Expressing support for a comprehensive political reform plan.
Impact
In addition to term limits for Congress, HR200 calls for a ban on campaign contributions from political action committees (PACs) and lobbyists. This proposal is rooted in the belief that such contributions lead to a disproportionate influence that special interests exert over lawmakers. Supporters argue that limiting the financial power of PACs would enhance the voices of average voters and promote a more balanced political landscape. Furthermore, the bill suggests introducing a lifetime lobbying ban for former members of Congress to prevent conflicts of interest and maintain electoral integrity.
Summary
House Resolution 200, introduced in the 119th Congress, expresses support for a comprehensive political reform plan aimed at restoring public trust in government and addressing systemic issues related to political representation and accountability. The resolution emphasizes the need for congressional term limits, suggesting a 12-year limit for members of Congress. This measure seeks to combat incumbent advantages that have prevented meaningful competition in elections, as historical data shows high re-election rates for sitting politicians, often upwards of 75%.
Conclusion
The resolution, HR200, reflects a growing demand among the American populace for significant governmental reform. With public trust in government institutions steadily eroding, HR200 proposes measures that align with the views of a majority of Americans advocating for term limits, lobbying restrictions, and enhanced ethical regulations. The discussions surrounding this resolution are likely to spark vigorous debate within Congress, as lawmakers balance the advantages of reform against concerns of overreach and the implications for judicial independence.
Contention
One of the more contentious proposals within HR200 is the enforcement of a code of ethics for Supreme Court Justices, alongside a push for 18-year term limits and regular appointments. Critics may view this aspect as an encroachment upon judicial independence. The resolution highlights public dissatisfaction with the current state of the Supreme Court, noting that confidence in the institution fell to a historical low in 2022. The proposed reforms aim to restore public confidence by making justices more accountable and less susceptible to political biases stemming from lifetime appointments.
Providing the sense of the House of Representatives that the political persecution of President Donald J. Trump is morally unjustifiable and has damaged institutional trust to an extraordinary degree; that the Biden administration's weaponization of the Federal Government against Donald Trump, the Republican Party's nominee for President in 2024, must end; that those responsible for the persecution of Donald Trump within the Biden administration must be held accountable by Congress; and that the United States would benefit enormously from having Donald J. Trump inaugurated once again as the President of the United States on January 20, 2025.
Expressing support for the recognition of September 26, 2023, as "World Contraception Day" and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding global and domestic access to contraception.
Expressing support for the recognition of October 26, 2023, as "Intersex Awareness Day", and supporting the goals and ideals of Intersex Awareness Day.
Urges Congress to provide for joint session at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in honor of semiquincentennial of Declaration of Independence.
Removal of the Highway Plan and Building Restriction Line from Lot 9 in Square 5914 along the West Side of Congress Street, S.E., S.O. 22-01642, Act of 2024
Urging the Congress of the United States to propose and submit to the states for ratification a federal balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States and, in the event that Congress does not submit such an amendment on or before December 31, 2011, applying to Congress to call a convention for the specific and exclusive purpose of proposing an amendment to that constitution to provide, in the absence of a national emergency and on a two-thirds vote of Congress, for a federal balanced budget and requesting that the legislatures of each of the several states that compose the United States apply to Congress to call a convention to propose such an amendment.
A resolution recognizing the expiration of the Equal Rights Amendment proposed by Congress in March 1972, and observing that Congress has no authority to modify a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment after the amendment has been submitted to the States or after the amendment has expired.