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Democracy has, and has always had, some false friends and true enemies who have actively and relentlessly sought to undermine democracy by preventing people from developing a shared understanding of democracy or even agree upon a clear definition of democracy. They have, for the most part, been successful.
The work of making a community, state, or nation a Perfect Democracy begins with Politically Active Citizens agreeing on a clear definition of democracy and developing a shared understanding of democracy and the reforms needed to make America a true democracy and a Perfect Democracy.
In a true democracy, the “just powers” of the government are derived from the “consent of the governed.” For that consent to be properly obtained, everyone who is governed by the acts of a government must have an equal vote or equal representation as political decisions are made, including not only the “just powers” of the government, but also what laws are enacted, what policies are put in place, and decisions related to the form of the government.
There is a lot of discussion these days about the need to defend democracy. And we absolutely must do everything we can to defend democracy. However, we must do more than defend democracy. We must work pro-actively to make America more democratic. When it comes to defending democracy, an adage common to sports and warfare applies: “The best defense is a good offense.”
To make America a Perfect Democracy we will need to enact numerous reforms, most of them in the form of constitutional amendments. And the Constitution of the United States is the most difficult constitution in the world to amend.
While we should take full advantage of any opportunity to get any pro-democracy legislation enacted, our top priority initially should be enacting either one, or both, of two foundational reforms that will make America more democratic: Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments.
Implementing systems of Personal Representation will allow every citizen who is eligible to vote to assign a proxy to any one member of each legislative body that governs them, authorizing them to cast votes on their behalf and then give each senator and representative a number of votes equal to the number of proxies they have been assigned, plus one for themselves. Citizens should be able to reassign their proxies at any time. That will enable politically active citizens to vote (indirectly) as legislation is being considered in Congress or a state legislature.
Systems of Personal Representation will instantly transform Congress or a state legislature into a truly democratic institution where every citizen has equal representation.
Enacting Perfect Democracy Amendments will make it easier for citizens to call referendums and use the initiative in the states that already provide for them and extend provisions for referendums and the initiative to the federal government and to the states that do not yet provide for them.
Perfect Democracy Amendments will give citizens the power to enact legislation when Congress or a state legislature fails to enact legislation supported by a majority of the citizenry and call veto referendums when Congress or a state legislature enacts legislation that does not have the support of a majority of the citizenry.
Politically Active Citizens tend to have strong opinions and an independent streak regarding ideas related to political matters, especially reform proposals. We often let minor differences of opinion divide us. To minimize division within the campaign to make America a Perfect Democracy, we need to limit the number of reforms we are seeking to enact and keep the details of those reforms as simple as possible.
The response to our petition drive in Missouri (where initiative petitions for Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments have already been approved for circulation and are being circulated, makes it clear that these proposals have broad (nearly unanimous) support.
Once we get either one, or both, of these reforms enacted in one or more states, the blessings of a true democracy will become increasingly obvious to more people and getting those reforms enacted in other states and at the federal level will be much easier.
The political status quo is well-defended in America. Most major media outlets and the largest social media platforms are owned by corporate interests or plutocrats. Both of our major political parties and our governments at both the state and federal levels, are effectively under the control of corporatists and plutocrats. They are not going to surrender power willingly.
Getting pro-democracy reforms enacted will require a broad-based and inclusive grassroots movement. Most Americans believe in democracy, but the false friends and true enemies of democracy have succeeded in keeping us divided. True Friends and Champions of Democracy need to unite, across party lines, and in spite of differences of opinion on divisive issues, in a broad-based and inclusive, pro-democracy, grassroots movement.
To make our grassroots, pro-democracy movement too big to fail, we need to share our understanding of democracy and of the "sides" in campaign to make America a Perfect Democracy with friends and family and other politically active citizens.
Communication and coordination are vital within a grassroots movement. We need to be able to communicate with each other (and with voters) in a cost-effective and efficient manner, without relying on corporate-owned mainstream media and social media, or the U. S. Postal Service. That is why we are compiling a data base of contact information for pro-democracy activists and citizens.
