Journal jnaujok's Journal: The Second Bill of Rights
Today it occurred to me that what this country really needs is a second Bill of Rights. A codification, if you will, into the Constitution of the true intent of the Founding Fathers, and the lessons of the last 230 years of nationhood. My version would look like this.
The Second Bill of Rights
The Balanced Budget
The Congress shall pass no budget which exceeds the collected receipts of that budget year, save in times of Declared War. The Congress shall pass no law or order that assumes a debt for a term in excess of 15 years.
Repeal of the 16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment to the Constitution is hereby repealed.
Revocation of All Direct Taxation of Citizens
The Congress shall pass no law directly taxing the Citizens of the United States, its Corporations, Businesses, or other entities. The powers of Taxation are left to the States alone.
Establishment of a National Sales Tax
The States shall provide to the Federal Government, a portion of the Revenue of all final sales which occur within their border. This revenue shall not include the purchase of unprepared foodstuffs and medicinal or medical items required by the order of physician. The Congress shall not pass any laws either adding to or subtracting from the list of items subject to this taxation.
The amount of this taxation shall be initially set at 18% of the cost of the goods.
The Congress shall not be enabled to increase this rate, save through the process of a National Referendum, requiring a majority of the citizenry of the United States to approve of such an increase. No such restriction shall be placed on the reduction of said rate.
The States shall provide this revenue to Federal Government once per quarter-year, or more often at the State's discretion.
The Right to Own Property
The congress shall make no law by which the private property of a Citizen shall be taken and given to another Citizen, corporation, or organization. Although the Federal Government shall retain the power of Eminent Domain, any property taken under that power, must be held for the free use of the Citizenry for a term of no less than 25 years.
The Definition of Public Good
History has shown us that the Public Good in America is ensured only by the guarantee of the smallest, least personally intrusive Federal Government possible. Thus the Congress shall make no law creating or sustaining any federal agency not directly related to, and budgeted as a part of, the National Defense, the regulation of Interstate Commerce, the regulation of immigration, the protection of the borders and establishment of ports, the collection of tariffs on foreign goods, and the provision of the census.
The Definition of Interstate Commerce
Interstate Commerce shall be defined solely as goods or services which cross the boundary of a state within the purview of the United States. The Congress shall make no laws redefining this definition, nor shall they make law regulating commerce which does not meet this requirement.
Abolition of the Federal Reserve and Restoration of the Gold Standard
The Currency of the United States, being of utter concern to the Nation; the Congress shall make no law establishing any outside agency to create, distribute or in any way control the monetary funds of the United States. All such currency shall be based on the value of gold held in reserve to establish said currency. That rate of exchange to be set at $1,000 per Troy Ounce of Gold. The Congress shall make no law changing this definition of value.
Single Issue Bills
The Congress shall pass no bill into law which contains any clause, amendment, or rider not directly related to the title and purpose of the bill.
Public Knowledge of Legislation
The Congress must publish the full and complete text of all bills, in full legal form, and in "plain language" form, to the public for a minimum of 14 days before a final vote may be taken. A formal Declaration of War is exempted from this requirement. For the purpose of this amendment, publishing requires the dissemination of the materials through a media that can reach at least 50% of the citizenry within 24 hours.
Require Roll-Call Votes on All Bills
The final passage of all bills must be taken by roll-call vote and the results of that vote must be made public within 24 hours of the vote. For the purpose of this amendment, publishing requires the dissemination of the materials through a media that can reach at least 50% of the citizenry within 24 hours.
Establishment of the House of Abrogation
This amendment creates a new House of Abrogation in the Legislature. The House of Abrogation will be peopled by one Councilor from each State of the Union, and shall serve for a term of three years. Each Councilor will be sworn into duty with the same oath of office as used for the members of the Senate. The House of Abrogation shall meet under the same conditions as the current House of Representatives, and will elect a Speaker from the majority party. It is the duty of the House of Abrogation to consider, debate, and vote upon the dissolution of laws that are currently in place. Upon a simple majority vote, the Councilors will send to President an Order of Abrogation naming the Law to be removed from the books. In the same manner as a Bill, the President shall have the right of Veto over the Order of Abrogation. Should a two-thrids vote of the House of Abrogation override said veto, the law shall be stricken. If the President approves, via signature, the Order of Abrogation, the law shall be stricken. If the President vetoes the Order of Abrogation, he must return it to the House of Abrogation with a written explanation for his veto.
