Educational Information
Contents:
Video explaining it all
The Game Plan
Article 5 of the US Constitution
How Does Article 5 Work?
Commonly Used Sources
Video explaining it all
The Game Plan
Article 5 of the US Constitution
How Does Article 5 Work?
Commonly Used Sources
Links to additional information:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Educational Articles
Congressional Retirement Plan
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Educational Articles
Congressional Retirement Plan
If you've got a few minutes, this video is worth it.
THE GAME PLAN
Article 5 of the US Constitution gives us the opportunity to impose Term Limits on the US Congress WITHOUT their approval. When 34 States request a Convention for a specific topic, an Article 5 Convention is called.At the Convention the Amendment is presented. Once ratified by 38 States, it becomes part of the US Constitution, without requiring the approval of the US Congress.
To accomplish this task is going to take a monumental effort. The magnitude of a national, grassroots effort will require dedication, perseverance, and a well-planned, strategic effort.
OUTLINE
1. Make people aware that the option exists.
2. Become educated on the topic.
3. Create the Amendment.
4. Strategize and coordinate our efforts.
1. MAKE PEOPLE AWARE THAT THE OPTION EXISTS.
The majority of Americans are not aware that Article 5 provides a means for the people and States to amend the US Constitution without the approval of the US Congress. It is not something that the federal government and their long-bought media have any interest in sharing. It is only through the development of technology that we have reached the point that average Americans have access to a large-scale, interwoven communications network that reaches over half of the American population(facebook) in addition to other social networking options such as Twitter.
Between the number of American adults with facebook accounts and the Gallup Poll released in January, which stated that 75% of American support imposing Term Limits on the US Congress, we can estimate that there are approximately 84 Million American Adults on facebook who support the concept of Term Limits.
Because of this existing network, we began our efforts on facebook at Term Limits for US Congress
http://www.facebook.com/TermLimitsforUSCongress, but have expanded to other social media platforms and are launching the campaign with feet on the ground across the nation.
The United States covers 3.79 Million square miles.There are 50 States composed of 3,144 Counties or County equivalents. Although our numbers will grow dramatically once we are on the streets, we MUST have adequate numbers of Actively Involved members to begin in the majority of counties if we wish to be taken seriously; if we wish to have national coordination of our efforts; and if we wish to have the basic skill set needed in each county.
2. BECOME EDUCATED ON THE TOPIC
Why are Term Limits necessary? Why are elections not an alternative to Term Limits? What benefits do we expect to gain? Why a single amendment when there are so many other things that need to be done?
You cannot represent a movement if you do not understand the details of the movement. Becoming educated on the topic is a NECESSITY.
You must read EVERY article attached to the FACT images,which go into detail on the relative topics and issues that will arise ( FAQ: http://termlimitsforuscongress.com/faqs.html and Educational Articles: http://termlimitsforuscongress.com/educational-articles.html ).
Whether you are trying to recruit one of the 75% who support Term Limits or debating with one of the 25% who don’t, you cannot expect to be taken seriously if you don’t know what you are talking about.
As an example, I was looking at another effort where they are attempting to push an entire package of changes. They will fail for a number of reasons. Finding enough people to support ANY one topic is difficult. Finding enough people to support 2 topics becomes exponentially harder. By the time you have 3 topics, you have shot yourself in the foot.There is no single group in the United States with the strength to garner the support of the 38 States needed to ratify an amendment. It is only with all groups working together that anything can be accomplished. When working with diversified groups, even the introduction of the simplest detail results in dissention and reduced support.
That is not the only reason their particular effort will fail. The grammar was very poor. Some of their requests were for things that already existed. Some of their requests were to eliminate things that did NOT exist. Overall, their effort was flagrantly uneducated. You cannot expect to be taken seriously by the leaders of our Counties, our States, and our Nation, if you cannot speak to the topic and defend the topic intelligently.
3. CREATE THE AMENDMENT
The Amendment has been created. It is impossible to find a length with which everyone will be pleased, but I assure you that a great deal of thought went into the creation. Before becoming too critical, be sure to come up to speed by reading the FACT articles explaining the reasoning that led to the Amendment.
Keep in mind, once an Article 5 Convention has been called for Term Limits, the representatives from each state will come together and debate what the actual Amendment will be and vote on their decision. If their decision passed the vote, it will be sent out to the States for ratification just as if it had been passed by Congress. What we are proposing as an Amendment is what we plan to argue at the Convention as the best option.
___________________________
The Proposed Amendment:
“No person shall be elected or appointed as a member of the United States Congress if the duration of the term for which the person is elected or appointed, inits entirety as defined within Article 1 of the United States Constitution,would result in the person serving more than 12 years of his or her life in the United States Congress.