All you need to do to join the campaign to make America a Perfect Democracy is provide your email address and/or cell phone number. To help make our campaign too big to fail, encourage your friends and family members and other Politically Active Citizens to join as well. The information in our data base will not be sold or shared. We will not send out emails or text messages soliciting financial contributions.
The campaign to make America a Perfect Democracy is bringing a welcome and healthy dose of positivity to the relentlessly negative tone of politics-as-usual in America today. Learning about the reforms that will make America a Perfect Democracy and sharing that knowledge with others is a positive and empowering experience that provides welcome relief from the anger, fear, and hatred that permeate politics and civic engagement in America today.
Nearly all Americans believe strongly in democracy. We don't have to change hearts or minds; we only have to build support for pro-democracy reforms and get those reforms enacted. We don't have to get angry. We don't have to spread fear and hatred. We can be joyous warriors in the noblest cause of all - living up to the ideals upon which our nation was founded.
The work of defending democracy is a grim and joyless business, especially when it is under constant attack from multiple sources. The work of promoting democracy is joyful and exciting. We can celebrate democracy as we do the work necessary to –
Members of Congress and state legislatures do not ordinarily draft and submit (or co-sponsor) legislation that has no realistic chance of being enacted in a legislative session. To do so risks losing the financial support of corporate interests and tax-averse billionaires, and consequently risk losing re-election.
We need to find at least one Champions of Democracy in each chamber of Congress and each chamber of every state legislature who will draft and introduce the legislation called for in the Democracy Agenda even if there is little chance of it passing in 2024. That will make it easy for us to identify the incumbents who are Champions of Democracy and give them our support.
Within our present political system, members of Congress and state legislatures are most likely to respond to requests from their own constituents - the people who can vote for (or against) them. It is, therefore, very important for as many citizens as possible to contact their own senators and representatives to encourage them to draft and introduce the legislation included in the Democracy Agenda. Much of the legislation in the Democracy Agenda needs to be enacted by Congress.
Once the legislation included in the Democracy Agenda has been introduced, we need to get members of Congress and state legislatures who believe in democracy to make their support the Democracy Agenda clear by signing on as cosponsors to the legislation included in the Democracy Agenda.
Our goal should be to have at least one candidate who supports the Democracy Agenda on the ballot in every state and district for congressional elections and election to state legislatures.
When an incumbent does not support the Democracy Agenda, we need to do our best to recruit one or more candidates who do support the Democracy Agenda to run in both major party primaries. It will be especially important to recruit a candidate for the major party that is dominant in districts that have been gerrymandered to strongly favor one of the two major parties.
We need to encourage every non-incumbent candidate for Congress and state legislatures to post statements of support for the legislation included in the Democracy Agenda on their campaign website and notify us when they have done so. We will be posting links to the appropriate pages on the websites of Champions of Democracy on our website. Our primary focus throughout the election will be on various ways to encourage voters and politically active citizens to visit our website before deciding what candidates to support with their time, money, and votes.
Except in Maine and Alaska (where ranked choice voting is already in place), when there is more than one candidate in an election who supports the Democracy Agenda and other candidates who do not, we will need to conduct some sort of unofficial primary election to unite behind a single Champion of Democracy to minimize or neutralize the “spoiler effect”.
When an incumbent in Congress supports the Democracy Agenda, they deserve our support across party lines and regardless of their position on other issues. If a challenger has made a clear and firm pledge to support the Democracy Agenda, especially if that challenger is from the opposing major party, voters who are members of one or the other of the two major parties will understandably want to take advantage of that fact to vote for the candidate of their own party.
When a Congressional incumbent does not support the Democracy Agenda, we need to do our best to recruit candidates who do support the Democracy Agenda to run in both major party primaries. It will be especially important to recruit a candidate for the major party that is dominant n districts that have been gerrymandered to strongly favor one of the two major parties.
When the primaries are over, if both major party candidates in a state or district support Democracy Agenda, voters can cast their votes based on other issues. If only one major party candidate who supports democracy is on the ballot, we need to support that candidate even if we disagree with their position on other issues.
