This PurpleSlog series will suggest 26 amendments, (plus 2 “stretch” amendments). Additionally I will note 9 common amendment ideas that I think should be passed on.
This post: General Purpose Amendments
My Concern/Caveat: The list of amendments comes from years of thinking and note taking. I have documented the source/inspiration of the idea when remember it or have it noted. Some of the ideas where mine and then combined with like proposals. I will add further documentation as I find or as it is brought to my attention.
—
Constitutional Amending Process Amendment
What
Proposal options:
- The first method is for a bill to pass both halves of Congress, by a two-thirds majority in each. Congress will normally put a time limit (typically seven years)
- The second method on application of 50% State Legislatures (having had a majority of each legislative house)
- The third method a Constitutional Convention to be called by two-thirds of the legislatures of the States, and for that Convention to propose one or more amendments tied to explicit single topics/subject/existing-legislation-constitutional issue.
- A President may propose one Amendment per term (a total of one amendment proposed per term by the president and successors – not an acting president though) with a mandatory approval time of 4 years by approval method of three-fourths of state legislatures.
Approval Options
- Approved by three-fourths of state legislatures
- Approved by three-fourths of Special State Approving Conventions (to be elected by the citizens of the state in the first Federal election held no sooner then 90 days and no later then 120 days after the amendment has been approved. The convention is to be called 180 days after being proposed in a manner, time and place by law. The only purpose of the Convention is to approve/disapprove the proposed amendments
Note: Once a state has ratified, it can un-ratify
Note A state that voted to not-ratify, can always vote later to ratify
Why?
Update for the 21st Century
—
Banning Foreign Involvement in the U.S. Political Process Amendment
What
Specifically bar any foreign nationals, groups, organizations and governmental bodies from directly contributing funds to political campaigns and political parties at both national, state, and local levels. It would also bar lobbying Congress and the Executive Branch by these same individuals.
Why
- Public Choice Theory Control
- Removes some 4GW attack vectors
- Cleanup elections
—
Real Campaign Finance Reform Amendment
What
- No public money should be used for campaigns
- Only natural born citizens and legal resident may contribute to political campaigns, but without amount limits
- This would be for both federal and state/local elections
- Transparency in funding required. Congress may enact legislation to enforce this (think instant reporting via web services).
- Funding sources for Election Campaigns must come only from the boundaries of the election (e.g. money for house races only from the district, senate money from the state, presidential from any state or territory)
Why
Real Campaign Finance reform is needed!
—
Citizenship Legacy Rights Amendment
What
Automatic Citizenship only to children of citizens or legal residents
Why
Counter 4gw immigration warfare. Naturalization for these folks is still an option.
—
Not Above the Law Amendment
What
No officer of the government of the United States, or of any of the various States shall be held immune from any generally applicable law. Any law written so as to be generally applicable except to select officers of the Federal or State governments shall be null and void.
Source: Creative Destruction Blog
Update: Here is the original Source
Why
Congress and the executive must be reigned in from Public Choice Theory effects.
—
Voter Consent NOTA Amendment
“None of the above” is an option for General Election ballots at the discretion of the individual states. If NOTA wins the election, the results are void, and new primary/general elections are called for in 30 and 60 days. Nobody who was on the ballot for the general election is eligible for the new primary/general election. NOTA is not an option for the re-run election. NOTA is required for congressional general elections. NOTA is not for presidential elections. The states are empowered to use or not NOTA at their option for any non-presidential, non congressional election.
Why
Public Choice Theory Control on Congress
Filed under: Public Policy, U.S. Constitution |
PurpleSlog - The Future Will Be Kludged 
Ugh. Borked the blockquote. If this works anything like CD, then any further comments will be borked to unless I stick in a couple of unborking /blockquotes.
I update the post with a link to the idea originator.
I am not sure how a penalty like that would work. I’d have to think about it.
I know if I were President, I would veto all legislation passed if it was not clearly constitutional. A president could do this and dare congress to override.
I disagree with “Citizenship Legacy Rights Amendment” for several reasons.
First, philosophically, America’s strength is that its citizens are tied to the land, not blood. “This land is your land, this land is my land” is great because it heralds the melting of all hitherto existing societies, races, etc into one American Race based on one American land.
Additionally, Doing away with the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship to those born on the land risks reintroduction a helot class. (This is exactly the sort of indigenous 4GW force we should avoid creating.)
Dan, you have given me much to think about tonight.
In the end I decided that automatic Citizenship is not a good thing. It gives too much incentive for illegal immigration.
[…] writing this, I realized I had already noted something like this before…with the same Tagline even: Not Above the Law […]