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Alphabetical Index

Primary Topics	Subsidiary Topics with Links
Addresses of Elected Officials	Rosters of Members of Congress and State Legislators - Posted on Official Sites Voter's Zip Code Lookup - Congress, State Legislators, and Candidates
Amending the U.S. Constitution	Basic Schematic of Key Steps to Implement the U.S. Citizens' Initiatives Amendment First Method - Congress Preempts Convention - Prodding Effect Procedure for Calling an Article V Convention by the Second Method Second Method - Article V Convention - Founding Fathers Anticipated Need State Implementation Options - Using the Second Method Two Methods Defined - in Article V for Processing an Amendment to the Constitution
Amendment and Assembly Cost Estimates	Assembly Cost Reference Point - Based on Actual 2004 Costs of B.C. Citizens' Assembly Cost of Running Congress - Comparative Date for Cost of Running Assembly Cost of State Initiatives - Demanding Application for Amendment, Potentially in 24 States
Assembly's Key Features	Ability of Assembly to Adapt to Changing Requirements and Unforeseen Issues Assembly Charter - Rules Only the People' Initiatives can Change Control of Assembly - the People Control the Assembly through its Charter Deliberative Assembly - Randomly Selected - Educated on Issues - Small Group Discussion Deliberative Assembly has Special Advantages - Widely Used over Last 25 Years Extent of Direct Democracy - Number of Direct Initiatives that People can Assimilate Grand Jury Analogy - 20 Times Larger - Decisions not Verdicts - Secrecy 2 to 5 Years Improving Member Selection - Potential for Refining Selection Criteria Over Time Limits of Assembly's Capabilities - Ranks Proposed Initiatives - Does Not Create or Enact Mandatory Duty May Sometimes be Imposition - Benefit Outweigh Inconvenience Member Education and Demographics - Like Us v. Congress Rich White Male Lawyers Member Skills - More than Adequate - Common Sense - Specialty Skills Contracted Members' Duty - Like Grand Jury - Good Pay - Prestige and Achievement Number of Assembly Members - Average Size of a National Assemblies is 480 Ordinary Citizens Have the Skills to be Assembly Members Opening Rules - Keep Order - Assembly Authority - Charter Approved by Initiatives Sample Size - 480 Members Make Same Decisions as the People 95.5 Percent of Time Some Argue an Assembly Could Pass Laws Directly - Several Good Reason Against This Starting Size 480 Members - Assembly Can Fine-Tune Between 300 and 600 Members State Representation - All States 100 Percent - Except Smallest with Over 80 Percent Type of Organization - Assembly Related to Existing Forms - Non Describe it Precisely Typical Assembly Facilities - 500 Seat Conference Room - 32 Breakout Rooms Workforce Requirements - 480 Members - 1 Year Staggered Terms - 1 Week/Month
Background and Brief History of Initiatives	Brief History of Initiatives and Referendums in the U.S. General Observations - Ancient Athens and Switzerland - Achieved Great Prosperity How Democratic Was Athens? - Article by Professor Gerhard Rempel Initiatives and Referendums in Ancient Times - Athenian 590 BC - Council of 500 Modern Democracies - Swiss Nationwide Initiatives Since 1891 - Most Have Referenda States All Have Referenda - 24 States Have Initiatives
Citizens' Assembly Wisdom	Acknowledgments - Surowiecki "Wisdom of Crowds", Fishkin "Democracy and Deliberation" Aggregation - Plenary Session Majority Vote and Deliberative Task Forces Decentralization - Research and Advice from Many Sources, Secret Voting Distrust of Crowd Leadership - Assembly Does Not Act in Crises and Need Not be Creative Diversity - Random-Sample Yields Maximum Diversity Ensuring Assembly is Wise - Independence, Diversity, Knowledge, Motivation, Secret Vote Incentives - Financial Performance Incentives - Non-Financial Recognition of Effort Independence - Private Information, Independent Opinions, Consensus Not Desired Management - Assembly Relatively Simple Organization, Adequate Management Capabilities Proposing Initiatives is Not Appropriate for Assembly - Requires Insight and Creativity Where the Assembly Excels - Groups are Best Deciding between Possible Solutions