Federal Term Limits
No person shall serve in the House of Representatives, the House of Abrogation, or the Senate for more than a term of 12 years, combined.
Identification of Citizens for Voting
The right of a democratic vote being paramount among the citizenry, and the need of said vote to be correctly enumerated and as free from fraud as possible, it is hereby established that no person shall be allowed to vote in any Federal Election save that they provide reasonable proof of their identity, the least of which to include some form of photographic evidence by which their appearance can be established as the owner of said identity. Each State shall provide such identification for all of their confirmed citizens, and shall include a means of verification of proper and currently eligible Citizen lists to their polling places.
Abolish Non-Discretionary Budgeting
The Congress shall pass no law establishing any policy, program, agency, or department for which the budget is set for a term of longer than one year. All spending and budgeting must be open to debate and vote each and every budget year.
English as the Official Language
English is hereby declared as the single, standard language of all functions of the Federal Government.
Restriction of Debate
The Congress shall pass no law which in any way restricts the future debate of any law, motion, or proclamation passed by Congress.
Abolition of Entitlements
The Congress shall make no law which distributes funds to any individual Citizen, group, corporation, organization, or other entity, save for the purchase of goods or services rendered.
Limitation of Treaties
The President and Congress shall not make the United States party to any treaty that shall infringe on the sovereignty of the United States and its citizenry. Nor shall any treaty or agreement place the armed forces of the United States under the control of any foreign power. Any treaty already entered which violates this amendment shall be declared null and void.
Federal Funding to States Restricted to Block Grants
The Congress shall pass no law funding any program to the States save that it be funded through a single payment made on a per capita assessment of the population of the State. The Congress shall attach no conditions, rules, or assessment to such funding of the States. Given that the People are more responsive to the government of their local State; the Administration of said programs shall be reserved to the States alone.
The Second Bill of Rights
The Balanced Budget
The Congress shall pass no budget which exceeds the collected receipts of that budget year, save in times of Declared War. The Congress shall pass no law or order that assumes a debt for a term in excess of 15 years.
Repeal of the 16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment to the Constitution is hereby repealed.
Revocation of All Direct Taxation of Citizens
The Congress shall pass no law directly taxing the Citizens of the United States, its Corporations, Businesses, or other entities. The powers of Taxation are left to the States alone.
Establishment of a National Sales Tax
The States shall provide to the Federal Government, a portion of the Revenue of all final sales which occur within their border. This revenue shall not include the purchase of unprepared foodstuffs and medicinal or medical items required by the order of physician. The Congress shall not pass any laws either adding to or subtracting from the list of items subject to this taxation.
The amount of this taxation shall be initially set at 18% of the cost of the goods.
The Congress shall not be enabled to increase this rate, save through the process of a National Referendum, requiring a majority of the citizenry of the United States to approve of such an increase. No such restriction shall be placed on the reduction of said rate.
The States shall provide this revenue to Federal Government once per quarter-year, or more often at the State's discretion.
The Right to Own Property
The congress shall make no law by which the private property of a Citizen shall be taken and given to another Citizen, corporation, or organization. Although the Federal Government shall retain the power of Eminent Domain, any property taken under that power, must be held for the free use of the Citizenry for a term of no less than 25 years.
The Definition of Public Good
History has shown us that the Public Good in America is ensured only by the guarantee of the smallest, least personally intrusive Federal Government possible. Thus the Congress shall make no law creating or sustaining any federal agency not directly related to, and budgeted as a part of, the National Defense, the regulation of Interstate Commerce, the regulation of immigration, the protection of the borders and establishment of ports, the collection of tariffs on foreign goods, and the provision of the census.
