California crackup : how reform broke the Golden State and how we can fix it / Joe Mathews and Mark Paul.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mathews, Joe, 1973-

Contributor:

Paul, Mark, 1948-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Constitutional history--California.

Constitutional history.

Direct democracy--California.

Direct democracy.

California--Politics and government.

California.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (237 p.)

Place of Publication:

Berkeley : University of California Press, c2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Is California beyond repair? A sizable number of Golden State citizens have concluded that it is. Incessant budget crises plus a government paralyzed by partisan gridlock have led to demands for reform, even a constitutional convention. But what, exactly, is wrong and how can we fix it? In California Crackup, Joe Mathews and Mark Paul provide clear and informed answers. Their fast-paced and often humorous narrative deftly exposes the constitutional origins of our current political and economic problems and furnishes a uniquely California fix: innovative solutions that allow Californians to debate their choices, settle on the best ones, hold elected officials accountable for results, and choose anew if something doesn't work.

Contents:

Out of luck

Building and breaking California

Crisis without exit

History and the constitution

Empowering and shackling Sacramento

From teachers to janitors : direct democracy demotes the legislature

The California fix

Budgeting without shackles

The architecture of political frustration

Remaking elections and the legislature

Government from the bottom up

A more direct democracy

Good rules to match its mountains.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 193-210) and index.

ISBN:

9786612660795

9781282660793

1282660799

9780520947085

0520947088

OCLC:

655854532