Citizens for U.S. Direct Initiatives (CUSDI)	Communications - Mail Address - Web Sites - Email Corporate Mission - Develop an Internet Blueprint to Enable a Direct Democracy Process Donations - We Currently do Not Seek Donations Incorporation - Nonprofit, Nonpartisan, Tax-Exempt Corporation Since 2004 Organization - Private U.S. Citizens Opposed to Excessive Special Interests Influence Nonprofit Tax Status 501(c)(3) - Publicly Supported Organization
Congress Debates re Initiatives & Referenda	Hoekstra 1994 - Nationwide Initiative and Referendum on Reforming Congress Koupal 1977 - Voter Initiative Constitutional Amendment Hearings Ludlow Amendment 1938 - National Referendum to Declare War
Constitution References	Amendment I - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression Amendment X - Powers of the States and the People Annapolis 1786 - Applying to Convene a Convention to Amend the Articles of Confederation Article 1 Section 10 Clause 3 - Powers Prohibited of States Article 1 Section 2 - Members of Congress to be Chosen by the People Article 1 Section 8 Clause 18 - Necessary and Proper Clause ("Basket Clause") Article IV - The States' Guarantee of Privileges and Immunities to All U.S. Citizens Article V - The Constitutional Amendment Process - First and Second Methods Article VII - Ratification of the U.S. Constitution & the Self-Enacting Precedent Declaration of Independence - When Government is Destructive, the People May Alter It Preamble - We the People…to Promote the General Welfare…Establish this Constitution
Constitutional Amendment Complete Text	Citizens' Assembly - People's Sworn Deputies - Random Cross-Section Constitutional Authorization - Nationwide Initiatives - Citizens' Initiatives Assembly Constitution Excludes Direct Democracy - Written 100 Years Before Ancient Texts Found Guarantee Clause Clarification - Ensures Initiatives Consistent with Republican Government Guarantee Clause Neither Forbids nor Allows Direct Democracy - Constitution is Silent Initiatives Defined - Have Power to Do All that Congress Does - Congress Cannot Overrule Implementation Procedures - Government Shall Convene Assembly Within 1 Year Recall Not Included - Issue for Congressional District - Not for Nationwide Electorate Referendums Not Included - Prepared by Government - Not Essential to Plan's Success Repeal Safeguard - After 10 and 20 Years, People Vote on Initiative to Repeal Initiatives State Ratification Process - Within 7 Years from Congressional Submission to the States Veto of Initiatives Not Permitted - Veto Power Subject to Special Interest Influence
Direct Democracy in the U.S.	California Citizens' Assembly 2006 - State Constitutional Amendment City Initiatives - in the 20 Largest U.S. Cities Public Support for Initiatives - Polls and Surveys on Nationwide Initiatives States with Initiatives - Direct Statute, Direct Constitutional, Indirect States with Referenda but Without Initiatives - Legislative Amendments and Statutes
Downloads & Print	Executive Summary - Four Page PDF Brochure Suitable for Mailing or Handout Amendment, Government Actions, Assembly Rules Index - Amendment Attachments State Support and State Referendum Bill - Materials for State Legislators
Federalist Paper References and Related Documents	Federalist #10 - Founding Fathers' View of the Maximum Size of a Democracy Federalist #39 - Constitution is neither National nor Federal but a Composition of Both Federalist #42 - State Citizenship Rights Conferred by the Constitution Federalist #43 - Equality Between Amendments Originating in Congress or the States Federalist #45 - Danger from the Powers of the Union to the State Governments Federalist #49 - Guarding Against Federal Encroachments Through a Convention Federalist #85 - Security the Constitution Affords to Republican Government Gettysburg Address 1863 - Abraham Lincoln: Of the People, By the People, For the People James Madison June 6, 1787 - Legislature Ought to be Exact Transcript of Whole Society James Wilson 1790-1791 - All Power is in the People and Should be Exercised in Person Quotations - Relevant to Direct Democracy - Well Known - Mostly by Revered Citizens
