Affairs, a consortium of colleges and universities dedicated to helping students better understand California politics through Sacramento seminars and post-election briefings.

Review :
While it is often said that California is one of the world's most diverse democracies, this book gives concrete meaning to that characterization by exploring the ways in which diversity in our population, our economy, our geography, and our politics shapes our state. Centered around the cohesive theme of how California's diversity impacts its governance, policies, and its hyperpluralistic politics, the newest edition of Lawrence and Cummins's book will help students understand their state's history and its future. California: The Politics of Diversity provides a framework to understand the perplexities of the state. Like many California politics textbooks, Lawrence and Cummins provide all the expected chapters, such as those on the executive, legislature, and judiciary, with an exceptional chapter on the budget. The effectiveness of the book is in how it contextualizes the politics of the golden state by using dual themes of diversity and theory and the policy chapters that provide concrete examples of how politics plays out in the largest state in the union. California: The Politics of Diversity is the gold standard for understanding California's government and politics. No other textbook comes close to its detail and comprehensiveness. A great addition for any class on California.