Proposed Updates to the Constitution of the United States Preamble We the People of the United States, in order to create a more effective, representative, and balanced government, ensure fairness in opportunity, promote the general welfare, and adapt to the realities of a modern society, do establish and ordain this updated Constitution. Article I – Representation and Eligibility Section 1. Age Requirements and Limits 1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of individuals aged 18 to 80. 2. The Senate shall be composed of individuals aged 23 to 85. 3. The President shall be at least 28 years of age and no older than 85 at the time of service. 4. Justices of the Supreme Court shall not serve beyond the age of 90. 5. No individual may serve in federal office beyond the maximum age designated for that office. Section 2. Youth Representation The right of citizens aged 18 and above to seek elected office shall not be restricted beyond the limits defined herein. Section 3. Age Limit Enforcement If an individual reaches the maximum age for their office while serving a term, they shall be permitted to complete the remainder of that term. However, they shall be ineligible to seek reelection or appointment to that office thereafter. Article II – Elections and Governance Section 1. Voting Method Reform All federal elections shall utilize a preference-based voting system. 1. Voters shall rank candidates or otherwise express multiple preferences. 2. Votes shall be counted in a manner that ensures a majority-supported winner. 3. Systems shall eliminate vote splitting and reduce wasted votes. Section 2. Fair Representation 1. Electoral systems may include proportional representation or multi-member districts. 2. Election outcomes should reflect the diversity of political views among the population. Section 3. National Voting Standards All citizens shall have equal access to voting through: 1. Automatic voter registration 2. Same-day registration 3. Early and accessible voting options 4. Secure online voting platforms to enable convenient and safe remote participation 5. Voting access shall not depend on state of residence Section 4. Election Accessibility and Security 1. Adequate infrastructure shall ensure reasonable voting times and accessibility. 2. Laws shall protect against voter suppression, intimidation, and election interference. Section 5. Competency and Accountability All elected officials shall be subject to periodic evaluation standards as defined by Congress. Section 6. Budget Responsibility 1. Any budget approved by Congress shall include authorization for the necessary borrowing required to fund said budget. 2. Government shutdowns due to funding gaps shall be prohibited. 3. To ensure continuity of services, if a new budget is not approved by the start of the fiscal year: a. Funding from the previous fiscal year shall automatically continue (budget rollover) until a new budget is passed. b. This mechanism ensures uninterrupted public services and government operations, inspired by parliamentary systems in Europe. 4. Congress and the executive shall implement measures to prevent prolonged deadlock, including mandatory negotiation periods or alternative funding solutions. 5. In the event of a government shutdown: a. Salaries of the President, Senators, Representatives, and Supreme Court Justices shall be cut first. b. Funds from these reductions shall be used to pay all lower-level government employees to maintain essential services. c. No Representative may leave the national capital until a resolution to the shutdown is enacted. Section 7. Nationwide Referenda 1. Congress may submit any major policy issue to a nationwide vote. 2. The outcome of such votes shall be binding on the federal government. 3. The President and Supreme Court retains the power to veto or strike down national votes in accordance with executive and judicial authority. Article III – Economic Policy and Labor Section 1. Minimum Wage Adjustment The federal minimum wage shall automatically adjust every two years in accordance with inflation or deflation. Section 2. Price Regulation The Department of the Treasury shall establish limits on essential costs, including housing, education, and basic goods. Any increase in such costs must be proportionally tied to increases in the federal minimum wage. Section 3. Domestic Industry The federal government shall promote domestic manufacturing through incentives and policy. Section 4. Workforce Protection Corporations, whether domestic or based outside the United States, that conduct business within the United States shall ensure that a substantial majority of labor, not less than 80 percent where applicable, is performed by human workers. Section 5. Funding, Audits, and Tax Policy 1. The federal government shall conduct audits every ten years of all departments, programs, and spending to identify wasteful or inefficient use of resources. 2. Audits must also be conducted by independent third-party organizations, funded by the federal government, to ensure transparency and impartial evaluation. 