Delivers the essential concepts and details students need to understand how California's political system works. New to this edition --Thoroughly updated text, tables, and figures reflect recent demographic and electoral trends, ballot initiatives, state laws, and U.S. Supreme Court decisions, including the Prop 8 ruling, legislative term limits reform, and simple majority rules for passing the annual budget. --Greater attention to the role of special interest groups in the state's policymaking process, including their lobbying efforts. --Coverage of policy responses to current political issues and solutions including higher education budget cuts, prison realignment, and the implementation of AB32's "cap-and-trade" program for greenhouse gases.