Constitutional Convention Project
Proposed Amendments to the
Constitution of the United States of America
Project wherein I propose various necessary amendments to the constitution of the United States. Please share and distribute in order to grow pressure for this to occur. This document is available as a pdf from this link.
I. Introduction
The Constitution of the United States of America is one of the first such constitutions in the modern world, and is currently the oldest written/codified national constitution. Its establishment enshrines not only law by Representative Democracy but also the ability and right of The People to amend it as they see fit.
Yet, while this right to amend our founding document is well established in the document itself and has been used in the past to do that very amending, it has been many decades since the last time an amendment was passed. The most recent amendment was the Equal Rights Amendment, which guarantees equal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex, but it was written in 1923 and did not pass congress until 1972, and included a fateful seven-year ratification deadline intended to subvert its passage, so although it reached the required number of states to ratify, continuing opposition claims the amendment is not lawful and it sat, unpublished, on President Biden’s desk nearly the entirety of his term as President.
One of the problems with amending the constitution is through the prescribed actions for doing so, the first of which is that a proposed amendment must be passed by a full two-thirds of both the House and Senate, then also of the States, and if the American Congress is known for anything it is their inability to get any legislation done, let alone that requiring a supermajority.
Little known to Americans, however, is that the constitution also prescribes an alternative route for amending the constitution, which is to convene a national constitutional convention, called by two-thirds of State legislatures. Though none of the amendments have been passed by a convention, I believe that most people in the United States desire major structural changes to how our country operates, and that circumventing Washington by calling a Constitutional Convention by the States is a very viable prospect which must be undertaken with urgency.
II. Convening A Constitutional Convention
Since State legislatures can also amend the constitution this requires the people to pressure their local and State leaders to actually call for the convention and to actually ratify amendments once this occurs, and to do this in a short period of time in order to actually affect change, and not to embed any fatal language into the amendments which might prevent their passage, such as time restraints for ratification, etc.
Public pressure campaigns by local residents and politicians in every city and state should be directed at members of State legislatures to call for and convene a convention, then monitor and pressure those legislatures to pass the amendments as desired by the people. This can be done through ballot measure locally, on pre-written text for proposed amendments, to hasten, pressure, and guarantee passage of those amendments.
To this end, I have proposed below some amendments which would be helpful to improve the Constitution, as well as some explanations of their intent and effect. Obviously these can and should be modified as thought proper, but an organized and effective committee should standardize and unify the text proposed locally in States, otherwise any variations will give cause for spoiler politicians and duplicitous actors to sabotage the convention and prevent reform.
The constitution is clear that power ultimately resides with THE PEOPLE, not the government or officials in the government, and that the government is meant to be of and for THE PEOPLE, and we hereby reject any opposition to the convening of a constitutional convention and the amending of the constitution. Especially since many of the proposed amendments increase liability for public officials, citizens will need to be especially aggressive in their advocacy and pressure for these amendments to be enacted (I want to be very clear, however, that the use of violence is not moral or productive for these purposes and instead the use of peaceful, civil pressure and civil disobedience can be effective).
III. Proposed Amendments
Amendment 28 — Fair Elections and Corruption
That fair elections and participation by the people in civic affairs is vital for a functioning democracy, the first Tuesday of the month of November shall be reserved as a federal holiday for the holding of elections, that the people may be free to cast votes, but elections are not restricted to this day, as required of the people. Holders of public office, whether elected or appointed, shall also divest from all commercial investments while presiding, and shall not be in receipt of any favor which enriches their material status while in office, except the standard remuneration given by the state. The limit contribution for any ballot campaign shall also be no greater than $1,000 per year per person per cause or candidate, nor for candidates or campaigners to accept greater than this amount per person, and neither through indirect monetary support.
Explanation: Election participation in the United States is increasingly onerous. The United States is a country based on principles of freedom, which onerous election participation laws flout, offensively, and public office is plagued by levels of corruption which threaten to destabilize the Union entirely. This amendment declares one day a year as a Federal holiday to facilitate the holding of elections, requires that all public officials divest from commercial investments while in office, and limits all political contributions for any cause by any one person or group to $1,000 total.
Amendment 29 — Official Conduct
All citizens and residents of the United States are subject to the laws of the United States whether within or without the jurisdiction of the United States. All persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall be granted all rights, privileges, and responsibilities granted by the Constitution. All citizens, duly elected and appointed officers, and military personnel of the United States shall respect the rights and privileges afforded by the Constitution in all peoples and persons without regard to nationality or place of residence. Any officer of the United States found guilty by a jury of peers of denying the people their rights and privileges shall be imprisoned for a period of time no less than five years and is prohibited from holding public office or acting as an agent of the United States in any capacity.