When only one major party candidate supports the Democracy Agenda, we need to avoid running or supporting any minor party or independent candidates (except in Maine or Alaska where ranked choice voting has eliminated concerns about the "spoiler effect"). If neither major party candidate supports democracy, if there is more than one minor party or independent candidate who support the Democracy Agenda, we need to identify the candidate with the best chance of winning and unite in support of that candidate.
Within our “winner-take-all” system, with plurality winners and single-member districts, if there is more than one pro-democracy candidate on the ballot in a given state or district, we need to provide some means of uniting in support of one pro-democracy candidate, especially if there is only one antidemocratic candidate on the ballot. In those cases, we must convene a pro-democracy caucus, convention, or unofficial primary election in order to avoid splitting the pro-democracy vote.
There are thousands of governments in America: the federal government, fifty state governments, over three thousand county governments, and over thirty-five thousand local governments. Although we are focused primarily on state governments, and secondarily on the federal government, we ultimately need to make ALL the governments in America our own.
At just the state and federal level, there are 435 representatives in the U. S. House of Representatives, 100 senators in the U. S. Senate, and a total of 7386 legislators (1,973 state senators and 5,413 state representatives) in state legislatures nationwide. Winning a majority of the seats in a super-majority of state legislatures and a majority or super-majority of the seats in both chambers of Congress will require a lot of politically active citizens to step up and run for office.
We need to elect Champions of Democracy to at least two-thirds of the seats in both the House and the Senate to propose amendments through Congress. That means it takes 290 votes in the House and 67 in the Senate to propose an amendment to the Constitution, which must then be ratified by a majority vote in three-fourths of the states (38 states).
We need to elect Champions of Democracy to a majority of the seats in both chambers of each state legislature (and within the Unicameral in Nebraska). In the states that do not have provisions for referendums and the initiative, that is the only way we will be able to get pro-democracy reforms enacted. And in the states that do have provisions for referendums and the initiative, it will be helpful to have a legislature that is in harmony with the will of the people.
Our campaign will be organized on a state-by-state basis. Success will come, state by state, when a majority of the voters have a shared understanding of democracy and the reforms needed to make their state government a Perfect Democracy. Once a majority of the voters in a state are able to identify Champions of Democracy (who support those reforms) they will elect Champions of Democracy to a majority of the seats in their state legislature, to represent their state in Congress, and to other offices, including offices in local governments.
There are seventeen states where the constitution can already be amended through the initiative: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, and South Dakota.
In those states, citizens can propose and enact both Personal Representation Amendments and Perfect Democracy Amendments through the initiative process, without the involvement or approval of the state legislature. Governors cannot veto amendments enacted through the initiative.
The details of getting proposals on the ballot vary from state to state but collecting a lot of signatures by a deadline is a requirement in every state. We need to get petitions drafted and filed as soon as possible. We need to begin organizing campaigns to gather signatures in those states.
In states that already have provisions for referendums and the initiative, Perfect Democracy Amendments simply need to make it easier for citizens to call referendums and use the initiative by allowing citizens to “sign” petitions electronically through Online Accounts for Politically Active Citizens or by reducing the number of signatures required to call a referendum or put a proposal on the ballot.
When seeking to propose and enact Personal Representation Amendments through the initiative, we should keep the proposal as simple as possible - simply implementing a system of proxies (along with Online Accounts). That will avoid complicating the deliberative process by including other proposals like replacing elections with selection by proxies or moving to a unicameral legislature.
There are eight states that have various, less powerful, combinations of referendums and the initiative already in place. Six states (Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming) have the initiative for statutes and referendums, but no initiative for constitutional amendments. Two states (Maryland and New Mexico) only have provisions for referendums. There is no provision for the initiative in the other twenty-four states.
Our initial focus in states where the state constitution cannot be amended through the initiative should be getting systems of Personal Representation implemented - as a constitutional amendment, as legislation, or simply as a rule adopted by either chamber in a state legislature.