Government Actions Required by Amendment	Amendment Requires Governments to Establish First Assembly within One Year Assembly Shall Remedy any Deficiencies in Convening the First Assembly Branches of Government and the States Shall Cooperate and Resolve Jurisdictional Issues Congress Shall Enact Legislation to Support and Fund the First Assembly Governments Shall Protect and Defend the Citizens' Assembly President's Executive Offices Responsible for Arrangements to Convene the First Assembly
Implementation and Ratification of Nationwide Initiatives	State Referendum Bill - Preferred Option - Combines States and Peoples Authority State Legislative Bill - Non-Binding or Binding - Start Amendment Process - Minimum Effort State Citizens' Legislative or Constitutional Initiative - Expensive, Risks Special Interests State Implementation Options Using the Second Method - Federal and State Obligations State Lobbying and Voting Pressure - May be Needed to Move Plan Forward Using the Second Method - Constitutionally, Congress has No Option to Deny
Legal Key Opinions, Decisions, and Debates	American Political Science Review 1920 - Argues State Referenda Can Ratify Amendment Canady-Bliley 1998 - Congress Wishes Power to Veto State Application for a Convention Clinton v City of New York 1998 - Line Item Veto by Act of Congress is Unconstitutional Cooley - Ultimate Sovereignty is in the People, from whom Springs all Authority CRS Report, Durbin, 1995 - Second Method Procedures for Amending the Constitution Eikenberry 1983 - Convention Application by Initiative is Permitted in Washington State Hawke v Smith 1920 - Constitutional Convention is Not Bound by State Referendum Herbring v Brown 1919 - Ratification of Amendment is Not Bound by State Referendum Maine Opinion of the Justices 1919 - Ratification of Amendment Not Referred to the People Mullen v Howell 1919 - Ratification of Amendment Can be Bound by WA State Referendum Philadelphia II v. Gregoire 1996 - It Is Not Within State Power to Enact Federal Law PST&T v Oregon 1912 - U.S. Supreme Court Can Not Decide Constitutionality of Initiatives Term Limits v Thornton 1995 - States Can Not Set Term Limits for their Congresspersons
Marketing this Amendment	Blogging as a Low-Key Marketing Tool - Initiatives Blog Example Brief Guide to Successful Lobbying - Finding Committed Advocates in State Legislatures Convince State Legislators - Heart of this Plan's Marketing Approach Declaration of Intent - Extreme Option to Gain Representative Support Download Handouts of Key Documents - Print or Display in B&W or Color Generic State Bill for Legislative, Referendum, or Initiative Application to Congress Grassroots Approach - Production Suggestions and Example of a Voter Email or Letter Initial Focus - Through the States Using Article V's Second Method Letters to Candidates - Does the Candidates Want to Make a Change? Letters to Members of Congress - They are Unlikely to Support this Plan Letters to State Legislators - Their Support is Critical to the Success of this Plan Opponents are Powerful - Some Think Opponents Will Prevail - Overcoming Powers that Be Principal Pro's and Con's of this Plan - Brief Statement of Arguments Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer Download - Free Slideshow - Microsoft PowerPoint - 40 Slides, 800KB - Customize to your Style State Referendum Bill - the Preferred Option, Combining the Authority of People and States State Support - Based on Constitutional and Moral Obligations upon Legislators Summary - Plan is a Reference Explaining Why and How to Implement Nationwide Initiatives Support and Opposition Constituencies - Anticipated for this Initiatives Amendment Voter Demographics - Women and Minorities Represented in Assembly, Not in Congress
