POLS 112: American and California Government

Professor Allen Settle

This course is a survey of concepts and applications of political, legal, economic, social media, and administrative events that are a major part of American government.  This course explores the consequences of the January 6th insurrection, the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision that overruled Roe v. Wade, Congress questioning raising the national debt (the 14th Amendment Section 4 forbids Congress questioning the need to increase the debt to retain government stability), the war in Ukraine and NATO, the issues of migration to people from other South American countries wanting to enter the U.S., the legal status of political asylum,  what to expect and if states can use the “independent state legislature” theory to reverse popular votes in states that also prohibit the courts to participate. in the 2024 Presidential election. (Case of Moore v Harper 2023). Public policy issues such as the credit crisis, real estate foreclosures, Wall Street banking and debt issues by the Treasury department and Federal Reserve will be covered. In addition, the issue of concentration of wealth (income inequality) in the top 1% and concepts such as the “Iron Law of Oligarchy.” will be examined.