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check realtime wiki reference> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California
The State of California (IPA: /ˌkʰæ.lɪˈfɔɹ.nʲʌ/) is the most populous state of the United States of America. Located on the Pacific coast of North America, it is bordered by Oregon, Nevada and Arizona in the United States, and Baja California in Mexico. The state's four largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco. California is known for its diverse climate and ethnically diverse population. The state has 58 counties.
Alta California was first colonized by the Spanish Empire in 1769, and after Mexican independence in 1821, continued as part of Mexico. Following one brief week as the independent California Republic in 1846, and the conclusion of the Mexican-American war in 1848, California was annexed by the United States and was admitted to the Union as the thirty-first state on September 9, 1850.
California's diverse geography ranges from the hard, rocky beaches of the Pacific coast to the rugged, snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains in the east. The central portion of the state is dominated by the Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. The Sierra Nevada contains Yosemite Valley, famous for its glacially-carved domes, and Sequoia National Park, home to the largest living organisms on Earth, the giant sequoia trees, and the highest point in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney.[2] The tallest living things on Earth, the ancient redwood trees, dot the coastline, mainly north of San Francisco. California is also home to the second lowest and hottest place in the Western Hemisphere, Death Valley. Bristlecone pines located in the White Mountains are the oldest known trees in the world; one has an age of 4,700 years.
The California Gold Rush, beginning in 1848, dramatically changed California with an influx of population and an economic boom, and San Francisco became a financial and cultural center. The early 20th century was marked by Los Angeles becoming the center of the entertainment industry, in addition to the growth of a large tourism sector in the state. The Central Valley is home to California's agricultural industry, the largest of any state. Other major industries include aerospace and petroleum, computer and information technology. California's ranks among the ten largest economies in the world, and 35th amongst the most populous countries behind Kenya.[3]
State politics and government
Main article: Government of California
The State Capitol in Sacramento, which is the home of the California State LegislatureCalifornia is governed as a republic, with three branches of government: the executive branch consisting of the Governor of California and the other independently elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the Assembly and Senate; and the judicial branch consisting of the Supreme Court of California and lower courts. The state also allows direct participation of the electorate by initiative, referendum, recall, and ratification. California follows a closed primary system. The state's capital is Sacramento.
The Governor of California and the other state constitutional officers serve four-year terms and may be re-elected only once. The California State Legislature consists of a 40 member Senate and 80 member Assembly. Senators serve four year terms and Assembly members two. Members of the Assembly are subject to term limits of 3 terms, and members of the Senate are subject to term limits of 2 terms.
For the 2007–2008 session, there are 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans in the Assembly. In the Senate, there are 25 Democrats and 15 Republicans. The current governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was re-elected to a term that lasts through January 2011.
The Earl Warren Building and Courthouse in San Francisco, which is the home of the Supreme Court of CaliforniaCalifornia's judiciary is the largest in the United States (with a total of 1,600 judges, while the federal system has only about 840). It is supervised by the seven Justices of the Supreme Court of California. Justices of the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal are appointed by the Governor, but are subject to retention by the electorate every 12 years.
Presidential elections results Year Republican Democratic
2004 44.36% 5,509,826 54.31% 6,745,485
2000 41.65% 4,567,429 53.45% 5,861,203
1996 38.21% 3,828,380 51.10% 5,119,835
1992 32.61% 3,630,574 46.01% 5,121,325
1988 51.13% 5,054,917 47.56% 4,702,233
1984 57.51% 5,467,009 41.27% 3,922,519
1980 52.69% 4,524,858 35.91% 3,083,661
1976 49.35% 3,882,244 47.57% 3,742,284
1972 55.00% 4,602,096 41.54% 3,475,847
1968 47.82% 3,467,664 44.74% 3,244,318
1964 40.79% 2,879,108 59.11% 4,171,877
1960 50.10% 3,259,722 49.55% 3,224,099
[edit] Political culture
Main articles: Politics of California to 1899 and Politics of California
California has an idiosyncratic political culture. It was the second state to legalize abortion and one of the first states to legalize domestic partnerships for gay couples, and was also the first where voters decided that only marriage between a man and a woman would be recognized (legalized domestic partnerships were not approved by voters, but were made law by the state legislature). California was the first state in which voters approved a measure to deny social services to illegal immigrants (Proposition 187 in 1994) and was also the first state in which voters passed a law ending affirmative action (Proposition 209 in 1996).
