A 21st Century Constitution

Our Constitution was written to be a living document, but we have been governing by laws that were created long before electricity. It is time to modernize it with amendments that reflect the values and needs of the 21st century.

The Amendments

War Powers, Military Aid, and Citizen Confirmation Amendment

Section 1. – Presidential Authority in Defense
The President of the United States shall have authority to direct the Armed Forces into hostilities only in response to a direct and imminent attack upon the United States, its territories, or its armed forces abroad.
Such emergency defensive action shall not continue for more than seven (7) days without authorization by Congress.

Section 2. – Congressional and Citizen Approval for War and Military Aid
No declaration of war, authorization for the use of military force, or provision of military aid meeting the threshold defined in Section 3 shall take effect unless:

  1. Approved by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress, and

  2. Thereafter ratified by a majority of citizens of the United States in a national vote, which shall be held within seven (7) days following congressional approval.

Section 3. – Military Aid Threshold
For purposes of this article, “military aid” includes any provision of funds, materiel, weapons, training, or logistical support intended to sustain hostilities in a foreign conflict.
Military aid shall trigger Sections 2 and 4 if its total value equals or exceeds fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), adjusted for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index from the year of enactment.

Congress shall not have authority to alter this threshold but may pass laws to administer the referendum, transparency, and reporting requirements related to military aid.

Section 4. – Failure to Confirm
Should the citizens of the United States fail to confirm such authorization, all hostilities and associated military aid shall cease, and U.S. Armed Forces shall be withdrawn as safely and swiftly as practicable.

Section 5. – Enforcement and Administration
Congress shall have power to enforce and administer this article by appropriate legislation, including, but not limited to:

  1. Conducting the national vote required under Section 2;

  2. Ensuring transparency and reporting of executive military actions and aid during the emergency defense period;

  3. Certifying and implementing the results of the citizen vote.