How About This?
I admire our founding fathers but there are things they did not anticipate happening, like huge bills voted on in Congress that no one has ever read. Something tells me that our Founders, and most later statesmen as well would have been horrified at the mere thought of an unread bill becoming the law of the land.
I don't think they ever considered this possibility.
Another proposed Constitutional Amendment that will never pass.
When a bill is presented to the full House and full Senate for final vote nine tenths of the given house must be present and the bill shall be read aloud in its entirety to the assembled legislators by one or more readers designated by the Speaker of the House or the President of the Senate. The final vote shall be held at least twenty four hours after the reading of the bill is completed except in the case of a declaration of war or response to a major natural disaster which would require an immediate vote. A legislator that was not present for the reading may not vote on that bill. All legislators will be given at least twenty four hour notification prior to such a reading.
They'd hate it. They'd have to know what they were voting for. I'd especially like it if all the readings were live on C-Span.
I don't think they ever considered this possibility.
Another proposed Constitutional Amendment that will never pass.
When a bill is presented to the full House and full Senate for final vote nine tenths of the given house must be present and the bill shall be read aloud in its entirety to the assembled legislators by one or more readers designated by the Speaker of the House or the President of the Senate. The final vote shall be held at least twenty four hours after the reading of the bill is completed except in the case of a declaration of war or response to a major natural disaster which would require an immediate vote. A legislator that was not present for the reading may not vote on that bill. All legislators will be given at least twenty four hour notification prior to such a reading.
They'd hate it. They'd have to know what they were voting for. I'd especially like it if all the readings were live on C-Span.
posted by shoprat at 8:12 PM
16 Comments:
Transparency and accountability, what novel concepts, but you are right, it will never happen.
Shoprat, did you write that?
I like it, except I can't imagine them reading over 1000 pages...I wonder how long that would take? If we actually made the legislators READ ALOUD a 1000 pages THEY WROTE, perhaps they'd keep the bills a little shorter and more pork free just to avoid the reading, eh!? :-)
I think you saw Mr. Z's piece...imagine Germans getting it more right than the country THEY refer to as the 'beacon of light'? (US?) Those were the days.
How about this one? "No bill offered up for a vote before the Senate or House will exceed 100 pages in the main and will have no more that 25 amendments. The total bill with amendments will not exceed 350 pages.
Greywolfe: Let's add that all amendments must be related to the main thesis of the bill.
No more adding an amendment related to ice cream to a bill about horse racing.
Even Obama doesn't know what's in his health bill.
Beth an amendment that limit or add difficulties to the gov't would never pass.
Shoprat Yeah. I'm just bugged about unknown bills passing becoming law.
Greywolfe Page sizes vary too much
Joe That was actually in the Confederate Constitution.
Wordsmith Thus the posting
If they had to sit through the bill being read aloud it would be much shorter and much more concise.
Sorry Z I wrote Shoprat when I meant you.
Let's give them lee-way -(-:
A bill can be 10-30 pages long--
typed double spaced--
and then - read aloud...
I like your Amendment shoprat...
C-CS
short 'n sweet always worked for me....
I admire our founding fathers but there are things they did not anticipate happening...
I agree.
Our Founders believed that elected representatives would take their duties seriously. Most on Capitol Hill do not, IMO. Rather, they are more concerned about their own interests and holding onto a seat of power.
The length of the versions of healthcare reform is absurd! Incorporating that many regulations and details is bound to lead to a screw up.
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There would be an interesting Constitutional challenge since the Constitution states that the Congress has the power to make its own rules.
Probably have to revoke that privilege first.
Ducky, just by being a Constitutional Amendment, the Constitutional question is already answered.
I'd like to see the bills be read TWICE on two separate days, and at least 48 hours AFTER the second reading before they can vote on it. AND NO SPANISH!!!!!!! English ONLY!
How about creating a second Congress?
This congress would not be able to create legislation. Its full time job would be to get rid of existing iegislation. Then they would ferret out all these expired and useless laws which clutter the books.
It would be a nice rule to have in place!
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