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Our Action Plan
The work of making our government our own will involve getting numerous reforms enacted in all fifty states and at the federal level, but we can provide the foundation necessary to enact additional reforms, transform Congress and state legislatures into truly democratic institutions, and shift power to the people, by getting two elegantly simple, yet incredibly powerful, pro-democracy reforms enacted: Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments.
Personal Representation
Implementing systems of Personal Representation will instantly transform Congress and state legislatures into truly democratic institutions by allowing citizens to authorize any one member of each legislative body that governs them to cast votes on their behalf (by assigning proxies) and giving each senator or representative a number of votes equal to the number of citizens who have authorized them to vote on their behalf, plus one for themselves. Including provisions allowing citizens to reassign their proxies at any time will allow Politically Active Citizens to vote (indirectly) on legislation being voted on in Congress or a state legislature.
Perfect Democracy Amendments
Perfect Democracy Amendments will make it easier for citizens to utilize two powerful forms of direct democracy – referendums and the initiative.
The initiative allows the people of a community, state, or nation to initiate and enact legislation without the involvement or approval of a legislative body. Referendums allow the people of a community, state, or nation to vote directly to determine whether proposed legislation is approved or rejected.
Perfect Democracy Amendments will extend provisions for referendums and the initiative to the federal government and the states that do not yet provide for them and will make it easier for citizens to call referendums and use the initiative in the states that already provide for them by allowing citizens to sign petitions for ballot proposals and veto referendums electronically (online).
Enacting Perfect Democracy Amendments will give power to the people - the ultimate power to approve or reject legislation, whether proposed by Congress or a state legislature or by the people through the initiative.
Shifting our focus to perfecting democracy will fundamentally alter the nature of politics.
Until we make America a true democracy, little, if any, of the legislation supported by a majority of Americans will be enacted. Once we make America a true democracy all the legislation supported by a majority of Americans will be enacted. That is why we need to make perfecting democracy our top priority.
Working together in support of Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments and the Champions of Democracy who are leading the campaign to get those reforms enacted, will reunite Americans and fundamentally alter the nature of politics in America.
If a candidate does not support Personal Representation or Perfect Democracy Amendments, even if they agree with you on the issues that concern you, and they get elected, if the legislation you would like to see enacted is opposed by corporate interests, it is not likely to be enacted or even brought to a vote. If a candidate supports Personal Representation and/or Perfect Democracy Amendments, it doesn't matter if they agree with you on the issues that concern you. Getting those reforms enacted will empower you to vote (directly or indirectly) on the issues that matter to you. Getting those reforms enacted will ensure that every issue that has the support of a majority of Politically Active Citizens will be raised, voted on, and enacted.
Imagine a Perfect Democracy
On January 11, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed an Economic Bill of Rights that included a federal job guarantee, health care for all, and the right to a decent home. He called upon Congress to enact the legislation needed to implement an Economic Bill of Rights. More than eighty years later, we are still waiting for Congress to act. Until we implement systems of Personal Representation or enact Perfect Democracy Amendments, we will go on waiting.
Polls consistently confirm that economic security is the number one concern of most Americans. Access to affordable health care (which is listed as the next greatest concern by most Americans) is a major component of economic security. (Medical bills are the number one cause of bankruptcies.) Home ownership (the cornerstone of the “American Dream”) is out of reach for far too many Americans today. Implementing systems of Personal Representation and/or enacting Perfect Democracy Amendments will replace those grim realities with a glorious new reality.
Congress has the power to create money by simply authorizing spending. State legislatures do not have that power. But when we get systems of Personal Representation implemented and/or enact Perfect Democracy Amendments in a state (whether by electing Champions of Democracy to a majority of the seats in a state legislature or through the imitative) robust job programs, a public option for health care, and an affordable homes project (and other legislation favored by a majority of the people) will be put in place and millions of Americans will finally experience “the Blessings of Liberty” more fully than ever before.
A Pro-Democracy Grassroots Movement
The false friends and true enemies of democracy will strongly oppose pro-democracy reforms. To overcome their opposition, we, the people, need unite, across party lines and is spite of serious differences of opinion on divisive issues, in a broad-based and inclusive pro-democracy grassroots movement.
The response to our petition drive in Missouri (where initiative petitions for both a Personal Representation Amendment and a Perfect Democracy Amendment are already being circulated) makes it clear that Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments enjoy overwhelming (nearly unanimous) support. We don't have to change hearts or minds to build support for these reforms. We simply need to make the people of each state aware of these reforms and give them the opportunity to vote for these reforms directly (in referendums) or to vote for Champions of Democracy who will get these reforms enacted.
A Data Base of True Friends and Champions of Democracy
Communication and coordination are vital within a grassroots movement. We need to be able to communicate with each other (and with voters) and coordinate our efforts, without relying on corporate-owned mainstream media and social media. To that end, we are compiling a data base of contact information for pro-democracy activists and voters.