Miscellaneous	Accessibility - Disabilities, Internet Access, Flesch-Kincaid Readability, Monitor Resolution Alphabetical Index - Primary and Subsidiary Topics with Hyperlinks Copyright Policy - Protected so States May Annex Plan - Fair Use OK - Permission Easy Petition Redress of Grievances - But Government Has no Obligation to Listen or Respond Purpose of Web Site - Plan of Feasible Solution for Profound Government Improvements Return on Investment - Initiatives Very Cost Effective - Huge ROI Search this Site - Use Google-enabled Search of this Plan Table of Contents - At Web Page Level Not by Topic Typical Proposed Initiative - Shows Format for Use by Initial Assembly
National Initiative for Democracy	Management by an Electoral Trust - One Members Elected by Citizens of Each State Method of Qualifying Initiatives - Popular Signature Petitions - Similar to State Systems Ratification Process - Self-Enactment Based on Emergency Precedents of Founding Fathers Scope - Initiatives for State and Local Governments in Addition to Federal Government
Problems in Congress Causing Need for this Amendment	American Dream Fading - Census Data: Men's Income 12% Lower than Fathers' Income Congress Acts Against the People - on Key Social, Ethical, and Legal Issues Congress Failed to Propose Term Limits - Ignoring States' and Peoples' Wishes Apply Policies Harmful to the People - Export Jobs, Declining Real Income, Social Inequality Campaign Financing - Special Interests Control Slate - Keep Out Good Candidates Congress Unable to Solve the Problems - Checks and Balances Find Problems Intractable Creates Hidden Unfunded Debt on Our Descendents - Average Family Share Over $100,000 Denies People their Right to Choose their Representatives - Wastes Most of Our Votes Excessive Lobbying - 35,000 Registered Lobbyists - 65 Lobbyists per Congressperson Fails Critical Long-Term Issues - Politicians' 4-Year Horizon v Huge Multi-Decade Problems Gerrymandering - Redrawing Boundaries Makes Safe Seats - Only 13% Are Now Contested Lobbyists Often Ex-congresspersons - 43% Departing Congresspersons Become Lobbyists Massive Media Mergers Permitted - 1,000% Decline in 25 Years - 50 to 5 Corporations Reelection Made Permanent - 98% Representatives and 80-90% Senators Reelected Power of the Media - Create Virtual Campaign - Candidate Actors - Prompted Sound Bytes Primary Cause of Problems - Powerful but Costly Media Dictates Huge Campaign Financing Problems Seriously Harm the People - Looking Only at Money Costs - Over $350 Billion/Year Seniority System - Based on Longevity Not Merit - Inherently Unrepresentative to Voters Voice and Accountability Indicator - Global View of Congress Shows it Going Downhill Fast Waste and Inefficiency - $231 Billion Lost to Government Waste and Pork Barrel Projects
Qualification of Initiatives	Detailed Alternatives - Signature Petitions v Citizens' Assembly Methods General Alternatives - Includes Internet Voting System as Third Option Internet Voting - E-voting May Become Feasible - Security and Integrity Untrustworthy Popular Signature Petition - Special Interest Influence, Expensive, No Feedback, Overload Randomly Selected Citizens' Assembly - Does Not Have Defects of Other Systems
Rules of Assembly Part A - Charter - Only Changed by Direct Initiative	Authority to Propose or Change Initiatives - Administration - Revisions - Advertise Avoidance of Tampering or Influence - Members' Reward for Conviction up to $50,000 Budget for Assembly - $60 Million per Year After Startup Costs Paid Citizens' Assembly Facilities - Comfort Without Extravagance - 200+ Miles from Washington Classified Materials of the United States - Up to Member's U.S. Government Classification Composition of Assembly - Cross-section of Citizens Entitled to Vote - Staggered Terms Confidentiality and Sunshine Provision - After 2 to 5 Years All Records Become Public Congressional Right to Change or Overrule - Non Except if Specified in Initiative Definitions - Full Complement - Whole Assembly - Simple Majorities - Absolute Majorities Direct Democracy Guidelines - Checks and Balances precede Policies precede Other Issues Duration of