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HOW-2 FIX THE 3 BRANCHES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT    MY PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE ONE OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION   
PO Box 944 Buena Vista, VA.  24416 USA
517-745-8872
THE WRITTEN WORD
As I see it the  biggest problems that exist with the Federal Legislative System [FLS] as it exists today are two fold but are easy to fix if the people have the will to do so.  The system needs to be fixed and those in power are too entrenched to do so, but the solution is really quite simple, so here are my ideas. FIRSTLY:   we the people must do away with the current bi-cameral system, as the current House and Senate are presently more concerned with their individual powers than working together, with uni-cameral system to create the laws of the land.  That divide is even larger than that between “Democrats” and “Republicans”.  For this to happen a constitutional amendment  of Article one would be required. SECONDLY:   we the people must do away with the current system of electing people to serve in the FLS thats does away with the currently gerrymandered districts in favor of state wide elections to determine the various representatives from the individual states.  For this to happen a constitutional amendment  of Article one would be required. Article 5 of the constitution spells out the two ways that this can happen.  It will not come from the tip of the pyramid but must arise from the bottom from the will of we the people.  I am not a legal scholar [although I once dropped out of Creighton University’s School of Law after three days of attendance to go back to Michigan to run a billiards parlor, so I can’t be all that dumb] but I think even I could write, at least the first draft.  What follows is my draft and I welcome any and all comments on it. Article I. Section 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall be uni-cameral, that is composed of only one body not two, as in the current system. Section 2. This Congress of the United States shall be composed of members chosen every sixth year by the people of the several states and may only serve for two terms.  The vice-president of the United states shall be president of the congress, but shall have no vote unless the congress be equally divided. The congress shall choose their other officers, and also a president pro tempore, in the abscence of the vice president, or when he /she shall exercise the office of president of the United States. The congress shall have the sole power to try all impeachments.  When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation.  When the president of the United States is tried, the chief justice shall preside. And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members. Judgement in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trail, judgement and punishment accord to law. No person shall be a representative of an individual state who shall not have attained the age of thirty five years and been seven years a citizen of the United States and who shall be a resident of the state they are elected from for a minimum of four years. Representatives of the individual states will be allotted to those states based on a census conducted every 12 years.  Each state will have one representative for every one million of census  population plus one additional representative. [EG: California, with a census population of 37,254,503 would be granted 37 representative plus one for a total of 38 {currently has 53 plus 2}   New Jersey with a census population of 8,791,936 would be granted 9 representative plus one for a total of 10 {currently has 12 plus 2}.  Minnesota with a census population of 5,303,925 would be granted 5 representatives plus one for a total of 6 {currently has 8 plus 2}.  Wisconsin with a census population of 5,687,289 would be granted 6 representatives plus one for a total of 7 {currently has 8 plus 2}.  The FOUR TERRITORIES, Guam, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, each with a census population of less than 1,000,000 would each be granted 1 representative plus one for a total of 2 each., etc., etc.   Peurto Rice and the District of Columbia should also be represented on the same basis.  These numbers are based on population figures that can be found on the internet at the URL: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_population This proposal would reduce to member of the FLS by approximately 30% which should save a little money.] This body of representatives shall choose their own officers and will have the power of impeachment. Section 3. Elections in the individual states with be state wide in nature and not based on smaller units [districts]. [THIS SHOULD EFFECTIVELY PUT AN END TO GERRYMANDERING !!] These elections will occur commencing on the first Monday of November and running until the first Sunday thereafter.  Any person who presents a petition with 10,000 valid signatures of persons residing in that candidate’s state shall have their name placed on the ballot, irregardless of political affiliation, and be eligible for election.  The persons with the most votes, equal in number to the representatives that state is allowed shall be deemed elected to a six year term. The person with the most votes shall be deemed that states senior representative and act as WHIP for that state.  They will  be sworn in, take office and assume their dutie on December the First following said election. This congress will assemble and be in session twice a year, 15 JAN-15 MAR and 15 JUL-15 AUG for the conduct of its business.  While not in session the representatives will be required to live in their home states conducting their business from that location as well as serving in various public service capacities.  They will be allowed to travel overseas during these months but this travel will be limited to 60 days each year.  While this congress is in session they will be required to live in the District of Columbia and not leave except by permission of the congress and only for family emergencies. Section 4. Each state shall be the judge of the election returns and qualifications of its own representatives. The congress as a whole shall meet daily during the hours that the congress as a whole shall set during the four months that they are in session. The congress may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its member for disorderly behavior, and with concurrence of two thirds, expel a member.  Should a member be expelled the state  represented by that member will appoint a new member within 30 days, from four candidates nominated by the governor of that state and approved by that states legislature. The congress shall keep a journal of its proceedings and make the same available within one week, to the public including how its member’s have voted no matter what the issue having been discussed.  There will be no secrets. During the four months that the congress is in session it may not adjourn for any reason. Section 5. The representatives to this congress shall receive a compensation for their services with each representative receiving $7.5 M per annum.  The chief representative or whip from each state shall receive compensation in the amount of $15 M per annum.  Out of these monies they may hire what ever staff they feel that they might deem necessary for the performance of their duties. This compensation cannot be reduced but may be raised on a yearly basis based on the rate of inflation.  A strict accounting of this compensation paid to each representative will be maintained of all expense incurred,  and must be made public as a matter of record on 1 JUL and ! JAN of each year. The Congress will be responsible for funding to  providing for maintenance of the facilities needed for the performance of their duties and in which they will have their offices, as well as the funding of the salaries of those persons deemed necessary to maintain said facilities,  whose number Congress will limit by law They shall in all case, except treason, felony and breach of the peace [EG: public drunkenness, assault of any nature against another person or property and any other such crimes] be exempt from arrest during the four months that the congress is in session.  While residence in their home states the other 8 months they will be subject to all laws in their home states, as would be any other citizen. No representative shall, during the time for which they were elected, accept other employment in either the public or private sector. Section 6. All bills which this congress shall have passed, will be presented to the President of the United States, and if the president approves of a bill he/she must sign it  before it becomes law.  If not approved by the president he/she will return with his objections to the congress who shall enter said objections into its journal, and proceed to reconsider it.  If after reconsideration two thirds of the congress shall agree to pass the bill, it shall become a law.  If within ten days any bill shall not be returned by the president after having been presented to him/her, the same will be a  law, in the manner as if he/she had signed it, unless the congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. Every order, resolution or vote to which the concurrence of the representatives of congress agrees upon may be necessary [except on a question of adjournment] shall be presented to the president of the United States; and before the same shall take effect, shall be approved by by him/her, or being disapproved by him/her, shall be be repassed by a two thirds vote of the Congress, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill. Section 7. This section will read exactly as in currently written in Section 8 of the current constitution. Section 8. This section will read exactly as in currently written in Section 9 of the current constitution. Section 9. This section will read exactly as in currently written in Section 10  of the current constitution. The 27th, 25th, 23d, 22d, 20th, 15th, 14th, and 12th, amendments will all have to be slightly re- written as they make mention of a bi-cameral legislative system. The 17th amendment as it concerns the senate needs to be repealed. The 9th, 8th and 2d amendments need to be re-written although they are not directly related to amending Article I