Action Plan
The Work of Making Our Government Our Own
"The best defense is a good offense."
There is a lot of discussion these days about the need to protect democracy. And we absolutely must do everything we can to defend democracy. However, an adage common to sports and warfare applies here: the best defense is a good offense. The key to saving democracy in America is for Americans to unite in support of two elegantly simple, yet incredibly powerful, pro-democracy reforms - Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments – that will shift power from corporate interests and plutocrats to the people and provide the foundation for making America a Perfect Democracy.
When enough voters vote like it matters – it will. We need to make it matter.
Archimedes said, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” Pro-Democracy Voters are the lever and Politically Active Citizens are the fulcrum by which we can make America a Perfect Democracy. When enough voters vote like it matters – it will.
To make our votes matter, we need to implement systems of Personal Representation in Congress and state legislatures and/or enact Perfect Democracy Amendments that make it easier for citizens to call referendums and use the initiative in the states that already have provisions for those powerful forms of direct democracy in their constitutions, and extend the use of referendums and the initiative to the federal government and to the states that do not provide for them.
Power to the People
In a true democracy all political power is vested in and derived from the people and shared equally by all the people.
In a true democracy, the “just powers” of the government are derived from the “consent of the governed.” In other words, everyone who is governed by the acts of a government has an equal vote or equal representation when political decisions are made, including not only what laws are enacted and what policies are put in place, but also decisions related to the form of the government.
While we should take full advantage of any opportunity to get any of the legislation in the Democracy Agenda introduced and enacted, our top priority initially should be on getting systems of Personal Representation implemented and/or getting Perfect Democracy Amendments enacted.
Implementing systems of Personal Representation will transform Congress and state legislatures into truly democratic institutions. Enacting Perfect Democracy Amendments will empower the people to propose and enact legislation, including constitutional amendments, without the involvement or approval of Congress or a state legislature.
Until we get systems of Personal Representation implemented or Perfect Democracy Amendments enacted, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to get the other legislation included in The Democracy Agenda passed into law. Once we enact either one, or both, of these reforms, it will be much easier to enact the additional reforms included in the Democracy Agenda – and enact ALL the legislation supported by a majority of Politically Active Citizens.
Personal Representation shifts power to the people indirectly, through our authorized representatives. Personal Representation will shift power within Congress and state legislatures to the members who best represent the will of the people.
Perfect Democracy Amendments shift power to the people directly by giving the citizens of a community, state, or the nation, the power to propose legislation (through the initiative) and reject legislation enacted by Congress or state legislatures by calling veto referendums.
Shifting power to the people and away from Congress and state legislatures (and presidents and governors) will also shift power away from political parties and their leaders and the corporate interests and plutocrats they represent. They will not give up power willingly.
A Grassroots Movement
The status quo is well-defended. Most major media outlets (including the largest social media platforms) are owned by corporate interests or plutocrats. Both of our major political parties, and therefore 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. The vast majority of 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.
United We Win!
Politically Active Citizens tend to have strong opinions and an independent streak regarding ideas related to political matters, especially reform proposals. We often let differences of opinion divide us. To minimize, if not eliminate, division within the Pro-Democracy Movement, we need to limit the number of reforms we are seeking to enact and keep the details of those reforms as simple as possible. There will likely be some differences of opinion regarding the merits of each of the reform proposals included in the Democracy Agenda, including Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments. However, the response to our petition drive in Missouri (where initiative petitions for those two reforms have already been approved for circulation and are being circulated, indicates broad (nearly unanimous) support for the idea of allowing citizens to sign petitions for ballot proposals and veto referendums electronically (online) and only slightly less support for Personal Representation (with some people expressing a desire to think about the proposal before signing the petition).
Once we get either one, or both, of these reforms enacted in one or more states, the blessings of a government being a true democracy will be obvious to most people and getting those reforms enacted in other states and at the federal level will be much easier.
Political parties are a big part of the problem. They are not likely to be part of the solution.
The most important (and counter-productive) division regarding politics and government in America, is the division of voters into Democrats and Republicans. Our two major political parties are part of the problem. They are not likely to be part of the solution.
The reforms that are needed to make America a Perfect Democracy (referendums, the initiative, and Personal Representation (via either ranked choice voting or proxies) were all proposed in the 19th century. None of those reforms have been widely adopted and the opposition of the leadership of major political parties is one of the primary reasons those reforms have not been more widely adopted.