Please provide your email address and/or cell phone number and the address at which you are registered to vote. 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 with any organization that is not part of our pro-democracy coalition. We will not send out emails or text messages soliciting financial contributions.
Please provide your email address and/or cell phone number and the address at which you are registered to vote. 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 with any organization that is not part of our pro-democracy coalition. We will not send out emails or text messages soliciting financial contributions.
We will utilize the information in our data base to facilitate communication and coordinate the efforts of pro-democracy voters and activists within each state, congressional district, and legislative district; determine where our resources can be employed most effectively; to decide where to host events; and to help promote events.
Celebrate Democracy
Our campaign to make America a Perfect Democracy is bringing a much-needed dose of positivity to the relentlessly negative tone of politics-as-usual in America today. We don't have to respond in kind to the anger, fear, and hatred that are already at toxic levels in America. 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-as-usual in America today.
The work of defending democracy is a grim and joyless business, especially when democracy 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 –
State by State
Our campaign is being organized on a state-by-state basis. While we should take full advantage of any opportunity to get any pro-democracy legislation enacted, our top priority initially should be to get either one, or both, of two foundational reforms enacted: Personal Representation and Perfect Democracy Amendments. The details of the legislation needed and which of these reforms will likely be the easiest to enact will vary from state to state and at the federal level.
Early successes are most likely in states that already have the initiative.
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.
There are five states (Alaska, Maine, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming) that have referendums and the initiative for statutes, but no initiative for constitutional amendments. Constitutional amendments are preferable to statutes, but providing for electronic signatures on initiative petitions and implementing systems of Personal Representation can be done through statutes.
In states that already have provisions for the initiative, Perfect Democracy Amendments simply need to allow citizens to “sign” petitions electronically (online) or reduce the number of signatures required to get proposed legislation on the ballot. Allowing citizens to sign online is the option that seems to excite voters the most. Citizens of the European Union have been able to “sign” initiative petitions by submitting online statements of support, since 2011.
When seeking to propose and enact Personal Representation Amendments through the initiative, the proposal should be kept as simple as possible - simply implementing a system of proxies. That will avoid complicating the deliberative process by including other proposals like replacing elections with selection by proxies or moving to a unicameral legislature.
Petitions for both a Personal Representation Amendment and a Perfect Democracy Amendment have already been approved for circulation in Missouri. Nearly every voter who has been contacted has been excited by both proposals and has signed both petitions. A few people hesitate to sign the petition for Personal Representation because they want more time to think about how a system of proxies would work. For that reason, if Politically Active Citizens in a state with the initiative are going to circulate only one petition, a Perfect Democracy Amendment might be preferable. The argument in favor of circulating a Personal Representation Amendment as the only petition is that the positive impact will be felt two years sooner.
The details of getting proposals on the ballot through the initiative 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 do not have the initiative, our initial focus should be on implementing systems of Personal Representation.
Incumbents in state legislatures (and Congress) are more likely to support Personal Representation rather than Perfect Democracy Amendments, because 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. Perfect Democracy Amendments shift power to the people directly, taking power away from legislators.
We can make implementing systems of Personal Representation even more appealing to incumbents by including provisions to replace elections of senators and representatives with selection by proxies and to move to a unicameral legislature. That would enable representatives to become senators without risking their seat in the House of Representatives and enable both .
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 voters are more familiar with members of Congress than they are with members of their state legislature. For that reason, understanding the power of Personal Representation will be easier for most people to appreciate when Congress is used as the example.
If a single member of each house of Congress will draft and introduce a Personal Representation Amendment, 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. Champions of Democracy will vote in favor of a Personal Representation Amendment. 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.
Prioritize U. S. Senate Races
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.
Too Big to Fail
Majority rule is the essential element of democracy. And the fact that nearly all Americans believe in democracy is the key to our success. When a majority of the voters in any state are aware of these reforms, they will support proposals to enact these reforms when they are put on the ballot through the initiative. They will vote for Champions of Democracy who are running for seats in the state legislature. They will make the government of their state a Perfect Democracy.
When a majority of voters in a super-majority of the states are aware of these reforms, they will elect Champions of Democracy to Congress, and we will make America a Perfect Democracy.
Making voters aware of these reforms is the key to making our Pro-Democracy Movement too big to fail.
Step by Step
The details of the process we need to follow and the strategies we should employ will vary from state to state and at different levels of government, but in general, will follow the same steps. The biggest differences in strategy and tactics will be between states that already have provisions for referendums and/or the initiative and states that don’t.
In states that already have provisions for referendums and/or the initiative:
In states that already have provisions for referendums and/or the initiative, we can use the initiative to introduce proposals for both Personal Representation Amendments and Perfect Democracy Amendments.
Step One: A Politically Active Citizen drafts and submits an initiative petition for Personal Representation and/or for a Perfect Democracy Amendment. (It only takes one.)
Step Two: Once an initiative petition has been approved for circulation, the number of signatures that must be obtained to put a proposal on the ballot must be gathered by a set deadline (that varies from state to state.
