SDSU CAL GOV ACTUAL TEST PAPER 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● Political system
Answer: the process of making public policy.
●● California's economy has been affected by
Answer: Size, post industrialism, change, diversity, Multitier workforce.
●● Political Environment
Answer: set of social, cultural, economic, and physical attributes that
inform and limit how politics are done.
●● Postindustrial Economy
Answer: Characterized by a large and growing service sector, economic
interdependence, rapid change, innovation and advanced tech.
●● Multi-tiered workforce work force
Answer: Upper tiers are high educated and well paid, low tiers are
service jobs in retail, tourism, agriculture.
,●● Democratic theory
Answer: Two forms of democracy: participatory & representative.
●● Participatory Government
Answer: rule by the many citizens
●● Representative
Answer: rule by a few elected
●● Elite Theory
Answer: two classes: the few who rule and the many who do not
●● The Big Four
Answer: Leland Stanford, Collis Huntington, Charles Crocker and Mark
Hopkins. (broken in progressive era)
●● Pluralist theory
Answer: Tries to correct aspects of both democratic and elite theory.
●● hyperploralism
Answer: power is thinly scattered, not just widely or unevenly scattered.
,●● components of California hyperpluralism
Answer: Individualism in political life, a growing diversity of group
interests and cultures, the changing nature of majoritarian politics and
built in are structural conflicts.
●● ironies of diversity
Answer: through diversity California has become a leader and laggard,
policy is cyclical, contested and at times ambivalent. Cities have to find
work arounds for funding.
●● % vote needed to raise taxes
Answer: California constitution requires a 2/3 vote from the legislature.
●● Prop 140 (1990)
Answer: Set term limits to state legislators and constitutional officers.
Limited Assembly Members to two 3 year terms and Senators to two 4
year terms. In 2010 loosened to serve a total of 12 years Proposition 28.
●● Proposition 28
Answer: changed 140 to a total of 12years.
●● Political Culture
Answer: the product of historical events, migration and settlement
patterns and the presence of various social groups.
, ●● Traditionalistic Subcultures
Answer: dormancy of a small, self perpetuation, paternalistic ruling elite
and a large, compliant non-elite: to maintain social and economic order.
●● Moralistic subcultures
Answer: emphasizes a public-spired citizenry dedicated to the common
betterment of all its members.
●● individualistic subcultures
Answer: emphasized the goals, aspirations, and initiative of private
individuals or groups. Government exists to serve them. Transactional
politics and groups.
●● Political development
Answer: the growth and change that occurs within political systems. 1.
Government management of self and demands of people. 2. increase in
democratic values, civil society, political participation, rule of law,
equality. 3. an increase of economic specialization, and social structure.
●● politics of unification
Answer: Primary function of government is making society into a state.
●● Bear Flag Revolt 1846
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● Political system
Answer: the process of making public policy.
●● California's economy has been affected by
Answer: Size, post industrialism, change, diversity, Multitier workforce.
●● Political Environment
Answer: set of social, cultural, economic, and physical attributes that
inform and limit how politics are done.
●● Postindustrial Economy
Answer: Characterized by a large and growing service sector, economic
interdependence, rapid change, innovation and advanced tech.
●● Multi-tiered workforce work force
Answer: Upper tiers are high educated and well paid, low tiers are
service jobs in retail, tourism, agriculture.
,●● Democratic theory
Answer: Two forms of democracy: participatory & representative.
●● Participatory Government
Answer: rule by the many citizens
●● Representative
Answer: rule by a few elected
●● Elite Theory
Answer: two classes: the few who rule and the many who do not
●● The Big Four
Answer: Leland Stanford, Collis Huntington, Charles Crocker and Mark
Hopkins. (broken in progressive era)
●● Pluralist theory
Answer: Tries to correct aspects of both democratic and elite theory.
●● hyperploralism
Answer: power is thinly scattered, not just widely or unevenly scattered.
,●● components of California hyperpluralism
Answer: Individualism in political life, a growing diversity of group
interests and cultures, the changing nature of majoritarian politics and
built in are structural conflicts.
●● ironies of diversity
Answer: through diversity California has become a leader and laggard,
policy is cyclical, contested and at times ambivalent. Cities have to find
work arounds for funding.
●● % vote needed to raise taxes
Answer: California constitution requires a 2/3 vote from the legislature.
●● Prop 140 (1990)
Answer: Set term limits to state legislators and constitutional officers.
Limited Assembly Members to two 3 year terms and Senators to two 4
year terms. In 2010 loosened to serve a total of 12 years Proposition 28.
●● Proposition 28
Answer: changed 140 to a total of 12years.
●● Political Culture
Answer: the product of historical events, migration and settlement
patterns and the presence of various social groups.
, ●● Traditionalistic Subcultures
Answer: dormancy of a small, self perpetuation, paternalistic ruling elite
and a large, compliant non-elite: to maintain social and economic order.
●● Moralistic subcultures
Answer: emphasizes a public-spired citizenry dedicated to the common
betterment of all its members.
●● individualistic subcultures
Answer: emphasized the goals, aspirations, and initiative of private
individuals or groups. Government exists to serve them. Transactional
politics and groups.
●● Political development
Answer: the growth and change that occurs within political systems. 1.
Government management of self and demands of people. 2. increase in
democratic values, civil society, political participation, rule of law,
equality. 3. an increase of economic specialization, and social structure.
●● politics of unification
Answer: Primary function of government is making society into a state.
●● Bear Flag Revolt 1846