Relationships - Avoid Long Commitments - Chairperson Changes Monthly Excessive Hardship Excuse - Assembly Defines Excessive Hardship to Federal Courts External Communications - Monitor Written, Fax, Email, Digital, Verbal Frequency and Notice of Initiatives - Included at Federal Elections Every Two Years Incorporation as Nonprofit Corporation - If Assembly Decides it is Necessary Legal Review - for Constitutional and Legal Issues By Draft Candidate Status Losses Borne by the Assembly - None - Normal Members' Expenses Only Maximum Number of Initiatives Per Citizen - Maximum of 1 per 2-Year Congress Member Equality - All Members are Equals in the Assembly Member Independence - Members Vote Independent Opinions - Consensus Not Required Members' Basic Job Description - Deputy of the People - Act in Their Best Interests Method of Selection - Simple Random Sample - Stratified Random Sample - Audited Minimum Requirements for Organizations - U.S. Owned and Controlled - in Good Standing Minimum Size of Citizen Groups - 5 to 100 Citizens - Assembly Sets Optimum Number of Indirect Initiatives Submitted to Congress - Maximum of 12 per 2-Year Congress Number of Direct Initiatives on the Ballots - Maximum of 12 per 2-Year Congress Quorum - One-half Plus One of the Full Complement of Members Obligatory Initiatives from Congress per 2-Years - 1 Alternate Budget - 1 Repeal-or-Amend Repair Deficiencies - Use Initiatives to Repair any Deficiencies Caused in its Creation Philanthropic Funds - As Last Resort, Assembly May Use Philanthropic Funds Precedence of Rules - Initiative Rules above Supermajority Rules above Majority Rules Proposed Initiative Submittal Fee - Range Zero to $20,000 to Help Control Influx Protection - When Assembly In Session - Members Minimum 2 Years, Maximum 5 Years Reduced Assembly Operations - Temporary Reduction When Not Enough Work Remuneration - Member Receive $300 per Diem plus $50 into Incentive Bonus Pool Requirements for New Members - Select from Best Database - Remove Those Unqualified Rewards for Performance - Electorate Grades Assembly That was Seated 4 Years Ago Self-Education and Sources of Advice - Members Encouraged - Information Made Available Size of Assembly - Maximum 600, Minimum 300 Members - Assembly Sets Optimum Term of Service - Maximum 25 months, Minimum 12 months - Assembly Sets Optimum Types of Initiatives - Authors Stipulate - Direct, Indirect, or Advisory United States Constitution - Supreme Authority Over Assembly Voting - Motions Passed in Plenary Session Govern the Assembly
Rules of Assembly Part B - Change by Supermajority Vote of Assembly	Acronyms and Abbreviations - USCIA - Assembly - Initiative - DTF Advisors and Consultants - Selected by Assembly - Maximum Term 160-Hours Per Year Assembly Membership Size - Initially 480 - Expert Advice on Optimal Size Authority to Expend Funds - Requires Justification and Vote in Plenary Sessions Content and Format of Candidate Initiatives - Assembly Publishes Standards Direct, Indirect and Advisory Initiatives - Uses Defined Discipline - Moderator, Discipline Committee, Sergeant at Arms, Local Law Enforcement Duration of Protection - Member and Family - Ends When Member's Contemporaries Leave Duration of Service - 1st Month Training - 1 Year Service - About 1 Week/Month Employment at Assembly - Assembly Has No employees - Except as Mandated Under Law Excessive Hardship Excuses Defined - Guidelines for Federal Courts Excuse from Service - Assembly May Excuse Member - Avoid Duplication with Courts Expedited Initiatives - from Congress, State Governors, State Legislatures Method of Submitting Proposed Initiatives - By Publication Minimum Size of Citizen Groups - Initially Set at 25 Citizens who are Eligible to Vote Number of Proposed Initiatives Per Citizen - 1 Proposed Initiative Per 2-Year Congress Oaths of Members and Other Persons - Copy of Oath to Membership Committee Proposed Initiative Testimony and Advice - Contract for Services - Right of Subpoena Publication of Initiatives and Feedback - Assembly's Blanket Publication Negotiation Readings of Candidate Initiatives - Double Approval - 2 Readings 3 Months Apart Recording - All Meetings Recorded - Plenary Sessions on Video - Others Voice Only Separate Facilities - Initially, Men and Women Separate - Spousal Reassurance Statistical Method Used to Select Members - Initially, Simple Random Sample Time Limit - Moderator Set Limits - Nominal Baseline Maximum 1 Minute per Day Voting Methodology - After Deliberation Complete - No Straw Polls - No Vote Cascades Voting Secrecy - All Votes Secret - Counts Retained - Tally by Machine - Hard Receipt
