To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
People's Bill of Rights to make Congress effective
The United States Congress has become the most ineffective and least popular public organization in the American political system. Compromise and cooperation has given way to partisanship, divineness, gridlock, greed, and undue influence from corporations and wealthy donors. As a result, a June 2013 Gallop survey nearly 8 in 10 Americans disapprove the way Congress is handling its job, and 9 in 10 have no confidence in Congress.
We Americans say enough is enough! We support amending the constitution to add the following PEOPLE’S BILL OF RIGHTS to restore responsible government and to make Congress effective again:
1. Congressional members will not receive any compensation for year if a budget is not signed into law by the beginning of the fiscal year and the budget deficit for the preceding fiscal year exceeded 2% of GDP. Moreover Congressional pay will increase at the same annual rate as Social Security increases.
2. All contracts, agreements and obligations with past or present Congressional members are void effective January 1, 2014. The American people did not make these contracts with Congressional members. Rather these members voted for these perks for themselves. All compensation and benefits for serving in Congress end when you leave Congress.
3. All past, present and future members of Congress are subject to all laws, regulations and programs that apply to the general public, and they are prohibited from enacting any legislation that provides any special health care plans, benefits, retirement plans, exemptions or privileges beyond what applies to all other Americans. As well all existing programs, benefits, compensation, or retirement plans that do not meet this requirement are immediately declared null, void and unconstitutional.
4. Congressional primary elections will be open to all voters regardless of political affiliation, and the top 2 vote earners will move on to the general election.
5. Each member of Congress shall serve for a maximum of 2 terms in each chamber of Congress, or for 12 years, whichever is shorter. This shall become effective immediately and all historical time spent in Congress is counted towards this limit.
6. America is a republic, and the cornerstone of a republic is the ability to vote. Any American citizen that registered to vote and presents a driver’s license, voter ID card, student identification card, letter, utility bill, or other piece of evidence that shows their name and address will be allowed to vote and that vote must be counted. States may not enact any additional restrictions and requirements that in any way restrict or limit voting, including limiting or restricting voter registration, and they must issue voter ID cards for free.
7. States must provide early voting by mail or online to all voters in its state, and these ballots must be sent out at least a month in advance of the election. In addition States must provide geographically dispersed opportunities for all citizens to vote in person for at least two weeks prior to the general election, with polls open for at least four weekend days and during 6-9 PM during the two week period.
8. To prevent political district gerrymandering, all political districts shall be created in such a manner so that they are comprised of only entire counties and no more than 1 partial county in the district, and all counties must be adjoining. Furthermore, no more than 1 congressional district in a county can extend into a neighboring county.
9. Any organization, entity, corporation or other group whose primary purpose is to influence politicians or raise awareness about political issues to Americans that are being considered by or being voted on by Congress is ineligible to qualify for any local, state or federal sales, property or income tax exemptions or preferential benefits not available to all other entities, corporations, or groups. Moreover donations, contributions, or other payments made to these groups may not be taken as a tax deduction.
10. The historical practice of requiring a super majority to pass a bill in the Senate is hereby ended, and all bills will pass on a simple majority vote.
We Americans say enough is enough! We support amending the constitution to add the following PEOPLE’S BILL OF RIGHTS to restore responsible government and to make Congress effective again:
1. Congressional members will not receive any compensation for year if a budget is not signed into law by the beginning of the fiscal year and the budget deficit for the preceding fiscal year exceeded 2% of GDP. Moreover Congressional pay will increase at the same annual rate as Social Security increases.
2. All contracts, agreements and obligations with past or present Congressional members are void effective January 1, 2014. The American people did not make these contracts with Congressional members. Rather these members voted for these perks for themselves. All compensation and benefits for serving in Congress end when you leave Congress.
3. All past, present and future members of Congress are subject to all laws, regulations and programs that apply to the general public, and they are prohibited from enacting any legislation that provides any special health care plans, benefits, retirement plans, exemptions or privileges beyond what applies to all other Americans. As well all existing programs, benefits, compensation, or retirement plans that do not meet this requirement are immediately declared null, void and unconstitutional.
4. Congressional primary elections will be open to all voters regardless of political affiliation, and the top 2 vote earners will move on to the general election.
5. Each member of Congress shall serve for a maximum of 2 terms in each chamber of Congress, or for 12 years, whichever is shorter. This shall become effective immediately and all historical time spent in Congress is counted towards this limit.
6. America is a republic, and the cornerstone of a republic is the ability to vote. Any American citizen that registered to vote and presents a driver’s license, voter ID card, student identification card, letter, utility bill, or other piece of evidence that shows their name and address will be allowed to vote and that vote must be counted. States may not enact any additional restrictions and requirements that in any way restrict or limit voting, including limiting or restricting voter registration, and they must issue voter ID cards for free.
7. States must provide early voting by mail or online to all voters in its state, and these ballots must be sent out at least a month in advance of the election. In addition States must provide geographically dispersed opportunities for all citizens to vote in person for at least two weeks prior to the general election, with polls open for at least four weekend days and during 6-9 PM during the two week period.
8. To prevent political district gerrymandering, all political districts shall be created in such a manner so that they are comprised of only entire counties and no more than 1 partial county in the district, and all counties must be adjoining. Furthermore, no more than 1 congressional district in a county can extend into a neighboring county.
9. Any organization, entity, corporation or other group whose primary purpose is to influence politicians or raise awareness about political issues to Americans that are being considered by or being voted on by Congress is ineligible to qualify for any local, state or federal sales, property or income tax exemptions or preferential benefits not available to all other entities, corporations, or groups. Moreover donations, contributions, or other payments made to these groups may not be taken as a tax deduction.
10. The historical practice of requiring a super majority to pass a bill in the Senate is hereby ended, and all bills will pass on a simple majority vote.
Why is this important?
We need to pass the People's Bill of Rights to change how Congress works to eliminating the gridlock and partisanship and have them solve our the people's issues rather than just catering to special interests.