It should be easier to find support for Personal Representation than it will be to find support of Perfect Democracy Amendments among the incumbents in state legislatures (and in Congress) because, unlike Perfect Democracy Amendments (which shift power from politicians to the people), a system of Personal Representation shifts power to the people indirectly, through the members of a representative assembly, and shifts power within a representative assembly to the members who do the best job of identifying the concerns of the people of each state and who draft and introduce (or cosponsor) legislation addressing those concerns.
We can make implementing systems of Personal Representation even more appealing to incumbents in state legislatures and Congress by including provisions to replace elections of senators and representatives with selection by proxies and to move to a unicameral legislature (which would enable representatives to become senators without risking their seat in the House of Representatives).
The Constitution of the United States is the most difficult constitution in the world to amend. Electing a Congress that will propose amendments to the U. S. Constitution is not likely to happen until the citizens of a super-majority of the states that make up the United States learn to identify Champions of Democracy and elect them to Congress as well as to their state legislatures. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.
Most Politically Active Citizens are more familiar with members of Congress and understanding the power of Personal Representation will be easier for most people to appreciate when applied to members of Congress.
If a single member of each house of Congress will draft and introduce any of the legislation included in the Democracy Agenda, especially the two foundational reforms that make the others more likely to be enacted, it will be easier for voters to understand the importance of supporting Champions of Democracy at all levels of government. Champions of Democracy will sign on as cosponsors. The false friends and true enemies of democracy will not.
A system of Personal Representation (with proxies) could be implemented in the U. S. House of Representatives with simple legislation or even through the rules of the House. It will not be possible to implement a system of Personal Representation in the U. S. Senate without a constitutional amendment because the U. S. Constitution stipulates that each senator has “one vote” and that no state can be denied “equal suffrage” without its consent.
To make implementing a system of Personal Representation that would include the Senate more appealing to incumbents in Congress, the proposed amendment should include a provision for selection by proxies to replace elections for members of Congress.
Ideally, the proposed amendment would also include merging the House of Representatives and the Senate into a unicameral legislature.
As we gain the support of a majority of the people in each state for pro-democracy reforms, more and more states will also elect Champions of Democracy to both houses of Congress. Once Champions of Democracy have been elected to Congress and/or state legislatures in two-thirds of the states, we will be able to amend Article V of the U. S. Constitution to provide for referendums and the initiative.
Getting two-thirds of the members of the U. S. Senate to support a system of Personal Representation (or a Perfect Democracy Amendment) will be our biggest challenge. The fact that senators serve significantly longer terms than representatives makes voting anti-democratic senators out of office in every election especially important.
Join the campaign to make America a Perfect Democracy by submitting your contact information.
Spread the word. Share links to this website, our videos, our YouTube channel, and our Facebook group.
Contact friends and family and encourage them to support Champions of Democracy - who support Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments. And encourage them to submit their contact information, if they do.
We need to get millions of Politically Active Citizens to take an active role in getting Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments enacted. Contact other Politically Active Citizens and encourage them to make support for those reforms a major part of their political engagement.
We also need to help disillusioned citizens, who have given up on voting, understand how easily we can alter the form of our government if enough of us who believe in the democratic ideals upon which our nation was founded, unite in support of the reforms that are needed to make America a Perfect Democracy and the Champions of Democracy who support those reforms. When we make every election a referendum on democracy, every vote will matter. When enough voters vote like it matters - it will.
Contact members of Congress and your state legislature (especially those who “represent” you) and encourage them to draft and introduce legislation for Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments.
Contact members of Congress and your state legislature (especially those who “represent” you) and encourage them to draft and introduce legislation for Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments.
Once legislation for Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments has been introduced in Congress or your state legislature, contact members of Congress and your state legislature (especially those who “represent” you) and encourage them to sign on as a co-sponsor of that legislation.
Contact candidates who are running for office and encourage them to support Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments and to make their support for those pro-democracy reforms an important part of their campaign. In other words, encourage them to be Champions of Democracy.
Limit your active support to candidates who are Champions of Democracy (as indicated by their support for Personal Representation and/or Perfect Democracy Amendments).
