AHC: more restrictions on serving in elected positions.

FBKampfer

Banned
Specifically with regard to personal business ties, and familial relationships, how draconian can we make the laws regarding who may be elected?

Obviously things like yiu can't sit on the board of directors while serving in congress. But how far can we take them reasonably?

Bonus points if the laws are full-on Spanish Inquisition level. Full investigation to family business practices, forced (at gunpoint if need be) legal divestment of any shares, stocks, market assets, or direct ownership of a business for your whole family, mandatory life without parole for anyone who breaks the rules.


Basically, from 1900 onwards, find a way to make the US legislative branch give a full-armed backhand to corruption.
 

samcster94

Banned
Specifically with regard to personal business ties, and familial relationships, how draconian can we make the laws regarding who may be elected?

Obviously things like yiu can't sit on the board of directors while serving in congress. But how far can we take them reasonably?

Bonus points if the laws are full-on Spanish Inquisition level. Full investigation to family business practices, forced (at gunpoint if need be) legal divestment of any shares, stocks, market assets, or direct ownership of a business for your whole family, mandatory life without parole for anyone who breaks the rules.


Basically, from 1900 onwards, find a way to make the US legislative branch give a full-armed backhand to corruption.
Congressional term limits are an obvious one. I can see someone try to pass a law at least at state level that makes Nepotism illegal at least in that state.
 
Congressional term limits are an obvious one. I can see someone try to pass a law at least at state level that makes Nepotism illegal at least in that state.

Congressional term limits would have to be passed by Congress itself (or the jurisprudence on the subject would have to be different), which could be difficult. You might need a scandal of Watergate proportions but dealing with financial corruption - maybe a President having to resign after nakedly abusing the office to benefit their private business interests.
 

Ian_W

Banned
Congressional term limits are an obvious one. I can see someone try to pass a law at least at state level that makes Nepotism illegal at least in that state.

Term limits actually do the reverse - you end up with temporary representatives who are completely reliant on the permanent infrastructure of the party and/or lobbyists to know what they are doing.

As an example of this, I would point you to ALEC, as a body that provides short-term reps who don't necessarily know how to draft legislation and so on with complete legislation to be passed.

It doesn't matter which Tammany Hall rep you elect, they will do what Tammany Hall says - and you don't elect Tammany Hall.
 
Limits to members of Representatives and senators would be extremely bad idea. All of them would be politically unexperienced and they wouldn't understand how things work. And they would be under influence of lobbyists. This would make politics even more dysfunctional.
 

FBKampfer

Banned
Don't forget, you can go inquisitorial about this.

It's more to examine necessary cultural changes through a political lens.

So if an earlier IRS headed by Che, and given all the resources of the US War Department are what's necessary to make the changes, lets talk about how he coukc have most efficiently used his resources.
 
Congressional term limits would have to be passed by Congress itself (or the jurisprudence on the subject would have to be different), which could be difficult. You might need a scandal of Watergate proportions but dealing with financial corruption - maybe a President having to resign after nakedly abusing the office to benefit their private business interests.
we seem to practically be halfway there IOTL :p
 
Specifically with regard to personal business ties, and familial relationships, how draconian can we make the laws regarding who may be elected?

Obviously things like yiu can't sit on the board of directors while serving in congress. But how far can we take them reasonably?

Bonus points if the laws are full-on Spanish Inquisition level. Full investigation to family business practices, forced (at gunpoint if need be) legal divestment of any shares, stocks, market assets, or direct ownership of a business for your whole family, mandatory life without parole for anyone who breaks the rules.


Basically, from 1900 onwards, find a way to make the US legislative branch give a full-armed backhand to corruption.

Why would any rep or senator ever pass a bill that would do such a thing. Its a natural desire to benefit you and yours when you have the power and ability to, why would they ever limit themselves such.
 

FBKampfer

Banned
Why would any rep or senator ever pass a bill that would do such a thing. Its a natural desire to benefit you and yours when you have the power and ability to, why would they ever limit themselves such.

Because they face a lynch mob back home if they don't?

Again, you've got a 1900's POD and permission to make the populace out for blood.

Go do it. I'm sure you could drum up support among the unionists if there's a big enough scandal. Say someone was literally taking bribes. That should do it for the causus beli
 
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