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If I have come to release anything from the past few months, its that Obama was right. We do need change. Big change in fact. But that's the extent to which I am willing to agree with him. Its come to my attention that the America I believed in and fought for exist now in spirit only. We are a Republic founded on the basis that the government exists only to serve the people, and yet so many voice fell on deaf ears. With over 400 representatives in the House, and 100 senators, these people had no voice. The Electors sworn to uphold the constitution turned there backs on them. The Judicial system refused to hear them. And their representatives did not represent them. So I've been thinking more and more these passed couple weeks that we do need change. I think that its time we take another step towards that unattainable. I'm sure everyone here has heard of the constitution referred to as a 'living document' before. Our founding fathers new at the time of drafting it that it was fare from perfect. In fact the bill of rates was not even added to the constitution until 4 years after it was ratified. They did what the believed was the best they could do at the time. The fairest and most practical government they could form and keep the States together.
A lot of things have changed since then. I'd like to think that if they believed it practical at the time they would have added to the constitution stipulations allowing the citizenry of the United States some weight on the government other than simply writing to there Representative. Surly they never imagined such a large number of Americans would ever be ignored by the people elected to represent them. Then again when the constitution was signed the US had a population of not much more than 4 million people.
Anyway, its obvious to me now how little actual power the citizenry of the United States has. Being exactly none. Once to pick your representative, baring them being caught red handed doing something VERY illegal(and even sometimes then) there is nothing the people can do. I think its time that changed. Our government is based on checks and balances and the ultimate responsibility to answer to the people of the United States. Unfortunately there is no check or balance that stems FROM the citizens, and therefor no assurance that the government WILL answer to the people. Some power must be held by the citizenry itself, not a lot, but definitely some. So here's my solution, fare from perfect, just like the founding fathers.
Amendment 28 – The Electoral Branch (Christopher Morehouse, Brockport NY)
The United States of America having been founded in the spirit of Democracy and the ambition to continually form a more perfect union does now establish the Electoral Branch as the forth branch of federal government. The Electoral Branch shall be comprised of two bodies, the Electorate, and the Electoral Assembly.
Section 1 - The Electorate
All citizens of the United States of America whom are eligible to vote under the laws of this constitution and express a desire to do so compose the Electorate.
Members of the Electorate shall have the right to vote on all issues posed to the Electoral Assembly baring only those specific to any one State.
Members of the Electorate shall have the right to pose issues of concern for vote to the Electoral Assembly.
All members on the Electorate shall be provided a record of all ballots they have cast.
All members of the Electorate shall have the right to recast their vote on any issue of action or election so long as the poles for the before mentioned vote are open and they declare their intent to recast.
Section 2 – The Electoral Assembly
The Electoral Assembly shall be comprised of one member from each State chosen every forth year by the laws their State.
The Assemblyman before mentioned shall be bond by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution.
The Electoral Assembly shall choose its own President to rule over meetings and actions of the Assembly.
The Electoral Assembly shall meet no less than twice a year, and as often as is deemed necessary by the Assembly or by the President of the United States.
The Electoral Assembly, with any officers and aids that are deemed necessary, shall preside over all elections pertaining to the Federal Government of the United States baring only those of the members to the Electoral Assembly itself. The Assembly shall insure all Federal elections are conducted in a Uniform manor throughout each State.
The Electoral Assembly, with any officers and aids that are deemed necessary, shall preside over issues of action voted on by the Electorate.
The Electoral Assembly member of each state shall be responsible for the organization of all Congressional districts.
The Electoral Assembly shall be responsible for confirming the eligibility of any person whom seeks to run for federal office.
The President of the Electoral Assembly shall have the responsibility of calling Congress to session, or serving notice to the President of the United States should a Vote by the Electorate require action on their behalf.
Section 3 – Issues of Action
The Electorate shall have the power to Veto any legislation passed by Congress with a vote of 1/2 the registered Electorate or 3/5ths of all votes cast.
The Electorate shall have the power to repeal any legislation or executive order signed by the President of the United States with a vote of 1/2 the registered Electorate or 3/5ths the vote.
The Electorate shall have the power to force on the Supreme Court any case proposed to it with a vote from the Electorate equal to the number of citizens in the 3 least populated congressional districts.
The Electorate shall have the power to remove the President of the United States with a vote of 4/5ths of the registered Electorate.
