Reforming Washington
November 7, 2017 at 7:29 p.m.
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As part of my series of letters on reforming Washington, D.C., I would like to present these proposals which address the U.S Senate.
1. The third senator – Each state should receive an additional senator by the means of popular election. This would further strengthen the voice of each state in our nation's capital. Plus, since it is next to impossible to gerrymander a state like congressional districts, a third senator along with other senate races would be a more accurate measure of overall voter preferences in that state. An extra U.S senator along with term limits and other needed reforms would increase the chances of a more diversified political field from each state in regards to its at-large representatives.
2. Restoring pre-17th Amendment senators – In order to help restore the balance between the states and the federal government, a fourth senator from each state would be appointed by a rotating lottery or bipartisan supermajority vote of their peers in their respective state legislatures to represent the interests of those legislatures and states at a national level. This would help in bringing back some of the checks and balances that existed between the states and federal government before the adoption of the 17th Amendment in 1913.
3. Vacancy appointments – If a Senate seat is unfilled due to the resignation, death, or the arrest and criminal conviction of a U.S. senator, that vacant seat would be filled by a special election of voters in that state if it is for a popularly elected senator. An appointed senator vacancy would be decided by a special session of the respective state legislature.
4. State tribunes – A third chamber of the Congress would be created and would take the form of a Tribune Assembly. The purpose of this assembly would be to veto by a supermajority vote unconstitutional and detrimental legislation passed by the Senate and House of Representatives. One state tribune would be directly elected by the people in that state, while the second would be appointed by supermajority vote of their peers in their respective state legislature. A third tribune would be an ordinary citizen selected by lottery. Their terms in office would be a year or two before coming up for election, appointment or lottery. This chamber, along with a presidential veto and the U.S. Supreme Court, would act as an additionally needed check and balance in the federal government.
My next letter on this subject will address reforms for the U.S House of Representatives.
Alexander Houze
Leesburg
As part of my series of letters on reforming Washington, D.C., I would like to present these proposals which address the U.S Senate.
1. The third senator – Each state should receive an additional senator by the means of popular election. This would further strengthen the voice of each state in our nation's capital. Plus, since it is next to impossible to gerrymander a state like congressional districts, a third senator along with other senate races would be a more accurate measure of overall voter preferences in that state. An extra U.S senator along with term limits and other needed reforms would increase the chances of a more diversified political field from each state in regards to its at-large representatives.
2. Restoring pre-17th Amendment senators – In order to help restore the balance between the states and the federal government, a fourth senator from each state would be appointed by a rotating lottery or bipartisan supermajority vote of their peers in their respective state legislatures to represent the interests of those legislatures and states at a national level. This would help in bringing back some of the checks and balances that existed between the states and federal government before the adoption of the 17th Amendment in 1913.
3. Vacancy appointments – If a Senate seat is unfilled due to the resignation, death, or the arrest and criminal conviction of a U.S. senator, that vacant seat would be filled by a special election of voters in that state if it is for a popularly elected senator. An appointed senator vacancy would be decided by a special session of the respective state legislature.
4. State tribunes – A third chamber of the Congress would be created and would take the form of a Tribune Assembly. The purpose of this assembly would be to veto by a supermajority vote unconstitutional and detrimental legislation passed by the Senate and House of Representatives. One state tribune would be directly elected by the people in that state, while the second would be appointed by supermajority vote of their peers in their respective state legislature. A third tribune would be an ordinary citizen selected by lottery. Their terms in office would be a year or two before coming up for election, appointment or lottery. This chamber, along with a presidential veto and the U.S. Supreme Court, would act as an additionally needed check and balance in the federal government.
My next letter on this subject will address reforms for the U.S House of Representatives.
Alexander Houze
Leesburg
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