Congress doesn’t work because it isn’t supervised. Think about it: we allow Congress to set its own rules, work at its own pace (or not work), prescribe its own privileges, give itself pay raises and generally ignore the constituents it is supposed to represent. We have allowed the creation of a professional political class and that class has taken over what is supposed to be a representational body. Supposedly, our oversight of Congress comes through elections but one cannot address the issue of Congress as a whole because of the very representational system it is. Thus, we have to hold each Congressperson or Senator individually responsible for their actions, or lack thereof, but that is near impossible given the current election financing system that allows out of district money to be used for candidates and excesses to be accumulated and used for the future. The intent of the Constitutional amendment proposed below is to return the control of congressional seats to the people of the district/state and take it away from national parties and interest groups.
This amendment addresses changes to financing of elections for Federal Offices:
Section I:
No funds can be raised or accepted from outside the geographical confines of the district being contested in the election. Thus, a person campaigning for election to the House of Representatives could not solicit or accept funds from outside the district in which they are running and a senator the state in which they reside. This means no funds from a national party, no funds from political action groups or organizations, see below
Section II:
All contributions must arise from individual voters within the district being contested. Corporations, Groups and Unions are not the same as individuals and cannot contribute to the campaign of candidates as entities. No bundling of contributions is allowed.
Section III:
The Federal Election Commission will set a limit for each district being contested of money that may be spent during a campaign. The formula will be: Number of voters in the last election for the contested seat TIMES a per voter amount determined by adding the amount spent by the winning candidate for the past five elections DIVIDED by the sum of actual votes cast in those five elections. The sum will be adjusted for inflation or deflation occurring from the last election for the office. No more than this amount may be spent by any candidate running for the seat of Representative or Senator. Any funds raised in excess of this amount will be signed over to the US Treasury. Any individuals wishing to support a candidate must do so through the official campaign. The costs of any campaign ads paid for by individuals or groups will become part of the official campaign costs and counted against the total expenditure allowed.
Section IV:
Campaigns will officially begin no more than four weeks before the designated primary for the seat in contention. After the primary no election events will be held or monies spent until Labor Day which will begin the campaign period for the general election in November.
Section V:
Violations of these election rules will be adjudicated by the Federal Election Commission, not Congress. Investigations must be started within one week of the accusation of violation and given expeditious handling. Accusations proven to be false will be referred to the Department of Justice for review and potential charges of filling false reports and interference in an election. The penalty for violation of these election rules will be disqualification from the election. Should the violation be discovered after the seating of the Congress the person elected will resign their seat which will be awarded to the person receiving the next highest total of votes in the election.
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There are many other Constitutional amendments needed for the people to properly be able to supervise this body that is supposed to work for them; but this proposed amendment would go far in reducing the undue influence of actors outside the electoral districts that make up our Congressional representation.
What do you think?
This would never pass
Don’t know until we try. Remember, the fly over states; plus it’s one state one vote. It would never pass in Congress but it might in a Constitutional convention which would be required in any matter that would directly affect how Congress is run.