General Zod
Banned
An interesting trivia I recently stunbled upon is that the Constitution of the Confederate States of America, besides the various and obvious provisions enshrining almost-mandatory chattel slavery for states and a rigid free trade agenda, it included several provisions which look like genuine good ideas and innovative improvements of the original document according to the first century's experience.
Now, assume that the Founding Fathers were seized by a little foresight and included all of them in the original document.
They were:
Granting Cabinet member a non-voting seat in Congress: "Congress may, by law, grant to the principal officer in each of the Executive Departments a seat upon the floor of either House, with the privilege of discussing any measures appertaining to his department".
Granting the President a line item veto over appropriations legislation: "The President may approve any appropriation and disapprove any other appropriation in the same bill. In such case he shall, in signing the bill, designate the appropriations disapproved; and shall return a copy of such appropriations, with his objections, to the House in which the bill shall have originated; and the same proceedings shall then be had as in case of other bills disapproved by the President".
Some measures for fiscal restraint: "Congress shall appropriate no money from the Treasury except by a vote of two-thirds of both Houses, taken by yeas and nays, unless it be asked and estimated for by some one of the heads of departments and submitted to Congress by the President; or for the purpose of paying its own expenses and contingencies; or for the payment of claims against the United States, the justice of which shall have been judicially declared by a tribunal for the investigation of claims against the Government, which it is hereby made the duty of Congress to establish".
And "All bills appropriating money shall specify in Federal currency the exact amount of each appropriation and the purposes for which it is made; and Congress shall grant no extra compensation to any public contractor, officer, agent, or servant, after such contract shall have been made or such service rendered".
A bill, or any resolution carrying the force of law, could only deal with a single subject, which had to be stated in the title: "Every law, or resolution having the force of law, shall relate to but one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title".
Enshrined the spoils system in the Constitution: "The principal officer in each of the Executive Departments, and all persons connected with the diplomatic service, may be removed from office at the pleasure of the President. All other civil officers of the Executive Departments may be removed at any time by the President, or other appointing power, when their services are unnecessary, or for dishonesty, incapacity, inefficiency, misconduct, or neglect of duty; and when so removed, the removal shall be reported to the Senate, together with the reasons therefore".
Put a check to recess appointments: "The President shall have power to fill all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session; but no person rejected by the Senate shall be reappointed to the same office during their ensuing recess."
Made the process of amendment easier, requiring two-thirds of the states rather than three-fourths.
Better definition of the management of territories: "The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations concerning the property of the United States, including the lands thereof.The United States may acquire new territory; and Congress shall have power to legislate and provide governments for the inhabitants of all territory belonging to the United States, lying without the limits of the several Sates; and may permit them, at such times, and in such manner as it may by law provide, to form States to be admitted into the Union."
Definied when recess in the Senate could be filled: "The President shall have power to fill all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session; but no person rejected by the Senate shall be reappointed to the same office during their ensuing recess."
Gave the Congress the power to tax exports:" No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State, except by a vote of two-thirds of both Houses".
How would the American political process and history be different, with these changes to the Constitution ?
Now, assume that the Founding Fathers were seized by a little foresight and included all of them in the original document.
They were:
Granting Cabinet member a non-voting seat in Congress: "Congress may, by law, grant to the principal officer in each of the Executive Departments a seat upon the floor of either House, with the privilege of discussing any measures appertaining to his department".
Granting the President a line item veto over appropriations legislation: "The President may approve any appropriation and disapprove any other appropriation in the same bill. In such case he shall, in signing the bill, designate the appropriations disapproved; and shall return a copy of such appropriations, with his objections, to the House in which the bill shall have originated; and the same proceedings shall then be had as in case of other bills disapproved by the President".
Some measures for fiscal restraint: "Congress shall appropriate no money from the Treasury except by a vote of two-thirds of both Houses, taken by yeas and nays, unless it be asked and estimated for by some one of the heads of departments and submitted to Congress by the President; or for the purpose of paying its own expenses and contingencies; or for the payment of claims against the United States, the justice of which shall have been judicially declared by a tribunal for the investigation of claims against the Government, which it is hereby made the duty of Congress to establish".
And "All bills appropriating money shall specify in Federal currency the exact amount of each appropriation and the purposes for which it is made; and Congress shall grant no extra compensation to any public contractor, officer, agent, or servant, after such contract shall have been made or such service rendered".
A bill, or any resolution carrying the force of law, could only deal with a single subject, which had to be stated in the title: "Every law, or resolution having the force of law, shall relate to but one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title".
Enshrined the spoils system in the Constitution: "The principal officer in each of the Executive Departments, and all persons connected with the diplomatic service, may be removed from office at the pleasure of the President. All other civil officers of the Executive Departments may be removed at any time by the President, or other appointing power, when their services are unnecessary, or for dishonesty, incapacity, inefficiency, misconduct, or neglect of duty; and when so removed, the removal shall be reported to the Senate, together with the reasons therefore".
Put a check to recess appointments: "The President shall have power to fill all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session; but no person rejected by the Senate shall be reappointed to the same office during their ensuing recess."
Made the process of amendment easier, requiring two-thirds of the states rather than three-fourths.
Better definition of the management of territories: "The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations concerning the property of the United States, including the lands thereof.The United States may acquire new territory; and Congress shall have power to legislate and provide governments for the inhabitants of all territory belonging to the United States, lying without the limits of the several Sates; and may permit them, at such times, and in such manner as it may by law provide, to form States to be admitted into the Union."
Definied when recess in the Senate could be filled: "The President shall have power to fill all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session; but no person rejected by the Senate shall be reappointed to the same office during their ensuing recess."
Gave the Congress the power to tax exports:" No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State, except by a vote of two-thirds of both Houses".
How would the American political process and history be different, with these changes to the Constitution ?