You Have Tread On Me

Under One Banner

Petition for Redress of Grievances

This Petition is directed to those who allege to represent us in the halls of the Congress of the United States of America. You, who during your campaign for the votes of the People, made promises which you have failed to keep. Those promises became the cause or reason for which the Votes of the People were cast in your favor. It was the reliance on what you claimed to be your course that was the bond of representation that was create when those votes were cast. It is your deviation from what you campaigned for that leads us to conclude that you no longer represent the will of the People who elected you to the office that you hold.
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was formally signed. This magnificent document provides an insight into the thinking of the Founding Fathers. For example, it provides their explanation of the purpose of government: "That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..." Those rights therein mentioned are enumerated as Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Clearly, they have provided us an understanding the government was instituted to serve the interests of the people, not to serve the interests of the ruler, or large commercial entities, which concept was so prevalent in Europe.
They also provide us the reason that they had taken on the formidable task of separating from England, "that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."
They also explained the difficulty in coming to the point of action with, " Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
Next, they explained the obligation that they impose upon the future, should events demonstrate that the government has deviated from its proper purpose.
"But when long trains of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide for new guards for their future security."
Twelve years later (June 21, 1788), the states ratified a Constitution, which was the document that authorized and created a government under the authority of the People.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The government of the United States of America is a creation of the People of the United States of America. It is not a power unto itself; rather, it is a governing body, not a ruling body, which was created to manage the affairs of the government, not the affairs of the People.
As a condition of ratification, the People made a call for a Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights, when ratified (December 15, 1791), was, as the Constitution, preceded by a Preamble, setting forth its purpose. The Preamble anticipated that some of the People's concerns not addressed in the Constitution should be addressed to assure that the proper role of government be observed. It read:
The conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added.
The Bill of Rights contained two articles that are significant in light of our concerns.
Article 9 The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Article 10 The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Understanding that We are the Posterity identified in the Preamble to the Constitution, We come forward, today, to present to you, the Congress of the United States of America - the creation of We the People -- with demands that must be resolved by you who serve us in Washington, D. C. These demands are consistent with the Constitution and the rights retained by the States and the People. They are demands that must be met for the People to continue to allow the existence of that government created by them. Should these Demands not be met by the sitting Congress, the People will conclude that this Congress no longer serves the People, and that you have, by that absence of respect for the People, and their will, dissolved any obligation of respect once due you by the People.
You, by your refusal to act in accordance with the Constitution, will become rebels to that Constitution, and to the People.
These Demands are presented You, the Members of the Congress as our plea that you right yourselves by acting on our behalf.
If you fail to act, you have, by that omission, dissolved the bonds that have, so long, bound us together.

