Fixing the Senate: Equitable and Full Representation for the 21st Century

[csziggy]

Fixing the Senate: Equitable and Full Representation for the 21st Century

by Todd Tucker / Monday, 18 March 2019 / Published in Politics, Publications, Report

Some of the most pressing challenges of our time—inequality and climate change—require bold proposals to set the United States and the world on a new trajectory. In Fixing the Senate: Equitable and Full Representation for the 21st Century, Roosevelt Fellow Todd N. Tucker explores five ways to realign the body with the functions it was meant to serve:

Abolishing (or fundamentally weakening) the Senate;
Undertaking filibuster reform;
Splitting California up into seven states;
Enacting statehood for DC and Puerto Rico; and
Providing representation to the nonstates.

Tucker focuses specifically on the last option, a proposal he developed and calls Full Representation. This constitutional amendment would add eight senators to the Senate, representing the federal district, overseas territories, and Native American tribes.

The US Senate’s inherent inequities are real, and they are greatly impacting our nation’s ability to have an inclusive economy and democracy. This latest paper builds on a number of Roosevelt Institute publications that argue for structural interventions to US policy and politics, in order to achieve federal rules, and an economy, that are more democratically responsive to the American people.

Full report: https://rooseveltinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/RI_Fixing-The-Senate_report-201903-1.pdf

From the Full Report:

ABOUT THE ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE
Until the rules work for every American, they’re not working. The Roosevelt Institute asks: What does a better society look like? Armed with a bold vision for the future, we push the economic and social debate forward. We believe that those at the top hold too much power and wealth, and that our economy will be stronger when that changes. Ultimately, we want our work to move the country toward a new economic and political system: one built by many for the good of all.

It will take all of us to rewrite the rules. From emerging leaders to Nobel laureate economists, we’ve built a network of thousands. At Roosevelt, we make influencers more thoughtful and thinkers more influential. We also celebrate—and are inspired by—those whose work embodies the values of both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and carries their vision forward today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Todd N. Tucker is a political scientist and fellow at the Roosevelt Institute. His research focuses on political economy, democracy, and judicial politics. He is author of Judge Knot: Politics and Development in International Investment Law (Anthem Press 2018). Dr. Tucker has testified before legislatures and expert committees around the world. His writing has been featured in Politico, Time magazine, Democracy, the Financial Times, and the Washington Post.

[California_Republic]

1. How about a unicameral?

How about a unicameral?

A single deliberative legislative body

[csziggy]

2. That is one of the suggestions in the paper

Sorry to be so long to respond - I've been reading and re-reading it in detail. A very good analysis of the problem and why it should be fixed, but also dealing with the difficulties in trying to fix the situation.

I believe the young man is a relative of mine, which pleases me greatly.

[Chainfire]

3. What?

Last edited Tue Feb 25, 2020, 03:42 PM - Edit history (1)

Do you think that the Republicans are going to do anything to make it easier for liberals to win?

The Republicans are holding the power and it is not showing signs of changing any time soon. If they can gerrymander California into several new Republican Senate seats, it will happen. If Puerto Rico looks like it will bring Democrats to the Senate, that is not going to happen. When we failed to get a real trial in the Senate, it was the last straw. The Republicans have been, are and will be doing what ever the hell they want to do.

It is all about Power! Power any way you can grab it. They got it, we don't. They are willing to forget the Constitution, morals, ethics, or laws; Republicans get it, we don't.

While we have defended the high moral ground they have flanked us and taken the flag. Therefore they do what serves their purposes and laugh at us. At the time we need a John Kennedy, or a Franklin Roosevelt, people are trying to convince our split party to vote for candidates that will not get any of the centrists votes that we must have to win. We have to get out of cloud cuckoo land, unite and fight. If we don't figure out how to compromise then we better learn to accept Trumpism as the new normal.


Personally, my position is that if we can't provide a candidate to beat Donald Trump, the very worst president to ever hold office, then the Democrats need to shoot the donkey and go home. My entire family have been staunch Democrats since the Civil War, but when Democrats become totally impotent with the loss of the presidential election, I will forget about them. Who knows, maybe some new party can remove the fascist from office or failing that, organize the pitchforks and guillotines.