At the conclusion of Yuval Levin’s American Covenant, he shares a personal story about his citizenship ceremony. The Federal judge presiding over the ceremony left him with the profound advice to think about America in “terms of we and our and not them and their.” Levin explains
We is the first word of the Constitution. It is the first word of the glorious second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. Both documents speak in first person plural, because they both speak for a people taking ownership of their common fate.
Levin reminds us that we, the people, are responsible for governing to secure “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The Declaration of Independence helps us understand why it is worth the effort to make that “we” a reality. And the Constitution helps us see just how that could be done. We now need to be reminded of both the “why” and the “how.” That reminding will need to take the form of civic practice and constitutional renewal.
Levin is challenging us to think of America as ours and to get involved. He’s guiding us to the Constitution and our past for answers. His words inspired me. I want to challenge you to be involved.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,” created a document of structured responsibilities that constrains and balances power, encourages cooperation, and unites all the different factions of our nation. The Articles of Confederation were inadequate, failing to give people the power to solve their problems. The Constitution is a beacon of liberty, a patchwork of imperfect compromises that secures our sovereignty and balances internal disputes. It is a document of hope, opportunity, and freedom.
Our constitutional journey has been rocky, but we always find a way to reconcile our differences and reform. From the Civil War and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Progressive Era and the 16th, 17th, and 19th Amendments, generation after generation, we Americans have extended the sphere of power, expanding representation and liberty to more and more people. From sea to shining sea to civil rights, the patchwork of compromises continues on a united path for a more perfect union.
Our current generation is stuck in a cycle of dysfunction and inaction. Constitutional responsibilities are ignored, and no one is held accountable. Power is concentrated, we are over-taxed and over-regulated, internal disputes are growing more serious, and our national sovereignty lacks borders. We must challenge our representatives to follow the constitutional principles of dialogue, coalition building, and action. We must challenge them for Congressional reform that addresses issues with representation, incentives, and a balance of power. We must empower leaders who understand the moment. This is a time for reform.
1. Representation: The House of Representatives apportionment is constitutionally designed to expand as the population grows. However, the apportionment has been capped since 1929, leading to a lack of representation for citizens. Major constitutional moments center around representation, and ours is no different. We must debate representation.
(If you read the congressional record on the apportionment debate from the 1900s, it reads like an immigration debate. If we want immigration legislation, it starts with apportionment.)
2. Incentives: The current incentive structure encourages the wrong people to run for office and stay in power. It rewards division over unity and prioritizes winning over action. We must debate campaign finance and election reform.
3. Balance of Power: The balance of power is off, from the concentration in Congressional leadership to the transfer of Congressional powers to the executive department and the influence of the Courts on the legislative process. We must debate the balance of power.
If we want to solve our immigration problem, the looming debt crisis, and the skyrocketing cost of living, we must have a properly balanced representative government with a positive incentive structure.
We can either ignore the problems or get involved. Give up or continue pursuing a more perfect union and take ownership of our common fate. While partisan division and anger make our moment look bleak, it is an opportunity for growth. Our past can be our enemy or our friend. We can learn from it or be doomed to repeat it. The signs are written all over the walls. The time for congressional reform is now.
We, the people, must demand reform.
If you are tired of the partisan fighting and are among the 76% of Americans who disapprove of Congress, get involved and speak up for Congressional reform. In the comments, drop the reform you want action on. Term limits? Uncapping the House? Campaign Finance Reform? Election Reform? How would you do it? Let me know.
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