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Plan for a U.S. Citizens' Ballot Initiatives Amendment

To Curb Special Interests’ Influence over Congress and

Improve Representative Government

Citizens for U.S. Direct Initiatives, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation©2003-2008 www.InitiativesAmendment.org

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Presentation Objectives Present the Concept

Inform

Strengthen Concept

Avoiding Pitfalls

Handouts:

15 copies of 5-page summary

5 copies of 10-page State Bill with Amendment

One copy of Amendment References 1 and 2

Please Raise Questions at Any Time

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Source of Problem, Availability of Solution

1. Cause is Special Interests’ Excessive Influence Made possible by Expensive and Persuasive Media

Lobbyists & $$$,$$$,$$$,$$$.$$

Congress Cannot Change Itself—or Fix Problem

2. No Solution is Currently Available Constitution did not incorporate a direct solution

But, Constitution did provide a means to a solution

2,500 years ago Athenians invented democracy

Juries of randomly selected citizensJuries of randomly selected citizens A majority vote of the people made important decisions. A majority vote of the people made important decisions. A randomly-selected 500-citizen grand jury, called a A randomly-selected 500-citizen grand jury, called a BouleBoule

in Greek, reviewed the issues proposed by in Greek, reviewed the issues proposed by ho ho boulomenosboulomenos "anyone who wishes", i.e., individual citizens. "anyone who wishes", i.e., individual citizens.

The Boule decided which issues were important enough The Boule decided which issues were important enough to be determined by majority vote of the to be determined by majority vote of the ecclesiaecclesia, the , the "entire electorate". "entire electorate".

This is origin of the Athenian initiatives system, which they This is origin of the Athenian initiatives system, which they considered the incorruptible cornerstone of democracy.considered the incorruptible cornerstone of democracy.

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Form of Solution1. Some One Must Have Congressional Oversight

Congress cannot do it President, Judiciary, States cannot do it Appointed or elected commission cannot do it This leaves only the people

2. Oversight by People’s Vote—Election of Politicians—is a Nonstarter due to Special Interests’ Control of Most Candidates

3. There remains only Power of Initiatives Not state-style initiatives—they are easily corrupted Must be entirely managed by a large grand jury of the

people that cannot be corrupted Constitutionally OK upon passage of Amendment

Boule Qualifies U.S. Initiatives

A 160-Member Citizens’ Assembly in B.C. Canada, Jan to Nov 20046

Boule i.e., Citizens' Initiatives Assembly

1. An Boule of 480 randomly-selected private Citizens will choose the best proposed Initiatives after deliberation, elimination, expert help, feedback, small-group discussion, etc.

2. The Boule may suggest corrections or improvements to the Authors and the Authors may re-propose their Initiative.

3. A Boule can do this job well.7

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What Will It Mean to Citizens?

Groups of Citizens (often highly qualified) and Groups of Citizens (often highly qualified) and organizations organizations can propose Initiatives for::

Federal legislation and

Constitutional amendments.

By publishing them in By publishing them in a specific newspaper, category, day of the week., day of the week.

Initiatives, modifications and Initiatives, modifications and comments searchable on-line at Boule's web site. Boule's web site.

Citizens and organizations improve Citizens and organizations improve Initiatives by feedback.

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Constitutional Amendment Method

First Method: Initiated by the U.S. Congress It simply is not feasible for this Amendment.

Second Method: Initiated by the States with the applications of two-thirds of the State legislatures calling for a Convention of the states

This is feasible

Congress cannot prevent if (but the can delay or preempt)

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How to Make it Happen

Subtlety rather than brute force.Subtlety rather than brute force.

Take advantage of Internet.Take advantage of Internet.

Get one state to have a referendumGet one state to have a referendum

Will open up nationwide debateWill open up nationwide debate

Frustration with Congress is highFrustration with Congress is high

The voters want Initiatives by 3 for vs. 1 against The voters want Initiatives by 3 for vs. 1 against

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Basic Schematic for Basic Schematic for Implementation by Implementation by State Legislation, State Legislation,

Referendum, Referendum, and Initiativeand Initiative

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What’s Lined Up Against?

1. Federal power—but can backfire if it reinforces the need for the Amendment

2. Opposition by many special interest groups

3. Political parties perpetuating status quo—but can backfire if rank-and-file support the Amendment

4. Negative experiences with state signature-petition initiatives—offset by Boule qualification

5. $$$,$$$,$$$.$$

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What Do States Think?

1. Neat idea

2. Nice to have a Bill not for personal benefit

3. Complicated—lot of legal review needed

4. Worth considering—will take time

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What’s In It for State Legislators?

1. Protect people’s rights—doing their job properly

2. Stop federally mandated programs, hidden tax

3. Limit unreasonable strings on federal funds

4. Align with popular issue; 3-to-1 voter support of nationwide initiatives

5. Federal term limits open-up federal elections

6. Regain state leadership on constitutional issues

7. Political and financial risks are minimal

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What are Our Chances?1. Realistically, it’s a hard job

2. Up side improves if: Just one state has a referendum, it is in play—current hope A few big names take it up… Congress protests too much—proves need President decides U.S. needs a democracy statement Voters approve referendum by large margin Comparison debate with NI4D (Sen. Mike Gravel) Internet blogs take off Serendipity

3. If we do nothing, we lose. No other meaningful solution plans on offer

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Thank you