Upon ratification of this amendment, a current member of the United States Congress, whose total number of years in the United States Congress exceeds 12, shall be allowed to complete the existing term for which he or she has been previously elected. Said allowance for completion of the existing term shall not justify exclusion for the member from actions beyond the scope of this Amendment that lead to termination from the United States Congress prior to the completion of the existing term.”
_____________________________
4. STRATEGIZE AND COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS
We are on the ground running. We are active in all 50 states.
Keep in mind, for an Article 5 Convention to be called, it must be requested by the Legislators of 34 States. There is NO LAW that requires State Governments to request a convention, regardless of how many sign the petitions that we will submit. For this reason, we must be organized and able to correlate uniform petitions, thereby allowing the assembly of a single packet containing a staggering number of signatures to be presented to the legislatures of each State.
While maintaining the flexibility to evolve when unexpected situations arise, we need a strong foundation that can endure such a monumental effort. We are going into this not with the intention of gaining the support of the 34 States needed to call a Convention. We are going into this with the intention of gaining the support of the 38 States needed to ratify it.
Each team will need a Coordinator/Point of Contact.
I expect the structure of the individual teams to be dynamic, pending circumstances.
Before defining the characteristics and qualifications for the leads, let me make something very clear.
Do not undermine your County or State’s chances for success in this movement by volunteering for a lead position that you are not qualified for. This is far too important for egos to become involved.
State Coordinators will maintain communications with the national team and will have a virtual office for their key players in their states on the software platform we have developed for the Term Limits for US Congress-PAC.
We have recently expanded the plan.
In 2019 we held a meeting in Virginia to discuss the major players on the national board for term limits. In the meeting we talked about the fact each players has strengths and weaknesses, but no player alone had a high probability for success in adding a Term Limits Amendment to the Constitution.
For that reason, we are working to coordinate efforts between Term Limits for US Congress PAC, U.S. Term Limits, Convention of States Project, and the US Congress. As the single activist organization with no affiliations, we have taken it upon ourselves to create an Advisory Board for this coalition. The Advisory Board will contain representatives from each player in addition to key persons with the talents to round out this monumental, national effort.
This is our plan. It has a lot of room to grow, but it sets us on the right path. Now it is up to ALL of you to make it happen. We WILL change the course of our country and we WILL in no uncertain terms remind the US Congress that they work for us and that the time for change is NOW.
Article 5 of the US Constitution
We have taken the liberty of underlining and using bold to emphasize the section of Article 5 which allows the option of Amending the US Constitution without the involvement or approval of the US Congress.
"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."
We have taken the liberty of underlining and using bold to emphasize the section of Article 5 which allows the option of Amending the US Constitution without the involvement or approval of the US Congress.
"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."
How Does Article 5 work?
Article 5 of the US Constitution provides us the “means” to amend the US Constitution to include an Amendment Limiting Terms in the US Congress without needing the approval of the US Congress.
This statement has confused a few people. They have looked up Article 5 and responded by saying there is nothing there about Term Limits.
Article 5 provides TWO options for amending the US Constitution.
One is for an Amendment to be presented by a Super-Majority in the US House of Representatives and a Super-Majority in the US Senate.
OR
Second, for 2/3’s of the STATE Legislators (State governments) to present an Amendment.
Following the presentation in either option of an Amendment, the Amendment then has to be ratified (approved) by ¾’s of the States.
What this means to us is that we can start a grassroots effort to add an Amendment to the US Constitution limiting Terms in the US Congress and push the Amendment at the State level with petitions until 2/3’s of the States request that an Article 5 Convention be called.
When 34 States apply for the Convention for the SAME topic, the US Congress is REQUIRED by Article 5 to call for the Convention.
Once an Amendment has been presented at the Convention and agreed to by a majority of the states at the convention (over 25 states), then it is sent back to the states to be ratified.
If 38 States then ratify the Amendment, it becomes part of the US Constitution, without needing Congress's approval.
Article 5 of the US Constitution provides us the “means” to amend the US Constitution to include an Amendment Limiting Terms in the US Congress without needing the approval of the US Congress.
This statement has confused a few people. They have looked up Article 5 and responded by saying there is nothing there about Term Limits.
Article 5 provides TWO options for amending the US Constitution.
One is for an Amendment to be presented by a Super-Majority in the US House of Representatives and a Super-Majority in the US Senate.
OR
Second, for 2/3’s of the STATE Legislators (State governments) to present an Amendment.
Following the presentation in either option of an Amendment, the Amendment then has to be ratified (approved) by ¾’s of the States.
What this means to us is that we can start a grassroots effort to add an Amendment to the US Constitution limiting Terms in the US Congress and push the Amendment at the State level with petitions until 2/3’s of the States request that an Article 5 Convention be called.
When 34 States apply for the Convention for the SAME topic, the US Congress is REQUIRED by Article 5 to call for the Convention.
