1.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
2.
California
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California is the most populous state in the United States and the third most extensive by area. Located on the western coast of the U. S, California is bordered by the other U. S. states of Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona and shares an international border with the Mexican state of Baja California. Los Angeles is Californias most populous city, and the second largest after New York City. The Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nations second- and fifth-most populous urban regions, California also has the nations most populous county, Los Angeles County, and its largest county by area, San Bernardino County. The Central Valley, an agricultural area, dominates the states center. What is now California was first settled by various Native American tribes before being explored by a number of European expeditions during the 16th and 17th centuries, the Spanish Empire then claimed it as part of Alta California in their New Spain colony. The area became a part of Mexico in 1821 following its war for independence. The western portion of Alta California then was organized as the State of California, the California Gold Rush starting in 1848 led to dramatic social and demographic changes, with large-scale emigration from the east and abroad with an accompanying economic boom. If it were a country, California would be the 6th largest economy in the world, fifty-eight percent of the states economy is centered on finance, government, real estate services, technology, and professional, scientific and technical business services. Although it accounts for only 1.5 percent of the states economy, the story of Calafia is recorded in a 1510 work The Adventures of Esplandián, written as a sequel to Amadis de Gaula by Spanish adventure writer Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo. The kingdom of Queen Calafia, according to Montalvo, was said to be a land inhabited by griffins and other strange beasts. This conventional wisdom that California was an island, with maps drawn to reflect this belief, shortened forms of the states name include CA, Cal. Calif. and US-CA. Settled by successive waves of arrivals during the last 10,000 years, various estimates of the native population range from 100,000 to 300,000. The Indigenous peoples of California included more than 70 distinct groups of Native Americans, ranging from large, settled populations living on the coast to groups in the interior. California groups also were diverse in their organization with bands, tribes, villages. Trade, intermarriage and military alliances fostered many social and economic relationships among the diverse groups, the first European effort to explore the coast as far north as the Russian River was a Spanish sailing expedition, led by Portuguese captain Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, in 1542. Some 37 years later English explorer Francis Drake also explored and claimed a portion of the California coast in 1579. Spanish traders made unintended visits with the Manila galleons on their trips from the Philippines beginning in 1565
3.
San Joaquin Valley
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Although a majority of the valley is rural, it does contain urban cities such as Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton, Modesto, Turlock, Porterville, Visalia, Merced, and Hanford. Unlike the Sacramento Valley, the system for which the San Joaquin Valley is named does not extend very far along the valley. Most of the south of Fresno, instead, drains into Tulare Lake. The valleys primary river is the San Joaquin, which drains north through half of the valley into the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. The Kings and Kern Rivers are in the endorheic basin of the valley. The San Joaquin Valley began to form about 66 million years ago during the early Paleocene era, broad fluctuations in the sea level caused various areas of the valley to be flooded with ocean water for the next 60 million years. About 5 million years ago, the outlets began to close due to uplift of the coastal ranges. Starting 2 million years ago, a series of glacial episodes periodically caused much of the valley to become a fresh water lake, Lake Corcoran was the last widespread lake to fill the valley about 700,000 years ago. At the beginning of the Holocene there were three major lakes remaining in the part of the Valley, Tulare Lake, Buena Vista Lake. In the late 19th and in the 20th century, agricultural diversion of the Kern River eventually dried out these lakes and its rainy season normally runs from November through April, but since 2011 when a drought became evident it generally received minimal to no rain at all. The drought was still extant by mid-August 2014 with scientists saying it would continue indefinitely. Research from NASA shows that parts of the San Joaquin Valley sank as much as 8 inches in a four-month period, the sinking has destroyed thousands of groundwater well casings and has the potential to damage aqueducts, roads, bridges, and flood-control structures. In the long term, the caused by extracting groundwater could irreversibly reduce the underground aquifers water storage capacity. The National Weather Service Forecast Office for the San Joaquin Valley is located in Hanford, Weather forecasts and climatological information for the San Joaquin Valley are available from its official website. The total population of the eight counties comprising the San Joaquin Valley at the time of the 2010 U. S. Census was 3,971,659. Grapes—table, raisin, and to a lesser extent wine—are perhaps the valleys highest-profile product, but equally important are cotton, nuts, citrus, and vegetables. Though it has been called The food basket of the World, walnuts, oranges, peaches, garlic, tangerines, tomatoes, kiwis, hay, alfalfa and numerous other crops have been harvested with great success. DeRuosi Nut, a large processing plant in Escalon, has been in the valley since 1947
4.
