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Understanding California Government and Politics (book)
Encyclopedia
USA/From Where We Stand: Readings in Contemporary American Problems is a non-fiction
book published by Fearon Publishers
in 1966.
The book was written by then-Assemblyman for California
's 27th District, Leo J. Ryan
. Ryan later went on to become a United States Representative from California's 11th congressional district
. Ryan was assassinated by members of Peoples Temple
in Guyana
. He was the first and only Congressman to die in the line of duty, and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1983.
The book functions as a guide to California politics and government. Topics discussed include California elections, political parties, State Government including the executive, legislative and judiciary branches, local government, and finances. Information on California's legislative districts, and budget statistics are included in the appendix. Leo Ryan's introduction is a tribute to John F. Kennedy
, the man who inspired Ryan to get into politics.
Ryan stated that the book's purpose was: "..to present our system of government in such a way that you will look upon it as an exciting, challenging, rewarding occupation, worthy of understanding and, perhaps, of your own ambition. Why? Because it is. It was all of that to John F. Kennedy."
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
book published by Fearon Publishers
Fearon Publishers
Fearon Publishers, is a United States publishing company based in Belmont, California. This publishing company mainly deals with parenting and education books....
in 1966.
The book was written by then-Assemblyman for California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's 27th District, Leo J. Ryan
Leo Ryan
Leo Joseph Ryan, Jr. was an American politician of the Democratic Party. He served as a U.S. Representative from California's 11th congressional district from 1973 until he was murdered in Guyana by members of the Peoples Temple shortly before the Jonestown Massacre in 1978.After the Watts Riots...
. Ryan later went on to become a United States Representative from California's 11th congressional district
California's 11th congressional district
California's 11th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. Based in Northern California, it encompasses parts of San Joaquin, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties....
. Ryan was assassinated by members of Peoples Temple
Peoples Temple
Peoples Temple was a religious organization founded in 1955 by Jim Jones that, by the mid-1970s, included over a dozen locations in California including its headquarters in San Francisco...
in Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
. He was the first and only Congressman to die in the line of duty, and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1983.
Premise
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, the man who inspired Ryan to get into politics.
Ryan stated that the book's purpose was: "..to present our system of government in such a way that you will look upon it as an exciting, challenging, rewarding occupation, worthy of understanding and, perhaps, of your own ambition. Why? Because it is. It was all of that to John F. Kennedy."