Once an Amendment has been presented at the Convention and agreed to by a majority of the states at the convention (over 25 states), then it is sent back to the states to be ratified.
If 38 States then ratify the Amendment, it becomes part of the US Constitution, without needing Congress's approval.
Sources Used by Term Limits for US Congress PAC
(Often we're asked where our facts come from. Here are just a few links to source we tend to reference. It's not intended to be all inclusive, but rather to give you an idea that, yes, we do our homework.)
US Department of Health and Human Services
Links to the Full Text of the Affordable Care Act
http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/law/index.html
Medicare versus Private Health Insurance: The Cost ofAdministrationMilliman, presented by Mark E. Litow, FSA, Consulting Actuary,January 6, 2006
http://www.cahi.org/cahi_contents/resources/pdf/CAHIMedicareTechnicalPaper.pdf
No Basis for High Insurance Rates: An Analysis of the 15 Largest MedicalMalpractice Insurers 2006 Financial StatementsJay Angoff Of Counsel Roger Brown & AssociatesFunded by American Association of Justice
http://www.justice.org/pressroom/No%20Basis%20for%20High%20Insurance%20Rates%202007.pdf
Barel Karsan- Value InvestingIndustry ROIC, April 19, 2011
http://www.barelkarsan.com/2011/04/industry-roic.html
The Value Investor 500: TheFull ListBy Dan DzombackTop 500 Companies based on a 5 Year Averge Pre-Tax ROIC
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/the-value-investor-500-the-full-list-2012.aspx
CREW- Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crewsmostcorrupt.org%2Fmostcorrupt&h=tAQGqW9Ai
Judicial Watch - Judicial Watch
www.judicialwatch.org
Open Secrets- Political/Financial database
http://www.opensecrets.org/
US Congress Votes Database
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/113/house/2/votes/page1/
US Census
http://www.census.gov/
Congressional Research Services (CRS)
http://www.loc.gov/crsinfo/
Office of the Inspector General- Department of Justice Reports
http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/
US Federal Budget
http://www.usfederalbudget.us/
113th Congress- House of Representatives
http://www.house.gov/content/features/20130103/
113th Congress- Senate Contact List
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
113th Congress- House Seniority List
http://www.rollcall.com/politics/houseseniority.html
113th Congress- Senate Seniority List
http://www.rollcall.com/politics/senateseniority.html
Social Security- Cost of Living Adjustments
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/colaseries.html
Congressional Budget Office
http://www.cbo.gov/
CBO Household Income Study
http://www.cbo.gov/publication/44604
(Often we're asked where our facts come from. Here are just a few links to source we tend to reference. It's not intended to be all inclusive, but rather to give you an idea that, yes, we do our homework.)
US Department of Health and Human Services
Links to the Full Text of the Affordable Care Act
http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/law/index.html
Medicare versus Private Health Insurance: The Cost ofAdministrationMilliman, presented by Mark E. Litow, FSA, Consulting Actuary,January 6, 2006
http://www.cahi.org/cahi_contents/resources/pdf/CAHIMedicareTechnicalPaper.pdf
No Basis for High Insurance Rates: An Analysis of the 15 Largest MedicalMalpractice Insurers 2006 Financial StatementsJay Angoff Of Counsel Roger Brown & AssociatesFunded by American Association of Justice
http://www.justice.org/pressroom/No%20Basis%20for%20High%20Insurance%20Rates%202007.pdf
Barel Karsan- Value InvestingIndustry ROIC, April 19, 2011
http://www.barelkarsan.com/2011/04/industry-roic.html
The Value Investor 500: TheFull ListBy Dan DzombackTop 500 Companies based on a 5 Year Averge Pre-Tax ROIC
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/the-value-investor-500-the-full-list-2012.aspx
CREW- Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crewsmostcorrupt.org%2Fmostcorrupt&h=tAQGqW9Ai
Judicial Watch - Judicial Watch
www.judicialwatch.org
Open Secrets- Political/Financial database
http://www.opensecrets.org/
US Congress Votes Database
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/113/house/2/votes/page1/
US Census
http://www.census.gov/
Congressional Research Services (CRS)
http://www.loc.gov/crsinfo/
Office of the Inspector General- Department of Justice Reports
http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/
US Federal Budget
http://www.usfederalbudget.us/
113th Congress- House of Representatives
http://www.house.gov/content/features/20130103/
113th Congress- Senate Contact List
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
113th Congress- House Seniority List
http://www.rollcall.com/politics/houseseniority.html
113th Congress- Senate Seniority List
http://www.rollcall.com/politics/senateseniority.html
Social Security- Cost of Living Adjustments
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/colaseries.html
Congressional Budget Office
http://www.cbo.gov/
CBO Household Income Study
http://www.cbo.gov/publication/44604