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Center for California Studies

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Research & Civic Engagement

The Center is committed to assisting California’s public officials and policymakers in addressing the state’s challenges through policy research and productive dialogue. This includes but is not limited to involvement with a number of one-time programs and projects that advance research and productive dialogue. The Center also co-sponsors various conferences and symposia, political debates, and other public events.

California Journal of Politics and Policy

The California Journal of Politics and Policy (CJPP) is an online journal of original scholarship, focusing on state and local politics, public policy formation and implementation, especially in the Golden State. The Journal is administered by the Center for California Studies at California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State); the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California-Berkeley remains a partner. The CJPP provides timely insights and historical and comparative perspective on a wide range of issues and topics. Professor Edward (Ted) Lascher at Sacramento State serves as the Journal’s editor and Professor Wesley Hussey at Sacramento State serves as its associate editor. Center for Studies Director Leonor Ehling and Judicial Fellowship Director Megan Thorall contribute to Journal administration. The Editorial Board and contributors consist of leading scholars and professional experts.

Current and Back Issues of the California Journal of Politics and Policy

California Journal of Politics and Policy, Volume 16, Issue 1, 2024

For previous versions of the Journal, please click the link.

Faculty Research Fellows Program

The Faculty Research Fellows Program (FRFP) links the policy research resources of the California State University with the policy research needs of the legislative and executive branches of state government.

Since its inception in 1994-95, FRFP has distributed more than $700,000, funding 60 separate research projects completed by more than 70 individual CSU faculty from 13 different CSU campuses.

Recently completed reports:

2023 (October): Racial Disproportionality in California’s Child Welfare System: An Analysis of Blind Removal Meetings by Joycelyn Wormley, DSW, Sacramento State.

Complete list of FRFP Reports

California Elections Data Archive

The California Elections Data Archive (CEDA) is the only statewide database that collects, tabulates and reports candidate and ballot measure results for all local elections.

CEDA reports include all candidates, their ballot designations and vote totals as well as all ballot measures, their ballot summary information and vote totals. Ballot measures are also classified by type and topic.

CEDA is a partnership between the Center, the Institute of Social Research (ISR) at Sacramento State, and the California Secretary of State.

These reports are available through the Secretary of State’s office.

Oral History Program

The California State Government Oral History Program’s (CSGOHP) objective is to provide “through the use of oral history a continuing documentation of state policy development as reflected in California’s legislative and executive history.”

The Center works with the State Archivist to select individuals (usually retired California legislators or executive branch officials) to be interviewed. To date, over 200 oral histories have been completed.

Explore oral histories