When contacted by candidates seeking your support (contributions of time or money), politely inform them that you are limiting your active support to candidates who are Champions of Democracy (as indicated by their support for Personal Representation and/or Perfect Democracy Amendments).
If you live in one of the states where the constitution can already be amended through the initiative, and no one has filed initiative petitions for Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments in your state, draft petitions and submit them. [Feel free to contact us for help in drafting and filing initiative petitions.]
Once initiative petitions for Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments have been filed and approved for circulation in your state, take an active role in the campaign to get those proposals on the ballot in your state.
Encourage any political organizations of which you are a member, to take an active role in the campaign, as well.
Introduce legislation implementing a system of Personal Representation with Proxies (and other pro-democracy legislation).
Sign-on as a cosponsor when pro-democracy legislation is introduced by someone else.
Encourage other senators and representatives to sign on as cosponsors.
Whether you are running as a Democrat, Republican, minor party candidate, or independent, make it clear that you are a Champion of Democracy. Make your support for Personal Representation with Proxies and other legislation included in the Democracy Agenda the focal point of your campaign.
Post statements of support for implementing systems of Personal Representation (with Proxies) and other pro-democracy reforms on your campaign website. Mention your support for those reforms in your speeches and in interviews. Help voters understand how pro-democracy reforms will bring our political system in line with the ideals upon which our nation was founded.
Help voters understand that truly believing in democracy is far more important than your position (or the position of other candidates) on any issue. When Champions of Democracy hold a majority of the seats in Congress or a state legislature, we will be able to implement systems of Personal Representation that will allow citizens to vote (indirectly) on legislation being considered and voted on in Congress and state legislatures.
If you are running in a state with the initiative and petitions for Personal Representation and/or a Perfect Democracy Amendment have not yet been filed, draft and file initiative petitions. If those petitions have already been filed in your state, take the lead in gathering signatures on the initiative petitions in the district you are seeking to represent. Have your volunteers gather signatures at campaign events. Host events to gather signatures. Talk about how these reforms will make your state (and America) more truly democratic.
If you would like to see systems of Personal Representation implemented and/or Perfect Democracy Amendments enacted, simply provide your email address and/or cell phone number and the physical address at which you are registered to vote.
We will not contact you unless and until there are Champions of Democracy (or pro-democracy legislation) on the ballot in your state, congressional district, or legislative district, in which case we will notify you and send you a link to the campaign websites of any Champions of Democracy who will be on the ballot in your district.
If you are not registered to vote, now would be a good time to register. When enough voters vote like it matters – it will. And we intend to make it matter!
Whether you are running as a Democrat, Republican, minor party candidate, or independent, make it clear that you are a Champion of Democracy. Make your support for Personal Representation with Proxies and other legislation included in the Democracy Agenda the focal point of your campaign. To elect Champions of Democracy to a majority of the seats in Congress and all 50 state legislatures, we are going to need a lot of pro-democracy activists to step up and run for office.
Make the legislation in the Democracy Agenda the focal point of your campaign. Especially Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments .
If you are an incumbent running for reelection, you draft and introduce the legislation called for in the Democracy Agenda or sign on as a cosponsor of pro-democracy legislation that has already been introduced.
Make it clear that you understand that truly believing in democracy is far more important than your position on any issue of concern to you or the voters in the state or district you are seeking to represent. The role of a senator or representative in a democracy can be to simply reflect the will of a majority of the people they “represent” or to “refine and enlarge” the opinions of the people they represent, but in either case, believing in democracy means that you understand that in a true democracy the “will of the people” should be reflected in the legislation that is enacted and that the “just powers” of a government are derived from “the consent of the governed.”
Once a system of Proxies has been implemented in a legislative body, the role of a senator or representative becomes much easier. Instead of being tasked with the mission of “representing” all the constituents in your state or district (an impossible mission in light of the deep and bitter divisions between Americans at present), Politically Active Citizens who agree with you on the issues will assign their proxies to you. You will have more proxies assigned to you (and more votes to cast on their behalf) if you do a good job of either simply reflecting the way most voters would vote, if voting directly, or of refining and enlarging the views of Politically Active Citizens.
