Thirty-Thousand.org

[moonhead]

I think it would be ideal to place a form letter from a link on the website and the facebook page that you could send in an email to your local state representatives discussing a Article V convention for an amendment stating something to the effect of

"1. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, or exceed fifty thousand per representative.
2.When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the House, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
3. Every Representative shall spend two weeks out of every four week period within their district.
4. Regional Federal buildings will be erected and connected via secure communications to allow the assembly of the House of Representatives and voting on bills.
5. This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Representative chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution."

Furthermore, it would probably be ideal to provide an easy way to search for each state's legislaturors emails, so people would be more likely to take a moment and do it.

[JEQuidam]

I think it would be ideal to place a form letter from a link on the website and the facebook page that you could send in an email to your local state representatives...

Getting people to write their state representatives in support of representational enlargement could be very helpful.

Note however that TTO is focused on one mission: Educating the public about the benefits of achieving smaller congressional districts through representational enlargement. Consequently, TTO should avoid being committed to any particular set of specifics on how representational enlargement should be implemented (e.g., spending two weeks out of every four weeks in their home district). These ideas are discussed in TTO's website and pamphlet ("Taking Back Our Republic"), but they're presented as possibilities rather than the required implementation. If TTO became locked into a specific way to implement this solution, then there is a greater risk that people become distracted from the central mission as they debate those specifics (e.g., whether it should be 1 or 3 weeks at home, or all 4 weeks). These ancillary details will become important in time and, when that time comes, they will be resolved through open public debate. (And let that debate begin now! That's what this forum is for.)

One more point: It is important that everyone realize that a constitutional amendment is not required to allow representational enlargement; it is only required to compel it. Any time Congress wants to, they could increase the number of Reps to any number (so long as no district had less than 30,000 people). In this forum I have written in support of an Article V amendment convention as it seems unlikely that the congressmen will ever voluntarily give up their super-sized political fiefdoms.

That being said, we should encourage people to write their state representatives as well as their congressman. It is possible that one or more of these "representatives" will actually support this solution. Everyone will probably need to write the letter their own way, and I certainly don't object to you sending that letter. We can use this forum as a way to suggest content for our letters, and to inform others of the results of our efforts. If nothing else, these letters could generate some helpful publicity. Otherwise, don't be surprised to get a response like this one from Rep Rush Holt. To the best of my knowledge, the only federal Rep supporting enlargement is Alcee Hastings; read his Dear Colleague letter.

[NevadaEric]

Form letter good. I've written an amendment specific to Nevada. Others can do so in their state, since I'm certain most other states have this theft of representation. Keep pounding away. Below is a sample for Nevada. Don't quit.


Proposed Amendment For Greater Representation in the Nevada Legislature

With the 2010 Census, the people of Nevada are losing representation again with
ever-increasing district sizes. Your ability to be heard by your representatives, is disappearing at an alarming rate. We need an active campaign of District-Size
Reduction to combat this.

The 'Class-Size Reduction' model in education is a splendid example to gain proper
insight into the situation facing all of us in these trying times of uncertainty.

If students get a better education with smaller class sizes,
then citizens will get better representation with smaller district sizes.

To strengthen the meaning of both Representation and Citizenship, to make
amends to the very basic fabric of our society, the following Amendment is
the required binding sinew. No other measure can attempt to renew us.

Smaller districts enable smaller campaigns. Smaller districts allow for more thoughtful decisions. Smaller districts enable more contact with representatives.

Text of the proposed Constitutional Amendment:

Article 15 Sec. 6 is null and has no further effect.

The limit on the maximum number of representatives in Legislature.

Article 4 Section 5 amended as follows

Sec. 5. Number of Senators and members of Assembly; apportionment. Senators and members of the Assembly shall be duly qualified electors in the respective counties and districts which they represent, and the number of Senators shall not be less than one-third nor more than one-half of that of the members of the Assembly.

It shall be the mandatory duty of the Legislature at its first session after the taking of the decennial census of the United States in the year 1950, and after each subsequent decennial census, to fix by law the number of Senators and Assemblypersons, Assemblymen, and apportion them among the several counties of the State, or among legislative districts which may be established by law, according to the number of inhabitants in them, respectively.
:end of Sec. 5

Sec. 5. Number of Senators and members of Assembly; apportionment. Senators and members of the Assembly shall be duly qualified electors in the respective counties and districts which they represent.

It shall be the mandatory duty of the Legislature at its first session after the taking of the decennial census of the United States in the year 1950, and after each subsequent decennial census, to fix the number of Senators and Assemblypersons according to Article 20.
:end of Sec. 5
Article 20 - Representation Method of and for Citizens of Nevada in Their Legislature.

Sec. 1: Reason
In order to Represent the Citizens of this State in their Government, this confers
to each member of the Legislature that change is required to keep the purpose of government close to the citizens, to insure the stability of representation.

Sec. 2: Number of persons per Assemblyperson
There shall be one Assemblyperson per 9,000 persons of which no less than 95% are Citizens of this State and of the United States, and if the total number of Assemblypersons resulting from said apportionment results to an odd amount, the total will be increased by one.

Sec. 3: Number of persons per Senator
There shall be one Senator for each 54,000 persons of which no less than 95% are Citizens of this State and of the United States, and if the total number of Senators resulting from said apportionment results to odd amount, the total will be increased by one.

Sec. 4: Legislature size adjustments
After these districts are created for the first time according to Section 6, in each subsequent decennial Census of the United States, adjustments to the number of members in the Legislature shall be made according to their respective numbers from said Census, and shall conform to Section 2, Section 3, and Section 5.

Sec. 5: District boundary adjustments
1. The district boundaries for each Assemblyperson and Senator shall be adjusted to conform to increases in the number of persons in each district so that when the total number in a district reaches twice the number allotted according to Section 2 or Section 3, a new district shall be created along with the new member.

2. The district boundaries for each Assemblyperson and Senator shall be adjusted to conform to decreases in the number of persons in each district so that when the total number in a district reaches half the number allotted according to Section 2 or Section 3, the district and the member shall cease and the ceasing district persons shall be incorporated into adjacent districts as equally as possible, so that the adjacent districts remain within the allotted numbers set forth in Section 2 and Section 3.

3. If it is found that Section 5.2 procedures can not be accomplished, then further district adjustments shall be performed to the most adjacent districts until Section 5.2 can be fulfilled accordingly.

Sec. 6: Initial District boundaries
1. Initial District boundaries shall be created immediately after passage of this Amendment.

2. Boundaries shall be determined by the Legislature before the next General Election, and to conform to Section 2 and Section 3, and be so drawn to encompass the least distance, in all directions, from the center of the District.

3. The Districts shall be filled with qualified persons, for their respective Districts, in which they must reside, at the next General Election.