Larian Studios Forums General Chat Chat (Anything) The Serious Topic or GIT (part 2)

How fortunate the voters in California are to have you available, with your vast knowledge of economics, your personal knowledge of the former governor (rather than just hearing potentially misleading news reports), and your razor sharp logical mind which would never have you swayed by something so pedestrian as a lack of a genuinely informed opinion and an intimate knowledge of what is happening at the "higher" levels of power.

Naturally you shouldn't trust such a man, because after all, you decided he was gutless and spineless, based on your insider knowledge and consumate genius. Perhaps you should run for office, if you are not already in "power", with your psychic powers and towering intellect, the voters cannot help but benefit, no?

California State Governor
Duties and Responsibilities

The supreme executive power of the State of California is vested in the Governor, whose duty it is to see that the law is faithfully executed. The Governor is elected by the people for up to two terms of four years.

No person is eligible for the office of Governor who is not 18 years of age, and who has not been a citizen of the United States and a resident of this state for five years immediately preceding his election.

The Governor is Commander in Chief of the militia of this state. He is the sole official organ of communication between the government of this state and the federal government and the other states of the United States.

He must supervise the official conduct of all executive and ministerial officers, and he must see that all offices are filled and their duties performed.

The Governor may appoint and fix the salaries of such assistants and other personnel as he deems necessary for the proper conduct of his office...The Governor normally appoints a member of his staff to serve as his legislative secretary whose primary function is to maintain liaison between the executive office and the Legislature.

The Governor's appoint power also extends over the significant areas of state government. First, the Governor has authority to fill vacancies in the judiciary (municipal, superior, appeals and Supreme courts) and to fill newly created judgeships. Second, the Governor has power to appoint a large number of positions throughout the executive department, subject to confirmation by the State Senate.

The Governor must communicate with the Legislature, during each calendar year, regarding the condition of the state and may make recommendations. The Governor must also submit an itemized budget to the Legislature within the first 10 days of each year.

The Governor may veto any bill passed by the Legislature and return it with his objections to the house of origin. He may also reduce or eliminate one or more items of appropriation while approving other portions of the bill.

In addition to his immediate staff, the Governor utilizes a cabinet, composed of the secretaries of the eight major state agencies (State and Consumer Services; Business, Transportation and Housing; Environmental Protection; Child Development and Education; Food and Agriculture, Health and Welfare; Resources; and, the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency), the Director of Finance, and the Director of Industrial Relations.

This conglomerate serves as the Governor's chief policy advisory body and, in their individual capacities, implement and coordinate the Governor's policies throughout the state.

The cabinet supplies the Governor with a comprehensive view and current resume of the state operations and serves as a source for long-range planning.

California's Legislature

Referendums do not easily fit in with the traditions of British parliamentary practice and are inherently polarizing, even impassioning, processes and thus are risky undertakings for governments. However, for many observers a referendum is a useful and inherently democratic device that elicits from the electorate a precise answer to a specific question. Referendums have taken place since the 16th century in Switzerland. In France and other European countries the practice was used in the 18th century but did not spread widely until the second half of the 20th century. In Australia they are used for constitutional amendments, and some American state and local governments use them for policy and constitutional issues.

As the Canadian experience demonstrates, referendums and plebiscites may be constitutional or simply legislative, and they may be initiated either by the government or by the people. The latter take place at the local or provincial rather than national level. In Canada, the federal government has held 3 referendums (or, more strictly, plebiscites). The first was in 1898, on PROHIBITION, in which only 44% of the electorate voted, with 51% voting yes and 49% voting no. The second was in 1942, on conscription, in which the Liberal government of Mackenzie KING asked Canadians if they were in favour of releasing the government from its promise not to use conscripts for overseas military service. Over 60% of the voters replied yes; the others, no. In Québec, however, about 72-73% voted no.

A third referendum was held in 1992 on the Charlottetown Accord. During the negotiations leading to the accord, several provinces had made arrangements to put any new deal to a referendum. In Québec, the government had threatened to hold a referendum on sovereignty by October if an acceptable offer was not forthcoming from the rest of Canada. Thus the referendum had become a strategic tool in the negotiations. After a new agreement was reached by the First Ministers in September, PM Brian Mulroney announced that a national referendum would be held on October 26. Seventy-five percent of eligible voters went to the polls. The accord was rejected by 6 provinces (Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Québec and Manitoba) and one territory (Yukon). The overall vote nationally was 44.8% for and 54.2% against.

In 1948, 2 important constitutional referendums in Newfoundland were held on the issue of union with Canada. The first failed to give an absolute majority to any of the 3 options: confederation with Canada, responsible government as it existed in 1933, or commission of government for 5 years. But a second vote, held a month later on July 2, resulted in a slim majority (52.3%) for confederation. A Newfoundland constitutional plebiscite was held in 1996 on the question of seeking an amendment altering denominational education rights. A majority voted yes.

All the provinces, with the exception of New Brunswick, have held nonconstitutional referendums, including dealing with such matters as the prohibition of liquor and related problems; switching to daylight-saving time; votes for women; public health; ownership of electric companies; grain marketing; and in January 1988 to determine if PEI should have a fixed link to the mainland. Since Confederation there have been more than 50 provincial referendums. Four provinces - British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba - have enacted statutes making popular initiative possible. A bill introducing popular initiative is being considered by the Ontario Legislature. Provincial referendums in Canada are traditionally consultative or advisory in nature (ie, plebiscites), although some have been treated as though they were binding by the governments that have called them.

The first Québec referendum (1980) on the sovereignty issue was held on 20 May 1980. 60% of the voters refused to give the Parti Québécois government a mandate to negotiate sovereingty-association. The second Québec Referendum (1995) was held on 30 October 1995 on a question which asked voters whether they agreed "that Quebec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership." The result was a narrow victory for the no side, 50.6% voting no and 49.4% voting yes. Ninety-four percent of the electorate voted.

What I absolutely hate is when I write a long post and people do as if it doesn't exist ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/memad.gif" alt="" />

And, yes, sometimes I AM emotional.

LaFille - if you feel lost towards the 'hard' subject, as I formulated, then I am sorry. Evoking such feelings was not my intention. If however your statement is to be read as 'the subject of politics is hard, because I'm young and inexperienced' - then that's exactly the right attitude! Not the ones having experience voting 12 times for the same party without further thinking, but those who are uncertain and think about their vote will be the catalysts to change.

Is it common to greet pure strangers, chat a bit on general subjects with them, ask people for the time it is or any other information one can seek for?

And comunity dynamic? What?!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />