Recall Removal Act

[Crash Override]

So, I plan on going to my representative in congress and demanding that they introduce the below legislation that I wrote. I don't have a representative at the moment as I live in District 6 in FL, I am voting for Josh Weil btw . What do you all think about this? I think it would be amazing. And I do know this will go nowhere and never happen but I will feel good that I at least made an attempt.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to establish a process for the recall and removal of Members of Congress, the President, and Justices of the Supreme Court.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. Weil - introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to allow for the recall and removal of Members of Congress, the President, and Justices of the Supreme Court.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:

SECTION 1. The people of the United States shall have the power to recall and remove any elected or appointed official of the United States government, including the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, and Justices of the Supreme Court, through a democratic process as outlined in this amendment.

SECTION 2. A recall petition may be initiated by any registered voter and must gather signatures totaling at least 10 percent of the number of votes cast in the most recent election for the office held by the official in question within 180 days of petition approval.

SECTION 3. Upon verification of sufficient signatures by the Federal Election Commission, a national recall election shall be held within 90 days. If a majority of voters approve the recall, the official shall be removed from office immediately, and a special election or appointment process shall commence as prescribed by law.

SECTION 4. In the case of the President or Vice President, upon removal by recall, the order of succession as prescribed in the Constitution and federal law shall determine the replacement until a special election is held within 120 days.

SECTION 5. Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

SECTION 6. This amendment shall take effect upon ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures.

END

[Joe Kakistocracy]

In theory, sure.

In practice... uh, the petition only needs 10% of the number of all voters in the last election?  And the losing side of any given presidential election typically wins ~45% of the vote?  We would be seeing recall elections at least once a year, based on the described timeline.

[Crash Override]

In theory, sure.

In practice... uh, the petition only needs 10% of the number of all voters in the last election?  And the losing side of any given presidential election typically wins ~45% of the vote?  We would be seeing recall elections at least once a year, based on the described timeline.

Gotcha, I would be ok with requiring 35% of the total voters in the last election then. 

[Virginiá]

It would probably be better to only allow recalls in certain circumstances, such as corruption, arrests, etc. Maybe the petition threshold would be enough, but in situations where the House is narrowly controlled, you're going to get people filing recalls and putting big money behind it simply because they want a redo election. We already see that at the state level, and it's just a waste of resources and in some cases results in low-turnout recall electorates overturning the will of much larger general election electorates simply because some organizers decided they wanted another shot.

I know it sounds like an argument against recalls, but I'm generally for them, it's just that this country has way too many deep-pocketed people who absolutely will abuse the process.

edit: If you're trying to make it look more attractive to a sitting Rep, limiting the scope of eligibility will probably play to their interests. But, either way, this kind of proposal would take some serious muscle to ever have a chance.

[Crash Override]

And in my mind, any voter can start the process to recall any member of congress even if they do not live in that district.  For example, if people believe that a member of congress is an absolute embarrassment to our country like MTG they can be removed.  This would be a check on our members of congress in my opinion and maybe make them act more civil.

[Crash Override]

It would probably be better to only allow recalls in certain circumstances, such as corruption, arrests, etc. Maybe the petition threshold would be enough, but in situations where the House is narrowly controlled, you're going to get people filing recalls and putting big money behind it simply because they want a redo election. We already see that at the state level, and it's just a waste of resources and in some cases results in low-turnout recall electorates overturning the will of much larger general election electorates simply because some organizers decided they wanted another shot.

I know it sounds like an argument against recalls, but I'm generally for them, it's just that this country has way too many deep-pocketed people who absolutely will abuse the process.

Great points here.

[Don't Tread on Me]

This has my total support. The biggest problem is that I’m not sure if it’ll pass and if they were successful with an impeachment of a MAGA member or RW SC justice then it could spark civil unrest if not an outright civil war.

[GoTfan]

Recall elections were a good idea pre-Tea Party. Now they're just partisan instruments, like the filibuster.