California Politics

PS171 - Spring 2009

 LIBRARY
Institute of Governmental Studies
University of California
109 Moses Hall #2370 
Berkeley, CA 94720-2370 
510-642-1472 (voice) 
510-643-0866 (fax)
Policy Research
A. Current Awareness Sources
B. Online Policy Collections
C. General Statistical Sources
D. California Legislation
E. IGS Library Resources
F. California Digital Library (CDL) Resources		 Elections/Officeholder/Candidate Research
G. Information about Officeholders and Candidates
H. Legislative Scorecards
I. District Maps and Profiles
J. Election Statistics and Campaign Finance
K. News Sources
L. Public Opinion Polls

About remote access to proprietary databases - Instructions.
How to Cite? Try the UCB Library Citation Styles and Style Guides.
Good starting places for Initiative Case Study Assignment:

A. Current Awareness Sources

  1. Rough & Tumble. Online www.rtumble.com/. "A daily snapshot of California public policy and politics."
  2. CalNews.com. Online www.calnews.com/. California news service.
  3. Capitol Weekly. Online www.capitolweekly.net. Print (IGSL on Display). Newspaper of California Government and Politics.
  4. Political Pulse.  Print. Twice a month. "The newsletter of California politics and government."  (IGSL On Display)
  5. CALPEEK, California Political Week.  Print.  (IGSL On Display)
  6. California Journal. Print and online in LexisNexis Academic.  Monthly. Leading review of California politics and policy. Ceased publication with the Jan. 2005 issue. Indexed in CDL's "Expanded Academic ASAP" database (see F. below.) (IGSL A8637; Doe Ref JK8701.C22)
  7. The California Institute For Federal Policy Research. Online. http://www.calinst.org/. A resource for information about federal policy and California.

B. Online Policy Collections

  1. California Policy Inbox. Online inbox.berkeley.edu. Access to new public policy research about California.
  2. [Publications of California Public Interest Organizations and Agencies]. A sampling:
    1. California Budget Project. www.cbp.org/
    2. EdSource. www.edsource.org/
    3. Legislative Analyst's Office. www.lao.ca.gov/
    4. Public Policy Institute of California. www.ppic.org/
    5. [Additional Organizations and Agencies]. Check the IGS Library's California Links Gallery. Check especially the Academic and Research Sites and Public Policy sections.
  3. Policy File (UCB only). Online www.policyfile.com/. Collection of full-text policy reports from research institutes, think tanks and citizens' groups.  Try this search:  enter "California" in the Keyword Search box and then select one of the subject categories from the Browse Subject box.

C. General Statistical Sources

  1. California Cities, Towns & Counties. Print. One-page statistical summaries for each California city and county. (IGSL Ref.; Main F866.2 .C29, latest in Doe Ref)
  2. California Demographic Research Unit Reports. Online http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/DEMOGRAP/ReportsPapers/ReportsPapers.asp. Population estimates and projections for California counties and cities. Some breakdowns by age, race and ethnicity.
  3. California Statistical Abstract. Print and online www.dof.ca.gov/html/fs_data/stat-abs/sa_home.htm). (IGSL Ref.; Main HA261.A3, latest in Doe Ref-Govt/Stat)
  4. California County Projections. Print. Center for the Continuing Study of the California Economy. Projections of population and economic growth by county. (IGSL Ref.)
  5. Projections 2006. Print. Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). Economic and population data for the San Francisco Bay Area. (IGSL Ref.; Main HD5726.S4 P72, latest in Doe Ref-Govt/Stat)
  6. L.A. Stats. Print. Statistics for Los Angeles and surrounding counties. (IGSL Ref.)

D. California Legislation

  1. Official California Legislative Information. Online www.leginfo.ca.gov/. Entry point for full-text access to bills, statutes, codes and legislative histories. 1993/94 session onward.
  2. Assembly and Senate Final Histories. Online through 2001-2002 192.234.213.35/clerkarchive/. In print at the Main Library: Assembly, J87C2ec.A34; Senate, J87.C2eb.A34 (latest 20 years in Govt Ref, earlier years in stacks). Bill histories, with indexes by author and subject.
  3. [Commentary on Bills and Legislation]. Check the news sources in Sections K and A, especially Lexis-NexisAcademic and the Sacramento Bee in NewsBank. Search by key words from the titles and subject matter of the bills, and by the bill authors' names. Check the bill authors' official websites for press releases and other commentary.

