Deck 2: The Constitution and the Progressive Legacy

Question 1

The statewide movement to attack the Southern Pacific Railroad was named

A) the Workingmens Party.
B) the Democratic Party.
C) the Lincoln-Roosevelt League.
D) the Know Nothings.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In 1910, ________ became the candidate of the Lincoln-Roosevelt League for governor.

A) Hiram Johnson
B) Lincoln Steffens
C) Theodore Roosevelt
D) Robert La Follette

Answer 2

A

Question 3

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.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

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

A) nonpartisan elections.
B) recall elections.
C) runoff elections.
D) primary elections.

Question 5

The use of the recall in California

A) is barred by state law.
B) is rarely used against statewide office holders.
C) cannot be employed against the governor.
D) can be used only against federal office holders.

Question 6

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 7

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 8

Article XIX of the 1879 Constitution banned the private and public employment of ________ workers.

A) Mexican
B) European
C) Chinese
D) Native American

Question 9

In 1913, the system that was put in place in California to select public employees was called

A) a patronage system.
B) a political payoff.
C) nepotism.
D) civil service.

Question 10

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

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

Question 11

One of the major problems with the 1849 Constitution was that

A) the governor had too much power.
B) there were too few provisions for taxes.
C) the courts were separated into three branches.
D) there was a one-house legislature.

Question 12

In the 2016 election, Proposition 61 called for a limit on state spending on prescription drugs. Major opposition to the proposition came from

A) the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
B) the American Medical Association.
C) Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
D) pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer.

Question 13

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 14

The Progressive Movement flourished in California between

A) 1847-1850.
B) 1900-1917.
C) 1932-1938.
D) 1960-1968.

Question 15

California's 1849 (first) Constitution borrowed heavily from

A) the constitutions of Iowa and New York
B) the Compromise of 1850.
C) federal court decisions.
D) congressional enabling legislation.

Question 16

A ballot that lists candidates by office rather than political party is called a(n)

A) primary ballot.
B) office block ballot.
C) two-party ticket.
D) nonpartisan election.

Question 17

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 18

Which of the following is NOT a Progressive reform?

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

Question 19

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 20

Who made the 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 21

What factors led to the demise of the Progressive Movement in California?

Question 22

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 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 23

What are the major differences between the 1849 and the 1879 Constitutions? What groups played major roles in the creation of each constitution?

Question 24

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

Question 25

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 26

The two types of referendums in use in California are the

A) recall and office block ballot.
B) primary petition and runoff.
C) legislative and popular.
D) veto and initiative.

Question 27

Describe the two forms of referendum in use in California. How frequently are
they used?

Question 28

In public opinion polls, most voters in California viewed the initiative process as

A) a good thing.
B) a bad thing.
C) much too complicated.
D) outmoded.

Question 29

From 2000 to 2016, the top contributor to Initiative Ballot Committees has been the

A) Chevron Corporation.
B) California Teachers Association.
C) R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.
D) Bank of America.

Question 30

Besides direct democracy, what other major reforms did the progressives enact? Briefly describe each one.