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U.S. Constitution | Tariffs | Electoral College | U.S. Budget & Continuing Resolutions
Primary Elections & Caucuses | Top-Two Primary | California Budget Process
Register with No Party Preference | Ways to Vote | Campaign Contributions | Judicial System
CA Elections With Ballot Measures | Citizen Initiatives | Evaluating Ballot Measures
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U.S. Constitution
You can see an online version here. If you prefer to 
access it in a file click here.
Tariffs
A tariff is a tax imposed on imported goods. It adds costs that get distributed among consumers, foreign producers, domestic producers and the government. Here's how it reshapes who pays for what:
- Consumers:
- Higher Prices: Tariffs increase the price of imported goods, shifting costs to domestic consumers, who pay more for both imported and domestic alternatives.
Foreign Producers:
- Reduced Margins: Foreign exporters might lower their pre-tariff prices, reducing their profit margins to stay competitive. They might raise their prices for their exports to the US. They may also shift to selling their products to other countries.
Domestic Producers:
- Protected Market: Tariffs shield domestic industries from foreign competition, allowing them to raise prices or increase production as consumers shift to domestic alternatives.
Government:
- Revenue Gain: The government collects tariff revenue, effectively transferring money from consumers and foreign producers to public coffers.
Example: A U.S. tariff on Chinese steel raises prices for American manufacturers using steel. Chinese exporters might lower prices to stay competitive, absorbing part of the tariff. U.S. steel producers benefit from higher demand and prices, while the U.S. government collects tariff revenue. Consumers (e.g., carmakers) face higher costs, potentially leading to pricier cars.
Net Effect: The redistribution primarily benefits domestic industries and the U.S. government at the expense of consumers and foreign producers.
Electoral College vs. Popular Vote
LWV National Headquarters has published a report on the history of why the Electroal College was created and how it compares to the popular vote in our country. You can read the report here.
Presidential Primaries & Caucuses
Primaries and caucuses are two ways that political parties choose presidential nominees. This website explains the differences between the two and how each of them work: https://www.usa.gov/primaries-caucuses.
No Party Preference Voter Registration
No Party Preference (NPP) is the selection for voters who do not want to be associated with a particular political party. Although it is often referred to as "independent", registering with The American Independent Party is different than NPP. They only way to register to vote without being associated with a particular political party in California is by registering as NPP, formerly known as Decline to State.
US Budget vs. Continuing Resolutions
For well over a decade, the US government has not had a budget. Instead, government is run on Contiuing Resolutions. See the difference here.
California Voters Choice Act - Lots of ways to vote
The Voter’s Choice Act was passed into law in 2016 and first implemented in 2018 in Nevada County and in 4 other California counties. Counties participating in The Voters Choice Act must: 1) mail every active registered voter a ballot; 2) expand in-person early voting; and 3) allow voters to cast a ballot at any vote center within the county. Counties must also conduct robust voter education, engage with community partners, and share their plans for administering elections.
Nevada County's adoption of the Voters Choice Act allows voters to choose how, when, and where to cast their ballot. Voters may cast a ballot at any one of our county’s vote centers, which may open as many as 10 days before an election. Voters are not assigned a single polling location; rather, they may visit any vote center.
To learn more about the Voter’s Choice Act, please click here.
How the Judicial System Works
California Budget Process
The State Constitution requires the Governor to propose a budget in the form of a Budget BIll to each house of the legislature for their approval.
The non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) prepares the “Analysis of the Budget Bill” and publishes it at https://lao.ca.gov/Budget, including an overview of the state’s fiscal picture and it identifies major policy issues confronting the Legislature.
The Governor then submits a revision to the original proposed budget, known as “May Review”, taking into account any changes in General Fund revenues during the previous 6 months.
When the budget is agreed upon by each house, it is sent to the Governor for approval. The Governor is then allowed to apply line-item veto power to reduce or eliminate expenditures or language before approving the budget bill, which places the budget into effect.
For more detail see the Explanation of State Budget Process provided by LWV of California.
Ballot propositions limited to some elections
State ballot initiatives proposed by citizens can appear only in statewide general elections held in November of even-numbered years (e.g., 2026, 2028, 2030) and in statewide special elections if one is called and a qualified initiative meets the deadlines.
Many jurisdictions (cities, counties, school districts, and special districts) allow local ballot propositions to be placed on local primary, general, or special election ballots according to local rules and ordinances.
Campaign Contributions
The most revealing way to find out who is supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot proposition is by tracking who is contributing money to the campaigns. The California Secretary of State provides tracks financial canpaign contributions and makes that information avaialble at Cal-access.sos.ca.gov.
Top-Two Primary
In June 2010, California voters enacted a Primary Election process known as Top-Two Primary for certain offices that includes a single ballot, rather than multiple ballots seperated by political party. In a Top-Two Primary, candidates from all parties who are running for the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House, and statewide offices are listed on all ballots regardless of the political party affiliation of the voter. The candidates who are the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. This makes it possible for two candidates belonging to the same political party to run against each other in the November general election. Primary elections for president and political party officers are not affected by Top-Two process.
Citizens Initiative Ballot Measure Process
The State Constitution allows voters to propose laws and state consitutional amendments through the citizens initiative process. Prior to 2011, citizens initiatives appeared on statewide primary and general election ballots. Since 2011, the state legislature enacted a law limiting citizen initiatives to appear only on general election ballots.
More details on the process and laws governing the initiative process are here.
How to Evaluate a Ballot Proposition
To determine if the ballot measure is proposing changes that you believe will make things better or will cause more problems than it will resolve, you can ask youself these questions:
- Who supports and opposes the measure? This is best determined by checking who is donating money to support and oppose it at Cal-access.sos.ca.gov.
- Is the measure written clearly? If it creates conflicts in law or is ambiguous, it will require court resolution to uphold it and interpret it.
- Does the measure create its own revenue source or does it earmark, restrict or obligate government revenues? Weigh the benefit of securing funding for the measure’s program against the cost of reducing overall flexibility in the budget.
- Does the measure mandate a government program or service without addressing how it will be funded?
- Does the measure deal with one issue that can be easily decided by a YES or NO vote or is it a complex issue that should be thoroughly examined in the legislative arena?
- If the measure amends the Constitution, does it really belong in the Constitution or would a statute accomplish the same purpose? All constitutional amendments require voter approval. The content of the Constitution can only be changed with voter approval.
- Be wary of any paid advertising, social media or other source that is more emotional than factual.