The fact that political parties are considerably less relevant within a system of Personal Representation or when provisions for referendums and the initiative are in place, is the primary reason the leaders of major political parties have worked actively to prevent those reforms from being enacted and worked to repeal them or roll them back when and where they have been adopted.
Nearly half of voters in the United States self-identify as independent voters. Yet there are only a few members of Congress who identify as independents and very few, if any, independents in state legislatures.
There are some independent-minded Democrats and Republicans in Congress and state legislatures. They tend to be cautious in going against their party. Most of the Champions of Democracy that emerge and run for office as part of the Pro-Democracy Movement will be independent candidates or independent-minded Democrats or Republicans (who are likely to be shunned by their party).
Politically Active Citizens who identify as Democrats or Republicans will need to adapt to that reality and be willing to support independent candidates (as well as independent-minded candidates within their party).
A Data Base of True Friends and Champions of Democracy
Communication and coordination are vital within a grassroots movement. Most mainstream media outlets are owned by corporate interests. Social media can be an unreliable means of communication. Reaching voters through the U. S. Postal Service is expensive. That is why we are compiling a data base of contact information for pro-democracy Politically Active Citizens.
Both major political parties have extensive lists of party members and voters. We need to compile a similar data base of pro-democracy activists and pro-democracy voters. Armed with that information, which can be complied online, we will be able to organize more efficiently and effectively.
Calls to Action
Pro-Democracy Voters
Make it easy for Politically Active Citizens to contact you ahead of elections or regarding opportunities to sign initiative petitions or veto referendum petitions by providing your email address and/or cell phone number and the address at which you are registered to vote.
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 are about to make it matter!
Politically Active Citizens:
Use the links on this website to “Join the Pro-Democracy Movement” by submitting your contact information. We are compiling a data base of pro-democracy activists and voters, and Champions of Democracy among candidates for Congress and state legislatures.
Spread the word. Share links to this website, our civic education videos, our YouTube channel, and our Facebook group.
We need to reach tens of millions of voters to and encourage them to get out and vote for pro-democracy reforms. Contact friends and family and encourage them to support Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments (and 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.
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).
There are seventeen states where the constitution can 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. If you live in one of those states:
If 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.
As of November 3, 2025, Missouri is the only state where initiative petitions for Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments have been filed.
Pro-Democracy Candidates
Make it easy for Politically Active Citizens to contact you ahead of elections or regarding opportunities to sign initiative petitions or veto referendum petitions by providing your email address and/or cell phone number and the address at which you are registered to vote.
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 are about to make it matter!
Pro-Democracy Incumbents
At Government by the People, our mission is to provide shelter and support to homeless individuals in our community. We believe that everyone deserves a safe and comfortable place to call home, and we work tirelessly to make that a reality.
The Pro-Democracy Pyramid
The Key Groups that make up the Pro-Democracy Movement
Each of these groups has an important role to play.
Politically Active Citizens
Archimedes said, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” Politically Active Citizens are the lever and pro-democracy reforms are the fulcrum by which we can make America a Perfect Democracy.
Politically Active Citizens are the key to organizing the broad-based and inclusive movement that will be needed to overcome the opposition of the false friends and true enemies of democracy and enact the reforms needed to Make America a Perfect Democracy. We are the link between pro-democracy candidates and voters. When we unite in support of direct democracy, we will change the world.
Those of us who contribute time and/or money to candidates for office tend to have one or more issues or causes that we care about deeply. We work through candidates and organizations in support of the causes and issues we care about. And we are routinely and continually disappointed when the legislation we actively support fails to get enacted even though it has the support of a majority of voters.
We need to realize that we are not likely to see meaningful action on any of the many issues that have popular support until we fix our rigged, corrupted, dysfunctional, and anti-democratic political system. Once we have made America a true democracy, we will see meaningful action on ALL of the issues that concern us. We need to help voters understand that as well.
Those of us who contribute time and/or money to candidates for office need to make it clear that we will only support and work for candidates who support pro-democracy reforms. We need to identify and support CHAMPIONS OF DEMOCRACY who are on the ballot for every seat in Congress and all 50 state legislatures.
