Main Page | Recent changes | View source | Page history

Printable version | Disclaimers | Privacy policy

 Not logged in
Log in | Help
 

California

From dKosopedia

Categories: United States of America | California

Diaries and stories tagged as
"California"
on Daily Kos:
most recent
most recs
front page


Contents

Background

History

The state of California was admitted to the union on September 9, 1850. Delegates to the state constitutional convention held in September 1849 made the city of San Jose the state's first capital. Over the next several years, the capital was moved to Vallejo, Benecia and San Francisco. In 1854, the capital was moved to Sacramento, where it has stayed ever since.

Economy

If California were an independent nation, it would have the sixth largest GDP in the world. Its largest industry is agriculture, centered in the Central Valley, as its farms produce much of the nation's fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. The Napa Valley produces world-renowned wines. Hollywood is the center of the world's entertainment industry, and Southern California also boasts of a large aerospace industry presence. The city of San Francisco is leading center of worldwide financial services. The high technology sector dominates Silicon Valley around San Jose, and a large concentration of biotechnology firms exist in South San Francisco and Emeryville in the Bay Area as well as around San Diego. The ports of Oakland, Los Angeles, and Long Beach are three of the four busiest container ports in the United States, handling much of the cargo that enters the nation from accross the Pacific. One third of the Navy's Pacific fleet is based in and around San Diego, which is also the home of the USMC training facility at Camp Pendleton, the nation's busiest military base. California is also a major domestic and international tourist destination.

Demographics

California is one of only four majority-minority states (along with Hawaii, New Mexico, and Texas), where no ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Estimates say California is about 45% white, 34% Latino, and 11% Asian.

To date 278 Californians have been killed in the War in Iraq.

Government

The government of California consists of three branches. The executive branch is composed of 13 elected officers including the Governor and Lt. Governor, all of whom may serve a maximum of two four-year terms. The legislative branch consists of a bicameral legislature featuring a State Assembly of 80 members serving a maximum of three two-year terms; and a State Senate of 40 members serving no more than two four-year terms. The state Supreme Court is made up of seven justices.

Politics

California is a Democratic-leaning state. Of the eight major elected statewide offices, seven were held by Democrats until Secretary of State Kevin Shelley resigned and Governor Schwarzenegger appointed a GOP replacement. The lone Republican is Schwarzenegger, who cultivates a moderate reputation more than most Republicans. California is represented in the U.S. Congress by two Democratic Senators, and 33 of its 53 seats in the House of Representatives are held by Democrats. In addition, the state legislature is under Democratic control.

California voted Republican in every presidential election from 1968-1988, but has overwhelmingly supported the Democratic ticket in every presidential election since 1992.

Political Landscape

Coastal California

The coast (west side) of California, with the notable exception of Orange County, generally votes Democratic.[1]

Inland California

Inland (eastern) California trends Republican.[2]

Elected Officials

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, "Full-Time and Part-Time Legislatures," the California State Assembly is a full or near full time, high-pay, large-staff Professional Legislature.

California Counties

California Elections

California progressive organizations

California Blogs

California radio

California Institutions

Large Corporations

Major Universities

Research Institutes

Military Installations

External Links

See also

v·e·d

California

President: 2004, 2008

Congress: CA-Sen, CA-01, CA-02, CA-03, CA-04, CA-05, CA-06, CA-07, CA-08, CA-09, CA-10, CA-11, CA-12, CA-13, CA-14, CA-15, CA-16, CA-17, CA-18, CA-19, CA-20, CA-21, CA-22, CA-23, CA-24, CA-25, CA-26, CA-27, CA-28, CA-29, CA-30, CA-31, CA-32, CA-33, CA-34, CA-35, CA-36, CA-37, CA-38, CA-39, CA-40, CA-41, CA-42, CA-43, CA-44, CA-45, CA-46, CA-47, CA-48, CA-49, CA-50, CA-51, CA-52, CA-53,

State: CA-Gov, California Senate, California House

Counties: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo, Yuba

Elections: California elections, 2008, California election results

v·e·d

United States of America

Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming

Party Control By State

Non-States: District of Columbia | American Samoa | Guam | Northern Mariana Islands | Puerto Rico | Virgin Islands

Branches of Government: Executive Branch | Judicial Branch | Legislative Branch:
110th United States Congress (composition) | Senate Committees | House Committees | List of Congressional Districts

Democrats: DNC, DSCC, DCCC, Young Democrats of America, College Democrats of America

Activist organizations: Democracy for America, USDemocrat Network, Progressive Democrats of America, Progressive Majority

Important U.S. elections: United States presidential election, 2004, United States elections, 2008

Retrieved from "http://localhost../../../c/a/l/California.html"

This page was last modified 09:29, 29 November 2010 by dKosopedia user Jbet777. Based on work by Cody, roger, Chad Lupkes and The Cunctator and dKosopedia user(s) Holtmann, Samhuddy, Corncam, WarrenCohen, Opendna, BartFraden, Abou Ben Adhem, Powerofpie, Correa, Allamakee Democrat, California, Profane, Nathaniel Ament Stone, DaveOinSF, DakotaGypsy, DJ Jones, Dbain, Theresa O'Connor, Dem724, Devin, PaulDem, Narched and Centerfielder. Content is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.


[Main Page]
Daily Kos
DailyKos FAQ
View source
Discuss this page
Page history
What links here
Related changes
Special pages
Bug reports