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Ability of Boule to Adapt to Changing Requirements and Unforeseen Issues

Absence of Corruption, Tampering, Media Interference, Improper Influence

Accessibility - Accessible by Wheelchair - ASL Translator - Recordings and Readers

Accessibility - Disabilities, Internet Access, Flesch-Kincaid Readability, Monitor Resolution

Acknowledgments - Surowiecki "Wisdom of Crowds", Fishkin "Democracy and Deliberation"

Acronyms and Abbreviations - Boule - Assembly - Initiative - DTF

Addressing the Boule - Moderator Recognizes Speaker - Points of Order

Advisors and Consultants -  Selected by Boule - Maximum Term 160-Hours Per Year

Advisory Initiatives - Test People Wishes - Find Common Ground - Complex Issues

Aggregation - Plenary Session Majority Vote and Deliberative Task Forces

All rightful governments—state and federal—derive their power by consent of the people

Alphabetical Index - Primary and Subsidiary Topics with Hyperlinks

Alternative Ways to Implement Initiatives - Senator Gravel's Plan - Article V Convention

Amendment I - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression

Amendment Requires Governments to Establish First Boule within One Year

Amendment X - Powers of the States and the People

Amendment, Government Actions, Boule Rules Index - Amendment Attachments

American Dream Fading - Census Data: Men's Income 12% Lower than Fathers' Income

American Political Science Review 1920 - Argues State Referenda Can Ratify Amendment

Annapolis 1786 - Applying to Convene a Convention to Amend the Articles of Confederation

Apply Policies Harmful to the People - Export Jobs, Declining Real Income, Social Inequality

Aristotle, Constitution of Athens [320 BC] trans. Thomas J. Dymes, 1891

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 V Convention - Congress Should have Called One Long Ago per FOAVC

Article VII - Ratification of the U.S. Constitution & the Self-Enacting Precedent

Boule Charter - Rules Only the People' Initiatives can Change

Boule Cost Reference Point - Based on Actual 2004 Costs of B.C. Citizens' Assembly

Boule Evolution - Initiatives Make Significant Changes - Boule Makes Adjustments

Boule Facilities - Periodic Moves - Avoid Opportunities for Influence

Boule is Very Cost Effectiveness at National Scale - Declines as Scale Gets Smaller

Boule Membership Size - Initially 480 - Expert Advice on Optimal Size

Boule of Randomly Selected Citizens - Incorruptible - Select Best Initiatives

Boule Sessions - Nominally 5 Consecutive Days - Start 8 am 2nd Monday Each Month

Boule Shall Remedy any Deficiencies in Convening the First Boule

Assessing the Risk of Tyranny - Considers Relative Risk

Authority to Expend Funds - Requires Justification and Vote in Plenary Sessions

Authority to Propose or Change Initiatives - Administration - Revisions - Advertise

Avoidance of Tampering or Influence - Members' Reward for Conviction up to $50,000

Avoiding Second Method Pitfalls - CRS Report - 8 Areas Requiring Care

Basic Schematic of Key Steps to Implement the U.S. Citizens' Initiatives Amendment

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 Boule - $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

Boule - People's Sworn Deputies - Random Cross-Section

Boule 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 -Boule 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 Boule - Cross-section of Citizens Entitled to Vote - Staggered Terms

Composition of Boule - People More Fairly Represented in Boule 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 Boule

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 - Boule

Constitutional Protection and Federal Courts - Same Judicial Review as Congressional Laws

Content and Format of Candidate Initiatives - Boule Publishes Standards

Control of Boule - the People Control the Boule through its Charter

Control of Boule 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 Boule

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 Boule - Simple Majorities - Absolute Majorities

Deliberative Boule - Randomly Selected - Educated on Issues - Small Group Discussion

Deliberative Boule 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 Boule 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 - Boule 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 Boule - Boule Has No employees - Except as Mandated Under Law

Ensuring Boule 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 - Boule 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 - Boule 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 Boule

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 Boule 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 Boule Decides it is Necessary

Independence - Private Information, Independent Opinions, Consensus Not Desired

Independence of Boule and Members - Separate from Government - Mirror the People

Independent Boule 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 - Boule Permits No Association

s Internal Initiative Database - Access Restricted to Boule 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 Boule'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 Boule - 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 - Boule 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 Boule by Nurse

Member Education and Demographics - Like Us v. Congress Rich White Male Lawyers

Member Equality - All Members are Equals in the Boule

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 Boule 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 -  Boule 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 Boule 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 - Boule Selects - the People Decide

Nationwide Electorate's Effect on Risk of Tyranny - Boule 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 Boule 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 - Boule Authority - Charter Approved by Initiatives

Opponents are Powerful - Some Think Opponents Will Prevail - Overcoming Powers that Be

Ordinary Citizens Have the Skills to be Boule 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 Boule - 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 Boule - 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, Boule 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 Boule 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 Boule

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 Boule - Requires Insight and Creativity

Protection - When Boule 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 Boule

Public Interest Group Support - Huge Memberships Affect Legislators' Election

Public Support for Initiatives - Polls and Surveys on Nationwide Initiatives

Publication of Initiatives and Feedback - Boule'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 Boule - 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 Boule 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 Boule 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 Boule than in Congress

Risk of Tyranny by the Majority - Reduction - Less Risk in Boule than in Congress

Rosters of Members of Congress and State Legislators - Posted on Official Sites

Rules of Order - Boule Rules Prevail - Then Robert's Rules of Order - Less Formal Option

Runaway Boule - 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

Schematic of Key Steps to Implement the U.S. Citizens' Initiatives Amendment

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 Boule and Members

Size of Boule - Maximum 600, Minimum 300 Members - Boule 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 a Boule 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 - Boule Can Fine-Tune Between 300 and 600 Members

State Citizen Initiatives Boule 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 Legislator's Information Package with State Bill and U.S. Amendment (PDF)

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 - Boule 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 Boule 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 - Boule 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 - Boule Related to Existing Forms - Non Describe it Precisely

Types of Initiatives - Authors Stipulate - Direct, Indirect, or Advisory

Typical Boule Facilities - 500 Seat Conference Room - 32 Breakout Rooms

Typical Proposed Initiative - Shows Format for Use by Initial Boule

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 Boule

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 Boule, Not in Congress

Voter Education Materials - Boule 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 Boule

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 Boule Excels - Groups are Best Deciding between Possible Solutions

Wisconsin Applications for Federal Initiatives Constitutional Amendment - 1911

Wisdom of the Boule 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

 

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Version 12.05
 February 01, 2012