The Definition of Interstate Commerce
Interstate Commerce shall be defined solely as goods or services which cross the boundary of a state within the purview of the United States. The Congress shall make no laws redefining this definition, nor shall they make law regulating commerce which does not meet this requirement.
Abolition of the Federal Reserve and Restoration of the Gold Standard
The Currency of the United States, being of utter concern to the Nation; the Congress shall make no law establishing any outside agency to create, distribute or in any way control the monetary funds of the United States. All such currency shall be based on the value of gold held in reserve to establish said currency. That rate of exchange to be set at $1,000 per Troy Ounce of Gold. The Congress shall make no law changing this definition of value.
Single Issue Bills
The Congress shall pass no bill into law which contains any clause, amendment, or rider not directly related to the title and purpose of the bill.
Public Knowledge of Legislation
The Congress must publish the full and complete text of all bills, in full legal form, and in "plain language" form, to the public for a minimum of 14 days before a final vote may be taken. A formal Declaration of War is exempted from this requirement. For the purpose of this amendment, publishing requires the dissemination of the materials through a media that can reach at least 50% of the citizenry within 24 hours.
Require Roll-Call Votes on All Bills
The final passage of all bills must be taken by roll-call vote and the results of that vote must be made public within 24 hours of the vote. For the purpose of this amendment, publishing requires the dissemination of the materials through a media that can reach at least 50% of the citizenry within 24 hours.
Establishment of the House of Abrogation
This amendment creates a new House of Abrogation in the Legislature. The House of Abrogation will be peopled by one Councilor from each State of the Union, and shall serve for a term of three years. Each Councilor will be sworn into duty with the same oath of office as used for the members of the Senate. The House of Abrogation shall meet under the same conditions as the current House of Representatives, and will elect a Speaker from the majority party. It is the duty of the House of Abrogation to consider, debate, and vote upon the dissolution of laws that are currently in place. Upon a simple majority vote, the Councilors will send to President an Order of Abrogation naming the Law to be removed from the books. In the same manner as a Bill, the President shall have the right of Veto over the Order of Abrogation. Should a two-thrids vote of the House of Abrogation override said veto, the law shall be stricken. If the President approves, via signature, the Order of Abrogation, the law shall be stricken. If the President vetoes the Order of Abrogation, he must return it to the House of Abrogation with a written explanation for his veto.
Federal Term Limits
No person shall serve in the House of Representatives, the House of Abrogation, or the Senate for more than a term of 12 years, combined.
Identification of Citizens for Voting
The right of a democratic vote being paramount among the citizenry, and the need of said vote to be correctly enumerated and as free from fraud as possible, it is hereby established that no person shall be allowed to vote in any Federal Election save that they provide reasonable proof of their identity, the least of which to include some form of photographic evidence by which their appearance can be established as the owner of said identity. Each State shall provide such identification for all of their confirmed citizens, and shall include a means of verification of proper and currently eligible Citizen lists to their polling places.
Abolish Non-Discretionary Budgeting
The Congress shall pass no law establishing any policy, program, agency, or department for which the budget is set for a term of longer than one year. All spending and budgeting must be open to debate and vote each and every budget year.
English as the Official Language
English is hereby declared as the single, standard language of all functions of the Federal Government.
Restriction of Debate
The Congress shall pass no law which in any way restricts the future debate of any law, motion, or proclamation passed by Congress.
Abolition of Entitlements
The Congress shall make no law which distributes funds to any individual Citizen, group, corporation, organization, or other entity, save for the purchase of goods or services rendered.
Limitation of Treaties
The President and Congress shall not make the United States party to any treaty that shall infringe on the sovereignty of the United States and its citizenry. Nor shall any treaty or agreement place the armed forces of the United States under the control of any foreign power. Any treaty already entered which violates this amendment shall be declared null and void.
Federal Funding to States Restricted to Block Grants
The Congress shall pass no law funding any program to the States save that it be funded through a single payment made on a per capita assessment of the population of the State. The Congress shall attach no conditions, rules, or assessment to such funding of the States. Given that the People are more responsive to the government of their local State; the Administration of said programs shall be reserved to the States alone.
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The Second Bill of Rights
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