Democratic Elections

A Democratic Elections Design for the U.S.A.

Do you REALLY want democratic elections?

If YES, then read here how to do it,

for the first time in every detail:

Candidates apply for a campaign funding grant from their voters !

This procedure does not require permission from any

government authority and is protected by the Constitution.

Background Principle: Public and non-profit grants for public benefit projects:

Like millions of other Americans, I have been involved on a local committee that wanted to build a bike trail, or assure arts and music be taught in our local public school, or help provide basic needs for homeless disabled citizens. Such municipal and state projects, including public school and highway improvements, or new bridges, can receive state or federal grants, and in some cases non-profit corporation grants, to complete such projects because they benefit the general public. They help one's community become a better community, and they foster local citizen participation in self-government. An application for a grant of funds includes a description of the project, who it benefits and how it benefits them, and a reasonable estimate (or detailed plan) of the costs of the proposed project, together with projected dates for completion of the entire project and completion of distinctive phases or sub-divisions of the project.

Summary

Principles of a Democratic Elections Design

Principle #1: Candidate election contributors are restricted to the individual residents living within the constituent district boundaries (national, state, municipal, village, regional, legislative).

Principle #2: Individual contributors must be fully identified.

Principle #3: A Citizen Directed Candidate Fund elects officers.

Principle #4: Economic identification requirements for a CDCF shall include five levels of income and assets.

Principle #5: A CDCF may set levels for a minimum monetary contribution per individual and a maximum, but no individual contribution, per candidate per office, may exceed $2,000.00. CDCF grants are political contributions and are not tax deductible.

Principle #6: Discussion and statements of policies, programs and legislation requested or demanded of the candidate shall be recorded and reported.

Principle #7: The statement of requests, demands and expectations from a candidate may be simple, brief and general in scope, or may be highly detailed and specific and cover a broad range or list of issues according to what the particular CDCF so desires. Any CDCF may regard a meeting and discussion with an applicant candidate to be a process of negotiation and not simply the CDCF making demands and the candidate responding with a "Yes" or "No."

Principle #8: The application procedures may be prescribed by each CDCF and may not necessarily be the same as for other CDCFs or other candidates for other offices.

Principle #9: A CDCF may require the candidate to agree to consequences for unsatisfactory adherence by the candidate to their agreement with the CDCF after being elected.

Principle #10: What a CDCF and a CDCF grant IS NOT.

Full Description

Principles of a Democratic Elections Design

Candidates for elective office at the municipal, state and federal levels can accept and spend campaign funds contributed only by the individual residents of the jurisdiction that votes for said candidates. The only campaign funds permitted in this system are grants to a candidate from a Citizen Directed Candidate Fund collected and administered by the Citizen Directed Candidate Fund. Implementation of this principle is accomplished by several steps and rules to assure achievement of the goal that no person not residing in the jurisdiction and no business entity or any other form of organization is making a monetary contribution to campaign funds.

Procedures, rules, and explanations for implementation of Principle #1:

No business entity or organization may make a monetary contribution to a candidate's campaign fund because no business entity or organization has such a right described in our Constitution and no business entity or organization casts a ballot for any elective government office. Only individuals have the right to vote, and only individuals and committees of individuals in a voting jurisdiction should be permitted to pay for election campaigns in exchange for political commitments from the candidates. The CDCF's accumulated contributions may be divided and awarded to more than one candidate for one office, but no CDCF funds shall ever be donated to a political party, other political faction, or any other type of election campaign committee.

Principle #2: Individual contributors must be fully identified.

Individual contributors must be fully identified in the records of the Citizen Directed Candidate Fund -- by name and inclusion in one or more of five broad income and asset categories -- in order to disclose information pertinent to possible economic interests. Contributors who are self-employed or who manage or own any business entity must disclose that economic interest. Otherwise, any contributor that is not a business owner or manager may identify simply as "employed," "unemployed," "homemaker," or "retired," or "student."

Principle #3: A Citizen Directed Candidate Fund elects officers.

A Citizen Directed Candidate Fund (CDCF) shall elect officers responsible for the appropriate conduct of the Fund business and reporting of all information as may be required by their state government and the authorities of their constituent election district. Officers recommended are: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter. The membership of a Citizen Directed Candidate Fund shall be at least twelve members, including the officers. All business of the Fund shall be open to the public and a matter of public record. However, no unreasonable requirements shall be imposed as to when and how the records and reports of the Fund will be made available to the public.

Principle #4: Economic identification requirements for a CDCF shall include five levels of income and assets.

