This document provides a summary of lecture topics for a political science course on California government including the foundation of California politics, the major political parties, interest groups, the 2008 election campaigns, and key industries in the state. Specific topics covered include the structure of the Republican and Democratic parties in California, major interest groups, the presidential and proposition 8 campaigns, and the agriculture, technology, and media industries that power the California economy.

1. Dr. Tabakian’s Political Science 1
US Government – Spring/Fall 2014
Power Point Presentation #13

2. COURSE LECTURE TOPICS – 1
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Foundation Of California Politics
California Republican Party
Democratic Party Of California
Power Structure Of Both Major Parties
Interest Groups In The Golden State
• Aerospace
• Environmental and “Green” Companies
• Media – Music, Film, Television
• Agriculture
• Healthcare
• Computer Technology
• Transportation

3. COURSE LECTURE TOPICS – 2
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Campaign 2008 Review
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Presidential Primary
Presidential General Election
California Proposition 8 Campaign
Yes On Proposition 8 “Protect Marriage Initiative”
No On Proposition 8 “Separate But Equal Is Not Equal”

4. “GREEN” COMPANIES – TESLA
California influences the nation. If the
state were its own country it would be
the 6th most economically powerful.
The Golden State also influences
national as well as world opinion.
Californians are known to be proconservationist. “Green” policy is also
profitable. Tesla is a relatively new car
company located in San Carlos,
California. They are leading the
rebirth of the electric car. This is a
“Nightline” report of the Tesla
Roadster that aired May 25, 2007.

5. TESLA

6. CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is a major industry for the Golden State. With 88,000
farms and ranches, California agriculture is nearly a $32 billion
dollar industry that generates $100 billion in related economic
activity. This enormous achievement is possible through a
combination of tradition and innovation that has secured
California's status as the most productive agricultural state for
more than 50 years. Farmers and ranchers blend old-fashioned
notions of patience and perseverance with cutting-edge
technologies and advanced agricultural practices. The result is a
highly adaptable and diverse industry encompassing more than
350 plant and animal commodities.
(Source: California Department of Food & Agriculture)

7. MAINSTREAM MEDIA
• Mainstream media generates
over $60 billion in related
economic activity
• Some put the estimate at
over $80 billion
• Various aspects apply
making this estimate
to

8. XXX
Direct sales of pornography in
the state of California exceeds
$20,000,000,000!
• Over 52% of all sales go to
women
• Over half of all hotel guests
purchase adult videos in
their room

9. PARTISANSHIP
Variables can help determine partisanship like the religion, social
status and place of residence of the individual. For example,
Catholics tend to be Democrats and Protestants tend to be
Republicans. Those individuals having a low social status tended
to associate with the Democrats and those holding high social
status tended to be Republican. Rural citizens tend to be more
closely associated with the Republican Party and those residing in
the urban areas tended to lean towards the Democratic Party. A
conglomeration of variables or even a particular characteristic can
assist us in determining individual behavior. Though this is true, it
is the degree of partisanship one holds that remains the best
predictor for determining how one may vote on Election Day.

10. CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY
There are three conservative factions within the
Republican Party. Individuals may identify themselves
with more than one. These are:
1. Financial Conservatives
2. Social Conservatives
3. Moral Conservatives
Moral Conservatives are the most partisan and
ideological who impact statewide office seekers
during a primary.

11. CRP - MORAL CONSERVATIVE IMPACT
Governor Davis faced considerable
opposition during his
re-election
campaign for governor. Richard Riordan
was viewed as the most formidable
opponent if he were to be the
Republican nominee. Gray Davis’s
strategy was to attack Richard Riordan
during the primary so the more
conservative opponent, Bill Simon
acquires
the
nomination.
These
campaign commercials from Gray Davis
were
directed
towards
moral
conservatives to nominate Bill Simon.

12. DAVIS STRATEGY

13. DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
The Democratic Party Of California is not split into three distinct
factions. It is known as the “Big Tent” or “Big Umbrella” Party.
Though the party consists of various interest groups that are in a
constant pursuit for power, it does not have the same problem as
the California Republican Party.

