Cal Poly POLS 111 Exam Questions with
Correct Answers
What percentage of people living in California in 1767 were not Native American
zero
From what country in Europe did the first European settlers in California come?
Spain
Where was the first permanent European settlement in California built?
San Diego
Why was the Native population in 1848 so much smaller than it had been in 1768?
(old world) Disease
What was the second country to exercise sovereignty over California?
Mexico
Under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, how much did the United States
compensate Mexico in exchange for the cession of territory including California?
15,000,000
How many chambers did the state legislature have under California's first constitution?
2 (and it still has 2)
Where in California was gold first discovered?
Sutter's Mill
,In 1855, which of the following groups of California citizens could testify in court? (had
more civil rights)
European Americans and Latino Americans
Current capital of California
Sacramento
During the Gold Rush, what industry rapidly became an important part of California's
economy?
Mining
During the later half of the nineteenth century a new industry rose to prominence in
California (and the rest of the US). What was it?
Railroad
During the later half of the nineteenth century a new industry rose to prominence in
California (and the rest of the US). What was it?
Leland Stanford
What was one of the groups responsible for the creation of the 1879 Constitution?
Workingmen's Party
What is an Australian ballot?
a ballot printed by the government, listing all of the candidates for each office, and voted in
secret
Who was the first Progressive elected to statewide office in California?
Hiram Johnson
,During the first half of the twentieth century California's economy expanded both in
terms of size and in terms of the variety of industries that were important employers,
producers, and taxpayers. What were these new industries, which joined the existing
major industries of agriculture, mineral extraction, and transportation?
Oil, flim, and manufacturing
What was the PRIMARY goal of the so-called Progressive Movement in California?
(Hint: We're not looking for a specific reform, but rather what they hoped to
accomplish in general.)
To challenge the dominance of the political machine that controlled California politics at the
time.
What did the Progressives replace the traditional party conventions with, ensuring a
fairer process of nominating political candidates and simultaneously giving the people
of California greater influence?
Primary elections
What is the name for the system in which a candidate can seek (and receive) the
nominations of more than one political party (for the same office in the same election)?
Cross filing
What 's the name for elections in which candidates' party affiliations are not revealed to
voters during the campaign?
Non-partisan
, If a party pursues the registration method for qualifying, what percentage of all
registered voters must identify as members of the party for the party to become
qualified?
0.33%
For the 2012 statewide elections in California, how many parties qualified to put
candidates on the ballot?
6
What determines how parties in California are organized? In other words, who makes
the rules that the parties follow?
State Law
In 2010, what type of primary election did California voters decide to adopt to
determine which candidates were going to compete in general elections?
Top two primary
The first time the new primary system was used in California, did a minor/third party
candidate make it into the general election in any race?
No
In California, how many days before the election do voters have to register?
15 days
Do you lose your California voting rights if you are convicted of a misdemeanor?
no
What are some issues that voters who prefer the Republican party usually care about?
Correct Answers
What percentage of people living in California in 1767 were not Native American
zero
From what country in Europe did the first European settlers in California come?
Spain
Where was the first permanent European settlement in California built?
San Diego
Why was the Native population in 1848 so much smaller than it had been in 1768?
(old world) Disease
What was the second country to exercise sovereignty over California?
Mexico
Under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, how much did the United States
compensate Mexico in exchange for the cession of territory including California?
15,000,000
How many chambers did the state legislature have under California's first constitution?
2 (and it still has 2)
Where in California was gold first discovered?
Sutter's Mill
,In 1855, which of the following groups of California citizens could testify in court? (had
more civil rights)
European Americans and Latino Americans
Current capital of California
Sacramento
During the Gold Rush, what industry rapidly became an important part of California's
economy?
Mining
During the later half of the nineteenth century a new industry rose to prominence in
California (and the rest of the US). What was it?
Railroad
During the later half of the nineteenth century a new industry rose to prominence in
California (and the rest of the US). What was it?
Leland Stanford
What was one of the groups responsible for the creation of the 1879 Constitution?
Workingmen's Party
What is an Australian ballot?
a ballot printed by the government, listing all of the candidates for each office, and voted in
secret
Who was the first Progressive elected to statewide office in California?
Hiram Johnson
,During the first half of the twentieth century California's economy expanded both in
terms of size and in terms of the variety of industries that were important employers,
producers, and taxpayers. What were these new industries, which joined the existing
major industries of agriculture, mineral extraction, and transportation?
Oil, flim, and manufacturing
What was the PRIMARY goal of the so-called Progressive Movement in California?
(Hint: We're not looking for a specific reform, but rather what they hoped to
accomplish in general.)
To challenge the dominance of the political machine that controlled California politics at the
time.
What did the Progressives replace the traditional party conventions with, ensuring a
fairer process of nominating political candidates and simultaneously giving the people
of California greater influence?
Primary elections
What is the name for the system in which a candidate can seek (and receive) the
nominations of more than one political party (for the same office in the same election)?
Cross filing
What 's the name for elections in which candidates' party affiliations are not revealed to
voters during the campaign?
Non-partisan
, If a party pursues the registration method for qualifying, what percentage of all
registered voters must identify as members of the party for the party to become
qualified?
0.33%
For the 2012 statewide elections in California, how many parties qualified to put
candidates on the ballot?
6
What determines how parties in California are organized? In other words, who makes
the rules that the parties follow?
State Law
In 2010, what type of primary election did California voters decide to adopt to
determine which candidates were going to compete in general elections?
Top two primary
The first time the new primary system was used in California, did a minor/third party
candidate make it into the general election in any race?
No
In California, how many days before the election do voters have to register?
15 days
Do you lose your California voting rights if you are convicted of a misdemeanor?
no
What are some issues that voters who prefer the Republican party usually care about?