Economic identification requirements for a CDCF shall include five levels of income and assets, indicating inclusion in a broad measurement of economic status:

Income level: 0 - $40,000 per year 1

$40,001 – $100,000 py 2

$100,001 - $500,000 py 3

$500,001 – 1,000,000 py 4

$1,000,001 or more py 5

Asset level: 0 - $40,000 1

$40,001 – $100,000 2

$100,001 - $500,000 3

$500,001 – 1,000,000 4

$1,000,001 or more 5

This information must be recorded but is not required to be disclosed to all members of the CDCF or the general public by personal identification, but must be kept as the official record of the CDCF by the Secretary or Treasurer as non-identifying information that discloses the economic status of the donors as a group without disclosing the income or assets status of any named individual.

Example: 125 members at income level 2

82 members at asset level 4

Et cetera.

Principle #6: Discussion and statements of policies, programs and legislation requested or demanded of the candidate shall be recorded and reported.

The members of the CDCF will discuss the policies, programs and legislation requested or demanded of the candidate by whatever procedures the membership deems fair and efficient. The group may use Robert's Rules of Order or any system of rules for discussion that is conducive to orderly and effective means to conduct their business. The goal of discussion is to proceed from suggestions and ideas to a precise and articulate statement of what the members of the CDCF desire and expect from the candidate in order to receive a contribution for that candidate's election expenses. The CDCF's accumulated contributions may be divided and awarded to more than one candidate for one office, but no CDCF funds shall ever be donated to a political party, political faction, or any other type of election campaign committee.

Principle #8: The application procedures may be prescribed by each CDCF and may not necessarily be the same as for other CDCFs or other candidates for other offices.

A CDCF grant may be made only to a candidate for the purpose of financing that candidate's run for office and cannot be transferred to any other candidate, nor to a campaign committee nor to a political party or any group that promotes a political party or its platform. The CDCF should be certain to obtain a written agreement from the candidate that he or she will use all of the CDCF grant only for legally approved campaign expenses and for no other purpose.

Principle #9: A CDCF may require the candidate to agree to consequences for unsatisfactory adherence by the candidate to their agreement with the CDCF after being elected.

Each CDCF is free to compose an agreement with a candidate for office as they deem best. Every CDCF is free to express their individual opinions regarding a candidate's performance after elected. And, the CDCF members who provided the campaign contribution may issue comments or criticism as a group when such group statements are supported by a public record of majority vote. It may be that the only practical and legal consequence for unsatisfactory performance after elected will be no further contributions for any run for re-election. The imposition of other consequences may involve complex law and be totally subject to the authority of the state legislature. The obvious consequence of negative or positive performance is publicity that clearly shows whether the candidate has complied, after being elected, with their agreement with the CDCF.

Principle #10: What a CDCF and a CDCF grant IS NOT.

A CDCF is not a political party, and is free to grant campaign funds to any legally recognized candidate. A CDCF may require that an applicant candidate document their eligibility to be named on the election ballot. The members of all CDCFs will maintain this position and defend it legally, including in a court of law if necessary. A CDCF is not a candidate's campaign committee because the campaign spending is not controlled by the CDCF. A CDCF does not attempt to instruct the candidate applicant how to accomplish the political, social or economic desires of that CDCF, but the applicant candidate may present in his or her application statements about plans, tactics, strategies or commitments to action that are pertinent to the requests or demands of the CDCF. The members of all CDCFs will maintain this position and defend it legally, including in a court of law if necessary.

A CDCF does not fit the definition of a PAC or Political Action Committee because a CDCF does not spend money on any campaign to elect or defect a candidate.

THIS IS WHAT WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO BRING AN END TO CANDIDATES BEING BRIBED BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BUSINESS CORPORATIONS AND REPRESENTING THE SELFISH AND DESTRUCTIVE PURPOSES OF THOSE CORPORATIONS INSTEAD OF REPRESENTING THEIR CONSTITUENT VOTERS.

If you take steps to organize a CDCF in your state, I will gladly be your consultant, no fee charged. If we need more legal expertise to answer any questions or address a problem, I will seek appropriate legal advice and try to get such advice pro bono.

How should we begin?

Are you or someone you know willing to make history and create a better future by participating in transforming the idea of a CDCF (Citizens Directed Candidate Fund) into a reality? Are you a resident of New York 29^th Congressional District ? Are you a resident of New York State Senate District 49? Are you a resident of New York State Assembly District 110? Do you reside in other districts and would like to have me consult with you on the formation of your CDCF?