Freedom Amendments (abridged version)

The Freedom Amendments presents a series of amendments to the Constitution which some may consider radical due to the amendments changing the United States government from a presidential system of government into a parliamentary form of government. Some people are not prepared to consider this change for various reasons.

The 16 proposed Freedom Amendments seek to utilize the structure of the existing Constitution by amending it to make these changes. The ultimate and most radical ideas for change are presented in a revision to the U.S. Constitution which repairs many of the minor defects of the original by creating true limits on the national government which are not explicit in the original Constitution.

That said, I have also created what one might call an abridged version of the Freedom Amendments which includes many of the limits on the national government incorporated into the revision to the U.S. Constitution but does not alter the government to a parliamentary type of government. 

Freedom Amendments (abridged)

I.          Every law, or resolution having the force of law, shall relate to but one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title.

II.        The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises to pay the debts and general operation of the government and provide for the common defense of the United States, provided two-thirds of each house of Congress approves, and two-thirds of each House of Congress approves any bill for increasing revenue, and the spending authority of Congress shall be limited to specific enumerated powers in this Constitution. No duties or taxes on importations from foreign nations shall be laid to promote or foster any branch of industry; and all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States.

 

III.       The Congress shall have power to borrow money on the credit of the United States provided two-thirds of each House of Congress approves.

 

IV.       Congress shall have no authority to make any law to interfere in the commerce of the people of the United States or law impairing the obligation of contracts or to mandate actions by any individual including those in furtherance of any economic or commercial policy; to abridge the freedom of production, commerce and the voluntary and free exchange of goods and services or to create, or engage in, any business, professional, commercial, financial or industrial enterprise.

 

V.       The Congress shall have power to declare war, provided two-thirds of each House of Congress approves, and every declaration of war shall expire one year thereafter unless two-thirds of each House of Congress shall authorize an additional year, each year thereafter. Congress shall have no power to authorize any use of military force by any bill, order, resolution or vote other than a declaration of war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay.

 

VI.      The several states may nullify any law of the United States, whenever three-fifths of the legislatures of the several states choose to nullify such law. This must occur within twelve months of the enactment of the law as defined in Article I.

 

VII.     This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; shall adhere to and be interpreted as the organization of the natural right of lawful defense. It is the substitution of a common force for individual forces and this common force is to do only what the individual forces have a natural and lawful right to do: to protect persons, liberties, and properties; to maintain the right of each.

 

VIII.    The sixteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed. The Congress shall have no power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived.

 

IX.      The Senate of the United States shall be composed of three Senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years, with a power reserved to a two-thirds majority of each legislature to recall its Senators, or any of them; and each State shall have one vote except in trials of impeachment when each Senator shall have one vote. They shall be divided equally into three classes, each class composed of one member of each state delegation so that one third may be chosen every second year.

 

X.       The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court consisting of no more than nine judges and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services, a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.

The judges of the Supreme Court shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint the officers in charge of executing the administration of justice for the United States. The officers in charge of executing the administration of justice shall hold their offices during one term of ten years.  

 

XI.      Congress shall have no authority to provide any money to any state or engage with any state to perform any policy, program or other service.

 

XII.     Each state shall have at least three Representatives; and until such enumeration shall be made, shall be apportioned in accordance with the most recent census. No state shall create a legislative district with fewer than three Representatives. Representatives shall be chosen in accordance with the principles of proportional representation.