E. IGS Library Resources

  1. IGS Library Holdings on Bay Area/California Politics & Policy. The IGS Library collects local public affairs materials, and indexes lead articles from various local publications such as the San Francisco Bay Guardian and the Express. The Library also collects election materials on statewide and local (San Francisco, Oakland & Berkeley) candidates and propositions. Records for these campaign ephemera materials, 1983 onward, are in the Melvyl Online Catalog (melvyl.cdlib.org). Search for them by title keyword, subject and author.

    The IGS campaign ephemera files for the following Initiative Case Study assignment ballot measures have been digitized:
    • Proposition 184 (1994). Three Strikes
    • Proposition 187 (1994). Services for Illegal Immigrants
    • Proposition 209 (1996). Affirmative Action
    • Proposition 22 (2000). Gay Marriage
    • Proposition 63 (2004). Mental Health Services
    • Proposition 66 (2004). Limits on Three Strikes
    • Proposition 71 (2004). Stem Cell Research
    • Proposition 72 (2004). Health Care Coverage
    • Proposition 82 (2006). Preschool Education
    • Proposition 86 (2006). Tax on Cigarettes
    • Proposition 87 (2006). Alternative Energy
    They are available on the POL SCI 171 bSpace site, in the Resources area.

    Also check the Hot Topics section on the IGS Library's main webpage (igs.berkeley.edu/library), including Hot Topics on initiatives:
  2. IGS Library Links Gallery. Online igs.berkeley.edu/library/gallery.html. Many useful links to websites on California and U.S. politics and public affairs. Good for a sampling of what the Web has to offer.

F. California Digital Library (CDL) & Other Online Resources

  1. CDL Melvyl Online Catalog. melvyl.cdlib.org. For books and monographs.

    2. Includes IGS Library holdings from 1983. Try title key word searching first; do a "long display" of a few records that seem to be on target, look at the subject terms on those records, and then search again by the subject terms.
  2. CDL Specialized Databases (UC only). For journal articles.

    3. Try these indexes, using the key word/subject term approach noted above.
    1. Web of Science. Online access to the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI)--1956-present.
    2. Expanded Academic ASAP. Broad range of journals in the social sciences, plus major news magazines (Time, Newsweek ). Many articles full-text.
    3. Business Source Premier. Business/economics journals. Citations have helpful abstracts; many articles full-text.
    4. PAIS International. Books, government documents, and journal articles on public affairs. Citations and abstracts only.
  3. CQ Researcher Plus Archive. (UCB only). Part of the CQ Electronic Library. Access to an expanded database of reports extending as far back as 1923.
  4. Research Library (ProQuest) (UCB only). Multi-disciplinary journal index. Many articles are full text. Use as a backup to the CDL databases.
  5. Online Campaign Literature Archive. Archived California campaign websites from 1998 onward (including some television advertising), plus scanned images of selected print materials.

G. Information about Officeholders and Candidates

  1. California Target Book. Print. Detailed political analysis of state legislative and congressional candidates and districts. Supplemented with faxed and mailed updates. Key insider publication! (IGSL Ref.)
  2. Who's Who in the California Legislature. Print. Biennial. Profiles of state legislators. (IGSL Ref.)
  3. California Political Almanac. Print. Biennial. Profiles of state legislators. 2005-06 ed. online: http://library.cqpress.com/. Earlier volumes: 1989/90(1)-1999/2000 (IGSL Ref.; Main JK8768.C343, latest in Doe Ref-Govt/Stat).
  4. Official profiles of state legislators on the Web.
    5. Assembly: www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset7text.htm
    State Senate: www.sen.ca.gov/~newsen/senators/senators.htp
  5. California State Government Directory. Print. Updated quarterly. Basic directory information on state legislators. (IGSL Ref.)
  6. California Legislature. Print. Official legislative handbook; includes brief biographies. (IGSL Ref.; Main JK8731.A4, latest in Doe Ref-Govt/Stat)

