Congress must once again be accountable to the people and obedient to the Constitution, repealing all laws that delegate legislative powers to regulatory agencies, bureaucracies, private organizations, the Federal Reserve Board, international agencies, the president, and the judiciary.
THE PRINCIPLES
U.S. Constitution, Article 6, Clause 3:
“The Senators and Representatives… shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution . . .”
The Congress of these United States has become an overpaid, overstaffed, self-serving institution.
It confiscates taxpayer funds to finance exorbitant and unconstitutionally determined salaries, pensions, and perks. Most members of Congress have become more accountable to the Washington establishment than to their constituents. Both chambers of Congress are all too often unresponsive and irresponsible, arrogantly placing themselves above the very laws they enact, and beyond the control of the citizens they have sworn to represent and serve.
It is time for the American people to renew effective supervision of their public servants, to restore right standards, and to take back the government.
THE PROBLEM
The U.S. Constitution, as originally framed in Article I, Section 3, provided for U.S. Senators to be chosen by state legislators. This provided the states direct representation in the legislative branch so as to deter the usurpation of powers that are constitutionally reserved to the states or to the people.
The Seventeenth Amendment changed this by providing for the direct, popular election of U.S. Senators. This effectively removed state government representation in the federal legislative process, destroying a vital check and balance on federal power designed by the Framers of Constitution.
Since the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment, Congress has usurped power relatively unchecked. Very few members of Congress make it through a single session without violating their oath of office to the Constitution.
THE SOLUTION
It is vital that Americans repeal the Seventeenth Amendment, if the U.S. Senate is to return to being a body which truly represents the legislatures of each individual state at the federal level.
This will return the function of electing the Senate back to the state legislatures and will restore the checks and balances of power, which our Constitution originally provided.
The result will be that all current powers, programs, and sources of revenue that the federal government has unconstitutionally appropriated will be returned to the states and the people of the states under the Tenth Amendment.
THE CONSTITUTION PARTY COMMITTMENT
The Constitution Party will:
- We support legislation to prohibit the attachment of unrelated riders to bills. Any amendments must fit within the scope and object of the original bill.
- We support legislation to require that the Congressional Record contain an accurate record of proceedings. Members of Congress are not to be permitted to rewrite the speeches delivered during the course of debates, or other remarks offered from the floors of their respective houses; nor may any additional materials be inserted in the Record, except those referred to in the speaker’s presentation and for which space is reserved.
- Abolish Congressional Pensions and Benefits. We seek to abolish Congressional pensions and other benefits that extend beyond their term in office and favor a conflict-of-interest provision that prevents former congressmen from lobbying for two years after leaving office.
