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