If enough of us withhold our support from incumbents who have not signed on to the legislation included in the Democracy Agenda, that legislation is more likely to be introduced. If enough of us simply refuse to support candidates who do not support democracy, candidates who do support democracy will emerge – and they will have a better chance of winning elections.
Pro-Democracy Voters
When a majority of the VOTERS in a majority of the congressional and legislative districts in a super-majority of states understand the essential elements that make a nation a true democracy, our movement will be "Too Big to Fail". When voters learn to recognize Champions of Democracy and vote for them, America will be a true democracy. When a majority of voters are well-educated, well-informed, and respect the rights of others, America will be a Perfect Democracy.
Pro-Democracy Candidates
Politics is a numbers game, but the game is won one seat at a time. To get pro-democracy reforms enacted, we need to help Champions of Democracy win a super-majority of the seats in Congress and/or a majority of the seats in a super-majority of state legislatures.
When an incumbent running for re-election does not support pro-democracy legislation, we need to do our best to recruit one or more candidates who do support the Democracy Agenda to run in 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.
Pro-Democracy Incumbents
We need to convince PRO-DEMOCRACY INCUMBENTS to sponsor and cosponsor the legislation included in the Democracy Agenda. And we need to support members of Congress and state legislatures who sponsor pro-democracy legislation, or who sign on as cosponsors, regardless of their party affiliation.
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. This is especially true regarding legislation that has the support of a majority of voters but is opposed by lobbyists and megadonors. Doing so can lead to some megadonors withdrawing their financial support. And most incumbents do not want to lose that financial support to sponsor legislation that has no realistic chance of passing.
Implementing systems of Personal Representation (with proxies) will have a better chance of drawing support from pro-democracy incumbents if the proposed amendment replaces elections with selection by proxies because that will alter the nature of the role of senators and representatives. It will reduce, and possibly eliminate, the need to raise money constantly, shift power within a representative assembly to the members who best serve the common interest, and make it possible to move from being a representative to a senator and from being a senator to being president, without having to risk losing their present office.
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. We need to find at least one Champion 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 immediately and then encourage other members to sign on as cosponsors. That will make it easy for us to identify the incumbents who are Champions of Democracy and give them our support.
We need to find just one Champion of Democracy in both houses of Congress who will introduce the federal version of a Personal Representation Amendment (or a Perfect Democracy Amendment). And one Champion of Democracy in each house of every state legislature (and the Unicameral in Nebraska) who will draft and introduce Proxies for Citizens even if there is little chance of it passing in the current session and then encourage other members to sign on as cosponsors. 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.
Get Reforms Enacted
"The best defense is a good offense."
Democracy is under assault in many countries around the world today and efforts by autocratic leaders to establish authoritarian governments have been successful in many places. Democracy in America has been deeply flawed for a long time, but we have never experienced attacks on democracy, and our rights, like we are seeing today. And while we absolutely must do everything we can to protect democracy in America, we must do more than protect democracy - we need to score victories for democracy. We must pro-actively work to make America more democratic.
We must realize that when it comes to defending democracy, an adage common to sports and warfare applies: “The best defense is a good offense.”
The work of defending democracy, especially when it is under constant attack from multiple sources, is a grim and joyless business. The work of promoting democracy is joyful and exciting.
The campaign to make America a Perfect Democracy will bring a welcome and healthy dose of positivity to the relentlessly negative tone of politics-as-usual in America today. Learning about the reforms needed to 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 permeates politics-as-usual in America today. Nearly all Americans believe strongly in democracy. We don't have to change minds, we only have to agree upon clear a definition of democracy, develop a shared understanding of Democracy, and build support for the reforms needed to make America a Perfect Democracy. We don't have to get angry. We don't have to spread fear and hatred. We simply need to join forces in support of the reforms needed. We can be happy and joyous warriors for the noblest cause of all - living up to the ideals upon which our nation was founded.
Focus Initially on Two Reforms
Until we get systems of Personal Representation implemented or Perfect Democracy Amendments enacted, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to get the other legislation included in The Democracy Agenda passed into law. Once we enact these reforms, it will be much easier to enact the additional reforms included in the Democracy Agenda – and enact ALL the legislation supported by a majority of Politically Active Citizens.
While we should take full advantage of any opportunity to get any of the legislation in the Democracy Agenda introduced and enacted, our top priority initially should be getting systems of Personal Representation implemented and/or getting Perfect Democracy Amendments enacted.
