Two Big Ideas for Reform in California

California is an ungovernable state. It is plagued by systemic gridlock and paralysis that is built into its governmental institutions. "California does not work because it CANNOT work," said Micah Weinberg in a quote for George Skelton's Los Angeles Times column.

The citizens of California are becoming frustrated and are beginning to call for reform. Two big ideas advanced by the New America Foundation are at the center of the debate: a California constitutional convention and proportional representation for the electoral system.

The call for a California constitutional convention is growing. But how would the delegates be chosen? In this short and informative memo, Steven Hill outlines three possible methods for delegate selection as well as other important details for a constitutional convention.

California is a state of many distinct regions. To give citizens a voice on regional issues and to reinvigorate California's Legislature, Mark Paul and Micah Weinberg propose Personalized Full Representation for the 21st Century (PFR21), a system of representation by means of regionally based legislative elections that will allow the state's citizens to set the agenda for their regions and for the state as a whole.

The Following New America Foundation experts are available to discuss these reform efforts:

• Steven Hill, Director of the Political Reform Program
• Mark Paul, Senior Scholar and Deputy Director of the California Program
• Micah Weinberg, Senior Research Fellow

Please contact Liz Wu with interview requests.