Councils of Three

[Blue3]

Here’s an idea I've been brainstorming that combines direct democracy, grassroots activism, public/civic engagement, letting each person feel like they really have a voice and a chance, and representative democracy, altogether.

I’m calling it “Councils of Three.” It's kind of like brackets, but with the base unit of three (the process explained below) because it’s the smallest number possible that makes sense. One doesn’t make sense, it would never lead to any advancing to the next level, and would just be the like the online petition webpage the White House already has. Two doesn’t make sense, because it leaves gridlock too possible, especially once it advances to the higher levels. 3 allows for 2 to overrule 1, and still makes it very intimate.  



There are currently about 220,000,000 registered voters in the United States. (218 million plus some, when I checked, but I'm rounding up since the number should naturally go up each election. 220 million should be close enough, for now).



Level 1:
Let's say the federal government organized it so neighbors would be organized into groups of 3, with rooms set aside in public places like schools, city halls, libraries, etc. And those 3 would decide on an agenda of what's most important for the country (approved by at least 2 votes), and pick one of themselves to then advance to the "next level" (again, approved by at least 2). If you deadlock with 1 against 1 against 1, you don't move on to the "next level." They are given 2 full, compensated work-days (and a good compensation, better than jury duty, but treated by employers like jury duty), if not done in time then no one in your group moves up to the next level.
(220,000,000 divided by 3 = about 73,333,333 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)

Level 2:
Then those representatives would form new groups of 3, to argue and combine and streamline/reorganize agendas, and choose a new representative, again needing at least 2 votes. All agendas are published online, free and open and easily-accessible for the public to view, at each level. They are also given 2 days. If the people selected to come together live far apart, government will provide cheap transportation to the assigned meeting place.
(73,333,333 divided by 3 = about 24,444,444 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)


Level 3:
Same thing.
(24,444,444 divided by 3 = about 8,148,148 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)

Level 4:
Same thing.
(8,148,148 divided by 3 = about 2,716,049 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)

Level 5:
Same thing.
(2,716,049 divided by 3 = about 905,349 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)


Level 6:
Same thing. Except now the process increases to 5 days, one full work week.
(905,349 divided by 3 = about 301,783 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)


Level 7:
Same thing.
(301,783 divided by 3 = about 100,594 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)

Level 8:
Same thing.
(100,594 divided by 3 = about 33,531 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)

Level 9:
Same thing.
(33,531 divided by 3 = about 11,177 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)

Level 10:
Same thing.
(11,177 divided by 3 = about 3,725 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)

Level 11:
Same thing.
(3,725 divided by 3 = about 1,241 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)


Level 12:
Same thing. But the representatives chosen in this round (~413) will serve in the House of Representatives for a 2-year term, beginning at the start of the next term (not immediately), some time after this process ends.
(1,241 divided by 3 = about 413 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)

Level 13:
Same thing. But these representatives will be given a “senior” status when the new term starts.
(413 divided by 3 = about 137 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)

Level 14:
Same thing. But these representatives will lead the subcommittees in the House, when the new term starts.
(137 divided by 3 = about 45 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)

Level 15:
Same thing. But these representatives will chair the committees in the House, when the new term starts.
(45 divided by 3 = about 15 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)

Level 16:
Same thing. But these ~5 representatives will be the senior leadership team, that help govern the rules of the house and whip the votes and likely lead any parties/coalitions. The last true “councils of three.”
(15 divided by 3 = about 5 groups, each choosing one representative + agenda.)

*Level 17 (final):
The senior House leadership team then does the same thing (even though they are slightly more than 3, but as long as they’re less than 9,) and by simple majority will elect amongst them a Speaker of the House and the final agenda. With population growth, it’s also easy to simply add one more layer every so often, as needed. And each agenda, and chosen representative, is made public knowledge, at each level, so each person who participates (and even those who don’t) will be able to trace their influence through the system, all the way to the top.




Thoughts?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

There's something uncomfortably Qaddafist about this.