What amendments would you make to the American constitution?

[Siege]

I'm not sure "regulatory power back to Congress" is necessary.  I think they have that power now.  You know, um, the one where they have the power to pass laws?

The executive branch regulates. Congress legislates.
Congress needs to do both.

[Valmy]

The executive branch regulates. Congress legislates.
Congress needs to do both.

How exactly would Congress do that?

[Ideologue]

I'm not sure "regulatory power back to Congress" is necessary.  I think they have that power now.  You know, um, the one where they have the power to pass laws?

The executive branch regulates. Congress legislates.
Congress needs to do both.

You realize that all regulations are subordinate to laws, right?  If Congress doesn't like a reg, they already have the power to abolish it.

Also, I guess Congress needs a staff of about 2 million personnel?

[Tonitrus]

The executive branch regulates. Congress legislates.
Congress needs to do both.

How exactly would Congress do that?

Thinking about it, I think that idea would make Congress-critters even far more corrupt than ever.

Rep. Bob Moneyinmypants has to go and inspect the local chicken plant for health violations?  Cuts out the bribery middleman, I suppose.

[CountDeMoney]

Thinking about it, I think that idea would make Congress-critters even far more corrupt than ever.

Rep. Bob Moneyinmypants has to go and inspect the local chicken plant for health violations?  Cuts out the bribery middleman, I suppose.

So, more like state governments like Texas, Nevada and West Virginia.

[Valmy]

So, more like state governments like Texas, Nevada and West Virginia.

We provide shareholder value!

[Barrister]

So what changes would I suggest?

Delete Amendments 1-10.

Yes, I'm serious, and stop calling me Shirley.

Beyond that - get rid of current government structure and replace with Westminster parliamentary democracy.

[Martinus]

no more than two terms in senate

no more than two terms for house

no more than 12 years total time in house/senate

Why would anyone run? "I just wanted to take several years away from my money making career in the private sector to sure that my skills deteriorated and that younger, hungrier folks could take my job."

It shouldn't be a career. It should be treated like a activation in the reserves/NG

That would result in only rich and old becoming lawmakers which is not good.

I would prefer elections by sortition to that.

[MadImmortalMan]

Thinking about it, I think that idea would make Congress-critters even far more corrupt than ever.

Rep. Bob Moneyinmypants has to go and inspect the local chicken plant for health violations?  Cuts out the bribery middleman, I suppose.

So, more like state governments like Texas, Nevada and West Virginia.

You know, the guy in the cowboy hat in the movie Casino was modeled after Harry Reid, who was the gaming commissioner at the time? We can't win. Vote for a mormon or a douche. Or a mormon douche.

[Martinus]

My ideal legislative system:

- the first parliament is selected, entirely, by sortition, from all citizens; no circuits, states etc. - the entire nation is the pool to select from;
- after that, each year a national election is held, where all current members of the parliament are on the ballot (again, at the national level - no circuits etc.); each voter has one positive and one negative vote, which can be given to any of the current parliament members;
- the top one third who get the most positive votes (a negative vote cancels a positive vote) stay for another year; the remaining two thirds are replaced by sortition from the entire populace, with the bottom one third not being eligible to be selected for another X (10?) years (my initial, blood thirsty thought was that they are executed but that would be too much );
- the parliamentary service is like a jury duty or conscription (so you cannot get out of it unless you have a very good reason; but your job is protected at your original work place); each member of parliament is paid a salary by the government.

This idea ensures adequate representation (that is why you no longer need elections at the circuit level - since sortition ensures that all parts of the country and all social groups, minorities etc. should be statistically represented) and deals with the millennia-old problem that those who desire the power the most should not wield it. At the same time, keeping the top one third each year ensures some continuity and grandfathering by more experienced MPs.

Edit: The negative vote is there to punish extremists and in fact, on second thought, there is a corollary that only those with more positive than negative votes can stay for another term - and if there isn't enough MPs like that in the top one third, you select the rest by sortition as well.

[Josquius]

Get rid of the gun shit and the electoral college.
Add AV.

[Razgovory]

So did we just decide to put all the bad ideas into one thread?

[jimmy olsen]

So did we just decide to put all the bad ideas into one thread?

Which of my ideas do you think are bad?

[Monoriu]

Do we have enough languish lawyers to form a US supreme court?  Martinus, BB, Ide, Crazy Canuck, JR, American Scipio, Rasputin, Gups, Sheibh.  I wonder how this court will vote on things like abortion.

[Martinus]

Is Sheilbh a lawyer now? Did I miss something?

I suppose the court would find a compromise by:

1) banning depictions of vaginal sex as offensive to women;
2) ordering mandatory abortions for certain groups of people; and
3) banning abortions otherwise.