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How does partisan information affect individual voting behavior in nonpartisan elections? Using data from a 1982 California Poll survey on state supreme court confirmation elections we demonstrate that nonpartisan elections are easily turned into partisan contests in the minds of voters. Partisan information increases the probability of an individual holding an opinion on the elections, and results in votes which are based on the respondent's partisan identification and opinion of the governor who appointed the justice. The implications of these results for nonpartisan elections in general and merit retention contests in particular are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argues that the process of legislative institutionalization is driven by the membership's career goals and that more discretionary and particularistic methods better serve the career needs of the California Assembly membership. Implications for the utility of the concept of institutionalization; Professionalization and institutionalization; Professionalization of the California Assembly; Institutionalization and structural environment; The assembly and institutionalization.