Deck 2: The Constitution and the Progressive Legacy

Question 1

What political party played a significant role in California's 1879 constitution?

A) Republican
B) Whig
C) Democrats
D) Workingmen

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The following is NOT a Progressive reform.

A) nonpartisan elections
B) primaries
C) office block ballot
D) term limits on the state legislature

Answer 2

D

Question 3

A characteristic of California government that is NOT a legacy of the Progressive movement is

A) nonpartisan elections.
B) the office block ballot.
C) strong political parties.
D) the recall.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

During the Progressive era, what railroad company was known for bribing California officials?

A) Penn Central
B) Amtrak
C) Union Pacific
D) Southern Pacific

Question 5

What level of vote does the California Constitution require before the legislature can propose a constitutional amendment?

A) a simple majority in both houses of the legislature
B) a simple majority in the members that are present in both houses of the legislature
C) a two-thirds majority in both houses of the legislature
D) a three-fourths majority in both houses of the legislature

Question 6

California was admitted to the Union in

A) 1849.
B) 1850.
C) 1879.
D) 1900.

Question 7

The goal of the Progressive movement was to reduce the power of

A) local government.
B) the California Supreme Court.
C) presidential candidates.
D) corporations and corrupt politicians.

Question 8

In California, the voters have the power of direct action through

A) the Internet, MTV, and Facebook.
B) information learned through a political science course.
C) veto power, pardon power, and confirmation power.
D) initiative, referendum, and recall.

Question 9

Elections held at the local level in which no party label is shown on the ballot are

A) special elections.
B) nonpartisan elections.
C) off year elections.
D) recall elections.

Question 10

In California, voters can propose a constitutional amendment through

A) a recall election.
B) the referendum.
C) the initiative process.
D) a primary election.

Question 11

Elections by which a political party nominates candidates to represent it in the general election are called

A) nonpartisan elections.
B) recall elections.
C) run off elections.
D) primary elections.

Question 12

From 1970 to 2012, what were the two most controversial propositions in California?

A) Propositions 1 and 4
B) Propositions 8 and 13
C) Propositions 14 and 98
D) Propositions 7 and 8

Question 13

The Progressives believed that citizens supported the democratic process and would

A) invest whatever time and effort was needed to participate in elections.
B) rely on lobbyists to represent their interests.
C) favor strong political parties.
D) favor restricting the power of state courts.

Question 14

In what year did California voters pass the initiative, referendum, and recall?

A) 1879
B) 1911
C) 1978
D) 2008

Question 15

In what year was California's second constitution written?

A) 1849
B) 1879
C) 1882
D) 1900

Question 16

What three goals did the Progressives pursue?

A) eliminate guns, restrict speech, and establish diplomatic relations with Mexico
B) establish joint citizenship with Mexico, pursue public education, and expand representative government
C) weaken corporate influence, eliminate political corruption, and democratize the political process
D) expand defense spending, lower taxes, and fight interest group corruption

Question 17

Who made the following statement: "If we are fit to govern ourselves, this is the last time we will submit to be governed by the hired bosses of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company"?

A) Hiram Johnson
B) Edward Dickson
C) Chester Rowell
D) Pat Brown

Question 18

The initiative, referendum, and the recall comprise a series of Progressive reforms generally known as

A) legislative control.
B) direct democracy.
C) executive prerogative.
D) voter control.

Question 19

In 1849, in what county did the elected men meet to draft California's first constitution?

A) Sacramento
B) Los Angeles
C) Monterey
D) San Diego

Question 20

California's 1849 (first) constitution borrowed heavily from the

A) U.S. Constitution.
B) the Compromise of 1850.
C) federal court decisions.
D) congressional enabling legislation.

Question 21

Which one of the following was a suggestion by the California Constitutional Revision Commission?

A) Require all judges in California to be elected by the people.
B) Allow property taxes to be raised by 1 percent every 10 years.
C) Have the governor and the lieutenant governor run as a team.
D) Make it easier to terminate public employment.

Question 22

Was the faith that the Progressives had in the average citizen's willingness to participate justified? Explain why or why not?

Question 23

The overall passage rate for initiatives from 1912 to 2014 was

A) 10 percent.
B) 18 percent.
C) 34 percent.
D) 52 percent.

Question 24

What are the main components of direct democracy? Describe how each one functions.

Question 25

How much money was spent by both sides (for and against) on Proposition 8?

A) $11.2 million
B) $65.7 million
C) $104.7 million
D) $141 million

Question 26

In California, the initiative

A) is used to recall elected leaders.
B) is used to suspend laws passed by the legislature.
C) is used by the legislature to introduce new laws.
D) allows citizens to propose laws.

Question 27

Discuss some of the major changes to the California Constitution that have been suggested. How likely are they to be adopted?

Question 28

According to a number of scholars, what is one of the major problems with the initiative process?

A) Initiatives act as a check on legislative extremism and irresponsible behavior.
B) Initiatives blur the complexity of many issues and reduce them to sound bites upon which the voter is asked to make a yes/no decision.
C) Initiatives are a product of the grassroots movements that have more to do with social and economic issues than with well-financed campaigns.
D) The government will likely not enforce laws made by the initiative process.

Question 29

Has the initiative process become a useful tool of average citizens or has it been dominated by powerful, well-organized interests? Explain your answer.

Question 30

Why were the Progressives against strong political parties and powerful corporations?