What factors complicate lawmaking, and render it a difficult process? What conditions make lawmaking particularly difficult in California?

What will be an ideal response?

Varies. Generally speaking, the bicameral (two-chambered) structure of the legislature reflects the U.S. Founders' desire to build "checks and balances" into the system, so that tyranny of the majority (or a minority) cannot prevail. Two houses share responsibility for considering the same pieces of legislation, and many legislators (120) share responsibility for passing each bill. The governor's participation in the process (signing and vetoing bills) adds another hurdle to the process. The involvement of many entities means that the solutions to a problem will rarely be agreed upon by competing interest groups, stakeholders, and fellow lawmakers, and the legislator's personal decision-making process is further influenced by a host of factors, including ambition, values, and perceptions (such as how important an issue is to powerful groups). Sometimes hard choices must be made between serving one's district or constituents and serving the entire state's citizenry, all of which tend to be "hyperdiverse" in California. Direct democracy also conditions lawmakers' responses to issues (they know that citizens can and do turn to the initiative process to solve problems) and voters can use direct democracy to impose restrictions on legislators, such as requiring certain vote thresholds for passing certain kinds of bills (such as two thirds to raise taxes and fees through Prop 13).