Another Crazy Idea

In keeping with the idea I had earlier about decreasing the power of the entrenched lifetime politicians, I also had an idea for a Constitutional amendment that would make it easier (hopefully) to remove bad laws from the books.  It allows for a sort of super-jury review of a law that can be requested against any act of Congress.

Upon ratification of this amendment, a Review Panel shall be created.  The Review Panel shall have the power to expunge laws previously passed by the Congress of the United States and signed by the President of the United States.

The Review Panel shall be composed of twenty members from each state, chosen randomly from the electors thereof, for one year; and each member shall have one vote.

The Review Panel shall choose a presiding officer and other officers.

The Review Panel shall meet at least once per year, at the same time as the Congress.  The Review Panel may meet at other times as deemed necessary by the presiding officer.

Congress shall make no law regarding the Review Panel.

When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall randomly select from the electors of that state to fill such vacancies.

The Review Panel shall have the authority to nullify or revoke any law.  The executive authority of any of the several states, members of the Congress, and the President of the United States may submit Requests for Review directly to the Review Panel with the consent of the presiding officer.  Further, upon receipt of a petition containing the signatures of one percent of the electors of the several states combined (without regard to the apportionment thereof among the several states), the presiding officer will initiate a Review.

Upon receipt of a Request for Review or of a petition, the presiding officer shall bring the matter before the Review Panel for consideration.  Upon a majority vote of those members present, the law under consideration shall be rendered null and void.

The Review Panel shall publish a record of its proceedings at the end of each session, or at such other times as the presiding officer shall decide.

The members of the Review Panel will receive compensation for their services in the amount of their customary wages during the time of their service in addition to any costs associated with travel to and from the meetings of the Review Panel.  This compensation shall be paid out of the treasury of the United States.  They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of the Review Panel, and in going to and returing from the same; and for any speech or debate in the Review Panel, they shall not be questioned in any other place.

With the concurrance of the presiding officer, the Review Panel may meet through electronic or other remote means, provided that a secure method is provided for ascertaining the presence and identity of each voting member.

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