A modest proposal for a Constitutional amendment
I actually created most of a website (locally) to pursue this, but I'm not sure the obstacles are surmountable. Anyway, comments?
I call it the "Accountable and Relevant" amendment:
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Before any bill, rule, or order applies to citizens of the United States, it must first be read, in its final form and in its entirety, before both chambers of Congress. Any member who is not present and attentive for the entire reading shall be ineligible to vote for that bill.
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Each chamber of Congress must pass the bill, as read, by a majority vote. Any bill that does not pay for itself, via increased revenue or decreased spending, on an annual basis, shall require a 2/3 majority vote.
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All laws shall expire 10 years after signed into law by the president, and, if they are to remain in force after that, must be passed again according to the rules of this amendment. Any law that was passed more than 10 years prior to this amendment being enacted shall expire on the next 10 year anniversary of that law's original enactment.
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No executive, department, committee, or division of the federal government shall pass a law, except by the means specified above. If Congress delegates the act of writing a law or creating rules to some other body, such law or rule shall not be considered the law of the land until it passes according to the rules of this amendment.
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Congress shall pass no law that applies to citizens that does not apply equally to members of Congress. Congress shall pass no law that applies to Congress that does not apply equally to citizens.
Posted Nov 4, 2010, 1:25 AM UTC