“Federal Member Recall Amendment”

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Let Voters Fire Congress

AKA “Legislative Accountability Act”


Which agency/agencies promulgated the regulation? *
• U.S. Congress (via the U.S. Constitution’s Article I)
Which title, parts, and/or sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) should be rescinded? *
• Article I – the absence of any recall mechanism; specifically, rescind the text that limits Member removal to impeachment or regular elections and replace it with a recall clause.
What is your name?
—OPTIONAL--
Is your proposed rescission a notice of proposed rulemaking, final rule, direct final rule, interim final rule, or interpretive rule? *
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
What is the name of the regulation being rescinded, if applicable? *
“Federal Member Recall Amendment”
Please provide a short summary of the justifications for the rescission. *
The Constitution currently provides no mechanism for voters to remove a Member of Congress outside of impeachment or electoral defeat. Granting constituents the power to trigger a binding recall election (upon petition by, for example, 10 % of eligible district or state voters) strengthens accountability and deters misconduct or dereliction of duty.
Please insert the address of the agency. [NPRM, DFR, and IFR only]
U.S. House Judiciary Committee 2138 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Please insert the contact information for the agency. *
(202) 224-5225
What is the background for the regulation being rescinded? *
Since 1789, Article I has set only the mechanisms for regular elections and impeachment. No federal recall power exists, unlike in many states. Voters have no direct remedy when a sitting Member violates public trust between biennial or six-year elections.
Explain the reasons for the rescission. *
• Article I: Amending to authorize recall petitions and binding referenda for federal legislators empowers citizens to remove unfit or absent Representatives and Senators without waiting for the next election or relying on partisan impeachment.
Describe the text of the relevant C.F.R. provisions as it will exist after the rescission. *
— Article I is amended by adding at the end of § 2 (for the House) and § 3 (for the Senate): “Upon presentation to the presiding officer of a petition bearing the valid signatures of ten percent of the registered voters of the respective congressional district or state, a recall election shall be scheduled within sixty days to determine whether the Member shall be removed from office.”
Please insert the name of the current agency head. *
Jim Jordan; Chuck Grassley
Please insert the title of the agency head. *
Chair, U.S. House Judiciary Committee; Chair, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

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