Explanation: Politicians, military personnel, and businesspeople sometimes conduct themselves overseas in ways which would get them time in prison if committed within the borders of the USA, and many serious atrocities have been committed by US citizens and remain unaddressed. This amendment extends the requirement that all persons of US citizenship conduct themselves lawfully whether they are here or abroad, as well that they treat all other people and populations as if those people also enjoy the rights afforded by the constitution. Additionally, there is currently no penalty for public officials which deny the constitutional rights of people, and this amendment gives them trial by jury, prison time if guilty, and are barred from public office.
Amendment 30 — Make America Healthy Again
That a healthy and contented population is necessary to achieve a more perfect Union, Congress shall provide for the healthcare, education, protection, and redresses of the people from harms to their persons and property. Congress shall also not make any law prohibiting the regulation of pollutants, chemicals, synthetics, and other manmade products, but shall regulate and remediate chemicals and products which are toxic to both human and animal life, and shall not prohibit the cultivation and use of natural products, but shall retain the right to regulate natural products so long as regulation does not preclude access by the people.
Explanation: One of the primary reasons we have so much unaddressed disease is rampant presence of toxic products in the food supply, synthetic chemicals, and lack of access to healthcare. This amendment requires, however, that congress not only address public physical health but also education and protection, which the government is not currently required to do, as well as forcing executive branches in the Federal and State governments to prosecute crime, rather than leaving it up to their discretion, which so often goes unprosecuted. As politicians also often try to prevent use of natural medicines or products, this also prevents them from outlawing use of natural products, but retains the right to regulate them, so long as the regulation does not also prevent access.
Amendment 31 — Consumer Protection and Anti-monopoly
That consumer participation and fair business practice are vital for a healthy economy and the prosperity of the people, Congress shall establish and maintain a competent and effective Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the chief executive officer of which shall be elected by popular vote of the people, to serve a term of six years. Mergers and acquisitions in private business are also not lawful, and no private company shall be allowed to purchase another or otherwise merge their operations, but shall be required to create their own operation if they wish to compete in any sector. It shall also be unlawful for non-government entities to maintain or possess data in excess of one-hundred persons without their express solicitation, and consent given in such cases is not migratory or transferable, and persons found guilty by a jury of their peers for intentionally violating these statues shall be imprisoned for no less than one year.
Explanation: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been an extremely popular government agency, with both sides of the political spectrum utilizing the agency and benefitting from it. But even just a few members of government, especially in the executive branch, can and have obstructed their mission. This permanently establishes the CFPB in the constitution and establishes its head as an elected position so there is less political influence over its operations, and eliminates the processes by which monopolies form, which end up destroying economic progress and quality of life.
Amendment 32 — Quality Infrastructure and Homelessness
Congress shall not make any law which prohibits the Government or the people from owning, developing, promoting, operating, encouraging, studying, or other forms of stakeholdership, housing, business, commerce, transportation, and any and all forms of civic infrastructure. Congress shall consider beautification, style, accessibility, and quality in all infrastructure projects and not only cost and efficiency. Congress shall also provide for the housing and feeding of those whom do not have housing or food, but not require persons to be housed or fed against their will, nor shall the status of being unhoused considered illegal, and shall maintain quality, safe, beautiful, and dignified infrastructure in meeting these obligations.
Explanation: The government is currently outlawed from building housing and other necessary infrastructure. This should instead be available to the people as needed to address problems like homelessness. Government infrastructure is also often offensive aesthetically, and this requires congress to consider other factors like beauty and quality in infrastructure projects. This also requires the government to house those without housing, but outlaws forcing people into houses against their will.
Amendment 33 — Recall Elections and Voting
Congress shall not make any law prohibiting the removal of persons from office by a popular vote from their jurisdiction including, but not limited to, the President, Supreme Court Justices, and members of Congress. Persons in appointed positions may be recalled from office by simple majority popular vote from the jurisdiction over which they preside. A petition for removal from office shall be put to a vote by the people if such proposition is certified by no less than 26% of the voting-age population of their constituency, including verifiable digital signatures, but shall occur at the election every first Tuesday in the month of November. Congress also shall not make any law which prohibits or restricts the right of the people to pass legislation, such as by ballot initiative, by simple majority vote, nor shall be made any law, regulation, or procedure which precludes in principle or practice the good-faith passage of legislation by simple majority vote by the Congress or the people. No officers or electors within political parties either shall be appointed, but in every instance elected also by popular, simple majority vote of its members, nor shall any vote be weighted nor of otherwise greater influence than other member votes. That they will soon become adults and thus have interest in the course of the Union and participation in civic duty, the age of voting eligibility is hereby amended to 16 years.
Explanation: Government officials are generally shielded from recall elections by federal law, or by appointment, which enables corruption and subverts the will of the people. This amendment permanently outlaws any efforts to block recall elections by the people, and establishes that even the President can be recalled. But in order to prevent costly, separate recall elections, it also requires that those recall petitions occur at the yearly November election. This also guarantees the right of the people to enact legislation by ballot initiative or other method, eliminates the filibuster in Congress, and prevents political parties from appointing members or using weighting votes which give preference to insiders and establishmentarians.
