The Congress has grossly exceeded the enumerated powers laid out for it in the US Constitution. Further checks and balances are necessary, therefore, including a more useful way of enforcing limits on Congressional power.
GOALS
- Limit the terms of each incumbent to two terms, while prohibiting consecutive terms.
- Prohibit the running for office while holding office.
- Require that each Member of Congress voting for a bill must certify under threat of impeachment that he or she has READ the bill.
- Allow each state legislature to recall a Senator from that state by a simple majority vote, for ANY cause, including, but not limited to these: If that senator:
- exceeds the powers of office
- fails to vote as directed by the legislature
- commits any act of treason, or any felony or other high crime, or any misdemeanor that makes him or her unfit to serve in the opinion of the state legislature.
- Allow each state legislature to recall any representative, by a two-thirds vote, if that representative:
- exceeds the powers of office
- commits any act of treason, or any felony or other high crime, or any misdemeanor that makes him or her unfit to serve in the opinion of the state legislature.
- Allow the citizens of each state to try their own Members of Congress (while not in office) for corruption and/or excess of power while in office. Any conviction would carry a mandatory jail term, and make the convict perpetually disqualified to hold any office of public trust, including any publicly-traded corporation.
- For any Member of Congress to propose a bill that exceeds the authority of the Congress should be punishable by immediate removal from office and perpetual disqualification thereunto.
- All bills shall include a citation of constitutional authority for such action.