The state's African American vote remains mostly loyal to the Democrats, while Latinos and Asians tend to vote Democratic to a lesser degree. Conservative Caucasians in the suburbs and rural areas are typically reliable Republican voters. Partisan demographics have shifted in past twenty years with the once-Republican inner suburbans moving to the Democrats; Republicans count on the votes in the fast-growing Inland Empire and Central Valley to make up the difference. Some Democratic activists are pushing for the party to make a stronger effort to be competitive in these areas, and parts of these areas have become more Democratic while others remain strongly Republican.
Democratic strength is centered in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County. Democrats also hold a slight majority in Sacramento. Republican strength is greatest in the San Joaquin Valley, which includes the rapidly-growing cities of Stockton, Modesto, Fresno, and Bakersfield, the suburban areas surrounding Los Angeles (especially Orange County), San Diego County, Ventura County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and San Luis Obispo County.
Since 1990, California has generally elected Democratic candidates. However, the state has had little hesitance in electing Republican Governors, though many of its Republican Governors, such as the current Governor Schwarzenegger, tend to be considered "moderate Republicans" and tend to be more socially liberal than the party itself. Of California's past four Governors, three of them were Republicans. The Democrat, Gray Davis, was removed from office via recall election in October of 2003.
Overall, the trend in California politics since 1994 has been towards the Democratic Party and away from the Republican Party. This trend is most obvious in presidential elections. From 1952-1988 the Republicans lost California only once in a presidential election, when Lyndon Johnson won a massive landslide over Republican Barry Goldwater in 1964. Much of the Republican success in California can be traced to the fact that two California Republicans, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, were part of the Republican ticket in 1952, 1956, 1960, 1968, 1972, 1980, and 1984. However, in 1992 Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton carried the state, and California has voted Democratic in every presidential election since then. Additionally, the Democrats have easily won every U.S. Senate race since 1994 and have maintained consistent majorities in both houses of the state legislature. In the U.S. House the Democrats hold a 33-20 edge as of the 2006 congressional elections. The only area in which the Republicans have been competitive recently is in the governorship, which is currently held by Arnold Schwarzenegger, a moderate Republican. Much of the resurgence in Democratic strength, and decline in Republican strength, has been traced to the growing perception that the Republican Party is linked to the religious right and social conservatives; neither of these groups have been able to attract widespread support in California, a state which is known for its social liberalism.
See also: List of California Governors, U.S. Congressional Delegations from California, and List of California ballot propositions
check realtime wiki reference> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California
The State of California (IPA: /ˌkʰæ.lɪˈfɔɹ.nʲʌ/) is the most populous state of the United States of America. Located on the Pacific coast of North America, it is bordered by Oregon, Nevada and Arizona in the United States, and Baja California in Mexico. The state's four largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco. California is known for its diverse climate and ethnically diverse population. The state has 58 counties.
Alta California was first colonized by the Spanish Empire in 1769, and after Mexican independence in 1821, continued as part of Mexico. Following one brief week as the independent California Republic in 1846, and the conclusion of the Mexican-American war in 1848, California was annexed by the United States and was admitted to the Union as the thirty-first state on September 9, 1850.
California's diverse geography ranges from the hard, rocky beaches of the Pacific coast to the rugged, snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains in the east. The central portion of the state is dominated by the Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. The Sierra Nevada contains Yosemite Valley, famous for its glacially-carved domes, and Sequoia National Park, home to the largest living organisms on Earth, the giant sequoia trees, and the highest point in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney.[2] The tallest living things on Earth, the ancient redwood trees, dot the coastline, mainly north of San Francisco. California is also home to the second lowest and hottest place in the Western Hemisphere, Death Valley. Bristlecone pines located in the White Mountains are the oldest known trees in the world; one has an age of 4,700 years.
The California Gold Rush, beginning in 1848, dramatically changed California with an influx of population and an economic boom, and San Francisco became a financial and cultural center. The early 20th century was marked by Los Angeles becoming the center of the entertainment industry, in addition to the growth of a large tourism sector in the state. The Central Valley is home to California's agricultural industry, the largest of any state. Other major industries include aerospace and petroleum, computer and information technology. California's ranks among the ten largest economies in the world, and 35th amongst the most populous countries behind Kenya.[3]
State politics and government
Main article: Government of California
The State Capitol in Sacramento, which is the home of the California State LegislatureCalifornia is governed as a republic, with three branches of government: the executive branch consisting of the Governor of California and the other independently elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the Assembly and Senate; and the judicial branch consisting of the Supreme Court of California and lower courts. The state also allows direct participation of the electorate by initiative, referendum, recall, and ratification. California follows a closed primary system. The state's capital is Sacramento.
