SocraticGadfly: Needed: Parliamentary government in the US

May 11, 2020

Needed: Parliamentary government in the US


Actually, what we REALLY need is multiparty parliamentary government. Almost impossible to pull off under the current constitution and the equal vote provision in the Senate. But, we could get close with a set of amendments.

1. End electoral college.
2. Extend House terms to 3 years.
3. Shorten presidential term to 3 years, but with 3 terms not 2. So, there are no midterm elections.
4. One half of Senate every 3 years.
5. Go back to where we were before one late tweak to the Constitution at Philadelphia. Don't allow the Senate to amend "money bills." And, get the House to insist on a broad interpretation of "money bills."

You do all that, and we're at semi-parliamentary.

More radical?

Add some "national level" representatives based on proportional representation from presidential vote.

Try to do the same with "national senators" and argue each state still has an equal vote to other states.

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