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Constitutional Amendment for National Referendum Process
The bill proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would establish a national referendum process, enabling the American people to directly propose and vote on federal laws. Under this amendment, citizens could submit petitions to enact new laws or repeal existing ones, except for specific areas such as declaring war, appropriations, and constitutional amendments. To qualify, a petition must gather signatures from at least 5% of voters in at least 25 states, representing 5% of the total voters nationwide from the most recent presidential election, all collected within 18 months. Once validated by designated congressional officers, the proposed law or repeal would be placed on the ballot in the next federal election held at least 120 days later. If 60% or more of voters approve the measure, it becomes law without needing the President's signature or congressional approval. Additionally, Congress would be restricted from changing or repealing such laws for two years unless by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses. This amendment aims to increase direct democratic participation in federal lawmaking, potentially making the legislative process more responsive to public opinion. However, it also introduces challenges such as ensuring the validity of petitions, managing the complexity of national ballots, and balancing direct democracy with representative governance.
Key Points
Empowers citizens to directly propose and approve federal laws
High signature thresholds and complex validation may limit accessibility
Who's Affected
U.S. Voters
Gain the ability to directly propose and vote on federal laws, increasing their legislative influence
Members of Congress
May see reduced control over lawmaking and face restrictions on altering laws passed by referendum
State Election Officials
Responsible for managing additional ballot measures and verifying petition signatures
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Estimated Impact
HighProbability over time
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