3. Funding for programs or initiatives deemed unnecessary, duplicative, or ineffective may be reduced or eliminated based on audit findings. 4. Tax policies shall be reformed to ensure fair and efficient collection, prevent loopholes, and provide sufficient revenue to support essential services such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and social programs. 5. The government shall prioritize funding for initiatives that directly contribute to public welfare and national development. Section 6. Wealth Redistribution and Social Funding 1. A progressive tax system shall be implemented to ensure the wealthy contribute proportionally more to public services. 2. Revenue from this system shall fund essential services including universal healthcare, public education, housing support, and infrastructure development. 3. Public programs shall prioritize reducing inequality and providing equal opportunity for all citizens. Section 7. Housing Protection and Anti-Speculation 1. Corporate entities and investment firms shall be prohibited from purchasing residential properties for speculative purposes. 2. Individuals shall have priority over corporations in acquiring housing for personal or family use. 3. Measures shall be implemented to prevent monopolization of rental markets, including caps on the number of residential units any single entity may own. 4. Violations of these regulations shall be subject to penalties, including fines and forced divestment of properties. Article IV – Education Section 1. Federal Oversight Public education shall be standardized and regulated at the federal level to ensure equal quality nationwide. Section 2. Standardized Testing A national standardized test shall be provided free of charge to all students. Excessive or redundant standardized testing shall be limited. Section 3. Higher Education Costs The federal government shall regulate and limit tuition costs to ensure accessibility to higher education. Section 4. Education Reform and College Admissions 1. All higher education institutions receiving federal funding shall ensure that admissions processes are fair, transparent, and minimally stressful. 2. Admissions shall prioritize merit, potential, and holistic evaluation, reducing reliance on standardized testing, legacy preference, or other discriminatory practices. 3. Federal oversight shall establish guidelines to prevent bias, excessive competition, and undue financial or psychological burden on applicants. Article V – Healthcare Section 1. Access and Affordability The federal government shall ensure access to affordable healthcare for all citizens. Section 2. Price Regulation Healthcare pricing shall be regulated to prevent excessive costs and ensure transparency. Section 3. Universal Healthcare Access 1. Every citizen shall be guaranteed access to comprehensive healthcare services, including preventive, mental, and emergency care, regardless of income. 2. Private healthcare may exist, but the government shall ensure public healthcare meets national standards of quality and availability. 3. The federal government shall regulate healthcare costs, insurance practices, and pharmaceutical pricing to prevent exploitation and ensure affordability. Article VI – National Security and Military Oversight Section 1. Resource Allocation Federal spending shall prioritize domestic welfare, including healthcare and education, while maintaining necessary foreign aid. Section 2. Military Accountability The military shall be subject to regular audits to prevent waste, including the abandonment of equipment and inefficient use of resources. Section 3. Draft and War Accountability 1. Congress may declare war, but if it does, a member of every representative’s immediate family, including the President, Senators, and House members, shall be drafted to serve in the conflict. 2. Alternatively, Congress may submit the decision to a national vote. Any citizen who votes in favor of the war shall be eligible for compulsory military service. 3. The draft shall apply to all citizens, regardless of gender, aged 18 and above. Article VII – Technology and Industry Regulation Section 1. Artificial Intelligence and Data Infrastructure The development and use of artificial intelligence and data centers shall be regulated to ensure ethical use and protect public resources. Section 2. Consumer Technology Production The federal government may implement incentives, tariffs, or quotas to prioritize consumer technology production. Section 3. Corporate Responsibility and Consumer Protection 1. Corporations operating within the United States shall prioritize consumer interests and provide clear, fair, and ethical products and services. 2. Practices designed to exploit consumers through excessive subscriptions, planned obsolescence, or deceptive pricing (“enshittification”) shall be prohibited. 3. Companies shall be required to maintain transparency in business practices, including pricing, data usage, and environmental impact. 