State Rights

The following draft bill could go a long way in beginning to slow down the onslaught of laws being passed at the State level, which state legislators admit that they do not write, and claim they do not have time to read.

Under this proposed bill:

State legislators must draft any legislation which they introduce, rather than submitting an 'idea' to the bill-drafting office to be written by non-elected lawyers which office includes a member of the Uniform Law Commission (created by the American Bar Association).

Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language will be the source of definitions of the words used in the draft legislation, since this source most closely relates to definitions of the language at the time the U.S. Constitution was written, and due to the constant re-defining of, or elimination of, or addition of new words (newspeak) in dictionaries published subsequent to the 1818 Webster's.

All legislation must be in pursuance of both the State and U.S. Constitutions especially including the first ten Articles of Amendment in the U.S. Constitution (the Bill of Rights).

Consideration of a bill means a full reading of the entire bill, word for word, as drafted - rather than the practice so popular today of either reading a 'summary' of the proposed legislation or simply calling out the bill number.

A state legislator may not vote on a bill or resolution unless he/she attests to the fact that he/she has read and fully understands its entire contents and implications. The bill itself must be thoroughly read through... not a summary of the bill. This requirement could quickly put a halt to the staggering and overwhelming bills consisting of anywhere from 50 to 350 pages.

A duly elected state legislator may not delegate any legislative powers or duties to any other entity.

See other proposed draft legislation in the States Rights section at www.sweetliberty.org.


AN ACT

Providing for the restoration of all bill writing authority and responsibility only to the constitutionally elected members of the General Assembly of the State of ___________

The General Assembly of ________ hereby enacts, as follows:

Section 1.   Declaration of policy and intent.

     It is essential to the interests of good governance to restore all legislative powers to the elected members of the General Assembly, exclusively, in compliance with the provisions of Article ___, Section ___ of the Constitution of ______________ State.

Section 2.   Definitions and grammar.

     The Noah Webster, 1828, American Dictionary of the English Language, shall be the Source of definitions of any and all words used in this act. Grammar will be that of standard American usage, English language rules.

Section 3.   Legislative powers and duties of Legislators and the legislative process.

Part 1.   It shall be a requirement that each individual Legislator shall be personally responsible for drafting (writing) of any legislation that he or she introduces.

Part 2.   All legislation proposed shall be introduced by the Legislator submitting the proposed legislation to the respective chief clerk of the House of Representatives, or of the Senate.

 Part 3.   Any proposed legislation shall include a provision stating that part of the Constitution of the State of ________ which authorizes such proposed legislation.

 Part 4.   "Consideration" of a bill or any other legislative action shall consist of the reading of the entire legislative proposal before open active session of the House of Representatives and Senate, respectively, before any vote can be taken.  This reading shall be performed by one person who shall read the document aloud, from beginning to end without interruption.

Part 5.   Voting on legislation shall require that:

a. No legislator shall vote on any proposed legislation until he or she has signed a sworn verification that he or she has personally read, knows, and understands the entire attached proposed legislation, and,

b. If said proposed legislation amends a previous act, the legislator must sign a sworn verification that he or she has read and understands the law which is being amended, and,

c. All proposed legislation, either newly proposed or amendment to previous, That said proposed legislation is not in violation of any part of the Constitution of the State of __________ , or the Constitution of the United States.

Part 6.   There shall be no delegation of the legislative powers and duties of the elected Legislators  to any agency, board, commission, or any other group or organization, whether governmental, quasi-governmental, or private.

a. Any governmental, quasi-governmental, or private agency, body, board,   commission, or any other governmental, quasi-governmental, or private group or organization that prepares or drafts, or submits any proposed rule, regulation, policy, or procedure that would have the force and effect of law, shall submit that proposal to an elected Legislator, who shall assume personal responsibility for that proposed legislation, as if he or she had drafted it.

Section 4.   Effective date.  This act shall be effective immediately.

  

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