U.S. Constitutional Amendment: Legislative Accountability U.S. Constitution: Article I, Sections 10–16 (Proposed, Effective TBD)

Preamble: The failure of Congress to bring introduced bills to a floor vote has diminished the voice of American citizens, local entities, and states, delaying critical outcomes like infrastructure and healthcare funding (ASCE, 2023). This amendment ensures accountability by compelling votes without mandating passage, with robust safeguards against manipulation and independent triggers to enhance resilience. Section 10: Discharge Petitions by Citizens The people, recognizing a congressional system perceived as unresponsive, may file a discharge petition with the Clerk of the House or Senate requesting that a bill, introduced per Article I, Section 7, with substantive text publicly posted for at least 72 hours (excluding placeholder or shell bills), be brought to a recorded yea/nay roll call vote in the chamber of origin, after debate and amendments per chamber rules that do not extend the 30-session-day deadline or block discharge, defined as rules consistent with House and Senate standing orders as of January 1, 2025. This section preserves Article I, Section 5 discretion (U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton, 514 U.S. 779, 1995). Post-discharge, the bill receives a recorded vote within the session, barring adjournment sine die. The Clerk’s verification and calendaring duties are ministerial, consistent with existing election law (52 U.S.C. § 30101), and subject to judicial review. Verification leverages scalable federal election infrastructure (52 U.S.C. § 30101), with capacity ensured by emergency funding. Judicial review is guaranteed via expedited dockets, ensuring due process under federal standards (Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 1976). Thresholds:

Statutory bills: Signatures equal to or greater than 2% of votes cast in the most recent presidential election.

Constitutional amendments: Signatures equal to or greater than 4% of votes cast in the most recent presidential election.

Signatures must be collected and submitted within 365 calendar days. Verification:

The Clerk verifies petitions using federal election law (52 U.S.C. § 30101), within 30 session days, extendable by 5 for documented capacity constraints, with public audit trail (Young v. U.S., 481 U.S. 787, 1987). Verification timelines and challenge caps are designed to balance efficiency and access, with expedited judicial review ensuring due process. Fees cover actual verification costs, capped at reasonable expenses to ensure accessibility (Citizens United v. FEC, 558 U.S. 310, 2010). Emergency funding under existing federal resources (52 U.S.C. § 30101) addresses high volume, subject to public audit. Challenges are resolved in federal district court on an expedited docket under a clear-and-convincing evidence standard, with frivolous challenges dismissed within 5 session days (FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life, 551 U.S. 449, 2007). Challenges are capped at one per bill per party, total 10 per bill. Follows Intent Clause: Petitions must align with the bill’s original intent (core subject, scope, or effect, objectively verified by the bill’s title, summary, and sponsor’s stated purpose, documented publicly within 5 session days), verified by the Clerk with public audit trail (Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, 1976). Intent verification follows strict, objective criteria to ensure consistency and transparency. Substantive changes (e.g., shifting from healthcare to defense funding) pause discharge until re-attested or aligned. Clerical amendments (e.g., grammar, formatting) do not break intent, verified within 5 session days, subject to a 5-day public objection period. Fallback Clause: Failure of citizen petitions does not affect resolutions under Sections 11–12 (Hollingsworth v. Perry, 570 U.S. 693, 2013). Bill Identity Across Terms: Re-introduced bills with matching intent (title, sponsor, summary) may be relinked via Clerk attestation within 5 session days, subject to 5-day public objection (Buckley, 1976). Discharge Target: Petitions compel committee discharge or floor prioritization within 30 session days. Chamber Sequencing: Petitions apply to the chamber of origin; second chamber gets a new 30-session-day clock post-passage. Calendaring: Certified bills are calendared within 30 session days; otherwise, the Clerk auto-discharges to the floor. Section 11: Resolutions by Local Entities Local entities (counties, cities, towns, tribal governments) may file resolutions, using the Model Resolution format (Appendix A), to compel a bill’s discharge, with substantive text posted for 72 hours. The Clerk’s verification and calendaring duties are ministerial, consistent with existing election law (52 U.S.C. § 30101), and subject to judicial review. Verification leverages scalable federal election infrastructure (52 U.S.C. § 30101), with capacity ensured by emergency funding. Judicial review is guaranteed via expedited dockets, ensuring due process under federal standards (Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 1976). Thresholds:

Statutory bills: Resolutions from at least one-third of eligible entities (counties, cities, towns, tribal governments, as recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau).

Constitutional amendments: Resolutions from at least two-fifths of eligible entities.

Statutory bills: Resolutions from one-third of state legislatures.

Constitutional amendments: Resolutions from two-fifths of state legislatures.

