Title: Breaking the Congressional Lockgrip: The Case for a National Referendum
Abstract: There is a crisis of confidence in national government, one that threatens to permanently cripple our republican democracy. No matter how many incumbent politicians lose to eager newcomers, the most important issues on voters' minds are either left unaddressed or unchanged. The 110 new members of the House elected in 1992 have done little to advance issues like a balanced budget amendment, term limits, or reducing the size of government. All of these issues and more find strong support in countless public opinion polls. Yet Congress refuses to reform itself. Government paralysis carries a pricetag for any electorate. Today nearly 70 percent of the American people disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job, up from only 12 percent in 1958, according to a Gallup survey. This lack of faith cannot continue. If left unchecked, declining public confidence will destroy the credibility of national institutions so much that governing sensibly - and democratically - will become nearly impossible. Perhaps the best way to restore confidence in the political process is to rebuild the connection between national elections and national issues. We need a new constitutional device that lets voters help set the nation's agenda. I propose that through a process of indirect initiative elections, voters should be allowed to instruct Congress about government's priorities and goals. No Pure Democracy The Constitution is a mixture of elements forming our representative democracy - a form of government in which people freely choose their decision-makers but do not make the decisions themselves. We are and should remain a republic, not a pure democracy. The Founders rightly feared the momentary passions of even the limited, property-owning, male and fairly well-educated electorate of the time. For them, democracy meant rule by the demos, or mob - a volatile situation to be avoided for its tendency to trample minority rights. James Madison believed a republican form of government would refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country, and whose patriotism and of will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary and partial considerations. In large measure, the main constitutional elements of separation of powers, federalism and bicameralism are all designed to allow time for the passions of the masses to cool, hopefully turning dangerous impulses into more reasoned effective change. Madison is usually considered one of the more level-headed of the Founders, and his critique of direct democracy is sound and broadly admired. His optimism, however, about the wisdom, patriotism, and love of justice of elected representatives now seems naive and anachronistic. The brakes against mob rule written by into the Constitution should not be lightly dismissed. There are, on the other hand, Constitutional elements to promote the democratic impulse. These include a wide suffrage, short election terms for House members, and the requirement that tax bills originate in the House. Constitutional amendments added since have expanded the vote, made the Senate directly elected, guaranteed participation rights to excluded groups, and preserved and promoted individual freedoms. Extra-constitutional developments, such as the rise of mass political parties, and the increasing number of offices filled by elections, have strengthened the voice of the people. Sadly, these changes to broaden participation have not improved our government. The changes clearly have made elected officials more responsive to the immediate opinions of individual voters, yet major issues remain unresolved. Individual citizens have more opportunities to participate in political debate, but see little substance in what is being debated. Institutional developments and campaign changes have made members of Congress almost invulnerable to mass public judgment, while at the same time allowed them to manipulate the opinions of isolated constituencies and individuals. …
Publication Year: 1994
Publication Date: 1994-06-22
Language: en
Type: article
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