The Citizen Representation Amendment

The Citizen Representation Amendment establishes term limits for Congress while allowing voters to retain effective lawmakers through the Confidence Vote. This ensures that government remains dynamic and accountable, preventing career politicians from holding power indefinitely while still allowing high-performing officials to continue serving if the people demand it.

This reform prioritizes new leadership, fair competition, and voter-driven representation, ensuring that elected officials remain public servants, not political elites.

Key Reforms:

✔ Term Limits Without Limits – Establishes 3 terms (6 years) in the House and 2 terms (12 years) in the Senate but allows voters to override limits through the Confidence Vote. ✔ Confidence Vote – Empowers voters to force new candidates by preventing career politicians from repeatedly running unopposed. ✔ Ensuring Political Accountability – Creates competitive elections by stopping politicians from holding onto power indefinitely. ✔ Balanced Governance – Ensures continuity in government by exempting critical committee leadership roles from term limits while still requiring direct accountability.

These reforms modernize political representation, ensuring that fresh ideas and new leadership shape the future while preventing entrenched political dynasties.

Expanded Overview: Why These Reforms Matter

The American political system has become stagnant, with lawmakers remaining in office for decades, often winning elections unopposed or relying on party backing instead of voter enthusiasm. Term limits alone are not enough, as they risk removing effective lawmakers alongside entrenched politicians. That’s why this act implements Term Limits Without Limits, ensuring voters—not politicians—decide who remains in power.

1. Term Limits Without Limits prevent career politicians from holding indefinite power. However, voters retain the ability to override term limits through the Confidence Vote.
2. The Confidence Vote forces political parties to introduce new candidates. Instead of the same politicians appearing on the ballot every cycle, voters can demand fresh leadership.
3. Competitive elections are restored by removing incumbency advantage. No more rigged elections where party-backed candidates dominate.
4. Balanced Governance ensures that leadership roles critical to government stability remain functional. Term limits apply broadly, but committee leadership roles can remain for continuity.

Together, these reforms end the cycle of career politicians dominating Congress while ensuring that qualified lawmakers remain accountable to the public.

Detailed Breakdown of Reforms:

1️⃣ Term Limits Without Limits – Breaking Career Politicians’ Hold on Power

• Traditional term limits fail when they remove good lawmakers along with bad ones.
• This act caps Congressional terms at 3 terms (6 years) in the House and 2 terms (12 years) in the Senate, but allows for an override if voters demand it.

How It Works:

• Standard Term Limits: Representatives can serve up to 6 years in the House, and Senators can serve up to 12 years.
• Confidence Vote Exception: The Confidence Vote only appears on the ballot for a candidate’s final eligible term. If the candidate wins but does not receive over 50% of the Confidence Vote, they are ineligible to run past their term.
• Ensures fresh leadership while maintaining voter-driven continuity.

2️⃣ Confidence Vote – Voter-Controlled Political Renewal

• Prevents entrenched politicians from running unopposed.
• Ensures that party-backed incumbents must prove they still have public support.

How It Works:

• On the ballot, next to each candidate’s name, voters see a Confidence Vote option.
• If a candidate wins the election but does not receive over 50% of the Confidence Vote, they are ineligible to run past their term.
• This forces parties to introduce new candidates and prevents long-term political control.

3️⃣ Ensuring Political Accountability – Creating Fair, Competitive Elections

• Incumbents currently have a massive advantage, often winning due to name recognition and party backing.
• By limiting terms and introducing the Confidence Vote, this act forces fresh leadership and competitive races.

How It Works:

• No more lifetime politicians—lawmakers must remain accountable to public approval.
• Parties cannot rely on incumbents alone, forcing new voices into elections.
• Encourages citizen-led political engagement by giving voters real choices in every election.

4️⃣ Balanced Governance – Keeping Government Functional While Ensuring Change

• While term limits introduce fresh leadership, some government roles require long-term expertise.
• This act exempts critical committee leadership roles from term limits, ensuring experienced oversight in key government areas.

How It Works:

• Term limits apply broadly to prevent entrenched power structures.
• Committee chairs and key leadership roles may continue serving beyond term limits if approved by the legislative body.
• Ensures institutional knowledge remains intact while still encouraging new representation.

Final Thoughts

This amendment restores trust in government by ensuring that political power belongs to the people. With these reforms:

🔹 No more career politicians dominating Washington. 🔹 Voters—not parties—decide who remains in office. 🔹 Every election offers real choices and fresh leadership.

By ending entrenched political control while preserving accountability, we ensure that Congress remains representative, dynamic, and answerable to the people.

The time for term limits and voter-driven accountability is now. Let’s ensure a government that truly serves its people.