A proposed 28th Amendment to the US Constitution to address campaign finance reform, media and corporate influence, term limits, corruption and congressional behavior.
Section 1A citizen may donate only to a candidate for whom that citizen is eligible to vote.
A candidate may only receive funds and assistance from United States citizens who are eligible to vote for that candidate.
A citizen is limited to a total donation for any political purposes to two thousand U.S. dollars per two year election cycle. Donations may not be taxed. The maximum donation may be adjusted by the Senate from time to time to account only for changes in monetary valuation. At no time may an adjustment cause the maximum to exceed the adjusted value of two thousand U.S. dollars set on January 1st, 2020. It may, however, be less by one hundred U.S. dollars adjusted for value.
Regarding all events involved in indirect political influence and campaign finance; there can be no involvement, influence or existence of any entity, organization or interest other than a U.S citizen donating directly to or volunteering to serve a candidate for whom they are eligible to vote. A candidate may use these funds for campaign infrastructure and candidate promotion. Nothing in this section (1) is to be construed to limit a citizen from directing their personal funds in support of an issue, however these funds may not contradict the statements of the first 3 paragraphs of this section (1) being otherwise limited to factual information dissemination.
A candidate may donate to themselves, for the purpose of seeking elected office, and others up to their maximum as described in section 1 paragraph 3.
Congress will enact legislation creating and financing a central entity for collection, distribution and accounting of donated funds, but all actions of this entity will be uniform for all citizens. Records of donations and expenditures will not be available for public scrutiny prior to completion of the specific election, after which all records are to be publicly available excluding names of citizen donors. Records will be kept for a minimum of two years and no longer than three years following the election for which the donation was made unless an extension is requested by warrant approved by one third of the Senate for investigation of impropriety. This extension shall not exceed five years following the election for which the donation was made.
The Federal Government may, through appropriate legislation, create a general fund for federal campaign assistance but such legislation must be uniform for all citizens and may not exceed limits outlined in Section 1 paragraph three of this Article. This paragraph may supersede section 1 paragraph two only for the intent of this paragraph (7). No law made under this paragraph shall be valid for longer than four years from the date of enactment, but may be renewed by current legislation.
Section 2Federally regulated or publicly owned media and/or information organizations shall make no statements of support, speculation or rhetorical observation regarding any candidate, issue or involved citizen within one hundred and twenty days prior to the referenced election.
Section 3A citizen may not declare, campaign or otherwise publicly pursue an elected office while holding any Federal or State elected office. Exceptions are citizens seeking reelection for their current office, the Vice President seeking the Presidency and Amendment XXII section 1.
Citizens serving more than six years total as a Member of Congress are prohibited from holding a position of leadership in Congress. This shall be waived only in the event of inadequate availability of members serving less than six years as a Member of Congress. These Members shall be selected as outlined in Section 4 of this Article and will be considered as "Acting" leaders until a qualified Member of Congress shall become available.
Section 4Congressional Committees are assigned by names drawn from a hat after having been placed in the hat by the Congress Member desiring to serve on the committee. This shall proceed through uniform process. Vacancies will be filled in a similar fashion. Committee leadership is selected by committee members through the same process as committee membership. Unfilled positions will be assigned by the House Speaker or Senate Leader only after the above fails to complete committee membership and leadership. Membership will be distributed equally regarding number of committees joined and served, within one.
A process for removal of committee members and leadership shall be created by the respective Houses and shall be uniform for all committees within the respective house. A member may not be removed solely on the basis of philosophical difference.
Section 5Any citizen serving in Congress may receive no benefit, direct or indirect, from any entity or organization for which they participated in legislation during their time of service, and for a period of three years after leaving congress, excluding their position of previous occupation under similar circumstances. This restriction may be waived on approval of three quarters of the members of the ethics committee, tallied publicly by yeas or nays, in the House in which the member served.
Upon completion of service, Members of the U.S. House and Senate shall be offered continued compensation equal to compensation received during their last year of service. If accepted, this gratuity shall begin the day after their last day of service and end after three hundred ninety two days paid every fourteen days. Citizens may accept this compensation only one time regardless of the number of times or office to which a citizen is elected and if acceptance is delayed by the member it shall begin the day after acceptance and end after 392 days from their last day of service. This gratuity shall be waived upon impeachment and/or removal or upon agreement of three quarters of the members of the Ethics Committee from the house in which they served, tallied publicly by yeas and nays with a decision made within twenty one days from the issue being formally raised for investigation by any Congress Member plus one fifth of the members of the respective Ethics Committee. A decision by the committee regarding interruption of this compensation is limited to payment by the member, back to the United States, of past post service compensation and, if so decided, discontinuation of any future compensation, from a date agreed to by a majority of the committee.
The decision of the Ethics committee regarding Section 5 paragraphs one and two of this Article may be over ruled by a vote of two thirds of the respective House Members, tallied publicly, by Yeas and Nays. The process for requesting such a vote shall be uniform within each House for all living members past and present.
States may make their own rules regarding compensation upon leaving office but may not exceed federal limits.
Section 6Congress shall have the power to enforce this Article by appropriate legislation.
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