In what ways is California "different" from the rest of the nation? How do these differences give rise to politics that are uniquely challenging or "exceptional"?

What will be an ideal response?

Varies. Chapter 1 outlines some of the economic, geographic, and demographic characteristics that make California unique, each of which has public policy implications. For example, California is the largest state and most diverse population-wise, contains the highest percentage of foreign-born persons, encompasses diverse terrain and landforms (coast, deserts, mountains, etc.) that are affected differently by extreme weather events, has one of the world's largest economies, and is situated on the Pacific Rim and borders Mexico. These features mean that the job of governing California requires significant time and energy, and a full-time government is appropriate to the task. It also means that the state budget will be large because many groups place differing demands on the state. As a gateway for international trade, California is also at the crossroads of immigration (a challenge that is also shared by other Southern border states), and must deal with large numbers of people who are either moving through the state or reside in the state without legal permission. The great expanse of districts (and heavily populated districts) also means that candidates must raise large sums of money to reach voters through paid media, and often in expensive media markets. Note there is no "correct" answer; there are only better argued responses.