H. Legislative Scorecards

  1. [Scorecards of Voting Records of California Legislators]. Scorecards from a sampling of organizations:
    1. California Chamber of Commerce. Online from 2000 http://www.calchamber.com/GovernmentRelations/AdvocacyResources/Pages/LegislatorVoteRecord.aspx. Earlier issues appear as articles in the Chamber's Alert newsletter (IGSL call no.: A4094). Check the October-November issues.
    2. California League of Conservation Voters. Online from 1988 www.ecovote.org/scorecard/
    3. California Taxpayers' Association. Online 2002, 2004.
    4. Friends Committee on Legislation of California. Online from 1998 www.webcom.com/~peace/PEACTREE/fcl/newsold.html. The "Voting Records" appear as articles in November-December issue of the Committee's FCL Newsletter. IGSL has earlier newsletter issues in print (Call no.: A0364).
    5. Gun Owners of California. Online from 2001 http://www.gunownersca.com/legtor/.
    6. National Organization for Women. California Chapter.Online from 1997 canow.org/. Enter "Legislative Report Card" in the search box on the homepage for the list of scorecards.

I. District Maps and Profiles

  1. 2001 Assembly, Senate and Congressional Dictricts. Includes both maps and demographic profiles of the districts.
    2. Assembly: www.assembly.ca.gov/committee/c7/asmfinal/newtextdocument.html
    State Senate: www.sen.ca.gov/ftp/SEN/senplan/senate.htp
    U.S. House: 1) www.sen.ca.gov/ftp/sen/cngplan/newtextdocument.htp; 2) www.census.gov/geo/www/maps/cd108n/FF_cd108n_maps.htm#st06_cd108_3
  2. District Profiles of the California Election Districts. Print. Includes maps, demographic information and registration/voting data. (IGSL Ref.)
  3. California Journal's Legislative District Maps of California. Print. Statewide maps with insets for the San Francisco and Los Angeles metropolitan regions. (IGSL Ref.)
  4. Individual Maps of the California Election Districts. Print. Detailed district maps in large binder. (IGSL Ref.)

J. Election Statistics and Campaign Finance

  1. Statement of the Vote/Election Returns. Print. Official election statistics from the California Secretary of State. (IGSL A3099, General election; A2217, Primary election; GovtRefe JK8793 latest 2 elections, earlier in Main stacks)
    2. Also online, June 1992 onward: www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_elections.htm
  2. Report of Registration. Print. Official voter registration statistics from the California Secretary of State. (IGSL A1097; GovtRefe JK8791.A3 latest, earlier in Main stacks)
    3. Also online, Jan. 1999 onward: www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_u.htm
  3. Official Voter Information Guide. Print. California Secretary of State. (IGSL A1484; GovRefe JK8795.A334)
    Also online, March 1996 onward: http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_j.htm
  4. Cal-Access - California Automated Lobbying and Campaign Contribution & Expenditure Search System. Online cal-access.ss.ca.gov/. Back to March 2000 primary election only. Detailed campaign finance information from the California Secretary of State. Names of individual donors and the amounts contributed. Candidates or committees raising or spending $50,000 or more are required to file. (The filing threshold was $100,000 for the 2000 primary--the first time the system was used.) Total contributions and expenditures for specific races are available from the Cal-Access Advanced Reports page; select the Summary Reports for ballot measures, candidates or political parties.
  5. Follow the Money Online www.followthemoney.org/. Institute on Money in State Politics. Database for tracking interest group campaign contributions in state elections. California coverage begins with 1998.
  6. Selected Campaign Financing Analyses. Print. California Secretary of State. Mostly gross totals raised and spent; little or no information on individual contributors. (IGSL A9567 1991-1996; also in Main stacks. Earlier campaign financing analyses at IGS: General A7383 1977-1991, Primary A4013 1982-1991).
    7. Also online, 1996-1998: www.ss.ca.gov/prd/campaign_info/financing_analyses/list_camp_rpts.htm
  7. CQ Voting and Elections Collection (UCB only). Online library2.cqpress.com/elections/. Extensive database of election data for presidential, congressional and gubernatorial elections.
  8. OpenSecrets.org. Online www.opensecrets.org/. Center for Responsive Politics. Extensive database on campaign finance at the federal and state levels. Search by candidate and donor names and by geographic area, including zipcode.