The Electorate shall have the power to remove a Justice of the Supreme Court with a vote of 4/5ths of the registered Electorate
The Electorate shall have the power to withdraw from any Treaty in which the United States has entered in with a vote of 4/5ths of the registered Electorate.
The Electorate shall have the power to force a vote on Congress for any bill proposed to Congress, without alteration, with a vote of 1/5th of the Electorate.
The Electorate shall have the power to force Congress to pass a bill on to the President of the United States, without alteration, with a vote of 1/2 of the registered Electorate.
The Electorate shall have the power to override a veto by the President of the United States with a vote of 1/2 the registered Electorate.
The Members of the Electorate from each state shall have the power to remove their elected representatives to congress from office with a vote of 4/5ths of the registered Electorate of their State, or Congressional District.
The Electorate and only the Electorate shall have the power to approve an increase of compensation for elected officials of the Federal Government the amount of which to be proposed by Congress.
The Electorate and only the Electorate shall have the power to approve Amendments to this constitution.
Section 4 – Elections and Voting
A) Universal Criteria
All Federal Elections shall be open to any individual whom meets the Constitutional requirements of the office sought.
The Assembly shall issue no Ballot which favors one candidate over another.
The Assembly shall provide for each election a directory of every candidate that has served to them notice of their desire to run.
No Election for Federal Office shall have polls open for less than 36 hours spanning no less than 3 days.
B) Election of the Executive
No Candidate for President of the United States shall be awarded the office, who has not received more than 3/5ths the votes from the Electorate or failing that meet 2 of the fallowing conditions;
1. The greatest number of votes from the Electorate
2. The greatest number of States of which they received the greatest number of votes.
3. The greatest number of Congressional Districts of which they received the greatest number of votes.
Should there be no clear victor candidates may support any other candidate, in which case all votes for the supporter shall be counted as votes for the supported.
Should the Electoral Assembly not be able to declare a victor by these criteria within 14 days of the close of the election they shall have the power to recast the ballot or call for the House of Representatives to choose from the top 3 candidates decided upon by the Assembly.
C) Election of the Legislative
All elections for the Senate and The House of Representative in Congress shall be decided by popular vote within their specific jurisdiction.
D) Tampering and Fraud
In addition to those crimes described in Article 3 section 3 of this Constitution;
The act of knowingly defrauding the Electoral Assembly for the purpose of attaining, or helping another attain, an office of the Federal Government,
Unlawfully voting as a member of the Electorate,
Tampering with, destroying, or altering records of any vote of the Electorate
Taking any other action with the intent of undermining the legitimacy of a vote of the Electorate,
shall be considered Treason against the United States of America.
A lot of things have changed since then. I'd like to think that if they believed it practical at the time they would have added to the constitution stipulations allowing the citizenry of the United States some weight on the government other than simply writing to there Representative. Surly they never imagined such a large number of Americans would ever be ignored by the people elected to represent them. Then again when the constitution was signed the US had a population of not much more than 4 million people.
Anyway, its obvious to me now how little actual power the citizenry of the United States has. Being exactly none. Once to pick your representative, baring them being caught red handed doing something VERY illegal(and even sometimes then) there is nothing the people can do. I think its time that changed. Our government is based on checks and balances and the ultimate responsibility to answer to the people of the United States. Unfortunately there is no check or balance that stems FROM the citizens, and therefor no assurance that the government WILL answer to the people. Some power must be held by the citizenry itself, not a lot, but definitely some. So here's my solution, fare from perfect, just like the founding fathers.
Amendment 28 – The Electoral Branch (Christopher Morehouse, Brockport NY)
The United States of America having been founded in the spirit of Democracy and the ambition to continually form a more perfect union does now establish the Electoral Branch as the forth branch of federal government. The Electoral Branch shall be comprised of two bodies, the Electorate, and the Electoral Assembly.
Section 1 - The Electorate
All citizens of the United States of America whom are eligible to vote under the laws of this constitution and express a desire to do so compose the Electorate.
Members of the Electorate shall have the right to vote on all issues posed to the Electoral Assembly baring only those specific to any one State.
Members of the Electorate shall have the right to pose issues of concern for vote to the Electoral Assembly.
All members on the Electorate shall be provided a record of all ballots they have cast.
All members of the Electorate shall have the right to recast their vote on any issue of action or election so long as the poles for the before mentioned vote are open and they declare their intent to recast.
