Can the American public bypass Congress to pass laws?

Question

If the American public were inclined to directly enact legislation or alter the Constitution without the aid of Congress or the President, could it be done?
Thank you.
helpful answers only please :)

Answer 1

No, there is no such mechanism set up. Some of the states have a referendum process, but not the federal government.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

There is something we can do as a people to impeach the president without congress:
"Jefferson s Manual" is an interpretive guide to parliamentary procedure, and is included (along with the Constitution) in the bound volumes of the Rules of the House of Representatives. The section covering impeachment lists the acceptable vehicles for bringing impeachment motions to the floor of the House.


Before the House Judiciary Committee can put together the Articles of Impeachment, someone must initiate the impeachment procedure. Most often, this occurs when members of the House pass a resolution. Another method outlined in the manual, however, is for individual citizens to submit a memorial for impeachment.


After learning this information, Minnesotan and Impeach for Peace member (Jodin Morey) found precedent in an 1826 memorial by Luke Edward Lawless which had been successful in initiating the impeachment of Federal Judge James H. Peck. Impeach for Peace then used this as a template for their "Do-It-Yourself Impeachment." Now any citizen can download the DIY Impeachment Memorial and submit it, making it possible for Americans to do what our representatives have been unwilling to do. The idea is for so many people to submit the Memorial that it cannot be ignored.

Answer 4

No.

That's why it's a Federal Republic. Mob rule is restricted to acting through the member States which make up the Federation.

Judging from the fact that California allows laws to be made both through elected representatives (greased palm rule), and through Propositions (mob rule), and therefore the Constitution of California is bigger than the LA phone directory, I'm not so sure this would be a good idea at the Federal level.

Answer 5

All laws pass through the halls of Congress but the people can propose through an initiative by getting signatures of the people required by law to suggest the passing of a bill.

Answer 6

Congress would likely revert to using the Constitution if their jobs are threatened. I personally think congress is obsolite and would only work while the fastest a message could travel was by horseback.

Answer 7

Please PLEASE read the Constitution. It is the law of the land. It's the way this corporate nation does business. If you don't know the rules you can't play the game.
The ONLY recourse we have if the Constitution doesn't work is to overthrow the existing government, and write a new one. WE simply aren't as pure minded as our forefathers, and would REALLY screw it up.

Answer 8

first it has to become a bill than if bush don't veto it, it goes back to congress for a vote

Answer 9

i believe that possibly you could get enough signatures to force a "law??" to be put on the ballot to be voted on by the public.