Legislatures that combine the implementation of systems of Personal Representation with selection by proxy instead of through elections will free their members from the need to raise money constantly and run for reelection every two, four, or six years. And legislators who want to “run” for higher office will be able to move from being a representative to being a senator or from being a senator to being the president without risking losing the office they hold.
Within our present system, power in Congress and state legislatures flows to the members with seniority and who raise the most money. Within a legislative body with a system of Proxies for Citizens in place, power will flow to the members who do the best job of refining and enlarging, and representing, the will of the people.
Political parties will be less important within a system of Personal Representation, freeing members to vote their conscience on every issue instead of toeing the party line.
The fact that term limits limit the choices of voters will become more obvious within a system where voters can reassign their proxies at any time. People would eventually realize that corrupt politicians who term out are easily replaced, true and powerful Champions of Democracy are much less common and nearly impossible to replace.
Make the legislation in the Democracy Agenda the focal point of your campaign. Especially Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments .
If you are an incumbent running for reelection, you draft and introduce the legislation called for in the Democracy Agenda or sign on as a cosponsor of pro-democracy legislation that has already been introduced.
Make it clear that you understand that truly believing in democracy is far more important than your position on any issue of concern to you or the voters in the state or district you are seeking to represent. The role of a senator or representative in a democracy can be to simply reflect the will of a majority of the people they “represent” or to “refine and enlarge” the opinions of the people they represent, but in either case, believing in democracy means that you understand that in a true democracy the “will of the people” should be reflected in the legislation that is enacted and that the “just powers” of a government are derived from “the consent of the governed.”
If no one has filed initiative petitions for a Perfect Democracy Amendment and a Personal Representation Amendment, establish yourself as a leader of the pro-democracy movement in your state by filing the necessary petitions.
If those petitions have already been filed in your state, take the lead in gathering signatures on the initiative petitions in the district you are seeking to represent. You will establish yourself as a champion of democracy and build name recognition in a way that will create a positive first impression with voters across the political spectrum. You can build your campaign organization and give your volunteers something constructive and joyful to do by making gathering signatures part of your campaign. Champions of Democracy will help heal the deep and bitter divisions that are making politics in America today so repugnant to many voters (and disaffected voters).
The corporatists and plutocrats who currently control nearly all the levers of power in America will spend tons of money in support of the false friends and true enemies of democracy who hold office or are running for office and who faithfully serve their interests.
Most of the members of Congress and state legislatures from both major parties have been corrupted by the need to continually raise enormous amounts of money. They get most of that money from corporate interests and billionaires.
Corporations and plutocrats own mainstream media and the major social media outlets.
legally prohibited from coordinating with candidates but routinely do so with impunity. Candidates know which Super PACs are spending money on their behalf and which mega-donors are contributing the dark money. And those mega-donors have considerable influence with most legislators.
Super-PACs may routinely outspend the combined contributions of ordinary citizens, but if we unite in support of democracy, we can outvote them. When enough of us unite in support of Champions of Democracy and the democratic ideals upon which our nation was founded, our pro-democracy movement will be "too big to fail".
Most Americans believe in democracy and know that money has corrupted democracy in America. Solid majorities of voters in every state will support candidates who make their support for pro-democracy reforms a focal point of their campaigns. Politically Active Citizens who are True Friends of Democracy need to encourage candidates to do so, and then help voters identify those Champions of Democracy.
When we have a Champion of Democracy on the ballot in elections for a most of the seats in Congress and state legislatures, our movement will be "too big to fail."
Communication is vital within a broad-based grassroots movement. We are compiling a data base of pro-democracy activists and voters. To join the campaign to Make America a Perfect Democracy, please provide your email address. Your information will not be sold or shared. You will not receive emails or text messages soliciting financial contributions.
The material on this website is adapted from a soon to be published book: Government by the People: Perfecting Democracy in the 21st Century by Winston Apple.
Content is Copyright 2025 Gary Winston Apple, unless otherwise noted..
Permission is granted to share with proper attribution. All Rights are Reserved.
This website is paid for by Perfect Democracy - a 501(c)4 political action committee.