Amendment 34 — Tax Equality and Government Funding
The personal income tax rate for personal income greater than $1,000,000 per year shall not be less than 50% in total. Persons with greater than $10,000,000 in total assets shall be taxed yearly at a rate of 10% the amount exceeding $10,000,000. Any estate totaling greater than $10,000,000 shall be taxed at a rate of 50% at bequest. Private businesses with greater than $50,000,000 net profit per year, unamortized, shall not be taxed at a rate less than 35%, unamortized. Congress shall not tax the income required of any persons to afford housing, food, medicine, and utilities in the municipality in which they reside, neither through direct nor indirect schemes, nor shall they tax the income of farmers with a yearly revenue of less than three times that required amount.
Explanation: Currently many very wealthy people pay little or no income tax, while many people cannot afford to pay both bills and taxes, and become trapped in a cycle of onerous tax burden disproportionate to their income level, even if they work full-time, and worst of all if they are disabled. This tax relief helps resolve and balance those disparities and helps better fund the government.
Amendment 35 — Supreme Court, Electoral College, Gerrymandering Reform
There shall be a minimum of members of the Supreme Court as there are regional judicial circuits and their Court of Appeals. As all members of government, Supreme Court Justices are subject to recall and removal from their position by simple majority popular vote. The electoral college is hereby dissolved and the President shall be elected by simple majority popular vote. All congressional districts shall also be drawn as horizontal or vertical rectangles, contiguous or overlapping, overlayed the boundaries of a State, resized and moved, but not rotated, to divide each district into as equitable number of persons as possible.
Explanation: Supreme Court Justices currently enjoy lifetime appointment to the court without threat of removal for corruption or unpopular decisions. Justices should instead be required to prove their commitment to the American people and survive recall elections, and the American people should have the right to remove justices they feel offend their rights and privileges. The President has sometimes lost the popular vote, due to the inequities of the electoral college, and this would rectify that problem. Also, gerrymandering of districts is completely out of control. This instead requires congressional districts to be rectangular in shape, more like a simple grid, which removes most possibility of gerrymandering.
Amendment 36 — Bodily Autonomy, Bail and Prison Reform.
Congress shall not make laws which compel medical procedures, treatments, or other alteration or invasion of a person’s person, nor prevent or impair access to medical treatment, nor force medical professionals to perform medical procedures. That Government can never be fully certain of guilt, and may even have bias against a defendant, a sentence of death or other intentional harm to a person’s body or mind is hereby unlawful, and only Congress and the Executive branch shall build and maintain prisons and other carceral infrastructure and systems, whereby the for-profit operation of prisons, jails, and detention centers, as well as the forced labor of inmates, is strictly prohibited. Bail also shall not be granted to any person arrested on reasonable suspicion of crimes of violence, but anyone arrested of non-violent crime and not deemed a flight-risk shall be released on their own recognizance until trial.
Explanation: Government officials frequently get involved in people’s personal medical decisions, from the forcible fortification of foods, to outlawing of abortion care, to forced fluoridation of the water supply. Concepts of wellness and medicine are often subjective and personal and may or may not cause harm to the general population when forcibly administered by the government. The government can help educate people on the need for medical procedures, but forcibly administering health and medical policy, even if supported by science, can and does potentially cause harm, and people should instead be free to make their own medical decisions without government intervention. While the death sentence is an understandable desire of some victims and justice advocates, wrongful conviction is frighteningly common, and many innocent people have also been executed. The State also sets the level of violence, and demonstrating execution as an acceptable form of punishment leads to more violence in society, not less. There are also many for-profit prisons and corrupt officials who stock those prisons full of innocent people or on exaggerated charges in order to increase profits, and there is no way to maintain objective justice in a for-profit carceral system. This amendment thus finally outlaws the death penalty, for-profit prison system, prison slavery, and bail except in cases of violence.
Amendment 37 — State of Puerto Rico and Unrepresented People.
The island of Puerto Rico shall be admitted membership in the United States as a recognized State with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of statehood. Being also unrepresented in congress, the permanent residents of Washington D. C. shall be represented by the state of Maryland, as if they reside in that state, including commerce and congressional districts, subject to the laws and regulations of Maryland, while non-persons such as infrastructure, security, and maintenance of the District shall be the responsibility of Congress. Residents of territories in the Pacific side of the United States shall be included in representation by the State of Hawaii and its State and Federal representatives and districts, while the residents in territories on the Atlantic side shall be represented through the State of Puerto Rico and its State and Federal representatives and districts.
Explanation: The island of Puerto Rico is home to 3.2 million people! That’s a greater population than States like Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, and even Arkansas! Though the people of Puerto Rico are subject to US law they unconstitutionally cannot vote and are not represented in Congress, which has led to the island being repeatedly exploited and harmed, including the forced accumulation of debt, the forced sterilization of Puerto Rican women, exploitation of labor, and destruction of their natural lands. Residents of Washington D.C. too lack representation, as does every inhabitant of the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Mariana Islands. All residents of these territories will now have representation through the States of Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
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