Yes, how did we end up with a committee chair seniority system anyway? How freaking Bolshevik can ya get? Merit –or lotto –anything but the crap system results we’re getting now.

The Constitution provides that the House and Senate shall make their own rules. This is an area where I fear that a cure might be worse than the disease.

-A sunset amendment. All laws are required to have a sunset established no longer than ten years.

-An amendment that states: Tax and spending increases will require a two thirds majority in both houses of congress. Tax and spending cuts will require a minimum of 40% of congressional votes to get passed.

-Flat tax amendment.

If the job of politician is relegated to a service rather than a career with retirement packages and health benefits, it would be a lot less atractive to those who would pursue it as a career, or professional politician.
The rules of the Senate and House usurp the equality of each vote. Those representatives that have seniority in effect multiply the power of their constituents. Take away the power granted by seniority, and there would be a lot less clamor for re-election.
None of this requires constitutional convention, but sure could shake up DC.
tom

That every tax or other levy be laid upon real persons, not upon corporations or other entities created by the legal system, and that every tax that must be collected by one person or entity in a transaction with another must be disclosed fully.

I’d add two more.

1. One against unfunded mandates. Something like this:

‘No level of government, federal, state, county, or municipal, may pass a law requiring public monies be appropriated or spent by another level of government. Any monies required to enact or enforce a law must be appropriated by taxation or fees on individuals or corporations at that level of government only.’

2. Ban public sector unions, along these lines:

‘i. Any individual or group of individuals or corporation who is engaged in or attempts to engage in labor union activity, labor union organization, or collective bargaining with any entity of government, any public employees, or any civil servants at any level of government, shall be deemed to be attempting treason against the people of the United States, and shall be prosecuted for that crime.

ii. Such unions and organizations which now exist will be deemed null and void one year from the passage of this amendment, and members of said unions and organizations will be exempt for treason prosecution for that time period. Any monies, funds, properties, trusts, or copyrights owned by public sector unions at the time of passage of this amendment are to be dissolved and distributed equitably and lawfully by the unions, their membership, their leaders, and their subsidiaries, within one year of the passage of this amendment, with the Supreme Court acting as final arbiter in any disputes regarding the distribution and disposition of those monies, funds, properties, trusts, or copyrights.”

Honorable military service shall be a mandatory pre-requisite for election to President, Vice President, Governor and Lieutenant Governor or any elected official who shall stand in the line of succession to these offices.