Welcome to the Companion Site!

This site is intended to enhance your use of California Politics, Fifth Edition, by Renee B. Van Vechten. The materials on this site are geared toward increasing your effectiveness with this material and maximizing the potential for your students to learn.

The thoroughly revised Fifth Edition of California Politics: A Primer concisely explains how California’s history, political culture, rules, and institutions come together to shape politics today and how they will determine the state of affairs tomorrow. Author Renee B. Van Vechten begins with a brief political history of California, then walks through direct democracy, the legislature, executive branch, and court system. She covers local government and concludes with a discussion of the state’s budget process, campaigns and elections, political engagement, and policy issues. From the structure of the state's government to its local representatives, policies, and voter participation, California Politics: A Primer delivers the concepts and details students need.

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge Renee Van Vechten for writing an excellent text and creating the materials on this site.