Government Operations
Summary:
- Clarifies the scope of the Commerce Clause
- Requires the Congress to annually publish data on the size and trends in the growth of the Federal Government
- Precludes the Congress from delegating its Constitutional powers to unelected third parties
- Limits the amount of time Congress can be in session after a budget and enabling appropriations are approved
- Requires the publication of House/Senate conference reports prior to action by both Houses
- Eliminates the practice of Presidential "signing statements" whereby presidents selectively choose which portions of legislation to enforce
- Automatically sunsets all executive branch orders and regulations on their 10th anniversary unless reviewed and re-issued by Congress
- Precludes the president from organizing the Executive branch in such a manner that an advisor requiring Senate confirmation reports to an advisor that does not
- Requires that every federal law cite its Constitutionally enumerated authorizing power.
- Requires all Congressional hearings and committee meetings be open to the public excepting only those involving matters of national security
- Requires all legislation to be written in plain English
- Requires that investable assets of Federal Office holders and spouses be placed in a blind trust for the duration of their term plus 2 years
- Re-affirms the definition and intent of the 10th Amendment
Benefits:
- Limits the ability of Congress to expand and abuse the Commerce Clause as an excuse for the Federal Government to assume roles in areas outside its Consitutionally authorized scope
- Increases transparency in government operations
- Requires that Congress perform its duties; not reassign tough political problems to others
- Requires that member of Congress spend equal time in their districts/States and (when in session) to focus on serious matters of governance rather than political games
- Incentivizes the President to engage with Congress in the drafting of legislation
- Acts to curb excessive regulation (every Congress will have to periodically review/re-authorize all existing regulation)
- Restricts the President from constructing an extra-governmental staff of salaried "czars" that supervise legally authorized government operations
- Eliminates the ability for ALL federal office holders to profit from direct investments based on inside knowledge of policies, contracts, etc.
- Reaffirms the limitations and role of the Federal Government outside its specifically enumerated powers in the Constitution