California Democratic Party
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The California Democratic Party is the state branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of California. Headquartered in Sacramento, it is chaired by veteran Democratic politician and former United States Representative John L. Burton and it is the majority party in both chambers of the California State Legislature, i. e. the State Assembly and the Senate. In regards to businesses and economics, the California Democratic party takes a stance that protects consumers, small businesses, unions, the platform also makes a point to champion the economic reforms of President Barack Obama. The 2012 platform addresses the issues of family in several sections, the platform promises to protect seniors, children and all types of families with fair economic and social policies. These policies range from continuing Medicare for the elderly and keeping playgrounds safe for children, the platform also highlights the right of a woman to make choices for her own body and claims that healthcare is a natural right of all people. The California democrats further promise to protect the dignity of disabled citizens, the platform is dedicated to advocating for the rights of women through equal pay and affirmative action. The party prioritizes the creation of a sustainable and earth-friendly state, focus is placed on the development of alternative forms of energy and how energy is consumed. In addition, the stresses that green jobs are a solution to economic. Finally, the platform takes stances on open internet use, immigration, the Democrats of California support the right of the people to express their thoughts and ideas through any media, and their right to assemble. The party believes that laws should be fair and that immigrants should not be discriminated against. The party wishes to bring education to the forefront, aiming to turn California into a state for academic achievement. A Detailed description of the California Democratic Partys position on all of the issues can be found in their 2012 Platform document. The California Democratic Party passes multiple resolutions every year as a way of expressing their opinion to lawmakers statewide, while the partys resolutions have no legal force themselves, they are official documents that elected representatives should take into account when making decisions. A few recent resolutions are summarised below,2012 Buy American This resolution, written 18 November 2012, encourages all arms of government to favor American suppliers of goods and services. The above are three of a long list of Resolutions passed by the California Democratic Party in 2012 and in preceding years. The history of the Democratic Party of California is complex and long, the State has traded hands every few cycles since its admission into the union in 1850. At that time, the state was firmly in the hands of the Democratic Party, until the early 1880s after the Republican Party abolished slavery, the Republicans held the state through the power and influence of railroad men. The Democratic Party responded by taking an anti-corporate, anti freedom of attainment position, in 1894, Democrat James Budd was elected to the governorship, and the Democratic Party attempted to make good on their promises to reform the booming railroad industry
5.
Kristin Olsen
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While Supervisor-elect, she was elected Vice Chair of the California Republican Party and holds that party office together with her county office. From 2010 to 2016 she served in the California State Assembly representing the 12th district, prior to being elected to the state assembly, she was a member of the Modesto City Council. Olsen was elected to the Modesto City Council in 2005, while on the City Council, Olsen served as a member of the Safety & Communities Committee and as Vice Chair of the Finance Committee. Prior to this Olsen served as Vice Chair of the Finance Committee and was a member of the Safety & Communities Committee, furthermore, Olsen has served on the Modesto Citizens Housing and Community Development Committee, as well as on the Modesto City Planning Commission. Olsen was elected to the California State Assembly in 2010 and she received the plurality of votes in the June Republican primary contested by six candidates. In the November 2010 General Election, Olsen received 100% of the vote for the 25th district, the move was perceived to be a retaliation by Conway in response to Olsen be touted as a potential successor for the Minority Leader position. Portantino had alleged that Speaker Perez reduced the budget for Portantinos office in retaliation for his no vote on the 2011-12 State budget. Olsen was one of the first Republican members that responded by releasing their office spending in defense of the principal of government transparency, Olsen was named a 2014 Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow. Olsen was the Vice Chair of both the Education and Agriculture Committees and she is also a member of the Insurance, Higher Education and Accountability and Administrative Review Committees. Teachers who violated the ban could face prosecution for a felony, the bill was in response to a Modesto high school teacher who left his wife and children for one of his students following her 18th birthday. While the proposed bill received an amount of media coverage. This process has been utilized to pass bills with wide ranging, Assembly Democrats defeated the bill in the Elections Committee hearing on a 2-2 vote with 2 committee members abstaining
6.
California State Assembly
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The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. It consists of 80 members, with each member representing at least 465,000 people, members of the assembly are generally referred to using the titles assemblyman, assemblywoman, or assemblymember. The State Assembly convenes at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, in the current session, the Democrats control 55 seats, forming a supermajority of the chamber. The Speaker presides over the State Assembly in the leadership position, controlling the flow of legislation. The Speaker is elected by the majority party caucus, followed by confirmation of the full assembly, other leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses according to each partys strength in the chamber. The current Speaker is Democrat Anthony Rendon, the majority leader is Democrat Ian Calderon, while the minority leader is Republican Chad Mayes. The chambers green tones are based on the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, the dais rests along a wall shaped like an E, with its central projection housing the rostrum. Along the cornice appears a portrait of Abraham Lincoln and a Latin quotation, almost every decorating element is identical to the Senate Chamber. According to Article 4, Section 2 of the California Constitution, the Chief Clerk, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and the Chaplain are not members of the Legislature. The Sergeant-at-Arms protects the members of the California State Assembly and this position has existed since December 15,1849, when Samuel N. Houston became the Assemblys first Sergeant-at-Arms. The Chief Clerk, the acting Chief Sergeant-at-Arms, and the Chaplains are not members of the Legislature
7.