K. News Sources

  1. Lexis-Nexis Academic (UCB only). Online http://www.lexisnexis.com/us/lnacademic/. The Lexis-Nexis full-text online news service for academic users. Includes hundreds of newspaper, legal, and business information sources.
    To search newspapers in California select Sources, in the Find a Source search box enter “ california news sources” in quotes. Select source in check box and click on OK to continue.
    To search leading newspapers across the U.S. (e.g., New York Times, Washington Post), select Sources, in the Find a Source search box enter “major us newspapers” in quotes. Select source in check box and click on OK to continue.
    Set the Specify Date dropdown; the default is "All previous dates."
    Use the People tab to find profiles of incumbents and candidates.
  2. Access World News (U.S. Newspapers) (UCB only). Online info.newsbank.com. Full-text access to 300 U.S. newspapers, over 25 from California, including the Sacramento Bee from 1984 onward. Lexis-Nexis includes the Sacramento Bee only from Jan. 2002 onward.
  3. ProQuest Newspapers (UCB only). Online http://proquest.umi.com/. Includes full-text access to the Los Angeles Times from 1985 onward.
  4. SF Gate Search. Online www.sfgate.com/search/. Full-text access to the San Francisco Chronicle/Examiner from 1995 onward.
  5. [Other News Options]. Most newspapers and local TV news bureaus now put highlights of current news on the Web--limited backfiles in most cases. Check these lists for newspaper and TV news sites:
    6. NewsLink: www.newslink.org/news.html
    NewspaperLinks - Newspaper Association of America: www.newspaperlinks.com/home.cfm
    Internet Public Library Online Newspapers: www.ipl.org/reading/news/
    U.S. Television Station Search (TvRadioWorld): www.tvradioworld.com/
  6. Newspapers & Microform Collection, ground floor, Main Library. Receives over 200 newspapers on microfilm. Use microfilm versions for graphics (pictures, charts, etc.); full-text services such as Lexis-Nexis are text only.
  7. YouTube and Google Video. Both online video services frequently have campaign advertisements, endorsements, and other material posted (unless it's older than a few years), since California's initiative campaigns rely so heavily on TV ad buys to disseminate pros and cons to the public. Type in the search box the number of the proposition you want to look up. Some recent initiative campaigns also have YouTube channels that collect all of their campaign videos in one place.

L. Public Opinion Polls

  1. Field Poll. Print. Online from Jan. 1993 field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/. Leading statewide California poll. IGS Library indexes the polls in the MELVYL catalog. (IGSL fA0468). Question-level data available online via the Social Sciences Data Collection at UC San Diego: gort.ucsd.edu/calpol/
  2. California Opinion Index. Print. Online from Jan. 1993 field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/. Subject-based cumulations of the Field Polls, including summaries of voting trends in November elections. (IGSL A5070)
  3. Los Angeles Times Poll. Online at the LA Times: www.latimes.com/news/custom/timespoll/, or via NewsBank or Lexis-Nexis Academic.
  4. PPIC Statewide Surveys (Public Policy Institute of California). Print and online http://www.ppic.org/main/series.asp?i=12. Public opinion survey series on various topics. (IGSL A9849)

Remote Access to Proprietary Databases

The online resources in this guide marked "(UC only)" and "(UCB only)" are proprietary databases licensed for faculty, staff and student use only. If you are working from home and using your own ISP, you will be blocked from accessing these databases unless you set up your browser access them via the UCB Library's proxy server. Ways of setting up the proxy service vary depending on the browser you're using and whether you're using a PC or a Mac. For instructions on how to use the proxy server, go to: proxy.lib.berkeley.edu/.

Page last changed 1/26/2009