4. Incentives may be offered for corporations that demonstrate socially responsible, sustainable, and ethical behavior toward customers, employees, and the public. 5. Regulatory agencies shall monitor compliance and enforce penalties for violations of consumer and ethical standards. Section 4. Anti-Monopoly Enforcement 1. The federal government shall have authority to investigate, regulate, and, if necessary, break up corporate monopolies that harm competition, consumers, or the public interest. 2. Corporations found to engage in anti-competitive practices, price-fixing, or market manipulation shall be subject to dissolution, divestiture, fines, and other corrective measures. 3. Regulatory agencies shall monitor markets to prevent the concentration of power that threatens economic fairness, innovation, or consumer choice. Article VIII – Environmental and Energy Policy Section 1. Energy Independence The United States shall invest in renewable and sustainable energy to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources. Section 2. Promotion of Domestic Energy The federal government shall encourage the development and production of domestic energy resources, including renewable, nuclear, and responsibly managed fossil fuels, to strengthen national energy security and create domestic jobs. Article IX – Public Safety, Firearms, & Criminal Justice Section 1. Firearm Regulation The right to bear arms shall be preserved for lawful purposes including self-defense and hunting. The ownership of automatic weapons shall be restricted. Section 2. Capital Punishment for Predators 1. The death penalty shall be applicable to individuals convicted of: a. Rape b. Serial predation or egregious sexual offenses 2. This application of capital punishment shall follow due process, including appeals, legal representation, and strict evidentiary standards. 3. Legislation shall ensure that punishment is applied only in cases meeting the highest standards of proof to prevent wrongful execution. Article X – Infrastructure and Transportation Section 1. Public Transportation The federal government shall invest in efficient public transportation systems, including expanded rail networks in major population centers. Article XI – Immigration and Identification Section 1. National Identification System A standardized national identification system shall be established for all citizens, serving as official proof of identity and citizenship. Section 2. Immigration Reform Immigration systems shall be modernized to ensure accurate tracking, integration, and contribution to the national economy. Section 3. ICE and Immigration Oversight 1. Immigration enforcement agencies shall operate under strict accountability, transparency, and adherence to human rights standards. 2. Detention and deportation procedures shall prioritize due process, humane treatment, and the protection of families. 3. Unauthorized use of force or neglect of legal rights by immigration officers shall be subject to criminal and civil penalties. 4. Immigration policies shall aim to integrate and support immigrants as contributors to society while protecting national security. Article XII – Social Policy Section 1. Public Services The federal government shall expand access to essential services, including healthcare and transportation, to promote general welfare. Section 2. Public Services Expansion 1. Public housing programs shall be established to ensure safe, affordable housing for all citizens. 2. Public transportation networks, including buses, subways, and trains, shall be expanded and subsidized to improve accessibility and reduce environmental impact. 3. Education, healthcare, and public services shall be free or heavily subsidized for low- and middle-income citizens. 4. Social safety nets, including unemployment benefits, disability support, and food assistance, shall be strengthened and regularly reviewed for adequacy. Article XIII – General Provisions Section 1. Federal Authority Where inconsistency exists, federal standards in areas such as education, wage regulation, and economic policy shall supersede state authority. Article XIV – Additional Reforms Section 1. Legal Age Adjustment The legal age for alcohol consumption shall be 18 years nationwide. Section 2. Government Structure Expansion The Department of Education shall be expanded to incorporate free national testing systems and oversight of educational standards. Article XV – Civil Rights and Personal Autonomy Section 1. Reproductive Rights 1. Every individual shall have the right to make decisions regarding their own reproductive health, including access to safe and legal abortion. Section 2. Gender Identity and Expression 1. All citizens shall have the right to self-identify and express their gender freely, with legal recognition and protection from discrimination. Section 3. Indigenous and Land Rights 1. No person shall be considered illegal on lands historically or presently occupied by Indigenous peoples. 2. Policies shall prioritize respect for Indigenous sovereignty, land stewardship, and cultural preservation.