Anthony Rendon (politician)
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Anthony Rendon is an American politician currently serving as the Speaker of the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat representing the 63rd Assembly District in southeastern Los Angeles County, Rendon was born on March 4,1968 in Silver Lake, a neighborhood in central Los Angeles. His grandparents immigrated from Mexico to the United States during the 1920s and he grew up in a lower-middle-class family that frequently moved around the Los Angeles area. His father, Tom Rendon, worked multiple jobs, including for a home company. Rendon attended California High School, Whittier, graduating in 1986 and he has stated that he was a terrible student who benefited from social safety net programs like affirmative action and food stamps. After receiving a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship, Rendon earned his Ph. D. in political science from the University of California, Riverside and he completed post-doctoral work at Boston University. He was also the executive director of the California League of Conservation Voters. He worked with the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation in early education efforts. From 2001 to 2008, he was a professor in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice at California State University. In 2013, Rendon authored Assembly Bill 711, a ban on lead hunting ammunition. In 2015, Rendon was named chair of the Assembly Committee on Utilities, on September 3,2015, Rendon was selected to be the next Assembly Speaker. The formal vote electing Mr. Rendon as Speaker occurred on January 11, the vote was unanimous, with the Republican leader seconding the motion. Rendon has stated his intention to bring back the tradition of past California Assembly Speakers of carrying no legislation himself, in December 2014, Rendon married Annie Lam in a ceremony officiated by former California State Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez
8.
Kevin Mullin
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Kevin Mullin is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat representing the 22nd Assembly District, which encompasses most of the San Francisco Peninsula region, Mullin is currently serving as the Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore. Prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2012, he was a Mayor, additionally, Mullin completed an executive leadership program at Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government. Prior to service as an official, Mullin was a local business owner, district director to then-Senator Jackie Speier. He previously served as director for then-State Senator Jackie Speier. As an entrepreneur, Mullin created KM2 Communications—a multimedia production business in South San Francisco and he produced public affairs programming seen on local television and hosted various programs seen on Peninsula-TV Channel 26. Mullin was elected to the South San Francisco City Council in 2007, in 2011, he served as mayor. Mullin also represented the cities of San Mateo County on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, during his first term as Assembly member, Mullin served as Assistant Speaker pro Tempore. On December 1,2014, he was sworn in as Speaker pro-Tempore, in this role, he has presided regularly over Assembly floor sessions and continued as part of Speaker Toni G. Atkins leadership team. His legislative priorities will be to focus on a budget with a healthy rainy day fund, election reform, clean energy. Mullin lives in South San Francisco with his wife, Jessica Stanfill Mullin and he is the son of former Assemblymember Gene Mullin
9.
Ian Calderon
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Ian Charles Calderon is an American politician serving in the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat representing the 57th Assembly District, which encompasses the Gateway Cities and he is currently serving as the Assembly Majority Leader and is the youngest Majority Leader in the history of the State of California. He was also the first millennial ever elected to the California State Legislature, Calderon is a member of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, the founder of the California Millennial Caucus and the co-founder of the California Technology and Innovation Caucus. Prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2012, he was a surfing champion and he is the son of former Assemblymember and State Senator Charles Calderon Official website Campaign website
10.
Brian Dahle
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Brian Dahle is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. He is a Republican representing the 1st district, encompassing the Shasta Cascade region, prior to being elected to the state assembly, he was a Lassen County supervisor for 12 years. In the 2016 California Primary Election, Brian Dahle Won The State Assembly reelection, district 1 Assemblyman Brian Dahle is a third-generation farmer, business owner, and four term Lassen County Supervisor. Brians family history back to the original homestead farm in the 1930s in the Tule Lake area of Siskiyou County. The present Lassen County farm was purchased in the 1940s by Brians grandparents and has remained in the family since that time, when his parents retired, Brian and his wife Megan purchased the farm, which now operates over 2,000 acres. In addition, Brian and Megan Dahle operate and manage Big Valley Seed, elected to the Lassen County Board of Supervisors in 1996, Brian has helped ensure that budget is balanced and that County is completely debt free. Lassen is one of just a handful of Counties without any debt, Brian has taken a leadership role in helping strengthen rural counties. He is the past Chair and current board member for the Regional Council of Rural Counties, where he has been a leading defender of the North States private property and water rights
