? for Ferd and PO and whoever

[Esther]

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

[Pressing-On]

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.

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

[Esther]

I'm talking about ALL bills.

[Pressing-On]

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."

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

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."

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

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Esther

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

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?

[Ferd]

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.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Ferd

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.

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

Don't they work for us?

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Esther

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

Don't they work for us?

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

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Esther

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

Don't they work for us?

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.