Rules of Assembly Part C - Change by Majority Vote of Assembly	Accessibility - Accessible by Wheelchair - ASL Translator - Recordings and Readers Addressing the Assembly - Moderator Recognizes Speaker - Points of Order Advisory Initiatives - Test People Wishes - Find Common Ground - Complex Issues Assembly Facilities - Periodic Moves - Avoid Opportunities for Influence Assembly Sessions - Nominally 5 Consecutive Days - Start 8 am 2nd Monday Each Month Communication Devices -Assembly Devices Provided - Personal Devices Denied Deliberative Task Force (DTF) - 15 Member Groups - Deliberate or Work on Assigned Topics Disclosure by Ex-Members - Disclosure is Tampering Until Contemporaneous Members Leave Election of a Moderator and Recording Secretary - Serve for Only 1 Month Information Technology - Member Friendly - Standard - Accessible - Off-the Self Software Initiative Opinions - Majority and Dissenting Opinions on Draft Candidate Initiatives Initiative Selection Process - Elimination - Ranking System - Initial Rapid, Final Deliberate Initiative Stages of Progress - Status of Initiatives Divided Into 8 Stages Library Archive and Publication - Retention - Internet Releases - Personal Recognition Medical Problems - Minor Problems Treated at Assembly by Nurse Member's Employment - Not Assembly Employees - May Help Their Clients' Urgent Needs Members’ Resignations in the First Year - One-twelfth of Original Members Resign Monthly Motions - Required for Assembly or Sub-Organization to Act Multiple Choice Initiatives - May be Used Where No Simpler Option - Must be Easy to Use Orientation and Training of New Members - Receive Course Before Being Seated Permanent Committees - Members Appointed by Assembly - Serve for 6 Months Maximum Polls and Surveys - Use to Clarify Public Wishes - Determine Assembly Performance Proposed Initiative Content - Stand on Content Merit - Prefer Revision Over Duplication Public Hearings - May be Assigned to Task Forces Reporting Back to Assembly Readability Indexes - Benefit from Full Range of Members' Abilities - Flesch-Kincaid Rules of Order - Assembly Rules Prevail - Then Robert's Rules of Order - Less Formal Option Security - U.S. Government Security Officer - 24x7 Checkpoints and Barriers - Member IDs Selection of New Members - Default: Social Security Database - Audit Data and Software Selection of Publisher - Major National Newspaper - Blanket Agreement Size of Citizen Group to Propose Initiative - Initial Minimum Size is 25 Support and Service Personnel - Competitive Procurement - Non-renewable 1-Year Task Forces - Comprising Members Appointed by Assembly for Specific Task Time Limits - Limits on Presentations - Terminate Debate on Motion to Move Question Time in Position of Authority - Members in Positions of Authority Max 6 Months Cumulative Voter Education Materials - Assembly Publishes Balanced Voter Materials - Pro and Con Web Site Publication - Guidelines - News - Candidate Initiatives - Search - Feedback
