Four (non-consecutive) Mondays: Nov. 3 and 10 and Dec. 1 and 8, 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon
Bethany Congregational Church 556 N. Hope Avenue, Santa Barbara
VISTAS member price: $50; non-member price $75
Presented by: Ray Kwasnick
The struggle for political control of the national government has always been a game. The Constitution and national legislation enacted pursuant to the Constitution set the rules of the game, but the rules are now, and have always been, rigged in favor of political coalitions that control less-populated states and vote-denying and -suppressing states. The structural advantages supporting those favored coalitions include the structure of the Senate, political gerrymandering, the size of the House, voter suppression and denial laws and tactics, and the filibuster. Most people believe that it is impossible to reduce those structural advantages without amending the Constitution. That belief is wrong, as the Constitution permits Congress to eliminate or reduce these advantages by simple legislation. From the beginning there have been three primary areas of contest—the extent of Congressional power over the states, the extent of Congressional power over the Supreme Court, and control of the national government. During this course, we will explore US history and constitutional law with particular focus on the three areas of contest.