Resolutions must be filed within 365 calendar days. Verification: Clerk verifies within 30 session days, extendable by 5, with public audit trail (Young, 1987). Verification timelines and challenge caps are designed to balance efficiency and access, with expedited judicial review ensuring due process. Fees cover costs, capped at reasonable expenses (Citizens United, 2010). Emergency funding applies. Challenges capped at one per state, total 10 per bill; sanctions under 28 U.S.C. § 1927 (FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life, 2007). Follows Intent Clause: Resolutions align with original intent (core subject, scope, or effect, objectively verified by the bill’s title, summary, and sponsor’s stated purpose, documented publicly within 5 session days), verified by Clerk (Buckley, 1976). Intent verification follows strict, objective criteria to ensure consistency and transparency. Substantive changes pause discharge. Fallback Clause: Failure of state resolutions does not affect other triggers (Hollingsworth, 2013). Bill Identity, Discharge Target, Chamber Sequencing, Calendaring: As in Section 10. Section 13: Non-Interference and Timelines No committee or officer may delay or block a certified bill. If deadlines are missed, the Clerk places the bill on the calendar within 30 session days. Debate and germane amendments are allowed, not extending the clock (U.S. Term Limits, 1995). High volume is mitigated by emergency funding and challenge caps, ensuring legislative function is preserved (Nixon v. United States, 506 U.S. 224, 1993). Non-compliance triggers a public Resolution of Non-Compliance within 3 session days, published in the Congressional Record. Advisory hearings within 7 session days, moderated by an independent panel, are recorded, livestreamed, and archived for 10 years (Young, 1987). Courts enforce via mandamus for willful non-compliance under a clear-and-convincing evidence standard (Young, 1987). Frivolous challenges incur sanctions (28 U.S.C. § 1927). Sine Die and Special Sessions: Bills carry over with remaining session days; expire if not re-introduced unless relinked. Section 14: Transparency in Funding Funding disclosed within 72 hours per 52 U.S.C. § 30101, with a public, searchable database to prevent undue influence (Citizens United, 2010). Disclosure requirements are narrowly tailored to prevent fraud, preserving First Amendment rights (FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life, 551 U.S. 449, 2007). False reports incur sanctions (28 U.S.C. § 1927). Clerk provides standardized disclosure forms and may charge reasonable registration fees for petitions and resolutions, capped to cover actual verification costs, ensuring accessibility (Citizens United, 2010). No new taxes or appropriations are required; verification leverages existing federal election infrastructure (52 U.S.C. § 30101) without new statutory authority. Emergency funding under 52 U.S.C. § 30101 and registration fees address high volume, subject to public audit, ensuring no financial burden on taxpayers. Section 15: Public Access and Transparency Petitions, certifications, and resolutions are public within 5 session days. Clerk maintains monthly bill lists, with 72-hour substantive text, on digital platforms (FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life, 2007). Thresholds are designed to balance urban, rural, and tribal representation, consistent with equal protection principles (Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 1964). Clerk publishes model resolutions, disclosure forms, and petition templates within 90 days. FAQ explains: “Collect signatures (2% of recent presidential votes), local resolutions (one-third of entities), or state resolutions (one-third of legislatures); file with Clerk; get a vote in 65 session days. ‘Follows Intent’ prevents bait-and-switch. No new taxes—uses existing federal resources and registration fees. Outcomes include infrastructure and healthcare funding (ASCE, 2023).” Section 16: Self-Execution, Harmonization, and Severability Self-executing upon ratification. Clerk promulgates rules within 90 days. Preserves Article I, Section 5 discretion, supplementing not supplanting congressional authority to ensure procedural votes without dictating substantive outcomes (U.S. Term Limits, 1995). Procedural deadlines enhance, not restrict, Congress’s authority by ensuring votes align with Article I, Section 7 (U.S. v. Ballin, 144 U.S. 1, 1892). This amendment imposes only procedural deadlines, preserving Congress’s substantive discretion to debate, amend, or reject bills. All provisions are designed to operate independently, ensuring constitutional compliance even if challenged in isolation (Hollingsworth v. Perry, 570 U.S. 693, 2013). Suspends only rules blocking discharge. Two-thirds vote needed to cite conflicts, with public memorandum (Citizens United, 2010). “Follows Intent” is binding (Buckley, 1976). Severability ensures independent triggers. Appendix A: Model Resolution for Local Entities Resolution to Support Discharge of [Bill Number], [Bill Title], [Session Year] WHEREAS, the [County/City/Town/Tribal Government of [Name]] seeks to amplify the voice of its constituents in Congress; and WHEREAS, [Bill Number], titled “[Bill Title],” introduced in the [House/Senate] on [Date], with substantive text posted for 72 hours, addresses [core subject, e.g., infrastructure funding to repair roads and bridges], aligning with community interests; and WHEREAS, Article I, Section 11 authorizes local entities to compel a floor vote; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the [County/City/Town/Tribal Government of [Name]] supports discharge of [Bill Number] for a recorded yea/nay vote within 30 session days. Attestation of Intent: Aligns with the bill’s original intent (core subject, scope, or effect, determined by title, summary, and sponsor’s stated purpose), verified by the Clerk (Section 11). Submission Instructions:

File with Clerk within 365 calendar days.

Include: bill number, title, sponsor, summary, attestation.

Fees: Cover actual costs, capped at reasonable expenses per House Rule 10/Senate Rule XXV.

Verification: Clerk confirms within 30 session days, extendable by 5, with public audit trail (Young, 1987). Challenges capped at one per entity, total 10 per bill; frivolous challenges dismissed (FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life, 2007). FAQ:

How to Petition: Collect signatures (2% of recent presidential votes), local resolutions (one-third of entities), or state resolutions (one-third of legislatures). File with Clerk, paying reasonable registration fees. Vote in 65 session days.

Cost: No new taxes; uses existing federal resources (52 U.S.C. § 30101) and registration fees.

Impact: Forces votes on stalled bills (e.g., infrastructure, healthcare).

Anti-Fraud: Audit trails and sanctions (28 U.S.C. § 1927). Adopted: [Date] Signed: [Authorized Official, Title]