The campaign to enact reforms will be waged state by state.
The legislation that makes up the Democracy Agenda, the details of each reform, and the best strategy for getting these reforms enacted will vary from state to state and at the 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. 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).
Action Item: Be a Champion of Democracy - Run for Office
We need to elect Champions of Democracy to a majority of the seats in both chambers of the state legislation (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.
Run for a seat in Congress or your state legislature as a Champion of Democracy and make Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments the centerpiece of your campaign.
In states where the constitution can be amended through the initiative, we can use the initiative process to get reforms enacted.
Early successes are most likely in the seventeen states where the constitution can already be amended through the initiative. Those states are Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, and South Dakota.
In those seventeen states, 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. Personal Representation Amendments need to be limited to 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.
The details of getting proposals on the ballot vary from state to state but require collecting a lot of signatures by a deadline 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 other states our initial focus should be on implementing systems of Personal Representation:
There are eight states that have various, less powerful, combinations of referendums and the initiative already in place. Two states (Maryland and New Mexico) only have provisions for referendums. 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 or for the federal government.
Our primary 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 among the incumbents in state legislatures 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.
In all fifty states:
As we gain the support of a majority of the people in each state for pro-democracy reforms, more and more states will 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.
At the Federal Level
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.
Prioritize U. S. Senate Races
Getting two-thirds of the members of the U. S. Senate to support the constitutional amendments called for in the Democracy Agenda 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. We need to make support for the Democracy Agenda the key consideration of as many voters as possible as they decide which candidates for the U. S. Senate to support.
The Keys to Making Our Movement Too Big to Fail
There are two keys to success that will be the same in every state. Political Activists and pro-democracy political organizations must make their support for candidates for public offices contingent upon a candidate’s support for Personal Representation and/or Perfect Democracy Amendments. And we must conduct a Civic Education Project in every state to help voters develop a shared understanding of democracy and understand and appreciate the many benefits that will flow from amending constitutions to add provisions for referendums, the initiative, and Personal Representation.
Once a majority of the voters in a state learn to use support for these pro-democracy reforms to identify Champions of Democracy and elect them to a majority of the seats in their state legislature, our movement will be too big to fail. Once systems of Personal Representation are in place in a state legislature, legislation that has the support of a majority of the people will be much more likely to be passed into law. And once a state’s constitution has been amended to give citizens the power to call referendums and use the initiative, the people of that state will be able to fine tune the work of the representative assembly.
Once a majority of the voters in a majority of the states learn to use support for these two pro-democracy reforms to identify and vote for Champions of Democracy among candidates for Congress, we should be able to get a system of Personal Representation implemented in Congress.
Celebrate Democracy
The campaign to make America a Perfect Democracy will bring a welcome and healthy dose of positivity to the relentlessly negative tone of politics-as-usual in America today. Learning about the reforms needed to 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 permeates politics-as-usual in America today. Nearly all Americans believe strongly in Democracy. We don't have to change minds, we only have to agree upon clear a definition of democracy, develop a shared understanding of Democracy, and build support for the reforms needed to make America a Perfect Democracy. We don't have to get angry. We don't have to spread fear and hatred. We simply need to join forces in support of the reforms needed. We can be happy and joyous warriors for the noblest cause of all - living up to the ideals upon which our nation was founded.
The work of defending democracy, especially when it is under constant attack from multiple sources, is a grim and joyless business. The work of promoting democracy can be and should be joyful and exciting.
Step-by-Step
The process we need to follow will vary a bit from state to state and at different levels of government. But, in general, will follow these steps:
Step One: Get legislation drafted and introduced.
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.
Step Two: Recruit cosponsors.
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.
Step Three: Recruit Champions of Democracy to run for office.
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.
Step Four: Conduct unofficial primaries (as needed).
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.
Advice for Candidates
Be a Champion of Democracy
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.
Why Candidates Should Support Personal Representation
Once a system of Proxies for Citizens 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.
How do you run for office as a Champion of Democracy?
You 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.
If you are a non-incumbent candidate, you 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 you are running in a state with the Initiative:
You should take the lead in your state by filing initiative petitions for a Perfect Democracy Amendment and a Personal Representation Amendment.
If those petitions have already been filed in your state, you should 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).
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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..
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This website is paid for by Perfect Democracy - a 501(c)4 political action committee.