POSC 100 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
What are the powers of the California legislature? - Answer- - Has the "power of the
purse", levying taxes and passing bills into law, and appropriating the money to finance
the operations of all state agencies.
- Powers of the Senate and the Assembly nearly identical, except only the Senate can
confirm certain appointments by the governor
Be familiar with the characteristics of the Council-Manager form of city government. -
Answer- - The Council-Manager type: gives the city both executive and legislative
power, but the council exercises its executive power by appointing a city manager. A
ceremonial mayor with no executive powers exists. This position is rotated around the
council; each member serving a year.
In what ways has the California legislature successfully eliminated party competition in
the California Senate and Assembly districts? - Answer- - The Democratic Party keeps
its majority in the legislature by packing and cracking.
- Packing: Redrawing the districts to concentrate the Republican electorate in one
district.
- Cracking: Redrawing the districts to divide the Republican electorate to create a
Democratic majority district.
Be familiar with the California judicial appointment process. - Answer- - Trial judges are
appointed by the governor without confirmation by the legislature.
a. Once appointed, the new judges serve until the next election, which is often cancelled
because no one runs against the incumbent.
b. No term limits for judges.
- Appeals court judges and Supreme Court justices appointment process:
a. Appointed by the governor.
b. Majority approval from the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
, c. Election for a 12 year term.
- At all levels, governors consider attorneys with a good rating from the state Bar
Association as well as appropriate political connections.
- Governors can use judges to advance their agenda.
- A governor's political views influence the judicial appointment process.
How can the California legislature override a governor's veto? - Answer- - The Veto
Power: If the governor vetoes a bill, it can be overridden by 2/3rds majority of the
Assembly and the senate.
Be familiar with California bonds. - Answer- - Money is borrowed from investors and
paid back to them in the future with interest.
- Bonds pay for 93.6% of the state infrastructure costs
Be familiar with Proposition 13. - Answer- - Passed in 1978, limits all property taxes to
1% of the assessed value of the property.
- Supporters argue it prevents homeowners from having to sell their homes to pay their
property taxes.
- The opposition argues it has led to cut backs in state services.
What did the Brown decision lead to? - Answer- - Brown decision led to other rulings
against other forms of segregation.
What constitutional right does the Sixth Amendment provide to the accused? - Answer-
- The 6th Amendment assures, among other freedoms, the right to counsel.
How has the U.S. Supreme Court defined obscenity? - Answer- - A description or
depiction of sexual conduct that, taken as a whole, by the average person, applying
contemporary community standards
(1) appeals to the prurient such as shameful, morbid, incites lust interest in sex
(2) portrays sex in a patently offensive way,
(3) does not have literary artistic, political, and scientific value using a national,
reasonable person standard, rather than contemporary community standard.
Know the details of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. - Answer- - Prohibited discrimination in
public accommodations based on race, color, religion, or national origin.
AND ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
What are the powers of the California legislature? - Answer- - Has the "power of the
purse", levying taxes and passing bills into law, and appropriating the money to finance
the operations of all state agencies.
- Powers of the Senate and the Assembly nearly identical, except only the Senate can
confirm certain appointments by the governor
Be familiar with the characteristics of the Council-Manager form of city government. -
Answer- - The Council-Manager type: gives the city both executive and legislative
power, but the council exercises its executive power by appointing a city manager. A
ceremonial mayor with no executive powers exists. This position is rotated around the
council; each member serving a year.
In what ways has the California legislature successfully eliminated party competition in
the California Senate and Assembly districts? - Answer- - The Democratic Party keeps
its majority in the legislature by packing and cracking.
- Packing: Redrawing the districts to concentrate the Republican electorate in one
district.
- Cracking: Redrawing the districts to divide the Republican electorate to create a
Democratic majority district.
Be familiar with the California judicial appointment process. - Answer- - Trial judges are
appointed by the governor without confirmation by the legislature.
a. Once appointed, the new judges serve until the next election, which is often cancelled
because no one runs against the incumbent.
b. No term limits for judges.
- Appeals court judges and Supreme Court justices appointment process:
a. Appointed by the governor.
b. Majority approval from the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
, c. Election for a 12 year term.
- At all levels, governors consider attorneys with a good rating from the state Bar
Association as well as appropriate political connections.
- Governors can use judges to advance their agenda.
- A governor's political views influence the judicial appointment process.
How can the California legislature override a governor's veto? - Answer- - The Veto
Power: If the governor vetoes a bill, it can be overridden by 2/3rds majority of the
Assembly and the senate.
Be familiar with California bonds. - Answer- - Money is borrowed from investors and
paid back to them in the future with interest.
- Bonds pay for 93.6% of the state infrastructure costs
Be familiar with Proposition 13. - Answer- - Passed in 1978, limits all property taxes to
1% of the assessed value of the property.
- Supporters argue it prevents homeowners from having to sell their homes to pay their
property taxes.
- The opposition argues it has led to cut backs in state services.
What did the Brown decision lead to? - Answer- - Brown decision led to other rulings
against other forms of segregation.
What constitutional right does the Sixth Amendment provide to the accused? - Answer-
- The 6th Amendment assures, among other freedoms, the right to counsel.
How has the U.S. Supreme Court defined obscenity? - Answer- - A description or
depiction of sexual conduct that, taken as a whole, by the average person, applying
contemporary community standards
(1) appeals to the prurient such as shameful, morbid, incites lust interest in sex
(2) portrays sex in a patently offensive way,
(3) does not have literary artistic, political, and scientific value using a national,
reasonable person standard, rather than contemporary community standard.
Know the details of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. - Answer- - Prohibited discrimination in
public accommodations based on race, color, religion, or national origin.