14. MAJOR PARTY POWER DISTRIBUTION
Even though the national
parties have become weaker
and less active, that the
same cannot be said of state
and
local
party
organizations. Parties at the
sub-national
level
are
stronger and more active
than they were in the 1950s,
which was at the peak of
partisanship.
It
was
discovered
that
as
partisanship continued to
erode that they shifted gears
in order to bolster their
membership base.
National Party
State Party
Local City / County Party
Local City / County Party
Local City / County Party
Local City / County Party
Local City / County Party
Local City / County Party

15. AMERICA’S TWO PARTY SYSTEM
Our system maintains a process where
unsuccessful parties are discarded or
forced to join with other minor parties,
which in this case has resulted in the
formation of two major parties. Many of the
rules pertaining to elections in the United
States have been designed to weed out
nuisance
candidates.
Only
those
candidates who have demonstrated a
good deal of public support are allowed
access. America continues to enjoy a
stable political system that is maintained
with its two party system. Enjoy this video
of Frank Grimes, the 2004 nominee of the
American
Fascist
Union
for
the
Presidency!

16. THIRD PARTY

17. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2008 – PRIMARY

18. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2008 – PRIMARY

19. BLAST FROM THE PAST!
This is a video compilation of
campaign commercials from
the 1994 California Governor’s
Race!
Are
the
topics
addressed identical to those
concerns held today? What
similarities, if any, are there to
the 2006 governor’s election?
Are the issues addressed
pertinent to 2009?

20. WILSON VERSUS BROWN

21. BUSH IN 30
EXAMPLE OF PLURALISM

22. BUSH IN 30
EXAMPLE OF PLURALISM

23. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2008 – GENERAL (1)
America remains a two party system. The
reasons for this being are:
1. Tradition of the two party system
2. Winner Take All Elections
3. Each State Maintains different rules
pertaining to ballot access
Campaign rhetoric is based on one or more
of the following with the first two remaining
the most prevalent:
1. National Security
2. National Economy
3. Social / Nuisances Issues
This video presentation is a compilation of 2008 Presidential Candidate
Commercials made during the general phase. Are there any key differences
between these commercials geared towards general election voters in
comparison to those made during the Primary Election?

24. OBAMA VERSUS MCCAIN

25. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2008 – GENERAL (2)
America remains a two party system. The
reasons for this being are:
1. Tradition of the two party system
2. Winner Take All Elections
3. Each State Maintains different rules
pertaining to ballot access
Campaign rhetoric is based on one or more
of the following with the first two remaining
the most prevalent:
1. National Security
2. National Economy
3. Social / Nuisances Issues
This is the famous Obama/Biden Infomercial. The Obama campaign bought 30
minutes on two major television networks to make one last pitch to the
American People on October 29, 2008. Many questioned the effectiveness of
this method considering that Ross Perot used the same tactic and failed.

26. 2008 OBAMA INFOMERCIAL

27. PROPOSITION 8 – YES ON 8
The debate over gay marriage is an issue
of great concern. Various forces are in play
not only in California, but also across the
nation over how we as a society should
define marriage. Californians faced a wide
multitude of ballot propositions on
November 4, 2008. One issue of particular
interest is the anti-gay measure that will
amend California’s Constitution, defining
marriage or the recognition of such as
being between a man and a woman.
Proposition 8 passed with 52.1% of the
vote. This video is a compilation of
advertisements produced by “Yes On
Proposition 8”. What were the significant
points made by these advertisements?

28. PROPOSITION 8 – YES ON 8

29. PROPOSITION 8 – NO ON 8
The debate over gay marriage is an issue
of great concern. Various forces are in play
not only in California, but also across the
nation over how we as a society should
define marriage. Californians faced a wide
multitude of ballot propositions on
November 4, 2008. One issue of particular
interest is the anti-gay measure that will
amend California’s Constitution, defining
marriage or the recognition of such as
being between a man and a woman.
Proposition 8 passed with 52.1% of the
vote. This video is a compilation of
advertisements produced by “No On
Proposition 8”. What were the significant
points made by these advertisements?

30. PROPOSITION 8 – NO ON 8