Safeguards and Precautions	Absence of Corruption, Tampering, Media Interference, Improper Influence Best Available Help and Expert Advise - Without Institutionalizing Sources Competent Proposed Initiatives Involving of All the People - But Abuse is Penalized Constitutional Protection and Federal Courts - Same Judicial Review as Congressional Laws Control of Assembly Workload - 7 Methods to Adjust Supply and Demand Corruption or Tampering - More Protections than Grand Jury - Prevention Better than Cure Double Approval of a Candidate Initiative - Two Readings Separated by 3 Months Duty and Oath by Members - Member Represents Over 400,000 Voters - Hardship Excuse Evolutionary not Revolutionary Process - Constitutionally Sound - Second Method Feedback on Proposed Initiatives from Electorate -Public Debate Continues Almost a Year Independence of Assembly and Members - Separate from Government - Mirror the People Informed Opinions Attached - Based on Best Advice - Perspective of the People Internal Influence - Members Vote Un-coerced Opinion - Assembly Permits No Associations Media Interference - Members are Private Persons - Federal Court Gag Order Nationwide Electorate Makes Final Decisions - Assembly Selects - the People Decide Outside Influence - Outside Contacts Must be Short-Term - Formal and Documented Priority of Initiatives - Checks and Balances - Principals and Policies - Other Issues Protection of Minority and Majority Rights - Less Risk of Violation than in Congress Repeal of Initiatives Rights Safeguard Clause - Graceful Exit Option is Prudent Runaway Assembly - Theoretically Possible - Less Likely than Runaway Congress Safeguards Against a Tyrannous Initiative - 3 Sequential Protections State Rights Protected - Double Majority Vote - States Granted Expedited Initiatives Statistical Accuracy - Assembly Reflects Peoples Wishes to ± 4% for 19 of 20 Initiatives Wisdom of the Assembly is Protected - 6 Ways to Maximize Wise Decisions
Solutions to Problems of Congress	Alternative Ways to Implement Initiatives - Senator Gravel's Plan - Article V Convention Article V Convention - Congress Should have Called One Long Ago per FOAVC Assembly Evolution - Initiatives Make Significant Changes - Assembly Makes Adjustments Assembly of Randomly Selected Citizens - Incorruptible - Select Best Initiatives Assembly is Very Cost Effectiveness at National Scale - Declines as Scale Gets Smaller Congress Violates Rights - General Welfare and Choosing Representatives Essential Elements of Initiatives Solutions - Propose Them - Qualify Them - Vote on Them Implementing the Solution - Constitutional Amendment is Inevitable Internet Voting System - Has Been Tried - Risk of Fraud is Still Excessive Many Styles of Citizen Assembly - Clarification to Distinguish Between Them National Initiative for Democracy - Possible but More Risks than this Plan's Approach Objectives and Criteria for an Effective and Feasible Solution - Confirm It is Reasonable Preconditions for Effective Solutions - Reduce Many Possible Solutions to Meaningful Few Qualify Initiatives Effectively - Reduce Many Proposed Initiatives to Small Set on Ballot Right to Propose Initiatives - U.S. Citizen Groups and U.S. Organizations Right to Vote on Qualified Candidate Initiatives - Electorate at General Elections Selection of the Best Method to Qualify Initiatives - 3 Methods Emerged as Leaders Signature Petition System - Inappropriate for Qualifying U.S. Initiatives for 8 Reasons Single Organization to Rank Initiatives so Voters Not Overwhelmed by too Many Initiatives Special Interests Foiled by Not Utilizing Elected, Appointed or Hereditary Representatives Substantive Solution Require an Amendment as only Authority Above Congress Summary of Details of the Planned Solution - For the Readers' Convenience
State Legislators' Support for Amendment	All rightful governments—state and federal—derive their power by consent of the people Avoiding Second Method Pitfalls - CRS Report - 8 Areas Requiring Care Federal Power Structure - Its Excesses Reinforce Need for this Amendment Federal Violation of People's State Rights - People's Well-being and Voting Legislators' Responsibility - Oaths to Uphold Constitution - Including People's Rights Line Item Veto - Unavailable at Federal Level - Exists in 86 Percent of States Long Term Solution to Loopholes and End-runs - Presently, Congress is a Law unto Itself Negative Experiences with State Initiatives Process - Mostly Relating to Special Interests People's Reserved Rights - Powers not Delegated - Specifically Reserved in Some States People's State Rights - Covenant