Step Three: Once the required number of signatures are submitted, the proposal will be certified and placed on the ballot.
Step Four: The enemies of democracy will undoubtedly raise and spend enormous amounts of money attempting to convince voters to reject pro-democracy reforms. We do not need to match them dollar for dollar. An ounce of Truth will counter a pound of lies. But we do need to raise as much money as possible to counter their efforts and campaign effectively to ensure that voters approve the ballot proposal.
In Legislative Bodies
Step One: Get legislation drafted and introduced.
It only takes one Champion of Democracy to introduce legislation implementing a system of Personal Representation in a legislative body. However, in the case of pro-democracy reforms that may be harder than it should be. Members of Congress and state legislatures do not ordinarily draft and introduce (or co-sponsor) legislation that will upset their corporate benefactors, especially if that legislation has no realistic chance of being enacted in a legislative session. To do so risks losing the financial support of corporate interests and billionaires, and consequently risk losing re-election.
Incumbents in Congress and state legislatures are more likely to support implementing systems of Personal Representation than Perfect Democracy Amendments. Making it easier for citizens to enact legislation without the approval or involvement of legislative bodies takes power away from legislators and gives it directly to the people. Systems of Personal Representation give power to the people indirectly and shifts power within a representative assembly to the members who do the best job of drafting legislation that addresses problems and resolves conflicts in a manner that is in harmony with the will of the people.
When proposing a system of Personal Representation within a legislative body, we can make that legislation even more appealing to senators and representatives who ran for office intending to serve the common interest and would like to be able to serve the common interest going forward, by adding provisions to replace elections with selection by proxies and merging the Senate and House of Representatives into a unicameral legislature. Those additional changes will free incumbents of the need to raise money constantly and run for reelection continually. It will provide for a natural ascension for representatives to become senators and for members of Congress or a state legislature to run for higher office without risking being out of office completely if they lose an election for higher office.
We need to find at least one Champion of Democracy, who is not beholden to corporate interests in both the House and Senate in Congress and in all fifty state legislatures (and the Unicameral in Nebraska) and get them to draft and introduce legislation providing for Personal Representation.
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 legislation implementing a system of Personal Representation.
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 for Personal Representation (and democracy) clear by signing on as cosponsors to the legislation that would implement a system of Personal Representation.
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.
Calls to Action
Calls to Action for Politically Active Citizens:
Join the campaign to make America a Perfect Democracy by submitting your contact information.
Make it clear to candidates that you will only support and work for candidates who support Personal Representation and/or Perfect Democracy Amendments. If enough of us withhold our support from incumbents who do not support those reforms, legislation proposing those reforms is more likely to be introduced. If enough of us simply refuse to support candidates who do not support those reforms, candidates who do support those reforms will emerge – and they will have a better chance of winning elections.
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).
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.
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.
We need to help pro-democracy voters identify and support Champions of Democracy who are on the ballot. When there is no Champion of Democracy on the ballot, some Politically Active Citizens need to step up and run for office.
We will need a lot of Politically Active Citizens to run for office.
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 perfect democracy in ALL the governments in America .
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.
Calls to Action for Pro-Democracy Incumbents:
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 mega-donors. Doing so can lead to some mega-donors 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. We need at least one member of each legislative body to introduce legislation implementing a system of Personal Representation with Proxies (and other pro-democracy legislation).
Once legislation for Personal Representation or Perfect Democracy Amendments have been introduced, we need all the other members who support those amendments to sign-on as a cosponsor when pro-democracy legislation is introduced by someone else and encourage other senators and representatives to sign on as cosponsors.
Calls to Action for Pro-Democracy Candidates:
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.
Calls to Action for Pro-Democracy Voters:
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!
Key Talking Points
Why Politically Active Citizens should get involved in our campaign to make America a Perfect Democracy:
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 are not likely to see meaningful action on any of the many issues that have broad popular support until we exercise our right to alter the form of our government. Once we have made America a true democracy, we will see meaningful action on ALL the issues that concern us. We need to help pro-democracy incumbents, non-incumbent candidates, and voters understand that as well.
The key to victory for our pro-democracy movement is to limit our active support (contributions of time and/or money) to candidates who support Personal Representation and/or Perfect Democracy Amendments). If enough of us withhold our active support from incumbents who do not support those reforms, legislation proposing those reforms is more likely to be introduced. If enough of us refuse to contribute time and/or money to candidates who do not support those reforms, candidates who do support those reforms will emerge – and they will have a better chance of winning elections.
Why Incumbents and Candidates Should Support Personal Representation
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.
Why candidates should run as Champions of Democracy
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.
If you are an incumbent running for reelection, draft and introduce the legislation implementing a system of Personal Representation and/or a Perfect Democracy Amendment. If that legislation has been introduced, sign on as a cosponsor.
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.”
How do you run for office as a Champion of Democracy?
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 you are running in a state with the initiative:
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).
Join the Campaign to Make America a Perfect Democracy
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 2026 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.