The Constitution - Full Text | The National Constitution Center (for your reading pleasure)
Back when the constitution was new, the country was 13 states that had been 13 colonies whose loyalty was to their owner nation. Each colony wished to maintain it's special individuality. The constitution, which was always more compromise (to get the approval of 13 varied colony's leaders) than work of brilliance. The idea of a country without a monarch was very new, with most pointing to Ancient Greece and it's republic as the only example of a non-monarchy in existence---ever. They knew nothing except European practices after the Church.
Yet, here we are, 246 years later, still acting like our government is the cat's pajamas.
We can AND should do better.
1. The checks and balances of a three part leadership of the country is fine, but why is the executive branch appointing the Top of the Judicial Branch---for life. No one should get handed a lifetime guaranteed job. AND the people should vote these people in with 8 year terms and NO second terms.
2. The President should remain 4 years with one possible second term but the qualifications need to include a thorough background check, tax audit, AND a sitting president needs to have ALL assets (except one home and one vehicle) placed by the country in a holding status for the duration of their presidency, no access to any family members. Also, no family members, including in-laws can work for the president/white house or hold appointed positions in his cabinet/advisors. Presidential elections need to be a national primary with ranked voting followed by a November election between the TOP TWO primary winners. Both will be by popular vote, so that each citizen has one vote equal to every other citizen's vote. Every Citizen, upon achieving both age 18 AND U.S. citizenship status shall be registered. Every Citizen shall receive a government photo ID for free that is provided upon the same date.
To clarify, while States still will run state elections, National elections will be run by the Nation, no more party-run primaries, or caucuses, no more Electoral colleges where states with hardly any people have more power than states with huge populations.
National elections will include President/Vice-President, Supreme Court Justices, all Federal Judges, and the Attorney General every 4 years, Cabinet Members every 4 years (what? oh yeah! no more crap with executive branch putting anti-education folks over education and anti-environmental people over the EPA), Senators (Every 4 years) and representatives (every 4 years). Every candidate for every position will pass the same background check that the presidential and vice-presidential candidates must undergo. No person can run for the same position more than 2 times, whether they win or not.
Monies for all national elections will be be a set amount provided by the US government and Citizens United will be Stopped completely, as will grassroots donations. NO MORE BUYING ELECTIONS! Every Media Organization will be required to provide free and equal time to each candidate. Lying to get elected will not be allowed. Campaigning before Six months prior to the primary will not be allowed. Starting conspiracy theories, spreading untrue rumors about opponent will result in disqualification.
US States - Ranked by Population 2022 (worldpopulationreview.com)
Next up, ungerrymander the country. Either re-divide the states or allow each state 1 senator for every half a million people. then wyoming (the District of columbia, Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware) gets 1 senator, Rhode Island, Montana, New Hampshire, Hawaii, West Virginia, Idaho, Nebraska get 2 senators, New Mexico, Kansas and Mississippi get 3 senators, Arkansas, Iowa, Nevado, Utah and Connecticutt get 4 senators, Oklahoma, Oregon, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Alabama get 5 senators, all the way up to California getting 40 senators. (you could also have the same number of senators as representatives, which would also be by population)
OR, we keep 2 senators per state-district and go for areas with over 30 million million each. With that we get about 11 states. (I've added the District of columbia and Puerto Rico, sense we should not have US citizens with no vote.)
Districts 1 and 2, California and Texas each get 2 senators.
District 3, Florida and Georgia combine to get 2 senators.
District 4, New York and Pennsylvania combine to get 2 senators.
District 5, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio combine to get 2 senators.
District 6, District of Columbia, Virginia and West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina and Puerto Rico combine to get 2 senators.
District 7, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennesse, and Kentucky get 2 senators.
District 8, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho Utah and Hawaii get 2 senators.
District 9, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska get 2 senators.
District 10, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska get 2 senators.
District 11, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticutt, New Jersey, Vermont, Delaware, Rhode Island, Maine, and New Hampshire get 2 senators.
Or, we just eliminate 2 houses of congress, and stick with 4 year terms in the currently apportioned house of representatives and give both the job of the house and the job of the senate to the single house. (K.I.S.S.)
Comments and suggestions welcome.
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