How can we fix Congress?

Question

"It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change" -Darwin

Legislators block their own term limits, they set their own pay, and they cater to the interests of powerful people that can get them re-elected instead of doing what is best for the country.

Publicly financed elections may at least partially solve the last problem, but how can we do away with the conflicts of interests that allow the same legislators with the same old ideas to stay in power for decades? If our very system precludes us from adapting quickly to our rapidly changing world, won't we just be playing the same game that all failed nation-states have played (and lost)?

What if we dissolved Congress into multiple houses that oversaw each other, so that we could have checks and balances within the legislature itself? That way, we also wouldn't have to expect legislators to be experts on every issue, and we could actually elect experts in their fields.

Answer 1

Re-vote. Never vote for another incumbent and yet vote for all new names and not someone who is moving from one office to try and succeed in another. I am done.

Answer 2

It is difficult to get reform at the national level. Key reforms will have to come at the state level. However, most states do have some provision for initiative and referendum which allow interested voters willing to do some hard work a chance to by-pass their self-interested legislature. Consider these concepts from other countries.

1) Open ballot access -- In many democracies (especially in the Commonwealth), any candidate willing to pay a substantial filing fee can get on the ballot. If that candidate gets over four percent of the vote, they get the filing fee back. In this country, most states require third parties to file complicated petitions with signatures of a very substantial number of registered voters. Making it easier for serious third party candidates to get on the ballot would make it easier for voters to vote for change.

2) Have separate election days for local, state, and federal candidates. Some states already do this holding their state elections in odd years. Likewise, many cities have municipal election days separate from state and federal elections. By separating the elections, you make it easier both to run the elections (by reducing the number of races on the ballot) and easier for voters to study the candidates.

3) Instant Run-off/Preferential voting -- This system (most commonly used in Australia, but also being experimented with in some American cities) has voters rank the candidates for office (instead of just voting for one). Initially, the election authorities count first place votes, After all first place votes are counted, the candidate with the lowest number of first place votes is eliminated and those votes are then transferred to the second choice of those voters. This continues until only two candidates are left with the one who is higher ranked by the most voters being elected. This system allows voters to consider third party candidates (and in some cases leads to the election of third party candidates) by eliminating the "spoiler"/"wasted vote" argument.

4) Take away redistricting from legislatures. It does not always work perfectly (and you can see previous answers to questions about redistricting for fuller explanation), but the best way to combat legislatures manipulating district lines to stay in office is to turn it over to outsiders. In addition, it helps when there are specific standards that need to be followed. Iowa has done something like this for congressional districts and now has the closest congressional races in the country.

All of these solutions only require changes to state laws or state constitutions and could be placed in front of the voters by grass roots action. The other suggestions involve significant (and unlikely) federal constitutional amendments that would require the current legislators to vote against their own best interests.

Your last suggestion actually resembles the status quo. We do have two houses that do check each other. Senators and Representatives do serve on specialized committees and tend to be (over time if not when originally elected) experts on the topics handled by those committees.

Answer 3

We need to vote different people in including new parties. I am member of the Green Party and running for US Congress in Illinois. Until people start voting more integillently, nothing will change.

Answer 4

vote out all incumbents or lawyers at lest , and the important part get rid of the congressional aids that are not elected but do write most of the bills and stay far longer than any elected official

Answer 5

good success. you recognize how Congress works: that they had make a extensive situation approximately it, then decrease each and every thing between "Congressional Reform Act of 2013" and "powerful 12/one million/thirteen" and enhance their very own pay and ability, intestine and stuff a ton of beef then congratulate themselves for the way committed they are to the rustic.

Answer 6

There is a group of us in Texas that have decided that the best thing that can happen is for us to have a "run off election"

First we "run off all the career politicians" and then
we have an election !!!

Answer 7

Vote the commies out.

Answer 8

Vote out all Republicans and let people who THINK for a living have a try.

Answer 9

Do not vote for those who do not share your beliefs.

I never have.
I have never voted a straight party ticket .
Just worked out that way.

Answer 10

armed revolt