Political Science Department

FALL 2009
CHALLENGE EXAM
CALIFORNIA STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Scheduled:
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Stevenson Hall 3026

The Political Science Department offers Credit by Examination on California Government, PS 151. Please note that passing this exam will not satisfy the D4 GE requirement unless you have satisfied the U.S. Constitution requirement elsewhere. A student can obtain information on challenging the U.S. Constitution General Education requirement by calling the SSU Testing services at (707) 664-2947. You may also consult page 16 of the SSU catalog or the department for further information.

You must be a currently enrolled student at SSU to take the exam. To obtain one unit of credit, you must enroll in POLS 151 by census date and successfully pass the exam. (Please note, you may not use this exam to obtain a unit credit, if you have already fulfilled the CSU requirement). It is not necessary to enroll in POLS 151 to take the examination merely to fulfill the statutory requirement (with no unit credit). No advance notice is required for taking the examination. The examination will be in two parts. Part one will be objective with multiple-choice questions. Part two will be brief descriptive and explanatory essays. To pass the examination you need to receive a grade of 70%.

Listed below are a number of texts and articles on California government and politics. Reading a number of these should provide the kind of information and knowledge you will need to take this examination. This list is not comprehensive, nor do you have to read everything on it to be prepared. You may prepare by reading other sources as well.

If you have any additional questions about the content or the structure of the examination please contact a faculty member of the department.

Please bring a Scantron sheet, Blue Book, a pencil and pen.

Reading List:

Blackford, Mansel. The Politics of California Business: 1890-1920.

Brewster, Lawrence and Leonard Kooperman. A Primer of California Politics.

DeBow, Ken and John C. Syer. Power and Politics in California., 5th edition.

Field, Mona and Charles Sohner. California Politics and Government Today, 6 th edition.

Gerston, Larry N. and Terry Christiansen. California Politics and Government: A Practical Approach, 5 th edition.

Korey, John L. California Government.

Krolak, Richard. California’s Budget Dance: Issues and Processes.

Lamare, James. California: Economics, Power and Policy.

Lawrence, David. G. California: The Politics of Diversity, 2 nd edition.

Price, Charles and Charles Bell. California Government Today, 5 th edition.

Reynolds, Ray. California the Curious.

Ross, Michael J. California: Its Government and Politics, 5 th edition.

Walters, Dan. The New California.

In addition to these books on California you might also read The California Journal, a magazine on California politics that is published monthly and has numerous articles on the politics and governance in the State.

Many of the books listed above are on reserve at the Reserve Desk of the Schultz Library on the first floor. The books are listed under Pols 151 under the name Andy Merrifield.