Modeling their themes (as well as their title) after Tocqueville's
Democracy in America
, Janiskee (political science, California State U.) and Masugi (director, Center for Local Government at the Claremont Institute) offer an introduction to the politics and government of the state of California. Chapters on the values and diversity of the citizenry and the constitutional history of the state set the stage for individual examinations of public opinion and the media, parties and interest groups, campaigns and elections, the legislatures, the executive, the courts, the budget and government finance, and local government. Annotation c. Book News, Inc.,Portland, OR