P.33

For your consideration ---

an Amendment to the US Constitution creating Direct Democracy

There are two approaches to the constitution that can produce the goal of a direct democracy. The first is to write up a completely new constitution. The second is to create simple amendments to the present document. The replacement constitution is a better idea because it can be more thorough and avoid certain problems in the current one. But the amendment idea has the advantage of immediate action and a shorter time frame. And in the long run we can always change things because a constitution should always be an evolving codex and a current record of our understanding of what democracy is. You must decide for yourself which is the best path.

In any case, for fun and a thought experiment here is a suggested amendment to create a direct democracy:

“1] Representatives shall in consultation with the Citizens develop legislation. Legislators shall rely on experts and ordinary citizens to produce alternative legislation, legislators will present these to all citizens for voting. Legislation will develop through a process of identifying general directions and then resolving specific issues. Senate and House will make sure to not create legislation that is essentially duplicate causing a burden on the voters.

2] After popular voting for alternative legislation, final and finished legislation will be presented to the legislator whereupon the legislator will present and vote for this exact legislation without changes, replacements, riders, conditions, redirection, delays, censures, deletions, terminations or any such thing. Only through consultation and through popular voting can finished legislation be revised or eliminated or replaced. After legislation becomes law it must checked periodically for effectiveness, errors or original purpose, if legislation is deficient, new legislation can be created.

3] Citizens may vote to delegate the task of developing particular legislation to a Legislator, but this is only by popular vote and on a specific basis. Tasks can be removed from a Legislator by popular vote.

4] Compensation to legislators is that specified by law. Other monies and gifts, promises, advantages, favors, trades, increases in status, nepotism and any other such things, whether material or non-material, whether in the past or present of the legislator’s term or in the future after the legislator's term shall be in violation of the law and punishable.

5] Legislators are subject to quick recall election if performance so requires.”

Cage Innoye

Axxiad News