Proposed 28^th Amendment

To The United States Constitution

No single piece of legislation passed by Congress shall be longer in word length than the United States Constitution and its Amendments as of 2010 which is 7620 words.  Companion legislation must address the same subject. Any legislation passed by Congress will affect members of Congress as it does the citizens that they represent equally and without bias.  Seating will be assigned alphabetically in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives based upon last name without regard to party affiliation.  Members of Congress may serve a maximum of twelve years consecutively on any committee.  Congressional campaign financing will be limited to $500 per day (CPI adjusted) of term length.  Corporate and individual expenditures for donations or advertisements for Congressional elections will be limited to $10,000 per candidate (CPI adjusted).  Members of the House of Representatives will be elected to serve terms of four years. Congressional pensions will be limited to one half of Congressional pay rates as of the last term served.

This Amendment is designed to do seven things.
1. Limit the length of legislation to eliminate the need for a line item veto and to eliminate ear marks and riders.
2. With shorter more focussed legislation it is now entirely possible that our Congressmen can read legislation before voting.
3. Members of Congress are to be treated exactly as the citizens they represent.
4. Having seating assignments assigned without regards to party affiliation will foster better communications and civility.
5. Limiting Congressional campaign expenditures in total and expenditures by corporations and individuals will help level the playing field for all members of the electorate.
6. Four year terms will reduce campaign costs and hopefully reduce the influence of special interests.
7. Limiting committee tenure to twelve years will reduce power abuse without loosing organizational memory due to term limits.
8. Federal employees on the average earn twice as much as private employees. This keeps Congressional pensions in line with private pensions (if and where they still exist.)