B.1(b). Scope and Work of the Demi-Congress

The Demi-Congress shall be vested with the authority to investigate the causes of public dissatisfaction with the Charter, and it may design and recommend potential remedies, including reforms, amendments, or structural changes.

The Demi-Congress has a very important role. Their job is to investigate why the citizens voted to put consent in question. Once they’ve done that, they are given the authority to put together proposals or recommendations for changes. That may be in the form of amendments, suggestions for commands to Congress for reform legislation, or proposals to change the size, scope, or structure of the government. In short, the Demi-Congress is tasked with preparing a report that outlines what they found out about why the citizens put consent in question and makes suggestions about how to remedy those perceived failures. As serious as that work is, they don’t have the authority to enact anything. Their scope is limited to investigation and recommendation.

The Vice President of the United States shall preside over the Demi-Congress. In this role, the Vice President shall serve solely as a neutral arbiter of parliamentary procedure and may not participate in deliberation or influence outcomes.

Only members of the Demi-Congress can vote or speak, but the Vice President is expected to preside over their work as a chairperson. The Vice President is also presumed to be the go-between to communicate between the Demi-Congress and governmental institutions. They have no role beyond that. They are strictly to act as a facilitator.

Congress must fully fund the Demi-Congress from the legislative budget. The Demi-Congress shall have the power to commission public opinion research, conduct hearings, request testimony, and consult expert advisors as it deems necessary.

Congress doesn’t get to play funding games with the Demi-Congress to influence or limit their ability to carry out their mandate. Congress has to fund them. And the Demi-Congress has the authority to carry out that work, even at expense to the government.