Section 2 – The Electoral Assembly
The Electoral Assembly shall be comprised of one member from each State chosen every forth year by the laws their State.
The Assemblyman before mentioned shall be bond by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution.
The Electoral Assembly shall choose its own President to rule over meetings and actions of the Assembly.
The Electoral Assembly shall meet no less than twice a year, and as often as is deemed necessary by the Assembly or by the President of the United States.
The Electoral Assembly, with any officers and aids that are deemed necessary, shall preside over all elections pertaining to the Federal Government of the United States baring only those of the members to the Electoral Assembly itself. The Assembly shall insure all Federal elections are conducted in a Uniform manor throughout each State.
The Electoral Assembly, with any officers and aids that are deemed necessary, shall preside over issues of action voted on by the Electorate.
The Electoral Assembly member of each state shall be responsible for the organization of all Congressional districts.
The Electoral Assembly shall be responsible for confirming the eligibility of any person whom seeks to run for federal office.
The President of the Electoral Assembly shall have the responsibility of calling Congress to session, or serving notice to the President of the United States should a Vote by the Electorate require action on their behalf.
Section 3 – Issues of Action
The Electorate shall have the power to Veto any legislation passed by Congress with a vote of 1/2 the registered Electorate or 3/5ths of all votes cast.
The Electorate shall have the power to repeal any legislation or executive order signed by the President of the United States with a vote of 1/2 the registered Electorate or 3/5ths the vote.
The Electorate shall have the power to force on the Supreme Court any case proposed to it with a vote from the Electorate equal to the number of citizens in the 3 least populated congressional districts.
The Electorate shall have the power to remove the President of the United States with a vote of 4/5ths of the registered Electorate.
The Electorate shall have the power to remove a Justice of the Supreme Court with a vote of 4/5ths of the registered Electorate
The Electorate shall have the power to withdraw from any Treaty in which the United States has entered in with a vote of 4/5ths of the registered Electorate.
The Electorate shall have the power to force a vote on Congress for any bill proposed to Congress, without alteration, with a vote of 1/5th of the Electorate.
The Electorate shall have the power to force Congress to pass a bill on to the President of the United States, without alteration, with a vote of 1/2 of the registered Electorate.
The Electorate shall have the power to override a veto by the President of the United States with a vote of 1/2 the registered Electorate.
The Members of the Electorate from each state shall have the power to remove their elected representatives to congress from office with a vote of 4/5ths of the registered Electorate of their State, or Congressional District.
The Electorate and only the Electorate shall have the power to approve an increase of compensation for elected officials of the Federal Government the amount of which to be proposed by Congress.
The Electorate and only the Electorate shall have the power to approve Amendments to this constitution.
Section 4 – Elections and Voting
A) Universal Criteria
All Federal Elections shall be open to any individual whom meets the Constitutional requirements of the office sought.
The Assembly shall issue no Ballot which favors one candidate over another.
The Assembly shall provide for each election a directory of every candidate that has served to them notice of their desire to run.
No Election for Federal Office shall have polls open for less than 36 hours spanning no less than 3 days.
B) Election of the Executive
No Candidate for President of the United States shall be awarded the office, who has not received more than 3/5ths the votes from the Electorate or failing that meet 2 of the fallowing conditions;
1. The greatest number of votes from the Electorate
2. The greatest number of States of which they received the greatest number of votes.
3. The greatest number of Congressional Districts of which they received the greatest number of votes.
Should there be no clear victor candidates may support any other candidate, in which case all votes for the supporter shall be counted as votes for the supported.
Should the Electoral Assembly not be able to declare a victor by these criteria within 14 days of the close of the election they shall have the power to recast the ballot or call for the House of Representatives to choose from the top 3 candidates decided upon by the Assembly.
C) Election of the Legislative
All elections for the Senate and The House of Representative in Congress shall be decided by popular vote within their specific jurisdiction.
D) Tampering and Fraud
In addition to those crimes described in Article 3 section 3 of this Constitution;
The act of knowingly defrauding the Electoral Assembly for the purpose of attaining, or helping another attain, an office of the Federal Government,
Unlawfully voting as a member of the Electorate,
Tampering with, destroying, or altering records of any vote of the Electorate
Taking any other action with the intent of undermining the legitimacy of a vote of the Electorate,
shall be considered Treason against the United States of America.
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