Recently in Explainer
Election Law:
Here we go again. Yet another tale of the legal challenges that frequently follow the passage of ballot initiatives in California.
Ballot Measures:
Roughly $6 billion were spent in the 2012 election season on political campaigns, with much of that money coming from corporations, labor unions and special interest groups. Proposition C would instruct L.A.'s Washington contingent to support any legislation that would limit spending in political races by the aforementioned groups.
Explainer:
The May election will not be the end of the story. The city is facing dozens of lawsuits, suits which are likely to continue. And all of this wrangling occurs against the backdrop of a stark contrast between state and federal laws.
Ballot Measures:
Photo: Dank Depot/Filckr/Creative Commons License After two voter-led medical marijuana initiatives made their way onto Los Angeles' May 21 ballot, the City Council was determined to act. Proposition D is the Los Angeles City Council's response to these two initiatives...
Ballot Measures:
Photo: City of West Hollywood/Filckr/Creative Commons License Originally supported by the Committee to Protect Patients and Neighborhoods and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union, Ordinance E is now the odd man out in this three-pronged medical marijuana debate....
Ballot Measures:
Photo: eggrole/Filckr/Creative Commons License There are an estimated 1,700-1,800 medical marijuana dispensaries currently operating in Los Angeles. However, if the city of Los Angeles and the City Council had their way, they'd like to limit that number to 135. Therein...
Commentary:
Their steadfast support for and financial backing generated a tectonic shift in the state's political landscape -- in a way that didn't help them.
Voting:
A writer-director and voiceover artist who became obsessed with answering that question is now making a documentary about it.
Ballot Measures:
Whether to vote on Proposition 30 or Proposition 38 is a big question for lots of voters in California. Here's what the experts think.
Prop 31:
As moderator Val Zavala says, Prop 31 has not received much attention, thanks to its complicated and policy wonkish nature.
Prop 39:
What is a multi-state corporation? How do they currently pay taxes and how would Prop 39 change that? And what exactly are the costs and benefits of voting either way on this fiscal changing proposition.
Ballot Measures:
There's an argument that holds you should vote for both. Maybe you should, maybe you shouldn't -- but here's what happens if you do.
Election Law:
The county-to-county hopscotch of the Prop 29 recount may seem baffling if you don't know the rules. Here's how the game is played in California.
Election Law:
The answer predates the Civil War and involves farmers, horses, and buggies -- not really issues voters would face today.
Voting:
It's tough to predict what the turnout will be on June 5, but here's a look at the historical trends. It's not the prettiest side of California.
Campaign Finance:
Understand the common tactics -- and the arcane way political committees get named -- and you can get a lot more out of those ballot measure ads.
Election Law:
Gone are the days of party nominees, at least for state and Congressional reps. Now all voters decide who goes to the general election.
Judicial Branch:
California employs a sort of hybrid system of selecting its judges, with some appointed and some elected. Here's a guide to help you understand how it works.
Campaign Finance:
Every time you file your tax return, Uncle Sam asks the question. So what happens to all that money when you check the box?
Ballot Measures:
Californians create new laws by voter petition more than almost any other state. Here are some things we ought to know about the system.
Follow the money behind the candidates in the March 5, 2013 and May 21, 2013 Los Angeles and LAUSD elections.
Track the money
Track the money