What we are demanding is that you pursue, with vigor, each and all of the following, to fulfillment:
1.     Military:
Return all combat troops to the United States within 6 months
Devise plan for recovery of as much equipment as practical to be return to the United States for use or for scrap.
Immediately prepare troop withdrawal plan including rearguard
2.   Banking
Stop all fractional reserve banking, immediately
Create no additional currency (Federal Reserve Notes) for circulation
Begin planning for 'Greenback' (full faith and credit of the United States, without interest or surcharge) and gold/silver based currencies.
Plan withdrawal from Federal Reserve Act, to be accomplished within Five years
3.   Immigration
There shall be a moratorium on immigration for 5 years to provide sufficient time for a assessment of what the role and impact of immigration and immigrants is to our country
Existing immigration laws regarding entry into the country will be rigidly enforced
Enforce border conditions to prohibit illegal entry of people and objects
That ownership of land within the boundaries of the United States shall be limited to Citizens of the United States or by corporations authorized by the United States, or the States. Ownership of land outside of those described shall be prohibited, by law, after five years
4.   Religion
It is to be understood that "public" is the people, not the government. That any religious displays on public property cannot be restricted or prohibited by government action.
Any laws previously enacted which limit religious practices, holidays, displays or exercises shall be immediately repealed.
That the local jurisdictional body, only, may approve or disapprove of any display, consistent with the desires of that community
That no law may be enacted which will allow any religion to receive preferential treatment under the law.
5.   Governmental Authority
The government of the United States was created by authority of the People, by means of the Constitution, which is the charter of that government. The government is thereby bound in all of its actions, whether on United States owned and ceded lands; within the States of the Union; or, outside of the boundaries of the United States, by the prohibitions and limitations set forth in that Constitution.
That, in light of Article I, Section 8, clause 17[i]; the Ninth Article[ii] in Amendment to the Constitution; and, the Tenth Article[iii] in Amendment to the Constitution, the authority of the States and the People shall not be limited by any acts of the Congress, the Executive or the Judicial Branches of the federal government.
That Article I, Section 8, clause 18[iv] shall be strictly construed with regard to "necessary and proper for carrying out the foregoing Powers", and shall not be broadly construed to extend authority where it was not intended.
That the Congress shall prepare for presentation to the States of the Union an Amendment to the Constitution which would limit terms of office, for all federal elected offices, to a maximum of two terms, and, with the exception of the President, shall have one intervening term out of office, which shall then be submitted to the States for their ratification
That Congress will recognize the "separation of Powers", as envisioned by the Founding Fathers, and will prohibit any member of the Judicial Branch, whether state, federal, or both, by virtue of any membership, association, license, employment, partnership, or fiduciary relationship with any firm practicing under such authority, from pursuing an office in the Legislative or Executive branches of government. That any person, at present holding such office, shall, at the expiration of his current term, be bound by this condition.
That the Congress shall enact legislation which would provide that, by petition of 0.01 percent of the lawful population, a federal Citizen's Grand Jury be empanelled, within 30 days of receipt of such petition, to hear charges of violations of the Constitution and other laws of the United States, and, if a True Bill is issued by the Grand Jury, a jury trial shall be held, peopled by Citizens of the State which the accused claims as resident, and within that State, and the verdict and punishment in such trial shall not be questioned by any other authority. That those who sit on either Grand or Petit juries shall not be employees or under any contract with the government, nor shall they be members of law enforcement or the legal profession. This to be created as an "inferior court" under authority of Article III, Section 1 and Article I, Section 8, clause 9[v].
That all administrative agencies of government shall be stripped of rule making authority; that all rules enforced by any such agency shall henceforth be created, directly and specifically, by an enactment of the Congress and passed into law as prescribed by the Constitution.
That any agreement currently existing between any administrative agency of the federal government which binds, obligates, or otherwise coerces compliance by any state, state agency, or any other entity within any of the states, is null and void, and, that no future attempts to create such relationship may ever be enacted or otherwise imposed.
That the Congress will prohibit its members from receiving any emolument (except his prescribed salary), gift, benefit, or favors, while in office. Any member accused to be in violation shall be reviewed by the appropriate house's ethics committee, and if found to have received such emolument, gift, benefit or favor, shall be immediately expelled from that house and not be qualified to return.
That the Congress is not a benefactor or philanthropic organization and is prohibited from redistribution of any revenue, under the form of grants, scholarships, endowments, research funds, or any other form which does not have a direct and identifiable return of the value of all funds provided.
That the Congress is senior to any private organization and cannot contract with, support, depend upon, restrict to, or allow any federal employee to be a member of, any union, or any collective bargaining unit, in any shape, form, or relationship.
6.   Legislation:
That any and all enactments by the Congress shall, from this time forward, provide a statement as to which portion of the Constitution grants the government authority over the subject matter contained in the enactment, specifically explaining how that authority was derived.
That any and all enactments will stand alone and bear on a specific and singular object, without riders and amendments that deal with matters that are not directly related to the titled subject.
That no federal enactment will override, or undermine, or in any way discourage any legislation or referendum of a States of the Union which is exercising its right under Article IV, Section 4[vi] of the Constitution.
That all Bills submitted to the House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States shall be read in their entirety, including the Constitutional authority, when said Bill is first introduced to the respective houses and just prior to voting on such Bill; and, the entire text of any such Bill shall be made available to the public by publication in all major newspapers.
For the purpose of reduction of the deficit and the debt incurred by previous Congresses, the House of Representatives shall enact no new legislation which grants money that was otherwise unearned (i.e. welfare, block grants, etc.) and shall adjust all such existing programs to reduce expenditures by 25%, or more, of the current expenditure, each year until said program is reduced to nothing; and, That all grants, loans, or other payments to other nations, domestic organizations, non-domestic organizations or entities, shall cease at the end of the current fiscal year, and not be reinstated until such time as the budget of the United States shall be balanced and there is no future encumbrance or obligations for repayment of any debt.
Congress shall enact laws which act upon entities or corporations, which are created by the federal government, that will provide oversight into their operations, to include: limiting any corporation to act only within a limited scope (industry), and not extend itself into areas where it has not been specifically authorized to conduct business by the articles of its creation; Prohibit corporations from investing in other corporations, the stock market, securities, futures, or any other enterprise for the purpose of making a profit or creating a loss; Prohibit importation of any goods, products or materials from other countries, unless unavailable within the United Sates; Prohibit outsourcing of any aspect of the business; provide that no foreign or domestic corporation my hold stock in the corporation; and, provide that no more than ten percent of the shares of the corporation may be held by other then Citizens of the United States.
Congress shall abide by the intent of the 27th Article[vii] in Amendment to the Constitution and shall repeal any law contrary to that intent; and, shall not create any pension, benefit, medical coverage (except while in office) that is subsidized by the government, unless that same program is available to all Citizens of the United States.
7.   Elections
That the Congress shall enact legislation which provides for fair access to all elections by removing any enactments, laws or rules which give favor to any political party over another political party or individual seeking office, and shall limit the fees required to such office not to exceed $5,000.00 for any federal office, under authority of Article I, Section 4, clause 1[viii].
That the Congress shall prepare for presentation to the States of the Union an Amendment to the Constitution which would provide for the States to repeal the Seventeenth Amendment[ix] to the Constitution, and, if the States so desire, by ratification of said Amendment, return to the State Legislature that authority to select the Senators of their choice.
That the Congress shall enact a law regarding campaign contributions which will limit any contribution to a single candidate to $200.00; that contributions can be made only by Citizens of the United States; and, that corporations, political parties, unions, and other organizations are not provided freedom of speech by the Constitution, and are disqualified and subject to criminal penalties for any contributions, or any activities which are intended to influence the outcome of any election.

Petitioner: ___________________________________________(SEAL)

County: ______________________________ State: ___________________

Date: _________________________

Endnotes:

[i]Art. I, Sec. 8, cl 17 (Constitution): To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;
[ii] Ninth Amendment (Bill of Rights): The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
[iii] Tenth Amendment (Bill of Rights): The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
[iv] Art. I, Sec. 8, cl 18 (Constitution): To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
[v] Art. III, Sec. 1 (Constitution): The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office. -- Art I, Sec 8, cl 9 (Constitution): To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court.
[vi] Art. IV, Sec. 4 (Constitution): The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic Violence.
[vii] Twenty-seventh Amendment to the Constitution: No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
[viii] Art. I, Sec 4, cl 1 (Constitution): The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
[ix] Seventeenth Amendment (Constitution): The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.
    When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, 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.
    This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

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