The Governor of California and the other state constitutional officers serve four-year terms and may be re-elected only once. The California State Legislature consists of a 40 member Senate and 80 member Assembly. Senators serve four year terms and Assembly members two. Members of the Assembly are subject to term limits of 3 terms, and members of the Senate are subject to term limits of 2 terms.
For the 2007–2008 session, there are 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans in the Assembly. In the Senate, there are 25 Democrats and 15 Republicans. The current governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was re-elected to a term that lasts through January 2011.
The Earl Warren Building and Courthouse in San Francisco, which is the home of the Supreme Court of CaliforniaCalifornia's judiciary is the largest in the United States (with a total of 1,600 judges, while the federal system has only about 840). It is supervised by the seven Justices of the Supreme Court of California. Justices of the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal are appointed by the Governor, but are subject to retention by the electorate every 12 years.
Presidential elections results Year Republican Democratic
2004 44.36% 5,509,826 54.31% 6,745,485
2000 41.65% 4,567,429 53.45% 5,861,203
1996 38.21% 3,828,380 51.10% 5,119,835
1992 32.61% 3,630,574 46.01% 5,121,325
1988 51.13% 5,054,917 47.56% 4,702,233
1984 57.51% 5,467,009 41.27% 3,922,519
1980 52.69% 4,524,858 35.91% 3,083,661
1976 49.35% 3,882,244 47.57% 3,742,284
1972 55.00% 4,602,096 41.54% 3,475,847
1968 47.82% 3,467,664 44.74% 3,244,318
1964 40.79% 2,879,108 59.11% 4,171,877
1960 50.10% 3,259,722 49.55% 3,224,099
[edit] Political culture
Main articles: Politics of California to 1899 and Politics of California
California has an idiosyncratic political culture. It was the second state to legalize abortion and one of the first states to legalize domestic partnerships for gay couples, and was also the first where voters decided that only marriage between a man and a woman would be recognized (legalized domestic partnerships were not approved by voters, but were made law by the state legislature). California was the first state in which voters approved a measure to deny social services to illegal immigrants (Proposition 187 in 1994) and was also the first state in which voters passed a law ending affirmative action (Proposition 209 in 1996).
The state's African American vote remains mostly loyal to the Democrats, while Latinos and Asians tend to vote Democratic to a lesser degree. Conservative Caucasians in the suburbs and rural areas are typically reliable Republican voters. Partisan demographics have shifted in past twenty years with the once-Republican inner suburbans moving to the Democrats; Republicans count on the votes in the fast-growing Inland Empire and Central Valley to make up the difference. Some Democratic activists are pushing for the party to make a stronger effort to be competitive in these areas, and parts of these areas have become more Democratic while others remain strongly Republican.
Democratic strength is centered in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County. Democrats also hold a slight majority in Sacramento. Republican strength is greatest in the San Joaquin Valley, which includes the rapidly-growing cities of Stockton, Modesto, Fresno, and Bakersfield, the suburban areas surrounding Los Angeles (especially Orange County), San Diego County, Ventura County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and San Luis Obispo County.
Since 1990, California has generally elected Democratic candidates. However, the state has had little hesitance in electing Republican Governors, though many of its Republican Governors, such as the current Governor Schwarzenegger, tend to be considered "moderate Republicans" and tend to be more socially liberal than the party itself. Of California's past four Governors, three of them were Republicans. The Democrat, Gray Davis, was removed from office via recall election in October of 2003.
Overall, the trend in California politics since 1994 has been towards the Democratic Party and away from the Republican Party. This trend is most obvious in presidential elections. From 1952-1988 the Republicans lost California only once in a presidential election, when Lyndon Johnson won a massive landslide over Republican Barry Goldwater in 1964. Much of the Republican success in California can be traced to the fact that two California Republicans, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, were part of the Republican ticket in 1952, 1956, 1960, 1968, 1972, 1980, and 1984. However, in 1992 Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton carried the state, and California has voted Democratic in every presidential election since then. Additionally, the Democrats have easily won every U.S. Senate race since 1994 and have maintained consistent majorities in both houses of the state legislature. In the U.S. House the Democrats hold a 33-20 edge as of the 2006 congressional elections. The only area in which the Republicans have been competitive recently is in the governorship, which is currently held by Arnold Schwarzenegger, a moderate Republican. Much of the resurgence in Democratic strength, and decline in Republican strength, has been traced to the growing perception that the Republican Party is linked to the religious right and social conservatives; neither of these groups have been able to attract widespread support in California, a state which is known for its social liberalism.
See also: List of California Governors, U.S. Congressional Delegations from California, and List of California ballot propositions
check realtime wiki reference> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California