There is a dilemma of contemporary American political reform. On one hand, widespread concern about American democracy prompts calls for changing American political institutions. On the other hand, a great deal of recent scholarship paints a very negative picture of the effectiveness of much of that reform agenda over the last century. So, is there a path forward, particularly in light of the recent election? But the agenda was only partially implemented in each state, and some combination of those ideas might help address the challenges of our own time.
This talk uses recent survey data from , , and to walk through the prospects for this reform agendaβwhat looks more or less promising, and more or less well-adapted to the political behavior we observe in the Trump Era of American politics. Willie L.
Brown, Jr. Brown visited the campus prior to his Athenaeum event which was co-hosted by Kravis Lab for Civic Leadership. Californians will vote on ten statewide ballot propositions this fall. The outcome of these measure will shape state policy regarding the minimum wage, criminal penalties, involuntary servitude, the right to marry, rent control, low-income housing, bond funding for schools and environmental projects, and more.
Many of these proposals are hard to understand and cause voters to throw up their hands in frustration. He served as Speaker from until , the second-longest speakership in California history. Rendon is a native Southern Californian.
After graduating from high school he worked in warehouses and other manual jobs, then pursued higher education, eventually earning a Ph. Prior to serving in the Assembly, he worked as an educator, non-profit executive director, and environmental activist. From to , she served as the 28th Chief Justice of California and led the judiciary as the chair of the Judicial Councilβthe constitutional policy and rule-making body of the judicial branchβthe first person of color and the second woman to do so.
