? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

What would be the protocol to get a bill passed that the congress can not pass any bill that exempts them from that bill?

*I will be in and out today and will check back in later. Thanks

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

Are you referring to the Healthcare bill? If you are, it is not true that the House or Senate bill exempts Congress from it's provisions.

I'll be in and out today, mostly out. :heeheehee

If you aren't referring to the Healthcare bill, can you give a little more detail or reword the question. Thanks!

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

I'm talking about ALL bills.

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

I don't know that there is any way to get a bill passed to require Congress to be subject to the laws it passes. Their argument is that it keeps Congress above the law, which is necessary to preserve the constitutional separation of powers.

It's interesting that James Madison, in Federalist No. 57, stated that, "Congress can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass of society."

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

I agree with James Madison. Why should Congress be above the law?

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

Yes, I agree with him as well. It just shows how far we have come from the original intent of our Constitution.

And what candidate is as concerned as we are?

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

Esther, it boils down to math

435 members of the House
100 members of the Senate

To get such a law, you need exactly 218 members of the house to vote for it.
You need, at a minimum 60 senators to agree to vote on the subject, then you need at a minimum 50 senators plus the vice president to vote for it.


good luck.

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

Can the people not put this on a ballot and vote on it without Congress approval?

Don't they work for us?

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

No, they don't work for us. They work for themselves.

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

There is no such thing as a "the ballot" on the federal level.

The constitution requires congress pass all laws.


The concept of ballot inititives is a state level advent created by State Constitutions.



The only other option is a constitutional convention. For that you would need 33 state legislatures to call a convention.


Article V - Amendment The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.