Between People's Consent and State Protection of Rights Political and Financial Risk - State Referendum Approach Tests Voters' Wishes Political Party Leadership - Preservation of Status Quo - Rank-and-File Members are Voters Practical State Benefits - Substantial from Supporting the Citizens' Initiatives Amendment Pressure of Work, Procrastination and Apathy - But Problems Will Not Go Away Leadership in Democracy - Cleaning Up at Home Helps to Improve U.S. Credibility Public Interest Group Support - Huge Memberships Affect Legislators' Election Single Comprehensive Solution - Better than Slow and Exhausting Single-issue Amendments Special Interest Groups - Opposition is Inevitable - Reinforce Need for this Amendment States' Inherent Ability to Innovate - Stimulate Growth - Change Direction Quickly States' Inherent Efficiency - States Compete - Federal Government is a Monopoly State Citizen Initiatives Assembly Concept - Useful to Larger States with Initiatives State Constitution Extracts - Defines Relevant Rights in Each State State Constitutions Mandate Require Legislators' Support - Bill or Declaration of Rights State Governments Should Support this Amendment - a State Constitutional Obligation State Leadership - Historic Performance - Women's Suffrage - Popular Election of Senators State's Rights Protected - U.S. Initiatives Mirror Protection of U.S. Senate State's Right to Alter Governments - By Direct Democracy in All States but Delaware Term Limits - 23 States Passed Congressional Term Limits - Overturned by Supreme Court Term Limits Blog - Preliminary Draft Examples of Proposed Initiatives Unilaterally Mandated Federal Obligations - Forces Federal Tax Hidden within State Tax Unreasonable Strings Tied to Federal Funds - Special Interests Enforce State Influence U.S. Constitution Requires State Legislators' Support - Founding Fathers Foresaw Need Wishes of the People for Nationwide Initiatives - Polls Show It Clearly
Summary of the Plan	Founding Fathers Built a Remedy into the U.S. Constitution - Anticipating Federal Excesses Independent Citizens' Assembly must Manage Nationwide Initiatives Qualification Influence over Congress by Special Interests is Excessive - Greatly Harming the People Only the People can Protect Against Congressional Excesses and Deficiencies Outline of the Operation of a U.S. Citizens' Assembly - Block Diagram Shows Relationships Passing the Amendment will be Tough but It is Possible States Should Annex This Plan and Improve It - When Several States Support It Synopsis of Plan - Under 100 Words, 4 Sentences U.S. and State Constitutions Rely on Every State to Limit Federal Government's Excesses
Technology for Assembly and Initiative Process	Computer System Straightforward - Local Area Networks on Single Domain with Firewall External Initiative Database - Access Open to Public E-voting and Electoral Participation - Low Turnout on Initiatives Offset by Ease of Voting Information Technologies and Automation - Some Principles for Simplicity Internal Initiative Database - Access Restricted to Assembly Members Internet Web Site - Service Provider - 24x7 Service - Large Channel Capacity - Security Off-the-Shelf SQL Database - Newspaper Provides Proposed Initiatives in Electronic Form Online Democracy Expectations Managed to Avoid Multiplication of Risks and Overload Single Platform Used - for Efficiency and Convenience of Assembly and Members
Tyranny Risks in Assembly by the Majority or by a Minority	Assessing the Risk of Tyranny - Considers Relative Risk Composition of Assembly - People More Fairly Represented in Assembly than in Congress Definition and Character of Tyranny - Tyranny is Antithesis of Liberty Nationwide Electorate's Effect on Risk of Tyranny - Assembly Provides Extra Protection Risk of Tyranny by a Minority - Reduction - Less Risk in Assembly than in Congress Risk of Tyranny by the Majority - Reduction - Less Risk in Assembly than in Congress Tyrannous Initiative Prevention - Safeguards Against a Tyrannous Initiative

Alphabetical Index

Primary Topics

Subsidiary Topics with Links